My third year of coming to this festival. The first year, I was a normal punter. Second year, I was an unemployed journo with a delegate pass. This year I was with the press. So presumably next year, I'll either be playing it or selling tickets. PS - much love for Cocoon, Dananananaykroyd and Fight Like Apes.
Previously published on mintsouth.com in May 09
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL DIARY 2009
THURS 14th MAY
There’s a brisk wind blowing across Brighton seafront, whipping my hair and bashing my bags on my legs as we march towards the Thistle Hotel, home of the delegate check in. After standing in line to have some quite ridiculous photographs of our mintsouth mugs copied onto press passes, we’re away… straight into the bar of the neighbouring Queen’s Hotel. Good work, team.
The Great Escape text service is already in full swing, with reminders popping up about forthcoming street gigs as we find our way to Arc on the front. Up a flight of stairs, round a corner and into a dark, stone-walled room, and we’re not the only people to be starting the festival here. It’s Thursday lunchtime and William Fitzsimmons is onstage. I’m unable to see anything due to the mass of people crowding into the gloom, but there is something comforting about the oak-matured vocals warming the room. When Fitzsimmons emerges, his beard enters the room a good minute before the rest of him. “Set of the festival!” proclaims excited mintsouth editor Rob. Calm down love, we’ve only been here for half an hour…
http://www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons
After a bit of time poring gig schedules, changing plans and helping ourselves to several cans of Red Stripe, it’s time to split and head for our evenings of madness. First for me is a wait in the rain outside the gated Audio, a venue which appears to be an underground prison from the outside, but with marginally better décor once you’re down there. I step up the barrier and await Act One, Video Nasties. They appear onstage in the same shirts they wore at their Southampton gig the night before (don’t think I didn’t notice). Opening with an enjoyable waltz, the Nasties are noisy and melodious but not particularly nasty, unless you’re not a fan of the bassist’s extraordinary fringeness. The keyboardist dances like he’s starting an outboard motor. It’s all rather good.
http://www.myspace.com/videonasties
Next up are Mika Miko whose songs are sharp blasts of punk, very short and spicy. From where I’m stood the vocals are being drowned out. The band are made up of fuzzy guitar, high-waisted jeans, telephone mics and saxophone, with a spot of instrument swapping.
http://www.myspace.com/mikamiko
The crowd soon warms up when Dananananaykroyd’s chief screamer Calum Gunn flings himself into the crowd for a dance and a rasping shout. He’s shortly joined by the rest of the band, for they do not shy away from interaction and enjoy an opportunity to show off their dance moves. Drummer/vocalist John Baillie Jr is standing on the barrier when he’s not using the sticks, guitarist Duncan Robertson rubs his guitar across the top of my head, and there are some amused cameramen filming the whole crazy shebang. The lads next to me are going nuts and there’s plenty of shouting, dancing and raucous fun. God, my arms hurt from that barrier.
http://www.myspace.com/dananananaykroyd
Sadly I miss Black Lips as I’m tasked with crossing the rain-filled city to find Komedia. Everything Everything are onstage when I arrive, playing some angular beats mixed with angel voices with very Delays-style harmonies. It’s all very sweet sounding underneath. Meanwhile, I’m busy updating my Twitter feed with ‘I am waiting to see the Rumble Strips’ and am rather surprised to receive a message from the band saying ‘And we’re waiting to play. See you in 20!’
http://www.myspace.com/everythingeverythinguk
The Rumble Strips are the ultimate feelgood party band. The first 15 rows of the crowd are bouncing gleefully and joining in with brassy and cheerful album tracks such as ‘Alarm Clock’, ‘Clouds’ and ‘No Soul’. We also get a handful of newbies including ‘Daniel’ and ‘London.’ A stage invader pops up to cheerfully clap the backs of every band member and yell into the mics while security make a half-assed effort to drag him off. I leave with high spirits. You cannot fail to please with a good Rumble Strips track.
http://www.myspace.com/rumblestripsuk
The Maccabees are on at the Corn Exchange tonight, but the queue is four miles long and I have no patience. My good mood starts to disappear as I splash across Brighton in the search for the Duke Of York Picturehouse. I came here last year yet still managed to stand outside without recognising it before tramping halfway round the block in a sulk. I was in time to see Teitur (pronounced ‘Tayter’) from the Faroe Islands, replete with toy keyboard, striking bass and lullaby melodies. The songs don’t really fit together, like random jigsaw pieces oddly crammed into place, and the vocals tend to flap weakly at times, but when all goes well, it’s not bad.
http://www.myspace.com/teitur
It’s a shame this gig was in a cinema as due to the lateness of the hour, people started drifting off shortly before Cocoon came onstage. French duo Mark and Morgane are sweet, friendly and not entirely professional, breaking into giggles at the slightest thing. They play today minus their band; beautiful, heartfelt charm present in their tunes. Despite the fact I was almost dozing in the chilly seating, Cocoon were one of my festival highlights.
http://www.myspace.com/listentococoon
FRI 15th MAY
After rolling out of bed and arriving at the nearest pub for a decent cooked breakfast, I'm feeling seriously impressed at the number of bruises on my arms from the previous night's barrier activity. At 11.55 I'm stood outside the Pavilion Theatre, watching minor indie bands walk past and impatiently waiting for the rest of mintsouth to leg it across the city. They arrive, panting slightly, and we head off for our first proper celeb greeting of the festival: an interview with Orlando Weeks, lead singer of The Maccabees. Sitting in the cafe next door, it's obvious he also had a late one, but on the whole is bearing up well.
Back at The Thistle Hotel, where I spy The Futureheads' Ross Millard mingling with the pretty people. The celeb spotting doesn't end there. We have a quick chat with Thomas Tantrum to see how they're enjoying their time. At the conference with Spotify head honcho Daniel Ek, I look round to see Radio 1's Huw Stephens sat three rows behind me. If this wasn't excitement enough, a man in front of me puts his hand up and introduces himself to the room as “Jake Shillingford, artist.” Jake Shillingford? The Jake Shillingford of Britpop heydayers My Life Story? Could this day get any better?
No, it actually couldn't. Po Na Na was one-in-one-out so I was unable to enjoy Slow Club and Casiokids. Tramping through the wind and general street gudge, I instead make my way to the Unitarian Church to see what was afoot. First up is Kurran and The Wolfnotes, fronted by what appears to be a pirate and a Pipette. They play plinky and heartfelt folk, sitting down and concentrating hard on the notes. They're closely followed by the gentle tones of New York folktress Leona Naess, though she does betray her calm exterior with some annoyance that the spelling of her name was completely cacked up in the official programme.
http://www.myspace.com/kurranandthewolfnotes
http://www.myspace.com/leonanaess
One of the stars of the night was undoubtedly the harassed caretaker, who appeared onstage halfway through the night to remind us we are very lucky to be drinking beer in a church, but could we please chuck our cans in the bins instead of leaving lager spittled cups rolling around the sacred space. He is given whoops for his trouble.
It was a hard act to follow, but Ex Lovers just about managed with their blend of non-offensive, easy-going rock, the sort which didn't feel out of place in such sensible surroundings. Almost melancholy at times, the band have a worn familiarity to them, like an old friend who you're immensely fond of, but not entirely sure why. Headlining the Unitarian Church was modern poet Johnny Flynn, tonight without his Sussex Wit troubadours. The music is strong and compelling folk, nicely trussed up with some steel guitar. The crowd has a mighty singalong. http://www.myspace.com/weareexlovers
http://www.myspace.com/johnnyflynn
After a brief nap, brought on by a combination of poor sleep and old age, I braved the wind and the drunken party-goers down by The Arches along the seafront, where I rescued Dan Black from deafening music at Coalition and we nipped across the road to the Thistle Hotel for an interview in the warmth. Neither of us are used to working quite this late. By the time we are done, it is almost 1am.
Back at the Coalition, Huw Stephens is wandering around with a poker face. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool are hopping around onstage through cascades of 80s synth, swapping between dance and rap. They're enjoyable, though sadly their name is the best thing about them. In between acts, the Lovebox Allstars DJs some poundingly optimistic house with a taste of trance. Meanwhile, I'm trying to avoid date-rape by turning down a sip from an open can (“Oh go on, you can finish it, I'm off in a minute,” says the guy with a full pint in his other hand) and avoiding the clubbing nobheads who turn up in every city on a Friday night. Dan Black seems a slightly odd choice to follow the DJs for enjoyable as he is, the crowd are dancing and in the mood for more house, therefore the cool electro Mika pop has a slightly subduing effect. Luckily the crowd enjoys his stylised dancing and black leather-clad shape-throwing.
http://www.myspace.com/ouestleswimmingpool
http://www.myspace.com/danblacksound
SAT 16th MAY
The festival is starting to take its toll. I look a state, partly because the showers at my hostel are not designed for anyone to spend a minute in without feeling severely depressed and unpleasantly infectious.
First gig today comes after a 20 minute queue up the flock wallpapered stairs of The Prince Albert along with everyone else who wants to see Fight Like Apes. The band seem to be living up to their name at the moment, with a few sporting black eyes and cut foreheads, then opening with a plastic crate dual. The stage set-up is taking far longer than anticipated. “What do you call a woman with one leg? Eileen!” offers the bassist by way of entertainment, then he looks embarrassed and walks off. The room is packed and hot, with the band adding some heat with the buzzsaw synth and hair flailing. An excellent wake up call for a Saturday afternoon.
http://www.myspace.com/fightlikeapesmusic
The main plan for the evening was to camp out at the Honey Club on the Arches, where we managed to get a spot on the balcony. The special guests opening are the enjoyable commercial pop rock beat combo You Animals and their shambolic frontman clambering around the pillars, followed by charmingly tuneful Sky Larkin. Katie Harkin’s method of playing the guitar above her head fails miserably as three guitars break in succession, resulting in her singing the melodies and apologising profusely. At the end their drummer Animal - sorry, Nestor - bodily rolls over the kit and gives Katie a piggyback offstage.
http://www.myspace.com/youanimals
http://www.myspace.com/skylarkinskylarkin
Johnny Foreigner are up next, and they’re not expecting a massive reception. “Shout ‘eee’ if you know who we are, and ‘ooo’ if you’re waiting for Idlewild,” says singer Alexei, shaking his head jokingly at the response. They’re loud and they’re cool, though the vocals aren’t carrying well to the back at all. Another guitarist appears near the end – I believe he’s from Calories, who recently toured with JoFo – to add some raucous power. The band go down a lot better than they thought they would.
http://www.myspace.com/johnnyforeigner
Next come the band everyone has been waiting for, Idlewild. I say ‘everyone’. Frankly I’m a bit disappointed. They’re kicking ass with some grunge punk rock, but to my ears it’s all a bit formulaic and plain. My feet were aching and I was a little annoyed they came back for an encore when I’d have preferred to be in bed with some hot chocolate. The set does absolutely nothing for me until ‘Love Steals Us From Loneliness’ comes on, and then suddenly I feel quite emotional. I’d like to point out I’m in the minority on this one. Everyone in the crowd, particularly the guy in the yellow t shirt who keeps accidentally headbutting the frightened people stood behind him, seems to be having a wonderful time and the front few rows mosh and josh as best they can on the small step at the front. (I loved it, the new stuff is amazing... plus some old punky stuff. Ed)
http://www.myspace.com/idlewild
After Idlewild, I quick march up to Hector’s House, where there’s a queue of people trying to sneak in. I enter the venue and my mood changes significantly. From slightly gloomy and rocky to flashing disco lights and bright colours, my ears perk up. Thanks to Futurecop! for vastly improving my mood with their sexxxy dance music which combines all the (good) chirpy sounds and neon sights of 1987. They were ace and I wish I’d arrived in time to hear more.
http://www.myspace.com/thefuturecop
The last gig of my festival was Thomas Tantrum, Southampton’s premier mischief-making art-pop band. With wonky indie pop tunes and tuneful hiccups zinging out of every speaker (“Please can we have more vocals?” Megan Thomas keeps pleading to a soundman who is presumably either asleep, or deaf after three days of feedback). With bubbly songs full of flavour, it’s a frenetic finish to a fantastic few days. So, who’s coming next year?
http://www.myspace.com/thomastantrum
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Live Review - Little Fish + LoLo
I quite enjoyed this gig. I was out by myself but managed to bump into a bunch of lovely people from the Hong Kong Gardeners' Club and new DJs with old Native.tv shipmates Express FM. Also my sister made me a cup of tea beforehand. Decent evening. Juju? Superb.
Previously published on mintsouth.com in May 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
LITTLE FISH + LOLO @ LITTLE JOHNNY RUSSELL'S 30/04/2009
Tonight is one of the warm up events for Southsea Fest. We’re a band down tonight as Fresh Legs were sadly forced to pull out over illness. Little Johnny Russell’s is still chocka with music lovers, and Little Fish are about to unleash their power on the unsuspecting South.
The opening act is LoLo, aka petite singer Lora Kirk on guitar with another band member lurking on the floor out of sight. Lora has a gentle, haunting voice which weaves its magic over the noisy crowd. Looking everywhere around the venue but at her audience, the acoustic pixie plays pleasant laidback music.
Unfortunately the full effect is lost as the tracks are delicate and not ideally suited to a pub crowd, and LoLo don’t look entirely at home in their surroundings. The songs are charming but the tempo is the same and the tunes blend into one, although it is still thoughtful and sweet to listen to.
Oxford rockers Little Fish headlined the event. They recently signed to Custard/Universal, and there are already people in the crowd tonight who have seen them several times and are very much looking forward to this performance.
Vocalist Juju gleefully fixes various crowd members with a wild-eyed stare and asks plenty of questions about the local area, wondering what the traditional Pompey greeting for ‘Hello and thanks’ is, and how one gets about offshore. “What happens if you want to put a piano on your boat?” she muses at one point, prompting the answer “You don’t.”
Little Fish have a more classic punk rock sound with drums and guitar only; reminding me slightly of The Kills but with elements of the Rolling Stones to their loops and hooks. Juju is a fantastic frontwoman with a pure rock voice, occasionally launching into a fiendish scream. She’s very animated, energetic and grinning. No offence to drummer Nez who is doing a sterling job, but it’s all about Juju and all eyes are focusing on her kohl-rimmed ones.
Little Fish won’t be playing small venues for long – this isn’t speculation, it’s definitely the case as they will soon be warming up the crowds for Placebo. They might be called Little Fish, but they’re bigger than they make out.
http://www.myspace.com/littlefishmusic
http://www.myspace.com/lolosouthsea
Previously published on mintsouth.com in May 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
LITTLE FISH + LOLO @ LITTLE JOHNNY RUSSELL'S 30/04/2009
Tonight is one of the warm up events for Southsea Fest. We’re a band down tonight as Fresh Legs were sadly forced to pull out over illness. Little Johnny Russell’s is still chocka with music lovers, and Little Fish are about to unleash their power on the unsuspecting South.
The opening act is LoLo, aka petite singer Lora Kirk on guitar with another band member lurking on the floor out of sight. Lora has a gentle, haunting voice which weaves its magic over the noisy crowd. Looking everywhere around the venue but at her audience, the acoustic pixie plays pleasant laidback music.
Unfortunately the full effect is lost as the tracks are delicate and not ideally suited to a pub crowd, and LoLo don’t look entirely at home in their surroundings. The songs are charming but the tempo is the same and the tunes blend into one, although it is still thoughtful and sweet to listen to.
Oxford rockers Little Fish headlined the event. They recently signed to Custard/Universal, and there are already people in the crowd tonight who have seen them several times and are very much looking forward to this performance.
Vocalist Juju gleefully fixes various crowd members with a wild-eyed stare and asks plenty of questions about the local area, wondering what the traditional Pompey greeting for ‘Hello and thanks’ is, and how one gets about offshore. “What happens if you want to put a piano on your boat?” she muses at one point, prompting the answer “You don’t.”
Little Fish have a more classic punk rock sound with drums and guitar only; reminding me slightly of The Kills but with elements of the Rolling Stones to their loops and hooks. Juju is a fantastic frontwoman with a pure rock voice, occasionally launching into a fiendish scream. She’s very animated, energetic and grinning. No offence to drummer Nez who is doing a sterling job, but it’s all about Juju and all eyes are focusing on her kohl-rimmed ones.
Little Fish won’t be playing small venues for long – this isn’t speculation, it’s definitely the case as they will soon be warming up the crowds for Placebo. They might be called Little Fish, but they’re bigger than they make out.
http://www.myspace.com/littlefishmusic
http://www.myspace.com/lolosouthsea
Live Review - Dan Black, Installation, Overreact
Previously published on mintsouth.com in May 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
DAN BLACK, INSTALLATION + OVERREACT @ SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS 05/05/09
“I was dreaming when I saw you,” Dan Black sings on ‘Alone’. Similarly I really enjoyed this gig, despite daydreaming through the bright lush sounds which surrounded me throughout.
First onstage is some pop punk in primary colours courtesy of Overreact - a name which makes you think of the media’s reaction to swine flu, in a roundabout way. With the jerky melodies and excessive fringe, they really are similar to a young Johnny Foreigner and there’s also a touch of The Rakes to their music. With badges stretching down their guitar straps, the band puzzle onstage over how they made it onto this line up. The music might be a tad different the headliner but it’s enjoyably scrappy and the band show a lot of promise, particularly during the indie dance tracks.
Next onstage, Installation are greeted by their friends with cheers of “Oi oi!” Opening with a hooping synth, the band have a fascinating mix of songs, samples and drum and bass, with possible reactions alternating between dancing like an ape or lying on the floor looking at the stars. You know at music festivals when it’s 3am, everyone’s in bed and everything is closed apart from that one tent pumping out trippy grooves? Their set was like this.
Singer Gav Brook was in a camouflage jacket so I kept losing him amongst the foliage on stage (/sarcasm). There is heaps of energetic bass, funky samples, strong rapping and beautiful female vocals (courtesy of Laura Wolfe) gliding across the top, giving a strange, otherworldly feeling. Something a bit different, and very atmospheric.
The headliner tonight is Dan Black, a crisply suited man whose stiff dancing is given a warm glow by the cerise and lemon neon ‘DB’ panels behind. Previously known as the singer and guitarist in The Servant, Black has now stepped out on his own to bring his electro to the country. He’s a fascinating frontman.
It’s glorious dirty pop with a powerful kick, absolutely bursting with life. Songs we get tonight include ‘Alone’, ‘U + Me’, ‘Ecstatsy’ and as well as plenty of others from debut album ’Un’. The lads in the crowd demand an encore. “We haven’t got any more songs!” Black laughs. They’re not all pumping, psyching synth beats either; unexpectedly there are some quite sweet and laidback tunes in there.
One of the band is playing a mini keyboard, and a bloke in the crowd makes a grab for the tambourine but splatters his drink across the floor. “You fucked your beer up,” notes Black with a smile. “But you got a tambourine out of it. It’s kind of a trade off.” He deals with the crowd very easily. At the end he thanks all of us, “especially the dancing men.”
It might be more suited to a Saturday night, but Dan Black’s neon pop can still get the crowd dancing any day of the week.
http://www.myspace.com/overreact
http://www.myspace.com/installationband
http://www.danblacksound.com
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
DAN BLACK, INSTALLATION + OVERREACT @ SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS 05/05/09
“I was dreaming when I saw you,” Dan Black sings on ‘Alone’. Similarly I really enjoyed this gig, despite daydreaming through the bright lush sounds which surrounded me throughout.
First onstage is some pop punk in primary colours courtesy of Overreact - a name which makes you think of the media’s reaction to swine flu, in a roundabout way. With the jerky melodies and excessive fringe, they really are similar to a young Johnny Foreigner and there’s also a touch of The Rakes to their music. With badges stretching down their guitar straps, the band puzzle onstage over how they made it onto this line up. The music might be a tad different the headliner but it’s enjoyably scrappy and the band show a lot of promise, particularly during the indie dance tracks.
Next onstage, Installation are greeted by their friends with cheers of “Oi oi!” Opening with a hooping synth, the band have a fascinating mix of songs, samples and drum and bass, with possible reactions alternating between dancing like an ape or lying on the floor looking at the stars. You know at music festivals when it’s 3am, everyone’s in bed and everything is closed apart from that one tent pumping out trippy grooves? Their set was like this.
Singer Gav Brook was in a camouflage jacket so I kept losing him amongst the foliage on stage (/sarcasm). There is heaps of energetic bass, funky samples, strong rapping and beautiful female vocals (courtesy of Laura Wolfe) gliding across the top, giving a strange, otherworldly feeling. Something a bit different, and very atmospheric.
The headliner tonight is Dan Black, a crisply suited man whose stiff dancing is given a warm glow by the cerise and lemon neon ‘DB’ panels behind. Previously known as the singer and guitarist in The Servant, Black has now stepped out on his own to bring his electro to the country. He’s a fascinating frontman.
It’s glorious dirty pop with a powerful kick, absolutely bursting with life. Songs we get tonight include ‘Alone’, ‘U + Me’, ‘Ecstatsy’ and as well as plenty of others from debut album ’Un’. The lads in the crowd demand an encore. “We haven’t got any more songs!” Black laughs. They’re not all pumping, psyching synth beats either; unexpectedly there are some quite sweet and laidback tunes in there.
One of the band is playing a mini keyboard, and a bloke in the crowd makes a grab for the tambourine but splatters his drink across the floor. “You fucked your beer up,” notes Black with a smile. “But you got a tambourine out of it. It’s kind of a trade off.” He deals with the crowd very easily. At the end he thanks all of us, “especially the dancing men.”
It might be more suited to a Saturday night, but Dan Black’s neon pop can still get the crowd dancing any day of the week.
http://www.myspace.com/overreact
http://www.myspace.com/installationband
http://www.danblacksound.com
Live Review - Rolo Tomassi, Grammatics, Pulled Apart By Horses
What. A. Line. Up. I begged for this gig because I really wanted to see PABH. I'd even bought one of their t shirts, though I didn't wear it on the night because it would have comfortably accommodated me and about three other people. Damn crazy t shirt sizes.
Previously published on mintsouth.com in May 09
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
ROLO TOMASSI, GRAMMATICS + PULLED APART BY HORSES @ SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS 02/05/2009
You have to expect the unexpected with Rolo Tomassi, that’s all I can say. The nice sounding name reminds me of sweets and treacle, though the band is actually named after a character from LA Confidential. However if you come to one of their gigs expecting sweet confectionary, you’re certainly in for a rude awakening.
First onstage were Pulled Apart By Horses, the band I was most looking forward to tonight. I have something of a soft spot for the Leeds scene, and PABH’s singles promised raw and brash tunage. The very first note set the whole floor quivering and the band emerged from beneath their hair to provide incendiary rock. Singer Tom Hudson, clad in a bright yellow shirt, takes the mic and calmly plants it in the middle of the venue, splitting the crowd in two. Guitarist James Brown does a musical Spiderman onto the ledge in the corner and later mouths ‘I love you’ at one of Rolo Tomassi, who come to the rescue when the bass suffers technical difficulties.
Songs tonight include ‘Meat Balloon’, ‘The Crapsons’, ‘I Punched A Lion In The Throat’ and ‘High Five Swan Dive Nose Dive’. If that’s sounding a bit heavy, the band also throw in a smattering of high fives for everyone and offer their favourite Sonic The Hedgehog cheats.
The final song sees the lads in the crowd swarm straight for Hudson, smothering him and his guitar in a bear hug. As the band say tongue-in-cheek in ‘Meat Balloon’, it was awesome, radical, and totally bodacious. Dude.
It was something of a nice breather to have Grammatics back at the Joiners and sandwiched between the two loudest acts. Also from Leeds, singer Owen Brinley, wearing a necklace made from shells, announced the band had “missed like five hours of Come Dine With Me tonight, so count yourselves fucking lucky” they’re here. Emilia Ergin’s powerful cello can leave an audience spellbound and silent and the band’s quirky, jump nature is an enjoyable break from the ear-bashing.
The band was here recently supporting Red Light Company and judging from the number in the crowd singing along to their album tracks, they were definitely worth coming back for. Grammatics have a cool and melodramatic touch to them, but they certainly punked up the last few minutes of their set. Songs tonight included ‘The Vague Archive’, ‘D.I.L.E.M.M.A’ and ‘Shadow Committee’.
After a short break for the onstage changeover, Rolo Tomassi introduced themselves with expectant stares and some feedback that was at exactly the right frequency to melt the wax from your ears. Formed in Sheffield in 2005, Rolo Tomassi have gone on to develop a reputation for powerful live shows, which won them a spot at last year’s Download. They also stopped off at SXSW a few months ago.
The band is fronted by the attractive demon that is Eva Spence, a wide-eyed and charming love who looks peaceful but is quite clearly possessed by something evil. When she opens her mouth you are never quite sure if you will be greeting by sweet and soft tones, or a throaty roar of fire, a la Arch Enemy’s Angela Gossow.
The tunes are unpredictable in places, switching between what sound slightly like jazz lullabies and thrash synth metal. The setlist tonight included ‘Film Noir’, ‘Seagull’, ‘Abraxus’, ‘Oh, Hello Ghost’ and ‘I Love Turbulence’. At the end of ‘Curby’ the bassist is crowdsurfing, the guys in the mosh pit look knackered and there is a sharp odour of sweat in the air. “What a band!” yells one bloke. “What. A. Fucking. Band.” The devil certainly has the best tunes; and the loudest.
http://www.pulledapartbyhorses.com
http://www.grammatics.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/rolotomassi
Previously published on mintsouth.com in May 09
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
ROLO TOMASSI, GRAMMATICS + PULLED APART BY HORSES @ SOUTHAMPTON JOINERS 02/05/2009
You have to expect the unexpected with Rolo Tomassi, that’s all I can say. The nice sounding name reminds me of sweets and treacle, though the band is actually named after a character from LA Confidential. However if you come to one of their gigs expecting sweet confectionary, you’re certainly in for a rude awakening.
First onstage were Pulled Apart By Horses, the band I was most looking forward to tonight. I have something of a soft spot for the Leeds scene, and PABH’s singles promised raw and brash tunage. The very first note set the whole floor quivering and the band emerged from beneath their hair to provide incendiary rock. Singer Tom Hudson, clad in a bright yellow shirt, takes the mic and calmly plants it in the middle of the venue, splitting the crowd in two. Guitarist James Brown does a musical Spiderman onto the ledge in the corner and later mouths ‘I love you’ at one of Rolo Tomassi, who come to the rescue when the bass suffers technical difficulties.
Songs tonight include ‘Meat Balloon’, ‘The Crapsons’, ‘I Punched A Lion In The Throat’ and ‘High Five Swan Dive Nose Dive’. If that’s sounding a bit heavy, the band also throw in a smattering of high fives for everyone and offer their favourite Sonic The Hedgehog cheats.
The final song sees the lads in the crowd swarm straight for Hudson, smothering him and his guitar in a bear hug. As the band say tongue-in-cheek in ‘Meat Balloon’, it was awesome, radical, and totally bodacious. Dude.
It was something of a nice breather to have Grammatics back at the Joiners and sandwiched between the two loudest acts. Also from Leeds, singer Owen Brinley, wearing a necklace made from shells, announced the band had “missed like five hours of Come Dine With Me tonight, so count yourselves fucking lucky” they’re here. Emilia Ergin’s powerful cello can leave an audience spellbound and silent and the band’s quirky, jump nature is an enjoyable break from the ear-bashing.
The band was here recently supporting Red Light Company and judging from the number in the crowd singing along to their album tracks, they were definitely worth coming back for. Grammatics have a cool and melodramatic touch to them, but they certainly punked up the last few minutes of their set. Songs tonight included ‘The Vague Archive’, ‘D.I.L.E.M.M.A’ and ‘Shadow Committee’.
After a short break for the onstage changeover, Rolo Tomassi introduced themselves with expectant stares and some feedback that was at exactly the right frequency to melt the wax from your ears. Formed in Sheffield in 2005, Rolo Tomassi have gone on to develop a reputation for powerful live shows, which won them a spot at last year’s Download. They also stopped off at SXSW a few months ago.
The band is fronted by the attractive demon that is Eva Spence, a wide-eyed and charming love who looks peaceful but is quite clearly possessed by something evil. When she opens her mouth you are never quite sure if you will be greeting by sweet and soft tones, or a throaty roar of fire, a la Arch Enemy’s Angela Gossow.
The tunes are unpredictable in places, switching between what sound slightly like jazz lullabies and thrash synth metal. The setlist tonight included ‘Film Noir’, ‘Seagull’, ‘Abraxus’, ‘Oh, Hello Ghost’ and ‘I Love Turbulence’. At the end of ‘Curby’ the bassist is crowdsurfing, the guys in the mosh pit look knackered and there is a sharp odour of sweat in the air. “What a band!” yells one bloke. “What. A. Fucking. Band.” The devil certainly has the best tunes; and the loudest.
http://www.pulledapartbyhorses.com
http://www.grammatics.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/rolotomassi
Live Review - The Enemy @ Southampton Guildhall
Previously published on mintsouth.com in Apr 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
THE ENEMY @ SOUTHAMPTON GUILDHALL 09/04/09
Are gigs getting earlier these days, or am I just turning up later? Arriving around 8.45pm we realised we’d missed both support acts, Kid British and Twisted Wheel. My friend returned from the bar crestfallen and empty-handed shortly before ten to ten. Lights were on and the gig was over by 10pm. We couldn’t help feeling a little short changed.
Having seen The Enemy in December 2006 supporting The Futureheads, I was keen to see if there had been a change in their live show. At that time I dismissed them as a miniature Oasis and pronounced them as good at the time, but ultimately forgettable. The Enemy then went on to win statuettes for being ‘The Best’ as voted for by NME, XFM and Q. I missed these ceremonies as I was too busy eating my words. Mmm, words.
The first obvious difference was that everyone was here to see The Enemy tonight instead of politely waiting for another band. The second difference was the massive screen strip along the top of the stage onto which was projected every town/city on this tour, before pausing on SOUTHAMPTON to raucous cheers. They’re in a bigger league now.
The pre-gig warm up CD pumped out Pulp and The Verve, reinforcing the feeling that tonight would be full of mainstream indie entertainment. Though as expected there are a lot of lads in the crowd and the front got a bit messy at times, the average age is actually much older than first assumed.
Lad rock is too simplistic a term for The Enemy’s output. They have a powerful sound which easily fills the room and lead singer Tom Clarke spits a trembling anger from underneath his mop of hair. A red headed female steps up to join them on one song – she doesn’t seem to be introduced, just appears and disappears again. Meanwhile bandmates Liam Watts on drums and Andy Hopkins on bass aren’t flashy, they just get on with their job.
While I’m not their biggest fan, I do feel like standing up to defend them. As fairly standard popular rock, The Enemy get something of a bashing from more artistic music types who think an electric guitar and a leather jacket is the height of naffness, but why mess with a winning formula? Can’t have just one band in a genre after all. They have some damn good songs which are enjoyable to listen to.
However The Enemy aren’t one for conversation between songs, with the most we get being told to make some noise and several thumbs up for being “FUCKING AMAZING!”
The video at the top mainly switched between close ups of Clarke, the fond fanbase in the front row having it and split-screens of the band, slightly Arctic Monkeys – Live At The Apollo in nature.
‘Had Enough’ is thrown in near the start, with other tracks including new single ‘No Time For Tears’, ‘Aggro’ and ever-popular ‘Away From Here’. The anthemic ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’ sees a lot of people suddenly appearing on their friend’s shoulders, arms outstretched. For the encore we get ‘Happy Birthday Jane’ and ‘You’re Not Alone’, accompanied by a rainbow of beer bottles arcing their way across the room and spattering the crowd.
While I’m not the biggest fan of the band, they do get unfairly slated. Late Of The Pier may not be strictly correct when they sing ‘The Enemy Are The Future’, but the band are certainly increasing their fanbase as they arm themselves with album two and continue their march on the airwaves.
http://www.theenemy.com
http://www.thetwistedwheel.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/kidbritishmusic
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
THE ENEMY @ SOUTHAMPTON GUILDHALL 09/04/09
Are gigs getting earlier these days, or am I just turning up later? Arriving around 8.45pm we realised we’d missed both support acts, Kid British and Twisted Wheel. My friend returned from the bar crestfallen and empty-handed shortly before ten to ten. Lights were on and the gig was over by 10pm. We couldn’t help feeling a little short changed.
Having seen The Enemy in December 2006 supporting The Futureheads, I was keen to see if there had been a change in their live show. At that time I dismissed them as a miniature Oasis and pronounced them as good at the time, but ultimately forgettable. The Enemy then went on to win statuettes for being ‘The Best’ as voted for by NME, XFM and Q. I missed these ceremonies as I was too busy eating my words. Mmm, words.
The first obvious difference was that everyone was here to see The Enemy tonight instead of politely waiting for another band. The second difference was the massive screen strip along the top of the stage onto which was projected every town/city on this tour, before pausing on SOUTHAMPTON to raucous cheers. They’re in a bigger league now.
The pre-gig warm up CD pumped out Pulp and The Verve, reinforcing the feeling that tonight would be full of mainstream indie entertainment. Though as expected there are a lot of lads in the crowd and the front got a bit messy at times, the average age is actually much older than first assumed.
Lad rock is too simplistic a term for The Enemy’s output. They have a powerful sound which easily fills the room and lead singer Tom Clarke spits a trembling anger from underneath his mop of hair. A red headed female steps up to join them on one song – she doesn’t seem to be introduced, just appears and disappears again. Meanwhile bandmates Liam Watts on drums and Andy Hopkins on bass aren’t flashy, they just get on with their job.
While I’m not their biggest fan, I do feel like standing up to defend them. As fairly standard popular rock, The Enemy get something of a bashing from more artistic music types who think an electric guitar and a leather jacket is the height of naffness, but why mess with a winning formula? Can’t have just one band in a genre after all. They have some damn good songs which are enjoyable to listen to.
However The Enemy aren’t one for conversation between songs, with the most we get being told to make some noise and several thumbs up for being “FUCKING AMAZING!”
The video at the top mainly switched between close ups of Clarke, the fond fanbase in the front row having it and split-screens of the band, slightly Arctic Monkeys – Live At The Apollo in nature.
‘Had Enough’ is thrown in near the start, with other tracks including new single ‘No Time For Tears’, ‘Aggro’ and ever-popular ‘Away From Here’. The anthemic ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’ sees a lot of people suddenly appearing on their friend’s shoulders, arms outstretched. For the encore we get ‘Happy Birthday Jane’ and ‘You’re Not Alone’, accompanied by a rainbow of beer bottles arcing their way across the room and spattering the crowd.
While I’m not the biggest fan of the band, they do get unfairly slated. Late Of The Pier may not be strictly correct when they sing ‘The Enemy Are The Future’, but the band are certainly increasing their fanbase as they arm themselves with album two and continue their march on the airwaves.
http://www.theenemy.com
http://www.thetwistedwheel.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/kidbritishmusic
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