Previously published on mintsouth.com in Apr 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
CLUB SMITH, THE MAYBES, COLONEL MUSTARD, COZY FLASHBAK @ THE CELLARS AT EASTNEY 04/04/2009
Norwich Union became Aviva, Marathon became Snickers. Prince became something which was generally pronounced as a swearword by confused people. The Hair have opted for a more sensible route and have chosen to be called Club Smith - but more on them in a moment.
First onstage were the very lively Cozy Flashbak, heavily influenced by both Mod and Madchester and with guitar riffs lolloping along. There’s also a fair amount of psychedelic swagger to their cheeky set.
Second on were Colonel Mustard. In the venue… with the drumsticks. My eye was caught by the exceptionally talented bassist and his nimble playing skills, but generally the band spend longer staring at the floor than making eye contact with the audience. A cover of ‘Come Together’ is enjoyable but adds nothing to the original apart from an increased number of people who have played it. Still, they have a number of good, almost Eighties guitar twirls, an enjoyably mischievous slant and the vocalist has a belting voice.
Next onstage are The Maybes, acting as a fantastic beacon for their local scene. Like many bands from Liverpool-way, they play intense psychedelic anthems with vocal harmonies swirling above the pounding music. Their final track, Promises, is a belter; an epic dance instrumental which echoes dramatically around the Cellars, bringing the doorman in to gape at what’s taking place. It’s the sort of track which is a perfectly indulgent one-off experience, but accidentally put it on a car cassette and a few spools later you will be clawing at the tape, lost in an experimental jam void. Sounding experienced, professional and with many a dark dance track, The Maybes appear ideally placed to perform some sort of indie soundtrack.
Club Smith are headlining tonight’s show. They were here a few months ago in their former guise of The Hair, a premier indie-dance band from Leeds in the Sunshine Underground mold. The name change is so new even their equipment still features the old logos. As something of a fan I was worried the name change would equal a major change of direction but happily not. Old songs mixed with new in a frenetic set which culminated in everyone playing the drums. The band are bright and sparky with a colourfully dizzy turn to their songs. Don’t let the name Club Smith fool you into thinking they’re plain, because they certainly aren’t.
http://www.myspace.com/cozyflashbakuk http://www.myspace.com/thelastlaughtheband
http://www.myspace.com/themaybesliverpool
http://www.myspace.com/joinclubsmith
Showing posts with label eastney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eastney. Show all posts
Monday, 27 April 2009
Live Review - Tremain, Vagabond, The Elizans (Cellars at Eastney)
First pubslihed on www.mintsouth.com in Mar 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
TREMAIN, VAGABOND, THE ELIZANS @ THE CELLARS AT EASTNEY 14/03/2009
The Cellars is a lovely little venue, but could be improved if that massive pillar wasn’t blocking everyone’s view. Well I say ‘everyone’; the man in front of me could see fine, due to the fact he was seven feet tall. I spent half the gig only able to watch onstage antics courtesy of a reflection in a nearby picture – fail safe I thought, until Tall Man toppled sideways and blocked this too. Thanks mate.
First onstage were jazz gangsters The Elizans, who win extra points for their Prohibition era-style hats and suits. I’m not sure if their guitar cases held some Mafiosa weaponry or just instruments, but decided not to insult their mothers just in case. They play smooth melodies aided with some warm brass tones and although it is comfortable to listen to it doesn’t look easy to play, with the band displaying some quick and nifty finger-work. Their set started out with jazz then moved onto upbeat Sixties pop. It was strangely relaxing for a Saturday night out, but certainly enjoyable.
Second band Vagabond should have been headlining tonight. They really should. Singer Alex Vargos stepped out and immediately stunned the crowd with his spectacular singing voice. Kudos to the rest of the band for turning up to support him, but the music burbled along in the background and was really only there to showcase the vocals. Every note was spot on, every curl and tremble of the voice was well practised and dead correct. Hiding shyly under his mop of hair, concentrated expression and 80s t shirt, Alex really is the ideal front-man; perhaps purchased in flat-pack form from the new IKEA.
The bassline led a merry dance in the background with the odd soulful blast of brass. The band are signed to Geffen (single ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’ was given an airing tonight) and it’s easy to see why: their radio-friendly sounds combined with the perfect voice, non-offensive sound and easy on the eye appearance would make any record label executive give thanks upon receiving their demo. With such a big sound in such a small room, they would do well at an open-air gig or as a stadium support act – and maybe one day will be headlining there themselves.
The final band tonight were retro disco funk party act Tremain who did a wonderful job of making the man opposite me dance like he was on a rowing machine. Rich and feminine harmonies combined with the brass to create a feelgood set, made even more impressive by the fact there were seven band members crammed on a tiny stage.
Lead singer Leonie Tremain danced happily all the while in her roses-and-black dress, a massive grin on her face, encouraging the audience to clap along, but the band don’t need an audience to feed off as they are more than capable of starting their own joyful party which everyone is more than welcome to join. At the end I was worried they were about to announce a split, such was the heartfelt thanks they gave to the other bands and relief at their long-awaited live CD, but it was genuine happiness at being up there on stage entertaining their friends in the crowd. While the night wasn’t entirely groundbreaking music-wise, it definitely left a pleasantly uplifted feeling in your soul.
http://www.theelizans.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/vagabond
http://www.tremain.biz/
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth
TREMAIN, VAGABOND, THE ELIZANS @ THE CELLARS AT EASTNEY 14/03/2009
The Cellars is a lovely little venue, but could be improved if that massive pillar wasn’t blocking everyone’s view. Well I say ‘everyone’; the man in front of me could see fine, due to the fact he was seven feet tall. I spent half the gig only able to watch onstage antics courtesy of a reflection in a nearby picture – fail safe I thought, until Tall Man toppled sideways and blocked this too. Thanks mate.
First onstage were jazz gangsters The Elizans, who win extra points for their Prohibition era-style hats and suits. I’m not sure if their guitar cases held some Mafiosa weaponry or just instruments, but decided not to insult their mothers just in case. They play smooth melodies aided with some warm brass tones and although it is comfortable to listen to it doesn’t look easy to play, with the band displaying some quick and nifty finger-work. Their set started out with jazz then moved onto upbeat Sixties pop. It was strangely relaxing for a Saturday night out, but certainly enjoyable.
Second band Vagabond should have been headlining tonight. They really should. Singer Alex Vargos stepped out and immediately stunned the crowd with his spectacular singing voice. Kudos to the rest of the band for turning up to support him, but the music burbled along in the background and was really only there to showcase the vocals. Every note was spot on, every curl and tremble of the voice was well practised and dead correct. Hiding shyly under his mop of hair, concentrated expression and 80s t shirt, Alex really is the ideal front-man; perhaps purchased in flat-pack form from the new IKEA.
The bassline led a merry dance in the background with the odd soulful blast of brass. The band are signed to Geffen (single ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’ was given an airing tonight) and it’s easy to see why: their radio-friendly sounds combined with the perfect voice, non-offensive sound and easy on the eye appearance would make any record label executive give thanks upon receiving their demo. With such a big sound in such a small room, they would do well at an open-air gig or as a stadium support act – and maybe one day will be headlining there themselves.
The final band tonight were retro disco funk party act Tremain who did a wonderful job of making the man opposite me dance like he was on a rowing machine. Rich and feminine harmonies combined with the brass to create a feelgood set, made even more impressive by the fact there were seven band members crammed on a tiny stage.
Lead singer Leonie Tremain danced happily all the while in her roses-and-black dress, a massive grin on her face, encouraging the audience to clap along, but the band don’t need an audience to feed off as they are more than capable of starting their own joyful party which everyone is more than welcome to join. At the end I was worried they were about to announce a split, such was the heartfelt thanks they gave to the other bands and relief at their long-awaited live CD, but it was genuine happiness at being up there on stage entertaining their friends in the crowd. While the night wasn’t entirely groundbreaking music-wise, it definitely left a pleasantly uplifted feeling in your soul.
http://www.theelizans.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/vagabond
http://www.tremain.biz/
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