It was 'going back to school/college/university' time, so I asked recent interviewees some vaguely study related subjects, proper Smash Hits style.
Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in September 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
STAR STUDENTS
ROONEY
What was your best subject?
Louie: I took some music classes, that was my most enjoyable subject.
Matthew: I did well in English and History.
Ned: I enjoyed Spells and Dark Arts at Hogwarts. I was also into History and English.
Have you got any advice for people going off to university this year?
Louie: Buck up and get it done.
Taylor: Quit your crying.
Louie: Put it behind you, don’t look back.
Taylor: If it takes a few extra years, that’s ok. Don’t get down. It’s not about how long it takes. It’s about completion.
Ned: I agree. Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.
Did you have any part time jobs when you were students?
Matt: Aside from an internship I have, this is the only job I’ve ever had. We all were pretty spoilt!
Any advice for students?
Louie: Sometimes if you can start a relationship with one of your teachers, that can ease the burden of your homework load a little bit.
Ned: An intimate relationship.
Louie: I’m talking about a full contact relationship with a teacher.
Taylor: Any teacher whose course you may be struggling in is the teacher you should be getting a full contact relationship with.
AMY MACDONALD
What was your best subject when you were studying?
It was geography. My geography teacher was my favourite teacher ever of anything I’ve ever done, it just made me have a passion for the subject by having a good teacher.
Where did you hang out at breaktimes?
We had a room called the Crash Hall, which was just a big massive hall with vending machines and benches where everyone could sit or you could go outside but we always chose to stay in.
Have you got any advice for people starting new courses?
Just keep at it and try not to fall asleep!
KENNEDY
What were your best subjects?
Kennedy: I was really good at biology. And I’m still pretty good at biology.
Did you ever get detention?
Kennedy: I got detention once and I got suspended once. I shot this spitball at this girl, because I had a crush on her – it’s still the way I date – but the wind took it and it carried it and it hit the vice principal on the back of the head. And so I got suspended.
I think that’s something you should be proud of.
Kennedy: At the time I was like ‘This is the end of my life! It’s all over!’ and now I’m like ‘I’m glad I did it.’
You go back to your locker at the end of the year and you find something which you left in there at the start of the year and forgot about. What it is?
Kennedy: Oh that’s probably my lunch. And it’s probably got mushrooms growing in it.
Your mum would be so upset with you.
Kennedy: My mum was the noon duty aid, you know the lady who like punishes people? She’s kind of in charge of the yard while everyone’s at recess. She made my life miserable because she was just punishing everybody. Everybody hated me because I was her son. But then to make it even more amazingly weird, she had some weird surgery on her face, and she couldn’t be in the direct sunlight for about three months, and she wore this bag over her head for three months with this happy face on it. It was like I can’t believe this is really happening.
Have you got any advice for freshers?
Kennedy: Don’t smoke. And stay in school.
Showing posts with label amy macdonald. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amy macdonald. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Interview - Amy Macdonald
This was the day after I spoke to Craig Reid from The Proclaimers - it was obviously Scottish Week somewhere (Scotland, perhaps). Amy Macdonald was quite softly spoken. She's done really well this year and built up a solid fanbase. I saw her in April 2007 in a small London club where a bottle of beer and a coke came to about £9, a shock I've never forgotten. I've just realised the office made a fifteen minute phone call to a network in Belgium. I'd hate to think what the phone bill was for that...
Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in September 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
AMY MACDONALD
“When you’re on tour you find things to amuse you and there’s a fascination with Parma ham. You need to be there to appreciate it but it’s funny,” explains 20-year-old Amy Macdonald. The Glaswegian singer/songwriter is in Belgium when we ring her for an interview. Occasionally the mobile signal disappears, and on one memorable occasion the phone cuts me off entirely, resulting in a hurried call back. She’s currently trying to explain why there’s a photograph on her website showing her signing a piece of prosciutto.
“This Parma ham started to turn up on the rider so it just got to be a bit of a running joke. Our soundman is adamant that he’s going to have a vodka Parma ham, which is just Parma ham inside a glass and vodka poured over, so I can’t wait until he tries it!”
It’s a busy time for Amy. Since her first full single release in July – ‘Mr Rock and Roll’, which reached a more than respectable 12 in the charts – her life has been a whirlwind of press, gigs supporting the likes of Travis and triumphant festival performances. At the time of the interview, Amy’s on her way to Ghent – via Paris and Brussels - where she’s opening for Paul Weller. “It’s really cool, it’s a privilege to be asked.”
Amy Macdonald is usually described by lazy writers, such as myself, as being similar to KT Tunstall. This is generally because both are Scottish and play the guitar. On stage, Amy has a striking and commanding voice; it’s large and grand and wise and towers majestically over the chords she is energetically strumming.
On the telephone, she sounds a little nervous, which is understandable; few musicians get into the business because they really, really want to be repeatedly interviewed by strangers about the same topic. Her Scottish accent is strong and there are plenty of rolled r’s in words which I didn’t even realise had r’s in them.
Her new single is ‘L.A.’. I read that it’s about the actor Jake Gyllenhaal? “It’s been taken out of context I think,” explains Amy. “I feel everyone has somebody they really idolise, be it an actor or a musician or a sports player, and the song is just about how you can have that person and you can really respect what they do and look up to them, but you should always believe in yourself and believe you can achieve just as many things.”
Incidentally, the video wasn’t filmed in LA, but the marginally less-glamorous spot of ‘near Malaga.’ “I don’t think the budgets really cover us going all the way to LA for one day to shoot a video yet!” Amy giggles. Give it a few weeks...
And ‘L.A.’ is from her debut album ‘This Is The Life’, which popped into the charts at number two. Amy was very excited by this. “It’s a real honour that people actually went out and bought it and for it to get to number two was just amazing.”
It’s especially refreshing to see that Amy is so obviously into her music and not the whole fame and celebrity tag around, as made quite clear when we get onto her album track ‘Footballer’s Wife’.
“I just found that in Britain people seem to be completely and utterly obsessed by celebrity and things like that. Out of like ten young girls asked, at least half of them said that their ambition in life is to be a WAG. It’s absolutely horrendous that it’s impacting young girls. I’m not interested in picking up a newspaper and finding out that Colleen whatever-her-face has bought a new dress, it’s absolutely ridiculous. It sounds a horrible kind of culture that Britain’s got a bit obsessed about, that people have got famous for spending their other half’s money and I think it just deserved a rant.
“There’s football in so many countries but it only seems to be Britain that kind of has this footballer’s wife obsession. Every time I go to Europe I have to explain what the song’s about ‘cause they don’t really get it. We don’t have it in Scotland at all, it’s actually only England!”And the whole Big Brother thing kind of started it as well; people on this ridiculous show so that they can be famous for five minutes and then be cast into obscurity when nobody wants to talk about them any more.”
And let's not be forgetting ‘Poison Prince’, which was given a limited release in May, and it’s about the tabloid favourite Mr Doherty. “Pete Doherty was such a talented songwriter and just an amazing musician. Now everyone knows who he is because of his drug-taking and supermodel girlfriend and nobody’s ever really heard any of his music. For me that is such a shame, it’s a huge waste because he was a really talented musician and ‘Poison Prince’ was just my song to him to basically say please come back and leave all the rubbish behind.”
Have you heard the new Babyshambles single ‘Delivery’? “I think it’s wonderful. It’s just a great song. It sounds somewhat like The Kinks in places, I think that’s just Pete’s inspiration coming through, but I was really happy when I heard it and I thought ‘Oh, Pete’s back’. But then the next day I think he got arrested, which kind of made me think ‘oh, here we go again!’”
As well as being a major Libertines fan, Amy likes bands such as The Killers, Kings of Leon and The Coral, and is currently digging the Pigeon Detectives’ album. She saw a clip of them at T in the Park: “They just seemed to be absolutely loving it and commanding the stage. It was really cool to have an up-and-coming band that are doing so well and they’ve got so many great songs that people just want to jump along to."
Ah, T in the Park. Clearly the best-known and best-loved music festival in Scotland, and this year Amy was proud to be there, on the T-Break Stage in between The Haze and Down The Tiny Steps. “Oh that was brilliant,” Amy says excitedly. “I mean obviously I’m Scottish and really proud of that and I’ve been to T in the Park for the past five years. To be asked to perform is such an honour for me, the tent was absolutely crammed, everyone seemed to have a great time and I really enjoyed it as well so it was just awesome.”
The Scottish seem really patriotic, not like the English, so you must have had some really good support there. “Well I think the Scots tend to do that, we’re really proud of good things that come from our country. Everyone gets behind you, all the Scottish press and the radio stations, and everyone just feels it’s their duty to do as much as they can for you which is just amazing because it’s great to have the country that you’re from being really supportive like that.”
Amy also played a few gigs at Scottish landmarks earlier this year – Mount Stuart, Culzean Castle and Edinburgh Castle. It must make a real change from the sweaty beery venues. ”It was really cool to play in weird venues like castles and country houses. It was really civilised.”
Of course, some sweaty beery venues are better than other. Yes, we’re talking about the Glasgow Barrowlands. The subject of Amy’s song ‘Barrowland Ballroom’ (“And when the stars shine so bright on the cold December night / I wish that I was on the stage… Well there is magic in the air I swear”), she’s incredibly excited to be playing a Christmassy gig there. “Yeah that’s just been announced. That’s amazing, I didn’t think I’d be playing there so soon. I’m so excited about it and I really can’t wait to play and I think my friends are even more excited than me. I’ve had a text today saying ‘Can I come onstage to stagedive?’”
One final thing Amy – I was looking on your forum, and there seems to be a group of people trying to guess what your favourite flavour ice cream is. Can you put us out of our misery? “I think it’s probably chocolate,” she says with a smile in her voice. Intelligent journalism at its finest. Thanks for that.
--------
Amy Macdonald releases single ‘L.A’ on October 15th through Vertigo Records. Album ‘This Is The Life’ is out now
Amy Macdonald
MySpace
Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in September 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
AMY MACDONALD
“When you’re on tour you find things to amuse you and there’s a fascination with Parma ham. You need to be there to appreciate it but it’s funny,” explains 20-year-old Amy Macdonald. The Glaswegian singer/songwriter is in Belgium when we ring her for an interview. Occasionally the mobile signal disappears, and on one memorable occasion the phone cuts me off entirely, resulting in a hurried call back. She’s currently trying to explain why there’s a photograph on her website showing her signing a piece of prosciutto.
“This Parma ham started to turn up on the rider so it just got to be a bit of a running joke. Our soundman is adamant that he’s going to have a vodka Parma ham, which is just Parma ham inside a glass and vodka poured over, so I can’t wait until he tries it!”
It’s a busy time for Amy. Since her first full single release in July – ‘Mr Rock and Roll’, which reached a more than respectable 12 in the charts – her life has been a whirlwind of press, gigs supporting the likes of Travis and triumphant festival performances. At the time of the interview, Amy’s on her way to Ghent – via Paris and Brussels - where she’s opening for Paul Weller. “It’s really cool, it’s a privilege to be asked.”
Amy Macdonald is usually described by lazy writers, such as myself, as being similar to KT Tunstall. This is generally because both are Scottish and play the guitar. On stage, Amy has a striking and commanding voice; it’s large and grand and wise and towers majestically over the chords she is energetically strumming.
On the telephone, she sounds a little nervous, which is understandable; few musicians get into the business because they really, really want to be repeatedly interviewed by strangers about the same topic. Her Scottish accent is strong and there are plenty of rolled r’s in words which I didn’t even realise had r’s in them.
Her new single is ‘L.A.’. I read that it’s about the actor Jake Gyllenhaal? “It’s been taken out of context I think,” explains Amy. “I feel everyone has somebody they really idolise, be it an actor or a musician or a sports player, and the song is just about how you can have that person and you can really respect what they do and look up to them, but you should always believe in yourself and believe you can achieve just as many things.”
Incidentally, the video wasn’t filmed in LA, but the marginally less-glamorous spot of ‘near Malaga.’ “I don’t think the budgets really cover us going all the way to LA for one day to shoot a video yet!” Amy giggles. Give it a few weeks...
And ‘L.A.’ is from her debut album ‘This Is The Life’, which popped into the charts at number two. Amy was very excited by this. “It’s a real honour that people actually went out and bought it and for it to get to number two was just amazing.”
It’s especially refreshing to see that Amy is so obviously into her music and not the whole fame and celebrity tag around, as made quite clear when we get onto her album track ‘Footballer’s Wife’.
“I just found that in Britain people seem to be completely and utterly obsessed by celebrity and things like that. Out of like ten young girls asked, at least half of them said that their ambition in life is to be a WAG. It’s absolutely horrendous that it’s impacting young girls. I’m not interested in picking up a newspaper and finding out that Colleen whatever-her-face has bought a new dress, it’s absolutely ridiculous. It sounds a horrible kind of culture that Britain’s got a bit obsessed about, that people have got famous for spending their other half’s money and I think it just deserved a rant.
“There’s football in so many countries but it only seems to be Britain that kind of has this footballer’s wife obsession. Every time I go to Europe I have to explain what the song’s about ‘cause they don’t really get it. We don’t have it in Scotland at all, it’s actually only England!”And the whole Big Brother thing kind of started it as well; people on this ridiculous show so that they can be famous for five minutes and then be cast into obscurity when nobody wants to talk about them any more.”
And let's not be forgetting ‘Poison Prince’, which was given a limited release in May, and it’s about the tabloid favourite Mr Doherty. “Pete Doherty was such a talented songwriter and just an amazing musician. Now everyone knows who he is because of his drug-taking and supermodel girlfriend and nobody’s ever really heard any of his music. For me that is such a shame, it’s a huge waste because he was a really talented musician and ‘Poison Prince’ was just my song to him to basically say please come back and leave all the rubbish behind.”
Have you heard the new Babyshambles single ‘Delivery’? “I think it’s wonderful. It’s just a great song. It sounds somewhat like The Kinks in places, I think that’s just Pete’s inspiration coming through, but I was really happy when I heard it and I thought ‘Oh, Pete’s back’. But then the next day I think he got arrested, which kind of made me think ‘oh, here we go again!’”
As well as being a major Libertines fan, Amy likes bands such as The Killers, Kings of Leon and The Coral, and is currently digging the Pigeon Detectives’ album. She saw a clip of them at T in the Park: “They just seemed to be absolutely loving it and commanding the stage. It was really cool to have an up-and-coming band that are doing so well and they’ve got so many great songs that people just want to jump along to."
Ah, T in the Park. Clearly the best-known and best-loved music festival in Scotland, and this year Amy was proud to be there, on the T-Break Stage in between The Haze and Down The Tiny Steps. “Oh that was brilliant,” Amy says excitedly. “I mean obviously I’m Scottish and really proud of that and I’ve been to T in the Park for the past five years. To be asked to perform is such an honour for me, the tent was absolutely crammed, everyone seemed to have a great time and I really enjoyed it as well so it was just awesome.”
The Scottish seem really patriotic, not like the English, so you must have had some really good support there. “Well I think the Scots tend to do that, we’re really proud of good things that come from our country. Everyone gets behind you, all the Scottish press and the radio stations, and everyone just feels it’s their duty to do as much as they can for you which is just amazing because it’s great to have the country that you’re from being really supportive like that.”
Amy also played a few gigs at Scottish landmarks earlier this year – Mount Stuart, Culzean Castle and Edinburgh Castle. It must make a real change from the sweaty beery venues. ”It was really cool to play in weird venues like castles and country houses. It was really civilised.”
Of course, some sweaty beery venues are better than other. Yes, we’re talking about the Glasgow Barrowlands. The subject of Amy’s song ‘Barrowland Ballroom’ (“And when the stars shine so bright on the cold December night / I wish that I was on the stage… Well there is magic in the air I swear”), she’s incredibly excited to be playing a Christmassy gig there. “Yeah that’s just been announced. That’s amazing, I didn’t think I’d be playing there so soon. I’m so excited about it and I really can’t wait to play and I think my friends are even more excited than me. I’ve had a text today saying ‘Can I come onstage to stagedive?’”
One final thing Amy – I was looking on your forum, and there seems to be a group of people trying to guess what your favourite flavour ice cream is. Can you put us out of our misery? “I think it’s probably chocolate,” she says with a smile in her voice. Intelligent journalism at its finest. Thanks for that.
--------
Amy Macdonald releases single ‘L.A’ on October 15th through Vertigo Records. Album ‘This Is The Life’ is out now
Amy Macdonald
MySpace
Monday, 28 January 2008
Gig Reviews - Apr 07 - Amy Macdonald, Fields, The Maccabees
Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in April 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
AMY MACDONALD / SAM BEETON
@ Eve Club, London, 25th April 2007
The newest owners of the Eve Club, just off Regent Street, must be suffering seven years of bad luck. They’re revelling in it through, with broken mirrors scattered across the ceiling like solid, upside-down puddles, reflecting the atmospheric lighting.
Coincidentally, seven years is roughly the time it takes the average gig goer to save up for a bottle of beer in said club. £4.50 a bottle! Bad luck indeed. Our horror cannot be sufficiently expressed with just the one exclamation mark.
!!!!!!!!
That’s better. It’s a stunning little venue, beautifully decorated with colour-changing ice patterns around the bar and much foliage; although being underground, the mobile phone signal is shit, forcing my gig buddy to send Sam Beeton’s street team hunting for me (and his ticket).
I arrive towards the end of Sam Beeton’s set. He’s an earnest looking singer-songwriter clutching an acoustic guitar and trying his darndest to wake up the small crowd which is trying to stand as far away from the stage as possible without looking rude. He seemed friendly and pleasant, and there’s a track up for grabs from his website.
Afterwards, Amy MacDonald wanders out from behind the curtain, hair tied to one side, looking like Rose Pipette’s sophisticated twin. Resplendent in silver vest top and armed with a guitar, she has a surprisingly deep and striking voice. Her music has similarities with KT Tunstall and The Kooks in places, along with Scottish folk.
First track ‘This Is The Life’ elicits casual headbopping from the crowd, apart from Twinkletoes at the front who is jigging out of time and unselfconsciously around what appears to be a man bag. He’s approximately 15 feet tall and stood directly in front of Amy. She can’t miss him.
At the end of the track, she invites the audience to stand marginally closer to the stage, shyly saying they don’t smell. Everyone does what she says and shuffles closer.
Forthcoming single ‘Poison Prince’ is next. This one’s already receiving radio play off Virgin and XFM and the like, and it’s a catchy little number. More people push forwards and jog along to this. Other tracks tonight are ‘Youth Of Today’, written when she was 15 “after getting in trouble with a shopkeeper,” ‘LA’, downloadable from her website and future summer single ‘Mr Rock & Roll’, a nice & lively one.
The set is briefly interrupted with technical difficulties forcing a guitar swap and Amy apologises profusely and asks if anyone knows any jokes to stop “the awkward silence.” Her band say they only know dirty ones.
‘The Footballer’s Wife’ is an angry diatribe against non-celebrity celebrities; your reality TV contestants as opposed to your Marilyn Monroes. ‘Barrowlands Ballroom’ is a lively stormer and I could see it going down immensely well in Glasgow, especially at the Barrowlands itself. I half expected a stage invasion during this one, such was the level of Scottishness in the crowd (I briefly wondered if it was a requirement to get in and I had somehow accidentally sneaked past their radar).
It was a short set which finished with Killers-inspired ‘Run’. Amy said tonight was the first time she’d had dancers – Mr Twinkletoes looked rather pleased with himself – and claimed this song would be too hard to groove along to. Oh, but he managed it.
The songs are strummed indie rockers with a poppy tinge and are definitely radio-friendly and personal. Great night and great songs from a singer with charm and humanity. Amy MacDonald is a delicate star in the making. She’s already on her way, having only supported Travis and played to a far larger crowd the previous night. It can’t be too long before she outgrows the likes of the beautiful Eve. Let’s just hope that as she rises, the alcohol prices fall…
Amy MacDonald
Sam Beeton
-----
FIELDS / HUSH THE MANY / RED CAMPION
@ The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea, 18th April 2007
Happy and joyful, Fields get the crowd smiling
Despite spending ages looking for parking, we’ve arrived surprisingly early to see Fields play, only 15 minutes after the doors opened. I’m usually early for gigs though – I’m not one of those journos at the back with pen and paper, I’m usually at the front trying to text myself random notes while people jump up and down and knock me about. It’s more fun that way. But there aren’t many people around at all, and there’s already an ominous half circle of folded arms forming several metres from the stage.
First up are local band Red Campion. At once gentle and powering, their music predicted overcast times ahead and was heavy as treacle. My friend was impressed to see the drummer playing with ‘pastry brushes’ and commented that the speed of his playing/whisking surely meant he was an expert at making omelettes.
The band were sadly suffering technical difficulties, resulting in a few delays and guitar swaps, but the band’s banter and cheerful weariness prevented the audience from becoming too distracted. The cello gave a sense of striking drama and authority to the music.
Next on stage were Hush The Many. They took to the stage, heads bowed as if deep in thought. This band also had a cello centre stage, but this one was an amazing shape, carved and spacious. It bore an uncanny resemblance to a skeleton and we felt slightly afraid.
The set started with a repetitive, melodramatic boom from the drums. It had the potential to annoy everyone – then suddenly Hush The Many exploded into a wicked folky, vibrant racket. It was awesome and our jaws dropped. At the end there was a stunned silence then uproarious applause. Main vocalist Nima explained they’d never opened with that one before.
The songs were retro, echoing and plaintive. They had a sense of loneliness and power. Stylish bassist Alexandra had such a delicate whisper of a voice, and Nima was all charm although slightly bewildered at how well they were going down. Violinist Matt was a new addition for the night to replace an absent guitarist, and he fitted in just dandy.
The half-circle of folded arms, which had been edging closer, turned into a group of tall people obscuring my view. Good to see people getting to the front though. Overrunning slightly after more technical difficulties, we wondered if Fields would be allowed to play a full set. No-one seemed to mind them running way past 11pm though, especially when we sang Happy Birthday to Nima halfway through.
Singer/guitarist Nick Peill, singer/keyboardist Thorunn Antonia, guitarist Jamie Putnam and bassist Matty Derham were uplifting and cheerful, with the synthesisers arcing sky-high over proceedings as the band openly fought with demons in their guitars. There was a definite dress code of stripes, apart from one of the guitarists (or was it the bassist?) who appeared to be wearing a low cut woman’s top.
The crowd spent much of the set asking for ‘Song For The Fields’. The band would tease everyone back – “and this track… is not ‘Song For The Fields’,” vocalist Nick Peill would say, while Thorunn laughed and managed the amazing trick of making an accordion look sexy. Songs tonight included 'Schoolbooks' and 'Charming The Flames'.
There is something comforting in the happiness of Fields. The band had perfect harmonies and sounded joyful, though many of the tracks sounded very similar in style but it might just be that I'm unfamiliar with their work. They were beautifully enjoyable, although it was Hush The Many who stunned the crowd.
Fields
Hush The Many
Red Campion
-----
THE MACCABEES / JACK PEÑATE
@ The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea, 26th April 2007
It’s amazing the difference the lack of a support act can have on the crowd. Gigs generally have three bands, and whoever is first onstage usually has not much in the way of an audience as people take their time arriving.
Tonight however, it’s just The Maccabees and Jack Peñate, both well-known names and great fun. Everyone is here on time. The Wedgewood Rooms has sold out. Half an hour after doors opening and it’s already taking an age to get served at the bar. Anyway, back to the gig...
My gig buddy is looking nervous. The person I usually drag around is off ill so someone else has stepped in to relieve me of my spare ticket. The thing is, he’s never been to a gig before and I think my tales of sweaty crowdsurfers, stage invasions and bruises the size of planets might have tipped him into panic. He goes to drown his nerves in vodka (apparently it’s healthier than beer). Anyway, back to the gig...
Jack Peñate takes the stage in jeans and a lumberjack shirt. We’re stood behind some of his main fans who are bounding around each other in a rugby huddle, yelling the words and phoning their friends. In some places his music reminds me of The Jam or The Specials. It’s summery, indie ska in places, and is very enjoyable.
It only takes a few songs for the crowdsurfers to start queuing up to hurl themselves at the stage fruitlessly, each one landing safe in the arms of a burly bouncer.
My friend is smiling and nodding along to the music. He’s not scared any more. Thank goodness for that. Songs tonight include recent single ‘Spit At Stars’, and everyone yells along.
Jack Peñate himself is pummelling his guitar and occasionally launching himself towards the mic with the unhinged stare of a madman. He recommends the barber around the corner, and slates the Mexican restaurant for its crap service. His set is lively and great fun.
It doesn’t take too long for The Maccabees to walk out on stage – I thought with only two acts there would be enormous gaps between the sets, but it’s not that bad. Up go the crowdsurfers again and the rest of the audience moves closer for some bouncing. Orlando Weeks’ overly emotional voice yelps and wavers dramatically through their songs, while the guitars twist and jerk. The Maccabees have a wonderfully creative style and bite to them, but it's not so bizarre that people aren't sure how to react. Everyone is bouncing on the spot and waving their arms.
The set tonight includes ‘Latchmere’, ‘About Your Dress’, next single ‘Precious Time’, ‘All Your Rows’, ‘Tissue Shoulders’, and the beautifully named (and sounding) ‘Toothpaste Kisses’.
There’s a little happy hardcore of Maccabees fans stood at the front, hands aloft and waving exactly in time with the drumbeats, even performing little rolls and the like. Every so often the first few rows are illuminated with brilliant purple strobe lighting, making everything seem a little crazy.
The chant for the encore goes a little bit like ‘FIRSTLOVEFIRSTLOVEFIRSTLOVE’ but it’s a reasonably calm cheer. The crowd knows the band are coming back on, so everyone finishes their drinks and waits patiently. We’re then treated to ‘Sore Throat’ and a brilliant performance of ‘First Love’, a song which starts all gentleness and warmth before stirring into tense emotion and making everyone jump about.
It was a top night out and both bands are brilliantly lively. Southerners can take comfort in knowing both have now been confirmed for Brighton's Great Escape, so if you missed your chance to catch up on them tonight then wait a couple of weeks before heading over to the Sussex sands/stones.
‘Nothing's perfect / I'm hoping I'll do’. Thank you Maccabees, you certainly will.
The Maccabees
Jack Peñate
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in April 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
AMY MACDONALD / SAM BEETON
@ Eve Club, London, 25th April 2007
The newest owners of the Eve Club, just off Regent Street, must be suffering seven years of bad luck. They’re revelling in it through, with broken mirrors scattered across the ceiling like solid, upside-down puddles, reflecting the atmospheric lighting.
Coincidentally, seven years is roughly the time it takes the average gig goer to save up for a bottle of beer in said club. £4.50 a bottle! Bad luck indeed. Our horror cannot be sufficiently expressed with just the one exclamation mark.
!!!!!!!!
That’s better. It’s a stunning little venue, beautifully decorated with colour-changing ice patterns around the bar and much foliage; although being underground, the mobile phone signal is shit, forcing my gig buddy to send Sam Beeton’s street team hunting for me (and his ticket).
I arrive towards the end of Sam Beeton’s set. He’s an earnest looking singer-songwriter clutching an acoustic guitar and trying his darndest to wake up the small crowd which is trying to stand as far away from the stage as possible without looking rude. He seemed friendly and pleasant, and there’s a track up for grabs from his website.
Afterwards, Amy MacDonald wanders out from behind the curtain, hair tied to one side, looking like Rose Pipette’s sophisticated twin. Resplendent in silver vest top and armed with a guitar, she has a surprisingly deep and striking voice. Her music has similarities with KT Tunstall and The Kooks in places, along with Scottish folk.
First track ‘This Is The Life’ elicits casual headbopping from the crowd, apart from Twinkletoes at the front who is jigging out of time and unselfconsciously around what appears to be a man bag. He’s approximately 15 feet tall and stood directly in front of Amy. She can’t miss him.
At the end of the track, she invites the audience to stand marginally closer to the stage, shyly saying they don’t smell. Everyone does what she says and shuffles closer.
Forthcoming single ‘Poison Prince’ is next. This one’s already receiving radio play off Virgin and XFM and the like, and it’s a catchy little number. More people push forwards and jog along to this. Other tracks tonight are ‘Youth Of Today’, written when she was 15 “after getting in trouble with a shopkeeper,” ‘LA’, downloadable from her website and future summer single ‘Mr Rock & Roll’, a nice & lively one.
The set is briefly interrupted with technical difficulties forcing a guitar swap and Amy apologises profusely and asks if anyone knows any jokes to stop “the awkward silence.” Her band say they only know dirty ones.
‘The Footballer’s Wife’ is an angry diatribe against non-celebrity celebrities; your reality TV contestants as opposed to your Marilyn Monroes. ‘Barrowlands Ballroom’ is a lively stormer and I could see it going down immensely well in Glasgow, especially at the Barrowlands itself. I half expected a stage invasion during this one, such was the level of Scottishness in the crowd (I briefly wondered if it was a requirement to get in and I had somehow accidentally sneaked past their radar).
It was a short set which finished with Killers-inspired ‘Run’. Amy said tonight was the first time she’d had dancers – Mr Twinkletoes looked rather pleased with himself – and claimed this song would be too hard to groove along to. Oh, but he managed it.
The songs are strummed indie rockers with a poppy tinge and are definitely radio-friendly and personal. Great night and great songs from a singer with charm and humanity. Amy MacDonald is a delicate star in the making. She’s already on her way, having only supported Travis and played to a far larger crowd the previous night. It can’t be too long before she outgrows the likes of the beautiful Eve. Let’s just hope that as she rises, the alcohol prices fall…
Amy MacDonald
Sam Beeton
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FIELDS / HUSH THE MANY / RED CAMPION
@ The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea, 18th April 2007
Happy and joyful, Fields get the crowd smiling
Despite spending ages looking for parking, we’ve arrived surprisingly early to see Fields play, only 15 minutes after the doors opened. I’m usually early for gigs though – I’m not one of those journos at the back with pen and paper, I’m usually at the front trying to text myself random notes while people jump up and down and knock me about. It’s more fun that way. But there aren’t many people around at all, and there’s already an ominous half circle of folded arms forming several metres from the stage.
First up are local band Red Campion. At once gentle and powering, their music predicted overcast times ahead and was heavy as treacle. My friend was impressed to see the drummer playing with ‘pastry brushes’ and commented that the speed of his playing/whisking surely meant he was an expert at making omelettes.
The band were sadly suffering technical difficulties, resulting in a few delays and guitar swaps, but the band’s banter and cheerful weariness prevented the audience from becoming too distracted. The cello gave a sense of striking drama and authority to the music.
Next on stage were Hush The Many. They took to the stage, heads bowed as if deep in thought. This band also had a cello centre stage, but this one was an amazing shape, carved and spacious. It bore an uncanny resemblance to a skeleton and we felt slightly afraid.
The set started with a repetitive, melodramatic boom from the drums. It had the potential to annoy everyone – then suddenly Hush The Many exploded into a wicked folky, vibrant racket. It was awesome and our jaws dropped. At the end there was a stunned silence then uproarious applause. Main vocalist Nima explained they’d never opened with that one before.
The songs were retro, echoing and plaintive. They had a sense of loneliness and power. Stylish bassist Alexandra had such a delicate whisper of a voice, and Nima was all charm although slightly bewildered at how well they were going down. Violinist Matt was a new addition for the night to replace an absent guitarist, and he fitted in just dandy.
The half-circle of folded arms, which had been edging closer, turned into a group of tall people obscuring my view. Good to see people getting to the front though. Overrunning slightly after more technical difficulties, we wondered if Fields would be allowed to play a full set. No-one seemed to mind them running way past 11pm though, especially when we sang Happy Birthday to Nima halfway through.
Singer/guitarist Nick Peill, singer/keyboardist Thorunn Antonia, guitarist Jamie Putnam and bassist Matty Derham were uplifting and cheerful, with the synthesisers arcing sky-high over proceedings as the band openly fought with demons in their guitars. There was a definite dress code of stripes, apart from one of the guitarists (or was it the bassist?) who appeared to be wearing a low cut woman’s top.
The crowd spent much of the set asking for ‘Song For The Fields’. The band would tease everyone back – “and this track… is not ‘Song For The Fields’,” vocalist Nick Peill would say, while Thorunn laughed and managed the amazing trick of making an accordion look sexy. Songs tonight included 'Schoolbooks' and 'Charming The Flames'.
There is something comforting in the happiness of Fields. The band had perfect harmonies and sounded joyful, though many of the tracks sounded very similar in style but it might just be that I'm unfamiliar with their work. They were beautifully enjoyable, although it was Hush The Many who stunned the crowd.
Fields
Hush The Many
Red Campion
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THE MACCABEES / JACK PEÑATE
@ The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea, 26th April 2007
It’s amazing the difference the lack of a support act can have on the crowd. Gigs generally have three bands, and whoever is first onstage usually has not much in the way of an audience as people take their time arriving.
Tonight however, it’s just The Maccabees and Jack Peñate, both well-known names and great fun. Everyone is here on time. The Wedgewood Rooms has sold out. Half an hour after doors opening and it’s already taking an age to get served at the bar. Anyway, back to the gig...
My gig buddy is looking nervous. The person I usually drag around is off ill so someone else has stepped in to relieve me of my spare ticket. The thing is, he’s never been to a gig before and I think my tales of sweaty crowdsurfers, stage invasions and bruises the size of planets might have tipped him into panic. He goes to drown his nerves in vodka (apparently it’s healthier than beer). Anyway, back to the gig...
Jack Peñate takes the stage in jeans and a lumberjack shirt. We’re stood behind some of his main fans who are bounding around each other in a rugby huddle, yelling the words and phoning their friends. In some places his music reminds me of The Jam or The Specials. It’s summery, indie ska in places, and is very enjoyable.
It only takes a few songs for the crowdsurfers to start queuing up to hurl themselves at the stage fruitlessly, each one landing safe in the arms of a burly bouncer.
My friend is smiling and nodding along to the music. He’s not scared any more. Thank goodness for that. Songs tonight include recent single ‘Spit At Stars’, and everyone yells along.
Jack Peñate himself is pummelling his guitar and occasionally launching himself towards the mic with the unhinged stare of a madman. He recommends the barber around the corner, and slates the Mexican restaurant for its crap service. His set is lively and great fun.
It doesn’t take too long for The Maccabees to walk out on stage – I thought with only two acts there would be enormous gaps between the sets, but it’s not that bad. Up go the crowdsurfers again and the rest of the audience moves closer for some bouncing. Orlando Weeks’ overly emotional voice yelps and wavers dramatically through their songs, while the guitars twist and jerk. The Maccabees have a wonderfully creative style and bite to them, but it's not so bizarre that people aren't sure how to react. Everyone is bouncing on the spot and waving their arms.
The set tonight includes ‘Latchmere’, ‘About Your Dress’, next single ‘Precious Time’, ‘All Your Rows’, ‘Tissue Shoulders’, and the beautifully named (and sounding) ‘Toothpaste Kisses’.
There’s a little happy hardcore of Maccabees fans stood at the front, hands aloft and waving exactly in time with the drumbeats, even performing little rolls and the like. Every so often the first few rows are illuminated with brilliant purple strobe lighting, making everything seem a little crazy.
The chant for the encore goes a little bit like ‘FIRSTLOVEFIRSTLOVEFIRSTLOVE’ but it’s a reasonably calm cheer. The crowd knows the band are coming back on, so everyone finishes their drinks and waits patiently. We’re then treated to ‘Sore Throat’ and a brilliant performance of ‘First Love’, a song which starts all gentleness and warmth before stirring into tense emotion and making everyone jump about.
It was a top night out and both bands are brilliantly lively. Southerners can take comfort in knowing both have now been confirmed for Brighton's Great Escape, so if you missed your chance to catch up on them tonight then wait a couple of weeks before heading over to the Sussex sands/stones.
‘Nothing's perfect / I'm hoping I'll do’. Thank you Maccabees, you certainly will.
The Maccabees
Jack Peñate
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