Grammatics @ the Head of Steam, 26/02/08

Not knowing who the Grammatics are, but having been advised to show up at their gig I did so and had an amazing time. Their music is impressive to narrow it down to one word. It is almost hard to describe, electro mixed in with rock and classical, or something like that. The music is of the sort that you should close your eyes to and let it fully overtake you. Maybe it’s the Cello, and the amazing voice of the front man. Worrying is the skinniness of some of the band members. The fact that the bass player likes Rilo Kiley raised my sympathy for this band even more.
Two drum kits? Well that’s what Vessels had on stage, and for one song only. But that song was amazing, seen that you can do a lot more with two drum kits than with one, it was a fast song.
Then there was Sefelt, a local band that started of their set by complaining about the Taxi fare they had to pay from Gateshead to reach the Head of Steam, getting some members to complain about having to pay £5 for their ticket. The music was good but not stunning.
The first band on was weird, well that depends on the definition of weird, but still Ryoga were quite weird. The music sounded alright but well I was distracted by the member of the audience that was dancing in front of everyone and by the fact that the keyboard player had a gigantic moustache. That wasn’t all he also had a giant piercing through his nose and had three really big arrows tattooed onto his shaved head. Who wouldn’t be distracted by that?

Review by Solveig Werner

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong @ Carling Academy 03 / 02 / 08 NME Tour

The third band in and Joe Lean and the JJJs waddle on to the stage for all these NME lovers. Will the band live up to the hype? Sort of. In a massive venue like this it’s hard to tell with echoes a plenty and the vast crowd chattering throughout. Lead singer Joe Lean prances and poses his way through, muttering into his microphone. But it sounds promising, though I reckon you’ve got to know the songs to appreciate the indie-goodness.

Review by Marzena Dabrowska

Morrissey @ Sunderland Empire 01/02/08

The idea that Morrissey is outdated is as outdated as Margaret Thatcher's hair. After a truly terrible support band (entitled 'Girl In A Coma' - my brother and I spent half their set trying to guess the gender of the drummer, so bored were we with their shouting riot-grrrrr noise) and a bizarre introduction comprising of a projection of James Dean wardrobe tests and some old footage of the New York Dolls, the real show began. And from the moment he strolled on stage in a tuxedo and announced, in thundering tones 'Sunderland, can you bear some poetry?' before launching into that old Smiths classic 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before', it was obvious that the great man has not lost his ability to incite chaos.
With the living guitar legend that is Boz Boorer leading the tight-as-Borrell's-jeans band, beautiful songs were laced with friendly banter and a genuine humility that would astonish even the harshest of his critics. It was not long before the audience erupted into crazed chants which did more than dislodge dust in the 111-year-old theatre, prompting embarrased laughter from the icon himself. For a renowned miserabilist, Morrissey's banter was second to none. 'I woke up at 4pm in the morning.....in Newcastle' he exclaimed, to mock-boos, 'and was confronted with a world of snow. It was beautiful. And it had to be Newcastle.....' Interaction with the crowd extended to politics. 'So, who's rooting for Hillary Clinton?' More boos. 'Obama?' Cheers all round. 'Thought so'.
The 19-song set comprised of material old ('The Loop', which saw the 48-year-old propelling himself across the stage bashing a tambourine) to the brand new, such as the single 'That's How People Grow Up', and new tracks such as 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' and 'Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed'. As catchy and promising as the new songs sounded, however, it was 'the old ones are the best' that rang particularly true, with a particular highlight revolving around a breathtaking, seven-minute recreation of The Smiths' 'How Soon Is Now?' Howling guitars, psycadelic basslines and strobe lights caused each audience member to join their hero in a closing of eyes, ecstasy etched on each face. A similar feat was achieved as soaring pianos and a huge gong complemented the building up of 'Life Is A Pigsty' from eerie shuffle into full-blown climax, which left the singer lying on his back with his feet on an amplifier and arms outstretched, seemingly unable to stand up for a full five minutes. Of the ‘poppier’ songs, 'Irish Blood, English Heart' was disposed of with aplomb, and 'The World Is Full Of Crashing Bores' implored every body in the building to punch the air at the deadpan delivery of lines such as 'educated criminals work within the law!' and the bitter assertion of 'thicker than pig-shit' pop stars being 'unable to show intelligence'. One feels that this is especially poignant when so many a music fan nowadays prefers the dross of the likes of Lily Allen, Kate Nash and Mika to a true poet like Morrissey. And as the great man brought the show to a close with a euphorically ironic 'Last Of The International Playboys', before reaching out to touch fervoured fans and throwing his sweat-drenched shirt into the pit of pilgrims before him, it was obvious that it is going to take something incredibly special to usurp the Mozfather. Long may he live on.

Review by Kate Edwards

Johnny Flynn and The Sussex Wit at the Cluny, 28/1/08

Flynn was supported by a great new local band called, Dot to Dots who set the seen for the folk driven rock of the night. Beautifully written songs with spot on harmonies between the two lead singers. Flynn himself started the evening with his successful single 'The Box' which got the crowd into the dancing mood. Pretty soon the area near the stage was transformed into what looked like the line dancing in a town hall….but they were having fun! The Sussex Wit had brought with them a huge range of instruments and they were all played perfectly, or as a woman in the audience next to me remarked, ‘ere, they aren’t ‘alf talented ain’t they?’ Flynn played everything from lead guitar and banjo to trumpet, whilst the rest of the band shifted their instruments around, from double bass, keyboards, drums, bass guitar and a flute. The tone of the night was more like a hoedown than a rock concert, with a definite folk if not country quality to the music which worked to brilliant effect with Flynn’s carefully constructed lyrics and rich vocal gravitas. All in all a great night, with a truly appreciative crowd - all obviously big fans.

Review by Jenny Carrick

Make Model at the Cluny and Uncle Monty at the Cumberland Arms

On the 24th of January Make Model was the second band to perform at the JD sessions gig held at the Cluny. This six-piece band is marked by their diversity, each member had a different way of dressing, behaving and making music. The music was good, but there were moments when the only girl in the band sang her parts a bit to high, but that might also have to do with the fact that you could easily find yourself outside the area where the sound is good. Make Model had a bit of a Spanish feel to them, they could get along well with the South American rock. They opened for Kubichek, who did not really manage to please the public. This gig was made special because Peter Hook, the legend himself, bass player of Joy Division and New Order, being present (as he was the co-hosted the concert). Apparently the first band that played at the gig the Answering Machine was the best band that played that night. I do not know about that seen that at that time I attended another gig up the road.
It is not normal to attend to two gigs at the same time during one nigh, but it is definitely something to do. At the Cumberland Arms the Newcastle Band opened for We Are The Physics, seen that the demo CD of Uncle Monty sounded good it was something that should not be missed. To my ear’s present surprise the life version of the songs sounded really good too, maybe even better, not only was I reminded of the Shins but also started thinking that something n the direction of Modest Mouse might be played next. After that I managed to catch the beginning of the set by Razmataz Lorry a member of the electro rock scene.

Reviews by Solveig Werner

Ash Concert at the Carlin Academy on the 24th of October 2007

The Irish band Ash stopped at the Carlin Academy in Newcastle for their “Twilight of the Innocents” tour on the 24th of October 2007. This is probably their last tour to promote an album, seen that the band had announced earlier this year that their next releases will only be singles available for internet downloads.
Being good looking (well, depending on what you consider good looking) does not give you an excuse to make more noise than necessary. The Dodgems, the first of the two opening bands, hid their lyrics underneath loud music. There was definitely some sort of coordination problem between the instruments and the vocal cords of the singer. Ironically it was the strings of his own guitar that drowned his words the heaviest. But they the energy to be on stage, they made fun remarks in between sets and had a lot of stage potential.
Then it was the turn of the Belgians to show what they have got, the Dead 60s were next. Like their music suggests and their name doesn’t they had a lot of energy on stage. They were going a bit crazy at times, the singer kept making weird faces, but he could not beat what the guys of Art Brut have to offer in that category. One thing they seem to love is standing on the edge of the stage, holding the guitar or bass up into the air while playing it, the first couple of times it’s fun but after the 10th time you have seen the ‘trick’ enough times. And one other thing, instruments should not be mistreated, well that’s what the singer did to his guitar, he did not scratch it against an amp or walk on it, he used an half shredded drumstick on his guitar.
“You Can’t Have It All”, the first single of Ash’s newest album kicked off their set. Everyone in the crowed loved it, they all showed their affection by trying to kill the people up front, it seems to be a norm for rock concerts. Tim Wheeler the singer and lead guitarist (now that Charlotte who was a member of Ash from 1997 to 2006 isn’t there anymore he is the only guitarist) kept on changing his guitars. He had some impressive looking ones like the silver glittering one, or his golden guitar, well if it is real gold is questionable. He was linked to his amp not by a cable like it is normal but by some sort of wireless connection. This probably made the switches a lot easier between the instruments.
It being the tour for their newest album, four leafless black trees in different sizes were on stage, it gave the whole concert a different ambience, an ambience created by nature. They were loved by the crowed, and well love hurts, and it hurt me their last song “Burn Baby Burn” which ended for a mighty nosebleed for me. Besides the nosebleed it was a really great show, Ash is a band definitely worth checking out live.

Review by Solveig Werner

BC Camplight at the Cluny, Halloween 2007

To promote the second single “Suffer For Two”, of their second album “Blink of a Nihilist” in the UK the Philadelphia Band BC Camplight stopped in Newcastle for the first show of this short tour. It was a Halloween gig at the Cluny with doors opening at 8pm, most concert-goers decided to show up a lot later than that time.
When he first opening band called Your Casket Or Mine stepped on stage it must have been a bit strange in the beginning seen that the only few people that weren’t members of the other bands were present at the. For this two-man band it was only their third gig. They did have something, a different fresh energy when playing their songs. But having a lot of energy is not the only thing that is important, they seemed to forget that not every song is supposed to sound like the other, the songs after about the third one started sounding similar and it was hard to tell them apart. It gave the impression of wanting to make a much noise as possible with just a guitar and a bass.
“Come hear the music play. Life is a Cabaret, old chum, come to the Cabaret!” When you see and hear the Wooden Spoons you might be tempted to think yourself in a cabaret, and no there were no topless girls in the background. The hats two of them wear give it the cabaret look, and the music they play gives the whole thing the cabaret sound. Something interesting would be a collaboration with the Dresden Dolls would be so much fun. They definitely have potential. Even if the music is loud and powerful you can still hear the singing without any problem. The cabaret tune in their music gives it that little something that makes you feel like you can’t have enough of it.
Halloween, that’s what the theme of the show, was for one band, BC Camplight. They did indicate on their blog that you should dress up, well in the public we were two people in costumes, on stage that was a different story. All the 5 members of the band were wearing a costume. The funniest thing was how the bass player Dave was standing in the middle of them all in a superman costume. But having the cookie monster on stage as well as Brian in long wavy blond hair and a dress, were also quite fun. The drummer was an Ogre, but took of the mask once he stepped on the stage. Stephanie Vernacchio (the only girl in the band) decided to dress up as Brian Christinzio the way he is pictured on the cover of the latest album “Blink of a Nihilist”, released on One Little Indian, UK.
The band had not played in this lineup ever before at least not for a life concert, that did not show at all. During the first song people were still not approaching the stage that much, but by the time “Hide, Run Away” started there seemed to be a rush to have a better view of the band. Their music is fun a bit crazy and having them on stage in the most random costumes fit them perfectly well, they should consider always dressing up, haha. But it would be a good idea. BC Camplight is definitely a band worth checking out.

Review by Solveig Werner