19th Feb 2010
Reviewed by Izaac Carlisle
First things first! I would like to use this platform to formally protest at Google Maps for putting the O2 Academy in the wrong place! Thanks to your incompetence I nearly missed the gig, spent an hour walking around the city and only getting to the academy by pure luck and some good navigating by local Brummies.
Anyway, back to the music. I arrive just as the support act Butterfly Explosion enter the fray using the same formulae that have helped so many bands gained mainstream stardom, the inclusion of the ‘single hot woman’ (although look what it did to the Zutons). Saying that though, they were really good. They formed beautiful melodies, adding vocals where required, and are worth a listen for fans of Sigur Ros.
God is an Astronaut are a beautiful band. I would like to put that on record, and through headphones their music at times can be awe-inspiring. However, I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed with them live. Yes, I will admit, at times they were great, but others I found them somewhat lazy (although that’s not the right word). So let me try and explain:
They are a three-piece instrumental ‘post rock’ band from Ireland, with two on guitar and one on drums but their music uses a great amount of other instruments to compliment their sound. Listening on CD you feel that these are genuine, however live they are pressing buttons on their keyboards like one of those ones you find at school; this doesn’t add to the atmosphere and the feel of the performance seeing somebody pressing these buttons that have been conveniently being placed in order.
Therefore, the performance felt recorded, almost like there was a CD being played. Saying that, I don’t want to suggest that it wasn’t a good performance generally, just not in the league of other bands in the genre live.
Overall, I found the conundrum where their music was brilliant but their live show was disappointing. My top tip for seeing this band, just bring eye patches!
Showing posts with label Izaac Carlisle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Izaac Carlisle. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Exit Ten @ Eddie's, Birmingham
Reviewed by Izaac Carlisle
Exit Ten are from Reading. That is as much as I knew as I trundled through the rainy streets of Birmingham to Eddie’s Rock Bar (think Trillians but without a lick of paint. Or paint for that matter). A friend had recommended them; however their choice of support bands didn’t really fit in with the headline act.
Just for those not that filled in about these things, Exit Ten are essentially a 5 piece progressive metal band; imagine metal rifts but mashed with a vague representation of the vocalist from Alexisonfire. They liked to occasionally add a little bit of ‘scream’. For this genre, it would be rude not too.
Anyway, their support decided to go one further with the Alexis comparison and essentially copy them. With the pretentiously sounding names ‘Dividing the Line’ and ‘Casino Brawl’, the latter call the North East home and receiving the customary Geordie slang shouted at them, both had an air of similarity. Both had five members, with the same instruments, both had a singer, both…well had somebody that doesn’t sing and both, well sounded the same. Which is unfortunate because they weren’t that bad, Casino Brawl especially had a few nice numbers. It’s just that you can’t help thinking in your head ‘we’ve seen this all before’. Which I had. About half an hour ago.
Anyway, Exit Ten came on to the squeal of their teenage fan club and to congratulate my friend for the band choice, sounded actually quite good. They were quite tight playing, but their singer (Ryan) after suggesting his voice was a little rough, sang well. Technically alive came across really well, and overall it was a good performance. The venue didn’t really help, feeling more like a pool hall than a venue but overall a strong performance that leaves me suggesting that you go out and purchase their album or at least Myspace them at: http://www.myspace.com/exitten
Exit Ten are from Reading. That is as much as I knew as I trundled through the rainy streets of Birmingham to Eddie’s Rock Bar (think Trillians but without a lick of paint. Or paint for that matter). A friend had recommended them; however their choice of support bands didn’t really fit in with the headline act.
Just for those not that filled in about these things, Exit Ten are essentially a 5 piece progressive metal band; imagine metal rifts but mashed with a vague representation of the vocalist from Alexisonfire. They liked to occasionally add a little bit of ‘scream’. For this genre, it would be rude not too.
Anyway, their support decided to go one further with the Alexis comparison and essentially copy them. With the pretentiously sounding names ‘Dividing the Line’ and ‘Casino Brawl’, the latter call the North East home and receiving the customary Geordie slang shouted at them, both had an air of similarity. Both had five members, with the same instruments, both had a singer, both…well had somebody that doesn’t sing and both, well sounded the same. Which is unfortunate because they weren’t that bad, Casino Brawl especially had a few nice numbers. It’s just that you can’t help thinking in your head ‘we’ve seen this all before’. Which I had. About half an hour ago.
Anyway, Exit Ten came on to the squeal of their teenage fan club and to congratulate my friend for the band choice, sounded actually quite good. They were quite tight playing, but their singer (Ryan) after suggesting his voice was a little rough, sang well. Technically alive came across really well, and overall it was a good performance. The venue didn’t really help, feeling more like a pool hall than a venue but overall a strong performance that leaves me suggesting that you go out and purchase their album or at least Myspace them at: http://www.myspace.com/exitten
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Hot Club de Paris
The Others Rooms has to get the award for the most clichéd gig venue in Newcastle. Based in the Centre of Life, its part of the ‘Digital Super-Club’, which isn’t a Super-club at all. Referencing it on the dictionary says its ‘Higher in Quality’. Doesn’t that mean that every posh club is one? Or is it a title branched out for places that believe that just because they have a ‘mixture’ of music they can brand themselves in such way? Anyway, it’s a little room on the top floor that has what Hot Club de Paris (hereafter mentioned as HCDP) called an outrage for not having draught. It doesn’t really attract the young at heart, and that was evident by the audience, a bunch of 30 year olds, and the occasional younger couple, obviously saving their parent’s cash for more fruitful events, such as world hunger.
Anyway, the support bands came on. The first one was a local instrumental 3-piece guitar and occasional trumpet band, but to make themselves ‘rebellious’ they had masks on. If they had focused more on the guitar playing (the trumpet was admittedly very good) then they would have been rather good indeed, instead they let it become too repetitive and not telling a story. But, they obviously had talent, and some good songs.
Sky Larkin a female led indie band from Leeds were next up. Female bands are harder to find than male bands, some get marooned in either the Screemo Yeah Yeah Yeah’s sound or the subtler singer songwriter sound of coffee bar girls that sound exactly the same as the other girl I saw previously. For all that (and I would like to say I’m not totally against female singers, I am listening to Feist at the moment), Sky Larkin were impressive. Playing mostly of their new album, they showed quite a developed sound, with some nice lyrics.
When HCDP finally came on at 10.15. Their set can probably best be described as having a pot of (in its loosest term, but as they are actually on an independent Indie Label) indie and a pot of punk, combined in precise quantities to produce punchy pop punk gems that are over before you have chance to catch your breath. Their influences of early punk such as Firehose and Minutemen are very apparent and their execution is sharp whilst perfecting the love for simple harmonies that has stormed the indie scene of late with little difficulty. The majority of the set focuses their latest album Live At Dead Lake with the ingeniously named I Wasn’t Being Heartless When I Said Your Favourite Song Lacked Heart and current single My Little Haunting but classics such as Sometimesitsbetternottostickbitsofeachotherineachother and Your Face Looks All Wrong also get some play time. HCDP have a talent for bouncing off the crowd and their banter provokes many an excited ‘YEAH’ whilst salutes of expensive beer bottles fill the room. An undeniably fantastic performance, let’s hope these guys get the credit they deserve.
Review by Izaac Carlisle
Anyway, the support bands came on. The first one was a local instrumental 3-piece guitar and occasional trumpet band, but to make themselves ‘rebellious’ they had masks on. If they had focused more on the guitar playing (the trumpet was admittedly very good) then they would have been rather good indeed, instead they let it become too repetitive and not telling a story. But, they obviously had talent, and some good songs.
Sky Larkin a female led indie band from Leeds were next up. Female bands are harder to find than male bands, some get marooned in either the Screemo Yeah Yeah Yeah’s sound or the subtler singer songwriter sound of coffee bar girls that sound exactly the same as the other girl I saw previously. For all that (and I would like to say I’m not totally against female singers, I am listening to Feist at the moment), Sky Larkin were impressive. Playing mostly of their new album, they showed quite a developed sound, with some nice lyrics.
When HCDP finally came on at 10.15. Their set can probably best be described as having a pot of (in its loosest term, but as they are actually on an independent Indie Label) indie and a pot of punk, combined in precise quantities to produce punchy pop punk gems that are over before you have chance to catch your breath. Their influences of early punk such as Firehose and Minutemen are very apparent and their execution is sharp whilst perfecting the love for simple harmonies that has stormed the indie scene of late with little difficulty. The majority of the set focuses their latest album Live At Dead Lake with the ingeniously named I Wasn’t Being Heartless When I Said Your Favourite Song Lacked Heart and current single My Little Haunting but classics such as Sometimesitsbetternottostickbitsofeachotherineachother and Your Face Looks All Wrong also get some play time. HCDP have a talent for bouncing off the crowd and their banter provokes many an excited ‘YEAH’ whilst salutes of expensive beer bottles fill the room. An undeniably fantastic performance, let’s hope these guys get the credit they deserve.
Review by Izaac Carlisle
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
The Sound Ex
The End Bar Newcastle is the small bands dream: dark, dingy and cosy. The small corner pub was surprisingly packed with around 100 people ready to listen to the local boys’ second album, entitled ‘Palomino’. Sound Ex have toured with The Datsuns, and the Mooney Suzuki, and their influences were easy to see on their music. The support band came on the stage first though, but just a general hint with support bands. They need to be of a similar genre to the actual main act. This band was a punk band. I’m sorry for all the punk fans that read this, but it’s not my cup of tea, so when I want to hear Rock music, don’t pump out Punk. It’s one of those great lists called ‘the oldest trick in the book’, which they obviously didn’t read. They did have the ‘I look really bored’ bassist and the ‘I don’t think that I should be here’ lead singer that looked more like an accountant than a punk singer.
Anyway, The Sound Ex came on. As this was an album launch, it’s not the best place to judge a band on their live performances, the crowd obviously here to support the release of the album. As a band they worked well, they interacted with each other, having two vocalists sharing almost equally, except they have an obvious front man. The album as a whole is one of those efforts in which bands have fallen into the trap of producing a ‘safe’ album, one which doesn’t really do anything, but at the same time still gets your foot tapping, but this could be by the energy of the band on stage, as opposed to their music. Its interesting to see what they do from here, they are already signed with Damnation Records, so it’s not like there one of the masses of bands unsigned. It is, though, a crossing point for The Sound Ex, between going ‘reasonably’ big nationwide, regional or even going into the doldrums. Its something that could go either way, but with their life performance they have… more up than down.
Review by Izaac Carlisle
Anyway, The Sound Ex came on. As this was an album launch, it’s not the best place to judge a band on their live performances, the crowd obviously here to support the release of the album. As a band they worked well, they interacted with each other, having two vocalists sharing almost equally, except they have an obvious front man. The album as a whole is one of those efforts in which bands have fallen into the trap of producing a ‘safe’ album, one which doesn’t really do anything, but at the same time still gets your foot tapping, but this could be by the energy of the band on stage, as opposed to their music. Its interesting to see what they do from here, they are already signed with Damnation Records, so it’s not like there one of the masses of bands unsigned. It is, though, a crossing point for The Sound Ex, between going ‘reasonably’ big nationwide, regional or even going into the doldrums. Its something that could go either way, but with their life performance they have… more up than down.
Review by Izaac Carlisle
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