Reviewed by Christian Allen
It’s been over two years since Good Shoes released their debut album, Think before You Speak, and 3 years since they’re early demos dominated British music website discussion boards. For a band who have been extremely quiet throughout most of 2008 and 2009 tonight’s turn out is testament to their sound, especially in the stronghold for lad-rock that is Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. This considered the current tour is quite a change for a band that, in 2007, headlined the 2,000 capacity Astoria. It’s an opportunity for the band to almost start from scratch and play those kind of back of pub venues full of sweaty teens that their music led’s itself to.
Lead singer Rhys Jones fully embraces the intimate setting throughout the set, warning me in the interview prior to the gig that he’s prepared to join the crowd as many times as it takes to get them animated and rowdy. Despite the stagnant crowd’s best efforts the band remains upbeat and uses the opportunity to play a selection of tracks off the impending 2nd album ‘No Hope, No Future’. It’s difficult to judge them after one listen, and with the new wave of tracks ‘The Way My Heart Beats’ already seems like a classic. ‘Under Control’ has quickly found itself a crowd favourite and a couple of new tracks show the band perhaps going for a more angular, distorted sound with this follow up.
In with the new tracks were the expected, established hits from the debut album, Ice Age, Small Town Girl and Morden all sounding sharper and speeder than ever. An exuberant, enthusiastic gig marks the return of Good Shoes and on tonight’s evidence the band’s brand of jaunty indie pop look set to find it’s home once again on national radio playlists and in larger venues across the U.K.
Showing posts with label Christian Allen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Allen. Show all posts
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Mumford and Sons
Review of Mumford and Sons at The Cluny
Christian Allen
21st September 2009
Gone are the stereotypes of middle aged, grass chewing, check-shirted men finger picking banjos to the delight of a gaggle of flowery dresses. Mumford and Sons are surely the figurehead to a new generation of lively folk acts, armed with beautiful vocal harmonies, talented musicianship and mood-altering, poetic lyrics. This is by no means a ‘scene’ more a community of musicians who join each other on tour and contribute backing vocals more often than an England football team on a novelty tournament song.
Tonight is a welcome return for Marcus Mumford and Co, with various sound issues marring their last visit to Newcastle at an intimate Cumberland Arms gig. They announce their arrival with a hushed, almost acapella version of ‘Sigh No More’ before breaking out into ‘Awake My Soul’ which does more than just wake a dozen members of the crowd who seem intent in barn dancing, and strangely pogoing their way through the set.
Latest single ‘Little Lion Man’ is greeted with a merry chant along from the sold old crowd and looks set to become the bands anthem, the sort of song fans will pester them to play throughout their career. Indeed the band, like a conductor, has the crowd in their complete control. When the instruments cut out the gathering fall silent, hanging on every lovelorn word. Then as the banjo, drums, bass and guitar take over, the audience can’t help but stomp their feet along. The set finishes on the perfect final song, ‘Dust Bowl Dance’. A personal favourite of mine, it’s a track which comes into its own live with Marcus Mumford putting any of his remaining energy into the drum kit.
Tonight we’re treated to a set which plays almost the complete track listing of M&S’s debut album ‘Sigh No More’. A fitting name for an album which, live, perfectly expresses both a broken heart and sorrow before offering hope and optimism. Although the album has received mixed reviews, Mumford & Sons show tonight their gift for storytelling and performance which leaves the crowd spellbound and promises much for their future
Christian Allen
21st September 2009
Gone are the stereotypes of middle aged, grass chewing, check-shirted men finger picking banjos to the delight of a gaggle of flowery dresses. Mumford and Sons are surely the figurehead to a new generation of lively folk acts, armed with beautiful vocal harmonies, talented musicianship and mood-altering, poetic lyrics. This is by no means a ‘scene’ more a community of musicians who join each other on tour and contribute backing vocals more often than an England football team on a novelty tournament song.
Tonight is a welcome return for Marcus Mumford and Co, with various sound issues marring their last visit to Newcastle at an intimate Cumberland Arms gig. They announce their arrival with a hushed, almost acapella version of ‘Sigh No More’ before breaking out into ‘Awake My Soul’ which does more than just wake a dozen members of the crowd who seem intent in barn dancing, and strangely pogoing their way through the set.
Latest single ‘Little Lion Man’ is greeted with a merry chant along from the sold old crowd and looks set to become the bands anthem, the sort of song fans will pester them to play throughout their career. Indeed the band, like a conductor, has the crowd in their complete control. When the instruments cut out the gathering fall silent, hanging on every lovelorn word. Then as the banjo, drums, bass and guitar take over, the audience can’t help but stomp their feet along. The set finishes on the perfect final song, ‘Dust Bowl Dance’. A personal favourite of mine, it’s a track which comes into its own live with Marcus Mumford putting any of his remaining energy into the drum kit.
Tonight we’re treated to a set which plays almost the complete track listing of M&S’s debut album ‘Sigh No More’. A fitting name for an album which, live, perfectly expresses both a broken heart and sorrow before offering hope and optimism. Although the album has received mixed reviews, Mumford & Sons show tonight their gift for storytelling and performance which leaves the crowd spellbound and promises much for their future
Sunday, 16 November 2008
White Denim @ The Cluny 16th of November
The majority of reviews you’ll read about this band will no doubt mention their performance at SXSW this year. But the mark of a band is to build on hype, as hundreds of failed ‘next big things’ will testify. On a cold Sunday evening, Newcastle is a far cry from White Denim’s home of Austin, Texas. Support act, Six Nation State warm the arriving crowd with a mix of punk and coral-like balladry but make little lasting impression. In contrast, White Denim waste little time with a nonstop frantic performance of 3 tracks from their debut album ‘Workout Holiday’. The songs, which blend together seamlessly, show the band to be more then what a garage band 
pigeonhole would have you believe. Amid their powerful sound it’s easy to forget there are only 3 of them. The energy, rhythm and experimentation highlight that White Denim are at their best live. For forty minutes tonight the crowd were rid of their winter blues as the Texan trio delivered a fiery set to remember.Review by Christian Allen
Friday, 31 October 2008
White Lies @ The Cluny
White Lies are currently riding a wave of anticipation for their debut album, but for now fans have to make do with the release of their new single ‘Death’. Consequently a headline tour couldn’t come at a better time for the band. A close to sold out crowd are spoilt for up and coming alternative bands however as White Lies are joined by Lemington band Post War Years and female fronted 3-piece The Joy Formidable.
There’s something intriguing and fascinating about Post War Years. They started the set to a small arriving crowd, the majority of which probably hadn’t heard of the outfit. However by the end of their set, they’ve won nearly everybody over with their experimental, sample-crammed set, buzzing with energy and guts. With comparisons to Battles, Hot-Chip and Tom Vek this has to be one of the best support band’s I’ve seen all year. Next up, The Joy Formidable seem a more obvious choice as a support act for White Lies, similarly dressed in all black. Despite a strong start to the set, which gets the crowd tapping along, they fail to win over the growing crowd. A few gems signal promises of more to come.
White Lies seemed to have mastered this doom-and-gloom image malarkey. Which perfectly accompanies their equally drastic sound that plays around with lyrics about funerals, the cost of love and the death of a relationship or the death of someone even closer? What White Lies have in abundance is catchy songs. Unfinished Business and Death have been around for some time but other songs in the set glow as bright as the 2 singles. The 4th time I’ve seen this band and it’s a great feeling hearing a song that you remember liking on previous occasions but can’t track down online anywhere. Part of the draw of this band is the lack of songs they’ve put out for people to hear recorded. This must have been what it was like to see a band before the internet made it so easy to spread music and gossip on the latest hype band. Tonight is one of those performances where even though you might not be familiar with the majority of the songs played, you can enjoy yourself and anticipate any future releases. This band is destined for bigger things, a point no one at the Cluny tonight would contest.
Review by Christian Allen
There’s something intriguing and fascinating about Post War Years. They started the set to a small arriving crowd, the majority of which probably hadn’t heard of the outfit. However by the end of their set, they’ve won nearly everybody over with their experimental, sample-crammed set, buzzing with energy and guts. With comparisons to Battles, Hot-Chip and Tom Vek this has to be one of the best support band’s I’ve seen all year. Next up, The Joy Formidable seem a more obvious choice as a support act for White Lies, similarly dressed in all black. Despite a strong start to the set, which gets the crowd tapping along, they fail to win over the growing crowd. A few gems signal promises of more to come.
White Lies seemed to have mastered this doom-and-gloom image malarkey. Which perfectly accompanies their equally drastic sound that plays around with lyrics about funerals, the cost of love and the death of a relationship or the death of someone even closer? What White Lies have in abundance is catchy songs. Unfinished Business and Death have been around for some time but other songs in the set glow as bright as the 2 singles. The 4th time I’ve seen this band and it’s a great feeling hearing a song that you remember liking on previous occasions but can’t track down online anywhere. Part of the draw of this band is the lack of songs they’ve put out for people to hear recorded. This must have been what it was like to see a band before the internet made it so easy to spread music and gossip on the latest hype band. Tonight is one of those performances where even though you might not be familiar with the majority of the songs played, you can enjoy yourself and anticipate any future releases. This band is destined for bigger things, a point no one at the Cluny tonight would contest.
Review by Christian Allen
Friday, 30 May 2008
The Ting Tings
Salford duo, The Ting Tings have found themselves at the top of various ‘ones to watch out for in 2008’ tip lists. Whilst this obviously means generating a lot of hype this can also be a double edge sword as it means people who do turn up to your gigs will be expecting something special. Their sound is catchy, chart friendly indie-pop with much of the music appearing out of the ether via the magic of technology. Various loop machines give them a bigger sound and also give singer Katie White space to pout, clap, strut and yelp her way through their short but punchy 30 minute set.
Their set is full of indie dance floor gems and there are some fine hooks, particularly in the singles ‘That's Not My Name’ and ‘Great D.J’ which gets the arriving crowd toe tapping. The band confess they find it hard to come on first, especially after the party they put on in Manchester the previous night and although their party sound may suit a crowd already warmed by support acts they do a good job of getting the crowd going. It is not hard to imagine the Ting Tings putting on a good party, as the next act ‘Does It Offend You, Yeah’ vouch for, in the interview they talk of their wide range of music tastes and their love of eccentric D.J mixes, it is apparent that they have as much fun off stage as they do on it. On this evidence it seems the ting tings are a name to watch out for in 2008. Their infectious pop songs have rightly generated interest from big names (including Rick Rubin of all people) and on tonight’s showing look set to become regulars on dancefloors everywhere.
Review by Christian Allen
Their set is full of indie dance floor gems and there are some fine hooks, particularly in the singles ‘That's Not My Name’ and ‘Great D.J’ which gets the arriving crowd toe tapping. The band confess they find it hard to come on first, especially after the party they put on in Manchester the previous night and although their party sound may suit a crowd already warmed by support acts they do a good job of getting the crowd going. It is not hard to imagine the Ting Tings putting on a good party, as the next act ‘Does It Offend You, Yeah’ vouch for, in the interview they talk of their wide range of music tastes and their love of eccentric D.J mixes, it is apparent that they have as much fun off stage as they do on it. On this evidence it seems the ting tings are a name to watch out for in 2008. Their infectious pop songs have rightly generated interest from big names (including Rick Rubin of all people) and on tonight’s showing look set to become regulars on dancefloors everywhere.
Review by Christian Allen
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