Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in September 2010
Words - Suzy Sims
(c) mINtSOUTH.com
SOUTHSEA FEST - 2010
We’re padding the streets of Southsea in well-worn Converse; head down, looking at maps, fiddling with camera lenses and wondering if the band we’ve just seen is the same as given on the running order. Southsea Fest venues don’t need signs or markers to show where they are. The entrances are illuminated by the shining beacons from a dozen cigarettes being puffed outside the doorway. An excitable friend runs up to us with open arms in Wine Vaults, where we’ve come to check out Brothers. With music in the background, she leads us to the Sailor Jerry stand for tattoos and cocktails – an excellent choice of sponsor, because everyone loves a good rum. mINtSOUTH’s team leave with an anchor for the matelot, and a swallow for the classy bird.
It’s been said many times before, and I’ll say it again – Portsmouth is not known for its music scene. The name most people are excited to see on the list is Pulled Apart By Horses (Leeds), who’s not-so-secret-secret-gig was recently announced. It is however good that people are getting off their arse and doing something to showcase the best local acts through Southsea Fest. Originally set up as a charitable event to help a young artist with lymphoma record an album (and indeed charity is still at the heart of the day, with a healthy donation to The Ellen MacArthur Trust), it’s now a highlight in the festival calendar for the people who are too cool or too broke for the bigger name events across the Solent.
It’s early in the day, yet the Edge of the Wedge is still filling up nicely for The Attika State, as part of the BSM and Alcopop stage. It’s hot in here already, just a little temperature taster of what the Pulled Apart By Horses gig will be like. The music is warm and spicy with some cheering melodies.
Over in Little Johnny Russells, Zoo In The Sky is fronted by the ever present Huw Olesker. His Mohawk brings him punk power and ska beats. Without it, he would be helpless. Summer is extended in the pub during the band’s set.
The day passes in a blur, helped along by an unfortunate habit of arriving at a venue to catch the last minute of a band, and then a half an hour break before the next. We caught the end of punky rockers The Exposed who are deafening the Deco with some loud drums, and spot the next troupe of insanely paisley and animal printed shirts, which we take to be Bad For Lazarus, who are having lengthy technical difficulties. In the end we give up and head to the Kings Theatre, managing to sneak upstairs and catch a sweet balcony spot for The B Of The Bang. I haven’t seen them before and found their jaunty lo-fi slightly downbeat but quite pleasant, but thought they struggled to make an impact.
Most people were heading to the Kings, partly because it had soft seating (the venues are so rammed, sometimes it’s nice to pause and actually see the bands you’re listening to) and partly because The Strange Death Of Liberal England are local darlings at present, with positive album reviews across the land. This is no scruffy pub gig. The Show, for that is what it is, opens with two scarlet-coated military drummers marching to the stage before the band arrive, all mock serious poses, air raid sirens and beautifully sweeping songs. There’s something about the sheer majesty of an orchestra that can help magnify the dramatic elements of a melody. TSDOLE are a theatrical highlight of the day.
After a near miss, when mINtSOUTH try to leave the venue the same time as the band and almost end up at the back of their victory parade behind their soldier drummers, it’s time for a break at the Balti House and another perusal of the timetable.
mINtSOUTH breaks ranks and The One With The Dead Camera Battery ends up at the fast and fun Stagecoach and Tall Ships, who he was particularly taken with, claiming the hypnotic tunes left him enthralled. Meanwhile, The One With The Notepad drifts aimlessly around the Wine Vaults and Porters, again eyeing up the rum cocktails, then heads up Albert Road. I’m not sure where I am or what is playing. I feel lost. There are snatches of rocky chords and fuzzing bass, brief glimpses of bands above people’s heads. Blasts of pounding indie rock echo down the street, as someone – possibly Lucifers Gold? - play at The Festing. The gig venue is separated from the normal Saturday crowd. Downstairs, a tall man in a Scooby Doo outfit and his other costumed friends talk by the jukebox while elsewhere the band play on.
On heading back to the Wedgewood Rooms, we bump into a friend again, who had to escape Pulled Apart By Horses due to heat exhaustion, and is currently winding down. A random taps mINtSOUTH’s reviewer on the shoulder: “Excuse me, my friend says you just pinched my bottom.” No. “It’s quite a good bottom, though.” Again, no.
We flash our wristbands shyly at the doorman on the Edge, who shakes his head and indicates that there is a queue of at least half a dozen people. No PABH for us tonight. We’re also gutted to miss Islet, as by all accounts they were fantastic.
Instead we turn our attention Wedge-wards. I was impressed with Bleech. Singer Jennifer peers out from beneath her mane, rocking away without care, surrounded by cloudy grungy and Nineties Britpop influences.
NME wrote something of a ridiculously poor review of the Little Fish album, possibly because they didn’t realise the group are first and foremost a Live Act. Tonight they are a Live Act surrounded by balloons as it’s the drummer’s birthday. Juju never disappoints and like the girls of Bleech, is a rocking alpha female who is obviously enjoying her time onstage but isn’t too precious to scream or pull crazy faces. Top notch.
The Xcerts are full of furious stop-starts and plenty of punkish pop energy, just right for a Saturday night. They also have a number of fans singing away, hands aloft; always a cheery sight. It would be nice to catch Goldheart Assembly, but there’s been a delay in going onstage and South West Trains wait for no man, so it’s time to step into the shockingly chilly air and trudge back to the station.
Our Southsea Fest 2010 Experience is over – but for many of you, the partying carried into the early part of Sunday morning. Good on ya.
BANDS YOU WOULD TOTALLY SEE BASED ON THEIR NAME ALONE
Head Full of Yoko, Dr Skrivenski’s Pandorium, Smokey Bastard, &U&I, Skibunny, Klezma Villanova, Tricorn, Itchy Teeth, Attack! Vipers!
OVERHEARD RECOMMENDATIONS – EAVESDROPPING ON THE STREETS OF SOUTHSEA
“The best band that I’ve heard today is that 12 Dirty Bullets.”
“I can only see two or three names I recognise, I don’t know who anyone is!”
“I’m really hoping to catch King Charles."
“Islet were well exciting.”
“What did you think of Pulled Apart By Horses? They were immense.”
http://www.southseafest.com/
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