Always a pleasant surprise to bump into a vague acquaintance (or to question them) - young Andy from Haunted Stereo was in my history class at college many moons ago.
Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in October 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com
HAUNTED STEREO - SOUTHSEA FEST 2009
mINtSOUTH: Tell me a bit about yourselves.
Lewis: “I think we have been going about a year and a half. Me and Andy got together musically but it was all slow, we met at his stag do and then didn’t talk for about two months.”
Andy: “And then we said we were going to get together but we didn’t actually do it for three months.”
Ben: “It was a really long drawn out and boring affair!”
Andy: “Lewis had been in a couple of rock bands up to that point, I had been in more arty bands up in London before I met Anja. It just took a while to find exactly what we wanted to do. We pestered Anja for ages to be part of it – after our last band she was like ‘Oh, I don’t want to do a band again’ but then she started listening in and going ‘Oh, actually you know I’ll play a couple of songs,’ and before we knew it she took over! It’s a very typical phrase, but it was ‘an organic process’ of how it came together.”
Ben: “We keep losing members.”
Andy: “We’re like The Fall with our previous members list.”
mINtSOUTH: Southsea Fest – have you played yet today?
Anja: “We have actually, yeah.”
Ben: “It was really early and really short but people turned up, I don’t know where from, but they came. They seemed to quite enjoy it. It was our violinist Joanna’s last gig today so it was quite nice that everyone came to watch.”
Anja: “I did a solo set at the Magic Bean Café. I got distracted.”
Ben: “…by The Little Philistines. They’re better than we are.”
mINtSOUTH: Any bands you’re looking forward to seeing?
Haunted Stereo: “We’ve been running around doing bits and bobs and we got a tiny bite to eat so we haven’t actually got to see a lot, but we’re going to go and see Hold Fast, the Strange Death of Liberal England, definitely going to go and see Thomas Tantrum, and Peggy Sue.”
mINtSOUTH: Which band member would you eat first on a desert island?
Haunted Stereo: “Three of us are vegetarians… Dave! Dave’s not here. He eats the most beef and chicken. He looks rugged. I’m sure he’ll be a great burger.”
mINtSOUTH: How did you choose the name of your band?
Andy: “It was a birthday a few years ago and I wanted the music I had on my stereo to be in the kitchen as well, so bought one of those things where you plug in and then you just tune in on the radio. I was listening to records and tuning it through to the right frequency and someone said ‘Wow, it’s a bit like a haunted stereo.’”
Ben: “’Your stereo’s haunted.’ Get it right.”
Andy: “All right! Someone came running in and said ‘You can call yourselves Haunted Stereo!’ and I was like [slightly worried] yeah, ok then…”
Ben: “We were a bit drunk at the time. It seemed like a great idea at the time.”
mINtSOUTH: Do you support any charities?
Anja: “We did a gig last month at the Amnesty bookshop in Brighton which went really well. They’ve started a new site called Tracks for Amnesty, http://amnestybrighton.bandcamp.com/ they upload tracks for bands and sell them and all proceeds go to Amnesty International. We released our EP ‘In Bars’ on Tracks for Amnesty just a few weeks ago. You can go there and download our track, it’s called ‘Across The Sea’.”
Ben: “There’s loads of other bands in there as well, I think there’s 10 songs to choice from. Any anyone who gets a chance to play the bookshop, should. Really good fun. There’s an off licence opposite so you can have a beer outside. And if you’re not into the bands, you can have a look at the bookshelves.”
mINtSOUTH: Gorilla versus bear – who would win in a fight?
Andy: “I think bears have probably got slightly sharper teeth and generally a little bit more raw animal power.”
Ben: “I thought that bears, if you act like a bear at them, they get a bit scared and timid.”
Andy: “Would a gorilla know that though?”
Ben: “Gorillas are probably more intelligent than the bear.”
Andy: “Yeah, but I don’t think they would have read any National Geographic!”
Ben: “My vote is gorilla.”
Lewis: “I say bear. Bears are pretty cool.”
Shoutbox –
Haunted Stereo: “In November we’re releasing our new EP - we’re doing a big launch at the Joiners. We’ve got Thomas Tantrum supporting us, and the Moulettes. It’s going to be our first release on Sotones as well. Should be a riot!”
Haunted Stereo
Showing posts with label thomas tantrum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thomas tantrum. Show all posts
Monday, 11 January 2010
Monday, 5 October 2009
Intervew - Thomas Tantrum @ The Great Escape
I do enjoy a bit of Thomas Tantrum... very colourful sounding music. The first time I saw them play they looked oddly familiar but I couldn't place them... got very confused until I realised I'd been in A Level Communication Studies (yes, it's a real qualification) with the bassist. I got a C. He joined a fantastic band. I think we all know who won that one.
First published on mintsouth.com in May 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth.com
THOMAS TANTRUM @ BRIGHTON'S GREAT ESCAPE 2009
The skies are grey above Brighton. We’ve rounded up a few of Southampton art-punk-poppers Thomas Tantrum and herded them outside. David Miatt (guitar), Jim Shivers (bass) and new recruit Dave Wade Brown (drums) are stood round the back of the Thistle Hotel underneath the canopy. The Great Escape is in full swing and there are various delegates and musicians sat on the hotel steps smoking or taking in the fresh (damp) air.
Dave M: “The worst thing about the rain is you wear stupid footwear and your socks just get soaked, it’s really uncomfortable.”
Jim: “Someone’s got to be doing promotional umbrellas or something…”
Dave, how are you fitting into the band?
Dave W: “Yeah, really well. At first it was kind of like ‘What do I do?’ a little bit. But I think now we’ve been playing for about a month and a half together and a lot of writing and rehearsing and stuff and it’s really coming together.”
Have you played The Great Escape before?
Jim: “Yes. Played last year in the Waterfront, but it’s gone now. I think they have renamed it.”
They should get rid of Concorde 2, that’s ten miles away.
Jim: “Or they should just move it, just drag it in.”
Dave M: “We were considering doing a guerrilla gig but our singer’s not getting here ‘til tomorrow, so we could maybe have a jam on the street under a different name. It’s probably a bit too late now. Could do a bit of busking because we’re quite broke.”
Have you been to see many bands already so far?
Jim: “Last night, who did we collectively see... Pulled Apart By Horses, and Dave went to see Evan Dando and was not disappointed.”
Dave M: ”Well I was a bit disappointed, he didn’t say anything and he was just going through the motions. It’s because he’s teetotal and he’s married and he doesn’t give a shit. He could have at least made some funny quips. He just looks really bored.”
Jim: “So I’ve classed him now as the new Ryan Adams.”
Dave W: “Sorry Evan. You’re cool really.”
Who are you off to see tonight?
Jim: “We’ve got a bit of a dilemma at 10’o’clock between Screaming Tea Party, Holy Fuck and Times New Viking.”
Isn’t Holy Fuck a DJ set?
Jim: “They’re playing as well, after Metronomy. I’ve seen Metronomy before and they’re pretty good.”
Are there any local-ish bands you’re looking to catch?
Dave M: “The only band I’ve noticed who are from Southampton is called Jazica but I’ve never had the chance to really check them out before. I didn’t realise that Fresh Legs were playing actually. Oh shit they played already.”
Dave W: “They’re getting better, every time I’ve seen them they’re just getting better.”
What festivals are you playing this summer?
Dave M: “We’re doing Summerfield, Blissfields, Sellindge.”
Jim: “A new festival in Belfast. The name is unknown, should be quite fun.”
Are you doing Bestival again?
Jim: “Not yet, hopefully we’ll get a spot.”
Dave M: “As soon as we release something, we’ll probably get more offers coming in.”
What else have Thomas Tantrum got planned over the next couple of months?
Dave M: “Hopefully releasing a single soon but before we come back and tour again we want to build up even more songs, maybe even an album’s worth. We’ve already started recording, we’ve got a new song called Sleep which is a candidate for the new single, but it’s early days yet.”
Talk about sleep, are you getting much this weekend? Jim: “Oh no, no.” How are you feeling today? “OK now actually.”
Dave M: “I went to the shop and I got these guarana seeds. They put the active ingredient in Red Bull and stuff, but these are actually from the rain-forest. Do you fancy one? You have to crack it open, put it in your mouth and suck it for about ten minutes, until it goes soft, then chew it for a bit. No no, you have to crack it out of its shell! I did say that!” [mintsouth are incapable of following simple instructions].
Are these a legal high?
Dave M: “We don’t get high. We’re anti-drugs, apart from a good scrumpy.”
Jim: “Life is the high we need. So yeah we drink a lot of scrumpy. And health seeds.”
Have you got much planned for your stage show? (Thomas Tantrum closed the weekend at Hector’s House on Saturday night)
Jim: “We’re thinking about props. It’s a dangerous game I know.”
Dave M: “We’ve got a new song called All The Bees. I was thinking of having tennis ball-sized bees hanging from bits of cotton, but I don’t know where we’d get these from.”
For a second I thought you were going to say you’d let bees loose on the crowd.
Dave W: “Take the sting out and let them fly around.”
Dave M: “In Japan they get a wasp drunk and then they tie a bit of cotton around it, and then they actually take it around like a pet. My friend told me that.”
How many people do they know who have got one?
Dave M: “None.”
It’s almost time to go back inside…
Jim: “Give me a provocative question.”
MP expenses – what’s your opinion?
Jim: “Bloody awful! Do you know what? If I was an MP and it was offered to me, I’d take a second home. It’s the system that needs correcting. MPs are just, you know, if you’re going to be offered it, you’re going to take it.”
http://www.myspace.com/thomastantrum
First published on mintsouth.com in May 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mintsouth.com
THOMAS TANTRUM @ BRIGHTON'S GREAT ESCAPE 2009
The skies are grey above Brighton. We’ve rounded up a few of Southampton art-punk-poppers Thomas Tantrum and herded them outside. David Miatt (guitar), Jim Shivers (bass) and new recruit Dave Wade Brown (drums) are stood round the back of the Thistle Hotel underneath the canopy. The Great Escape is in full swing and there are various delegates and musicians sat on the hotel steps smoking or taking in the fresh (damp) air.
Dave M: “The worst thing about the rain is you wear stupid footwear and your socks just get soaked, it’s really uncomfortable.”
Jim: “Someone’s got to be doing promotional umbrellas or something…”
Dave, how are you fitting into the band?
Dave W: “Yeah, really well. At first it was kind of like ‘What do I do?’ a little bit. But I think now we’ve been playing for about a month and a half together and a lot of writing and rehearsing and stuff and it’s really coming together.”
Have you played The Great Escape before?
Jim: “Yes. Played last year in the Waterfront, but it’s gone now. I think they have renamed it.”
They should get rid of Concorde 2, that’s ten miles away.
Jim: “Or they should just move it, just drag it in.”
Dave M: “We were considering doing a guerrilla gig but our singer’s not getting here ‘til tomorrow, so we could maybe have a jam on the street under a different name. It’s probably a bit too late now. Could do a bit of busking because we’re quite broke.”
Have you been to see many bands already so far?
Jim: “Last night, who did we collectively see... Pulled Apart By Horses, and Dave went to see Evan Dando and was not disappointed.”
Dave M: ”Well I was a bit disappointed, he didn’t say anything and he was just going through the motions. It’s because he’s teetotal and he’s married and he doesn’t give a shit. He could have at least made some funny quips. He just looks really bored.”
Jim: “So I’ve classed him now as the new Ryan Adams.”
Dave W: “Sorry Evan. You’re cool really.”
Who are you off to see tonight?
Jim: “We’ve got a bit of a dilemma at 10’o’clock between Screaming Tea Party, Holy Fuck and Times New Viking.”
Isn’t Holy Fuck a DJ set?
Jim: “They’re playing as well, after Metronomy. I’ve seen Metronomy before and they’re pretty good.”
Are there any local-ish bands you’re looking to catch?
Dave M: “The only band I’ve noticed who are from Southampton is called Jazica but I’ve never had the chance to really check them out before. I didn’t realise that Fresh Legs were playing actually. Oh shit they played already.”
Dave W: “They’re getting better, every time I’ve seen them they’re just getting better.”
What festivals are you playing this summer?
Dave M: “We’re doing Summerfield, Blissfields, Sellindge.”
Jim: “A new festival in Belfast. The name is unknown, should be quite fun.”
Are you doing Bestival again?
Jim: “Not yet, hopefully we’ll get a spot.”
Dave M: “As soon as we release something, we’ll probably get more offers coming in.”
What else have Thomas Tantrum got planned over the next couple of months?
Dave M: “Hopefully releasing a single soon but before we come back and tour again we want to build up even more songs, maybe even an album’s worth. We’ve already started recording, we’ve got a new song called Sleep which is a candidate for the new single, but it’s early days yet.”
Talk about sleep, are you getting much this weekend? Jim: “Oh no, no.” How are you feeling today? “OK now actually.”
Dave M: “I went to the shop and I got these guarana seeds. They put the active ingredient in Red Bull and stuff, but these are actually from the rain-forest. Do you fancy one? You have to crack it open, put it in your mouth and suck it for about ten minutes, until it goes soft, then chew it for a bit. No no, you have to crack it out of its shell! I did say that!” [mintsouth are incapable of following simple instructions].
Are these a legal high?
Dave M: “We don’t get high. We’re anti-drugs, apart from a good scrumpy.”
Jim: “Life is the high we need. So yeah we drink a lot of scrumpy. And health seeds.”
Have you got much planned for your stage show? (Thomas Tantrum closed the weekend at Hector’s House on Saturday night)
Jim: “We’re thinking about props. It’s a dangerous game I know.”
Dave M: “We’ve got a new song called All The Bees. I was thinking of having tennis ball-sized bees hanging from bits of cotton, but I don’t know where we’d get these from.”
For a second I thought you were going to say you’d let bees loose on the crowd.
Dave W: “Take the sting out and let them fly around.”
Dave M: “In Japan they get a wasp drunk and then they tie a bit of cotton around it, and then they actually take it around like a pet. My friend told me that.”
How many people do they know who have got one?
Dave M: “None.”
It’s almost time to go back inside…
Jim: “Give me a provocative question.”
MP expenses – what’s your opinion?
Jim: “Bloody awful! Do you know what? If I was an MP and it was offered to me, I’d take a second home. It’s the system that needs correcting. MPs are just, you know, if you’re going to be offered it, you’re going to take it.”
http://www.myspace.com/thomastantrum
Monday, 28 January 2008
Gig Reviews - Apr 07 - Scott Matthews, SixNationState
Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in April 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
SCOTT MATTHEWS / ALBERTA CROSS
@ Portsmouth Pyramids, 3rd April 2007
Gentle, soft, bluesy songwriting - wake up!
Seated gigs never seem to give any kind of atmosphere. The Pyramids Centre was like a Ryanair trip with a scramble for non-allocated seats - but at least there was a vast improvement on the in-flight entertainment. Seats don’t allow people to mingle, spill drinks on each other and giggle. Instead there are gaps as people avoid strangers and a girl sat across the row to my right keeps turning round and staring at me with heavily-ringed kohl eyes. What have I done?!
Alberta Cross take the stage to no round of applause whatsoever. They walk up one at a time, camouflaged in black. No-one seems to realise that this is the support act until they settle down and pick up their instruments. Singer Petter Ericson Stakee has a distinctive thin, reedy voice which almost feels like it is going to break as he picks his wavering way through the songs, gently bouncing along on the spot. They play the haunting ‘I’ve Known For Long’ (believe it was their opening track) which was shortly followed with the melancholy air of ‘Lucy Rider’.
Terry Wolfers crouches over his bass, a look of abject concentration on his face, and John Alexander Ericson is similarly focusing solely on his organ (steady ladies). Their first track is plaintive and a sense of longing washes over the audience.
The Thief & The Heartbreaker’ LP only came out the day before the gig so it’s not like anyone’s had the chance to be acquainted with the music, but other songs they played tonight included ‘Old Man Chicago’ and downbeat bluesy single ‘Hard Breaks’, one of the high points of their set. There was little interaction with the crowd, though Petter did manage a wave at one fan who hooted at them.
My friend returns from the bar at the end (he didn’t want to walk in front of everyone during a song) and announces that the last track was very long, leading me to believe it was the epic (er, well the six-minute-long) ‘Devil’s All You’ve Ever Had’. To me, sat a few rows from the stage, it didn’t feel long because I was caught up in the sweeping gentle chords and tones which Alberta Cross were playing earnestly. Their songs were sweet, peaceful, deep and just a little bit mournful. To be honest, I thought their set could have been a little longer.
Scott Matthews has an amazing husky voice. Think of Gomez’s vocalist, the bespectacled Ben with his true-blues voice – it’s got that strong mature quality which is unexpected, especially for someone who calls the audience “man” in a distinctly West Midlands twang. The singer-songwriter played the first few tracks alone, illuminated from behind by stunning blue lighting while smoothly fingerpicking his guitar and producing some beautiful rich tones before being joined with a violinist, bassist and drummer, one at a time.
Between every song, Fidel Castro would come on stage and hand a different guitar to Matthews, who could only keep apologising for the time this was taking. “Fucking shambles!” The new James Blunt he is not, probably because of the swearing. (Occasionally we’d worry that Mr Castro was going to launch into one of his famous 15 hour speeches, but luckily he kept his stage time to a minimum.) Matthews made quite a few comments and the audience warmed to his sense of humour.
There were a couple of instrumentals, almost soft rock, with the lights flashing and the band concentrating away. Matthews had his head down, focusing on his guitar. The drum kit was casting an artistic shadow across the wall and the audience was nodding and foot tapping along appreciatively. The songs were thoughtful, making me daydream to another place. I expect they’d sound particularly special and personal in a smaller venue with room for a couple of hundred. I think it helped that I taught myself guitar as a teenager, so I was watching Matthews’ fingerpicking intently and concentrating on the soft tones.
Sadly my friend was rapidly losing interest with the atmospheric slow songs, leaning over and making comments like “Why is he playing the drums with a pastry brush?” and “This song is making me wonder what I missed on Neighbours earlier.”
But even he woke up during Matthew’s lively single ‘Passing Stranger’ where the girls sat in front of us tired of throwing rock shapes and decided to dance by the stage with a few friends. The poor singer was put right off by this unusual occurrence, missing lyrics because he was sniggering, and at one point saying: “Let’s start again!” The crowd was laughing along with him, and joined in the applause for the dancers and the people who had chosen to stand.
For a few words to describe the night – mellow, good musicianship, mature, melancholy. My friend didn’t quite believe me when I said I enjoyed it, but I did.
Alberta Cross
Scott Matthews
-----
SIXNATIONSTATE / THOMAS TANTRUM / THE GLAD RAGS
@ Southampton Joiners, 10th April 2007
Lively and sweaty - plus excellent freebies
I love tacky merchandise. Love it, love it. Sad it may be, but I have a box under my bed from all the bits I’ve collected from gigs and shows before. Queen sixpence, Captain matches, The Producers fan, Pull Tiger Tail cat mask. I always regret never picking up any Paul McCartney incense. Sir Paul, I apologise profusely.
And in a relevant vein, I want to thank SixNationState’s street team for providing tonight’s gig goers with a free medallion. It’s plastic gold with a star and says ‘WINNER’, with the band name all along the shoelace type ribbon. It’s in a class of its own.
With said medallion tied round my wrist like the trendsetter I am, we made our way to the front, enjoying the music pumped through the venue (Larrikin Love, the Rumble Strips et al).
First band on stage were The Glad Rags, whose own outfits didn’t quite match up to the spectacular costumes promised by their name. Damn. They were really enjoyable. Indie rock with smooth and fruity tones (like a milkshake - I’d say they were a bit orangey, if you’re going to be specific) and had a bassist who from certain angles looked like Paul McGann. This was more than enough to keep me happy.
People were yelling for various band members. “Thanks dad,” deadpanned the singer. The guitarist was a bit miffed this joke had already been used and wasn’t sure how to respond when it was his turn.
I pointed out to my friend (with some glee) that we were stood in the soon-to-be moshpit. He feigned trouble with the heat and we took a step back. This meant that for much of Thomas Tantrum, my view was obscured by a couple of tiny teens sitting on the rail by the sound booth, forcing me to spend the set staring at the bassist. This turned out to be interesting as I realised we were at college together many moons ago, although I doubt he’d remember.
Although I wouldn’t say they were as lively as the Glad Rags, they had plenty of fans in the crowd enjoying their music and calling for 'Armchair'. The blonde singer, Miss Mega Tantrumhead (says MySpace - poss. not her real name) occasionally had an ear-splitting howl of a vocal but spoilt the rock image by asking in the sweetest, cutest voice ever if they could make the lights less hot. The order was shouted back along the crew, with each person looking more amused. And the crowd audibly 'ahh'ed at her niceness.
SixNationState were about 15 minutes late. They were onstage on time, but the bass/mic equipment didn’t appear to have the same keenness and had stopped for a break and possibly a KitKat, resulting in lots of dashing about and pressing buttons. Then the band kicked off, and they were loving it. End of the tour to their homecrowd meant it was pretty special for them. Their songs are a mix of indie rock, reggae, punky ska – I’m sure last time I saw them they had brass, but perhaps I was imagining it? Singer Gerry has a belting monster of a voice and it really helps that plenty of their tunes have singalong bits to get everyone into it. The mosh pit became a heaving, sweaty mess and I felt a little sad I wasn’t stood in it. 'Keep Dancing', the stickers on their equipment order everyone.
Single ‘Fire’ went down well. New single ‘Where Are You Now?’ is saved for the end. It’s boisterous, lively and fun. The stage invaders obviously agreed. SixNationState looked like they were having a ball. Then they all went to get pissed in Lennon’s, while I kept hold of my medallion and stepped into the chill air of Southampton. It was a good one.
The Glad Rags
Thomas Tantrum
SixNationState
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in April 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd
SCOTT MATTHEWS / ALBERTA CROSS
@ Portsmouth Pyramids, 3rd April 2007
Gentle, soft, bluesy songwriting - wake up!
Seated gigs never seem to give any kind of atmosphere. The Pyramids Centre was like a Ryanair trip with a scramble for non-allocated seats - but at least there was a vast improvement on the in-flight entertainment. Seats don’t allow people to mingle, spill drinks on each other and giggle. Instead there are gaps as people avoid strangers and a girl sat across the row to my right keeps turning round and staring at me with heavily-ringed kohl eyes. What have I done?!
Alberta Cross take the stage to no round of applause whatsoever. They walk up one at a time, camouflaged in black. No-one seems to realise that this is the support act until they settle down and pick up their instruments. Singer Petter Ericson Stakee has a distinctive thin, reedy voice which almost feels like it is going to break as he picks his wavering way through the songs, gently bouncing along on the spot. They play the haunting ‘I’ve Known For Long’ (believe it was their opening track) which was shortly followed with the melancholy air of ‘Lucy Rider’.
Terry Wolfers crouches over his bass, a look of abject concentration on his face, and John Alexander Ericson is similarly focusing solely on his organ (steady ladies). Their first track is plaintive and a sense of longing washes over the audience.
The Thief & The Heartbreaker’ LP only came out the day before the gig so it’s not like anyone’s had the chance to be acquainted with the music, but other songs they played tonight included ‘Old Man Chicago’ and downbeat bluesy single ‘Hard Breaks’, one of the high points of their set. There was little interaction with the crowd, though Petter did manage a wave at one fan who hooted at them.
My friend returns from the bar at the end (he didn’t want to walk in front of everyone during a song) and announces that the last track was very long, leading me to believe it was the epic (er, well the six-minute-long) ‘Devil’s All You’ve Ever Had’. To me, sat a few rows from the stage, it didn’t feel long because I was caught up in the sweeping gentle chords and tones which Alberta Cross were playing earnestly. Their songs were sweet, peaceful, deep and just a little bit mournful. To be honest, I thought their set could have been a little longer.
Scott Matthews has an amazing husky voice. Think of Gomez’s vocalist, the bespectacled Ben with his true-blues voice – it’s got that strong mature quality which is unexpected, especially for someone who calls the audience “man” in a distinctly West Midlands twang. The singer-songwriter played the first few tracks alone, illuminated from behind by stunning blue lighting while smoothly fingerpicking his guitar and producing some beautiful rich tones before being joined with a violinist, bassist and drummer, one at a time.
Between every song, Fidel Castro would come on stage and hand a different guitar to Matthews, who could only keep apologising for the time this was taking. “Fucking shambles!” The new James Blunt he is not, probably because of the swearing. (Occasionally we’d worry that Mr Castro was going to launch into one of his famous 15 hour speeches, but luckily he kept his stage time to a minimum.) Matthews made quite a few comments and the audience warmed to his sense of humour.
There were a couple of instrumentals, almost soft rock, with the lights flashing and the band concentrating away. Matthews had his head down, focusing on his guitar. The drum kit was casting an artistic shadow across the wall and the audience was nodding and foot tapping along appreciatively. The songs were thoughtful, making me daydream to another place. I expect they’d sound particularly special and personal in a smaller venue with room for a couple of hundred. I think it helped that I taught myself guitar as a teenager, so I was watching Matthews’ fingerpicking intently and concentrating on the soft tones.
Sadly my friend was rapidly losing interest with the atmospheric slow songs, leaning over and making comments like “Why is he playing the drums with a pastry brush?” and “This song is making me wonder what I missed on Neighbours earlier.”
But even he woke up during Matthew’s lively single ‘Passing Stranger’ where the girls sat in front of us tired of throwing rock shapes and decided to dance by the stage with a few friends. The poor singer was put right off by this unusual occurrence, missing lyrics because he was sniggering, and at one point saying: “Let’s start again!” The crowd was laughing along with him, and joined in the applause for the dancers and the people who had chosen to stand.
For a few words to describe the night – mellow, good musicianship, mature, melancholy. My friend didn’t quite believe me when I said I enjoyed it, but I did.
Alberta Cross
Scott Matthews
-----
SIXNATIONSTATE / THOMAS TANTRUM / THE GLAD RAGS
@ Southampton Joiners, 10th April 2007
Lively and sweaty - plus excellent freebies
I love tacky merchandise. Love it, love it. Sad it may be, but I have a box under my bed from all the bits I’ve collected from gigs and shows before. Queen sixpence, Captain matches, The Producers fan, Pull Tiger Tail cat mask. I always regret never picking up any Paul McCartney incense. Sir Paul, I apologise profusely.
And in a relevant vein, I want to thank SixNationState’s street team for providing tonight’s gig goers with a free medallion. It’s plastic gold with a star and says ‘WINNER’, with the band name all along the shoelace type ribbon. It’s in a class of its own.
With said medallion tied round my wrist like the trendsetter I am, we made our way to the front, enjoying the music pumped through the venue (Larrikin Love, the Rumble Strips et al).
First band on stage were The Glad Rags, whose own outfits didn’t quite match up to the spectacular costumes promised by their name. Damn. They were really enjoyable. Indie rock with smooth and fruity tones (like a milkshake - I’d say they were a bit orangey, if you’re going to be specific) and had a bassist who from certain angles looked like Paul McGann. This was more than enough to keep me happy.
People were yelling for various band members. “Thanks dad,” deadpanned the singer. The guitarist was a bit miffed this joke had already been used and wasn’t sure how to respond when it was his turn.
I pointed out to my friend (with some glee) that we were stood in the soon-to-be moshpit. He feigned trouble with the heat and we took a step back. This meant that for much of Thomas Tantrum, my view was obscured by a couple of tiny teens sitting on the rail by the sound booth, forcing me to spend the set staring at the bassist. This turned out to be interesting as I realised we were at college together many moons ago, although I doubt he’d remember.
Although I wouldn’t say they were as lively as the Glad Rags, they had plenty of fans in the crowd enjoying their music and calling for 'Armchair'. The blonde singer, Miss Mega Tantrumhead (says MySpace - poss. not her real name) occasionally had an ear-splitting howl of a vocal but spoilt the rock image by asking in the sweetest, cutest voice ever if they could make the lights less hot. The order was shouted back along the crew, with each person looking more amused. And the crowd audibly 'ahh'ed at her niceness.
SixNationState were about 15 minutes late. They were onstage on time, but the bass/mic equipment didn’t appear to have the same keenness and had stopped for a break and possibly a KitKat, resulting in lots of dashing about and pressing buttons. Then the band kicked off, and they were loving it. End of the tour to their homecrowd meant it was pretty special for them. Their songs are a mix of indie rock, reggae, punky ska – I’m sure last time I saw them they had brass, but perhaps I was imagining it? Singer Gerry has a belting monster of a voice and it really helps that plenty of their tunes have singalong bits to get everyone into it. The mosh pit became a heaving, sweaty mess and I felt a little sad I wasn’t stood in it. 'Keep Dancing', the stickers on their equipment order everyone.
Single ‘Fire’ went down well. New single ‘Where Are You Now?’ is saved for the end. It’s boisterous, lively and fun. The stage invaders obviously agreed. SixNationState looked like they were having a ball. Then they all went to get pissed in Lennon’s, while I kept hold of my medallion and stepped into the chill air of Southampton. It was a good one.
The Glad Rags
Thomas Tantrum
SixNationState
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