Reviewed by Hedd Thomas
“Oh, how very ethnic,” reacted a gentleman when I told him of this concert I'd be attending. If by “ethnic” he was referring to the 14th Century origins of the music and poetry then he was right; if, however, he was expecting something simple in both its music and its following then eyeing the smart suits and ties of the performers even before hearing their enticing sounds would confirm that this is a high art form indeed.
The evening was the result of a partnership between the Pakistan Cultural Society based here in Newcastle and the Asian Music Circuit, London. They aimed to showcase two musical traditions of Azerbaijan. The first was the art of the ashig, literally “falling in love” - bardic musicians who sing everything from epic songs and sagas to serenades and ballads. They accompany themselves on the eight- or ten-stringed plucked saz. The second was the mugham, the indigenous modal classical music of Azerbaijan. Characterised by a large degree of improvisation, mughams feature a singer accompanied by two instrumentalists playing tar (long-necked lute) and kamancha (spike-fiddle). Seven musicians were due to perform, many with international reputations.
There is something very satisfying about watching a performer make seemingly impossible music look easy. The fingers of Azer Maharramov danced from one saz fret to another with ease, showing off his instrument's capabilities while contentedly smiling to himself throughout; Ramin Qarayev's huge melismas flowed out with no trouble at all. The bright, cheerful songs of Qalandar Zeynalov proved why he's one of the most popular ashigs in Azerbaijan; and while Aytekin Akbarova's saz skills weren't quite as equal as her male counterparts her main talent as an author and performer of poems shone, portraying the story with much conviction. Some, like Akbarova, sung outwardly to the audience, about half of which were members of the local Arezi-Turkish-Iranian community, while Zeyalov was singing up close to his saz and others like Maharramov sung with his eyes closed, lost in his own world. If it weren't for the disappointing lay out in the Northern Rock Foundation Hall and the cold lighting this could have been a very intimate first half indeed.
Elshan Mansurov started the second half with a kamancha solo. A recent graduate from one of Azerbaijan's conservatoires, his inexperience showed at times by the look of concentration focused on his fingers. What he lacked in expression, however, was more than made up for in his great tone and phrasing. The following song, translated as “Blonde Bride,” is a favourite amongst Azeris and gave the soloist Gochaq Askarov the perfect opportunity to demonstrates his strong but unforced high-pitched voice with an incredibly melancholic melody. The wailing melismas in the second mugham presented him with equally good chances to prove his skill. It was the very experienced tar player Malik Mansurov, however, that was the highlight of the half. A teacher at Azerbaijan's top conservatoires, he is a virtuoso when it comes to technique, playing with lots of dynamic variation, darting fingers and great attention to detail; he played with such feeling that he succeeded in telling the story more effectively then even the singer himself.
“It's great music and it's really good to hear my mother tongue,” said one Azeri member of the audience who grew up in Iran and now lives in Newcastle, “I only get to hear Azeri these days when I'm on the phone to my mum!” This summed up the evening. It was great music for those familiar with it and fascinating for those less so; and although every performer was a good musician in their own right it was their love for the music and the passion with which they delivered it that made the concert so worthwhile.
4/5
For more information about the Pakistan Cultural Society and to check out their future concerts, go to: www.pakistanculturalsociety.co.uk
For more information about the Asian Music Circuit and to check out their future concerts, go to: www.amc.org.uk
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Sonic Boom Six (plus support) at O2 Academy
Reviewed by Adam Finch
Sonic Boom 6 arrived on the Manchester ska-punk scene in 2002 with a loud and exhilarating bang! Since then they’ve gone from strength to strength and become one of the de facto ska-punk bands of today. Think of the Madchester explosion in the 80s and remove it slightly to the 00’s and with ska and punk, this band will be missed when they’re gone. Unfortunately for us, the guitarist, Ben, was leaving full-time Boom responsibilities to be with his wife and relax for a while, so already fans are missing one of their beloved band members. This year’s tour they were joined by Random Hand, Difference Machine and The Skints.
Random Hand were the first band we saw, claiming to be doing the show because of a “community service order” – whether they were telling the truth or not, I don’t know but if they crowd weren’t half ready for SB6 after their set then they never would be! The amount of passion and energy put into every song is happy reminder that whether you like the music or not, the energy put into the performance will pull you in and by the end of the set you’ll be gagging for more. The perfect blend of heavy punk and ska, driving drum beats and voluptuous bass lines allow this band to get your feet moving and heart racing, if you ever get a chance to see this band without the community service order, then take up that chance!
The Skints were next up, on SB6’s imprint label, played an amazing cover of “Dawn Penn – You Don’t Love Me” in a very melodic and slow reggae-ska fashion. The band themselves were good, but after seeing Random Hand possibly upstage Boom, The Skints were lackluster except for the guitarist-come-singer who seemed to enjoy himself.
When SB6 finally came on, proceedings finally kicked off properly. With the band spending some of their time getting the crowd ready for what is to come, I don’t think they really expected this. Ben’s last show was a send off and a half, with old songs, new songs, mashed up songs and any other goodbye present possible in the form of music! The members of the other bands came on stage to dance and sing and keep the crowd entertained.
While Layla and Ben Boom were on stage alone together, a slow meaningful song was played and it looked like Ben shed a tear. After a long thank you to the band and fans for making him feel like family. SB6 played 4 encore songs and vacated the stage to a roofless Academy, the atmosphere in there was intense! If I ever got a send off like that from my friends, the main thing I’d take from that, “I was loved.”
Sonic Boom 6 arrived on the Manchester ska-punk scene in 2002 with a loud and exhilarating bang! Since then they’ve gone from strength to strength and become one of the de facto ska-punk bands of today. Think of the Madchester explosion in the 80s and remove it slightly to the 00’s and with ska and punk, this band will be missed when they’re gone. Unfortunately for us, the guitarist, Ben, was leaving full-time Boom responsibilities to be with his wife and relax for a while, so already fans are missing one of their beloved band members. This year’s tour they were joined by Random Hand, Difference Machine and The Skints.
Random Hand were the first band we saw, claiming to be doing the show because of a “community service order” – whether they were telling the truth or not, I don’t know but if they crowd weren’t half ready for SB6 after their set then they never would be! The amount of passion and energy put into every song is happy reminder that whether you like the music or not, the energy put into the performance will pull you in and by the end of the set you’ll be gagging for more. The perfect blend of heavy punk and ska, driving drum beats and voluptuous bass lines allow this band to get your feet moving and heart racing, if you ever get a chance to see this band without the community service order, then take up that chance!
The Skints were next up, on SB6’s imprint label, played an amazing cover of “Dawn Penn – You Don’t Love Me” in a very melodic and slow reggae-ska fashion. The band themselves were good, but after seeing Random Hand possibly upstage Boom, The Skints were lackluster except for the guitarist-come-singer who seemed to enjoy himself.
When SB6 finally came on, proceedings finally kicked off properly. With the band spending some of their time getting the crowd ready for what is to come, I don’t think they really expected this. Ben’s last show was a send off and a half, with old songs, new songs, mashed up songs and any other goodbye present possible in the form of music! The members of the other bands came on stage to dance and sing and keep the crowd entertained.
While Layla and Ben Boom were on stage alone together, a slow meaningful song was played and it looked like Ben shed a tear. After a long thank you to the band and fans for making him feel like family. SB6 played 4 encore songs and vacated the stage to a roofless Academy, the atmosphere in there was intense! If I ever got a send off like that from my friends, the main thing I’d take from that, “I was loved.”
Los Campesinos at Newcastle Student Union
Reviewed by Rob Sellars
There is something about Los Campesions! being in Newcastle that appears to attract trouble. Of the two times that they have played in the Union before, once there was a mass stage invasion, and the other time the band had to stop mid-song after two charming Geordies came to blows in the middle of the audience. Talking to Gareth, lead vocalist of the band, before the gig, reaffirmed the suspicion that just maybe their brand of raw indie-pop and dark edged lyrics took the Newcastle crowd to places they just weren’t used to. Thus the band and fans alike were heading into the gig with a sense of anticipation, a knowledge that something always happens when the ever growing band steps into the student’s domain. While there were no fist fights or unruly crowd activities tonight, the band still delivered as they always do, with a heavyweight package of thundering hooks, passionate vocals and true rock sensibilities.
On record Los Campesinos! are sometimes burdened with the unenviable label of being a little twee, but when it comes to their live performance, they don’t so much banish such thoughts as take their twee-pop image, thrust it through a blender then scream their lyrics back in its face. Despite earlier admitting to suffering from the rigours of a whistle stop tour, Gareth is as always determined to throw himself around every square centimetre of the venue, while flicking between vocals that are one second raucous screams and the next quiet contemplation. He is as always backed ably by a band that seem determined to cover every instrument on the planet, including new member Kim’s skills on the drone box, which for all the world I cannot figure out. Despite losing second singer Alexis to her studies, Kim steps in perfectly to the void and none of the power or charm of their earlier songs is lost, as they thunder through a set that features all their favourites as well as five new songs. One or two of the new songs still sound like they need work, but with the new album, Romance is Boring, not due till next February, this is the perfect testing ground for such experimentation. There are Listed Buildings and The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future both promise a lot for the new album and show a new found maturity in both their music and Gareth’s lyrics. From their first two albums, tracks such as We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, You! Me! Dancing! and Ways to Make it Through the Wall receive particularly frenzied responses, and closer Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks sends everyone out into the night with a heavy sweat on and a smile.
Anyone who headed to the gig expecting a flawless and refined showing and a polished vocal performance may well have been disappointed, but then to ask for such things would be to take away part of the essence of Los Campesinos, the power and passion that puts them head and shoulders above many of their peers and means they are so much more than twee.
There is something about Los Campesions! being in Newcastle that appears to attract trouble. Of the two times that they have played in the Union before, once there was a mass stage invasion, and the other time the band had to stop mid-song after two charming Geordies came to blows in the middle of the audience. Talking to Gareth, lead vocalist of the band, before the gig, reaffirmed the suspicion that just maybe their brand of raw indie-pop and dark edged lyrics took the Newcastle crowd to places they just weren’t used to. Thus the band and fans alike were heading into the gig with a sense of anticipation, a knowledge that something always happens when the ever growing band steps into the student’s domain. While there were no fist fights or unruly crowd activities tonight, the band still delivered as they always do, with a heavyweight package of thundering hooks, passionate vocals and true rock sensibilities.
On record Los Campesinos! are sometimes burdened with the unenviable label of being a little twee, but when it comes to their live performance, they don’t so much banish such thoughts as take their twee-pop image, thrust it through a blender then scream their lyrics back in its face. Despite earlier admitting to suffering from the rigours of a whistle stop tour, Gareth is as always determined to throw himself around every square centimetre of the venue, while flicking between vocals that are one second raucous screams and the next quiet contemplation. He is as always backed ably by a band that seem determined to cover every instrument on the planet, including new member Kim’s skills on the drone box, which for all the world I cannot figure out. Despite losing second singer Alexis to her studies, Kim steps in perfectly to the void and none of the power or charm of their earlier songs is lost, as they thunder through a set that features all their favourites as well as five new songs. One or two of the new songs still sound like they need work, but with the new album, Romance is Boring, not due till next February, this is the perfect testing ground for such experimentation. There are Listed Buildings and The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future both promise a lot for the new album and show a new found maturity in both their music and Gareth’s lyrics. From their first two albums, tracks such as We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, You! Me! Dancing! and Ways to Make it Through the Wall receive particularly frenzied responses, and closer Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks sends everyone out into the night with a heavy sweat on and a smile.
Anyone who headed to the gig expecting a flawless and refined showing and a polished vocal performance may well have been disappointed, but then to ask for such things would be to take away part of the essence of Los Campesinos, the power and passion that puts them head and shoulders above many of their peers and means they are so much more than twee.
Fightstar at Newcastle Student Union
Reviewed by Mike Worthington
There’s something incredibly spirited about the way Fightstar play. Charlie Simpson never falters vocally nor fails to go through one song without furiously flicking his mop of hair around. He is clearly rocking out. The same it cannot be said, for the crowd. Although The Union would have proved a fantastic venue for FIghtstar to exhibit their rock based riffs, the venue was half full at best. No matter how energetic crowd favourites like ‘Mercury Summer’ and ‘Grand Unification Part 1’ were, the bands energy was seemingly lost on the eager faced fans of the front and the more cautious viewers from the back. In fairness to the band, their passion onstage helped compensate for lack of atmosphere but toward the end too many songs sounded the same. And you have to wonder whether Simpson was giving himself a headache with all that thrashing about. It begs the question, would Busted have boasted a bigger turn out? There were certainly enough Busted jokes in between songs - from the crowd only however. Fightstar certainly aim to please their fans, it’s just a shame enough of them weren’t there to return the favour.
There’s something incredibly spirited about the way Fightstar play. Charlie Simpson never falters vocally nor fails to go through one song without furiously flicking his mop of hair around. He is clearly rocking out. The same it cannot be said, for the crowd. Although The Union would have proved a fantastic venue for FIghtstar to exhibit their rock based riffs, the venue was half full at best. No matter how energetic crowd favourites like ‘Mercury Summer’ and ‘Grand Unification Part 1’ were, the bands energy was seemingly lost on the eager faced fans of the front and the more cautious viewers from the back. In fairness to the band, their passion onstage helped compensate for lack of atmosphere but toward the end too many songs sounded the same. And you have to wonder whether Simpson was giving himself a headache with all that thrashing about. It begs the question, would Busted have boasted a bigger turn out? There were certainly enough Busted jokes in between songs - from the crowd only however. Fightstar certainly aim to please their fans, it’s just a shame enough of them weren’t there to return the favour.
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