Interview - Sam McCarthy - Southsea Fest

Can't say this was the chattiest interview I've ever done, and it didn't help that most of my questions were tailored towards bands so I had to discard half of them. I gave all my interviewees a pack of Smarties to liven their day up - Sam was the only person to leave his behind.

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in September 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

INTERVIEW - SAM MCCARTHY @ SOUTHSEA FEST 2009

mINtSOUTH: Tell me a bit about yourself.
Sam: “I used to be in a band – Gilkicker - for a few years, started off in Portsmouth then moved to London, then it sort of split up so I’ve been on my own for nearly a year. Released my first single 'Cherrytree' a few months back and it did really well, and I’m doing my album.”

mINtSOUTH: Southsea Fest – discuss.
Sam: “I think it’s great. It’s like Camden Crawl, but I’m glad that it’s down here. Last year I played. I got added late to the bill this time - I didn’t think I was going to be playing live anywhere, but then I asked Ally Wolf at the Fat Fox if I could play, so now I’m here. I think Southsea Fest is amazing.”

mINtSOUTH: Any exciting onstage antics planned?
Sam: “No not really, just playing acoustic on my own. Got some new songs, see how they go. Fingers crossed they go well.”

mINtSOUTH: Gorilla versus bear – who would win in a fight?
Sam: (decisively) “Gorilla. Another question?"

mINtSOUTH: Do you support any charities?
Sam: “I do like to support Teenage Cancer Trust. I’ve done a few gigs for them in London, and things that are associated with it. I’ve actually had a member of my family had cancer when they were a teenager and they were told they wouldn’t ever have kids or anything like that – I think she’s got about four now. So yeah, it can be done.”

mINtSOUTH: Which band member would you eat first on a desert island
Sam: “I’ve got a new violin player called Helen Green, she looks the tastiest. I’d rather eat her than any of the boys.”

Shoutbox –
Sam: “I’ve just spent all summer recording my album so that’s nearly done. We’ll be launching it around Christmas or early next year. So watch out 2010, yeah? Gonna get the album finished, then get a live band ready - and then come back with a bang.”

http://www.myspace.com/sammccarthy

Interview - Gloria Jones

So today my train of thought ran a little like this: The Pigeon Detectives have covered 'Tainted Love' for charity. Soft Cell also covered 'Tainted Love'. It was originally a Northern Soul tune made pretty famous by Gloria Jones. I interviewed her once. I think it's somewhere - aaargh! Where is it?

After a bit of delving through CDs I found the little bugger, so here it is. I remember the interview went on for a good 50 minutes, so warm and delightful she was to talk to. And it looks like we rang her in Los Angeles - good grief, that must have cost a few pence. Hopefully that's not related to the publishing company going under the following year. Whoops.

Originally published on Native.tv in 2007
Words - Suzy Sims
(c) Niche News and Publishing

INTERVIEW - GLORIA JONES
Gloria Jones. As many pub quiz teams will know, she’s the Northern Soul singer who first made famous ‘Tainted Love’ in 1964, which later on was made even more famous by Soft Cell. Singing in a gospel group in her hometown, Jones worked her way up from doing backing vocals for the likes of Bob Dylan and her own singing career to playing instruments in T.Rex, where she met Marc Bolan and together they had a child, Rolan. Marc was killed in 1977 when their purple Mini came off the road and swerved into a tree. Gloria survived, escaping with several painful injuries, and returned to America with Rolan.

Now Marc has become an icon, a rock legend. Passing away has elevated him to the status almost of a myth who could do no wrong; gone too soon, much like Elvis, Lennon and Holly. Gloria Jones can tell us more about the man.

When we ring Gloria, she’s in Los Angeles where the family have been visiting for Rolan’s birthday. “It’s a very British looking day,” laughs the 69-year-old in her honeyed voice. 2007 is a significant year for fans of T.Rex. It’s 30 years since Bolan died. It would also have been his 60th birthday this September. There have been services to mark the occasion.
“There was the memorial service at the crematorium and there were fans - I call the fans ‘friends’ - and there were Marc’s friends that came all the way from Germany, Switzerland, Rome, I mean people from all over the world.” Gloria speaks slowly and pauses between each place for emphasis. “And friends from Germany brought their children. It’s not about the past, it’s about the future and about the positiveness that the children are now bringing in.”
The anniversary means special reissues, which means a whole new audience exposed to T.Rex's songs. Glam rockers T.Rex operated from around 1967 to 1977, bringing sweet rock and wild clothes to the masses. Gloria played keyboards and sang backing vocals in the band's later years.

“In this rebirth of Marc’s music we’re looking at in America children six, seven years old wearing their T.Rex t shirts, stars under glitter on their little cheekbones, and so that’s really exciting.
“Our family are becoming aware that we have to protect Marc’s image as much as we can. And this is one of the reasons that next year we will be honouring Marc’s brother Harry with a musical tribute from the family. I really want you to mention this for me, I really need this!” Gloria laughs.
Is it quite odd walking around and hearing all those songs you had such a part in? “Yes, yes. People are beginning to hear the real truth. All of Marc’s private collection of records, his poetry, his life, all of that just got out into the street. And so now people are realising ‘Oh we don’t have everything, we really don’t know the story about how this song was created’.”
Such as 'Why Must I Be A Teenager In Love?' which has seen the light of day as a b-side to the reissued ‘20th Century Boy.’ “We were staying in a flat in St John’s Wood and in the apartment we had the jukebox. We never had a lot of furniture, but the jukebox was the centrepiece there. And then we had the music room and that was where we recorded ‘Why Must I Be A Teenager In Love?’ At that time I had just conceived Rolan and we were just taking it easy before flying out to Monte Carlo.

”Marc was playing the guitar and he was singing. He was inspired, he didn’t have to have elaborate things, he could just sit in the room cross-legged and play his guitar. I remember he called me and said “Glo, come here, come here. I want you to sing harmony to this.” And because our life was centred about music you never knew what Marc was thinking, you didn’t know if he was already in production, if he had recorded the song! When I first started singing it he said: “Now I want you to give me that Chaka Khan feel.” So that’s why when you first hear my entrance there’s like this very high strange note in there [laughs].”
What do you think he would have been doing now if he was still alive? “I believe he would have been doing films because he was already involved in video and music. And I believe he would have been enjoying his family, which he did. He had the prize of life that so many people didn’t understand. He was always a child at heart, and he enjoyed his family. When we would come to the United States we would stay with my family so he would have a chance to taste Southern cooking which he was very polite about!”
Grits? “Fried catfish! And you know Marc was very classy and very clever and he would politely sit and take a bite and that was it, and then order something else.”
How do you think he would have got on nowadays, because there’s a whole cult of celebrity and there’s so much media attention? “But you see Marc would have milked it, because that was his love,” Gloria says instantly. “He had the Marc TV Show before the one in 1977 and he had Telly Savalas on the show. He had never heard of Marc. When he came out there on the show Marc says: “Telly baby,” and Telly says: “Well Marc baby.” You might say he understood his work, and he was clever about sending any situation up but he had respect, you know there was always respect, and always love."

And you’re not fed up of talking about Marc? Because you must get asked about him so often. “Listen, sweet, you have to understand something. We were not only partners, we were also musical partners so we had a lot in common. It wasn’t strange because we were basically musicians, and so our life was in the studio, travelling, and that’s why when Rolan was born it brought in a new balance.
“Now the actresses are having their babies, taking pictures with the pregnancy, but in those years they disgraced me because Marc took a picture of me with my belly. He said “What do you want to do about it?” and I said “Oh it’s nothing,” because I knew Rolan had a future and so you don’t want to have problems because life moves on, the world moves on, and look at the world today! Look at the press and the music, how wonderful! But Marc was doing that years ago. He was always friends with the media. How old were you, you were young right?”
I’m 25. I wasn’t born! “That’s what I’m talking about! So when I’m saying to you, everything happening now is what Marc did some years ago.”

It all comes back round again? “It all comes back round and what happens is now the artists, the actresses, they have more freedom. In those days Marc took risks, and he took risks because he knew that there was a future. He knew that the industry would not stay the same. And so what he did he approached the media and television and his music as if he was a 1930s movie star. That’s how he approached his career; you know the boas, the mascara.”
He was very flamboyant, wasn’t he? “Yes. And in those days you had Errol Flynn who was absolutely beautiful, then you have to remember Marc was very beautiful. So he had all of the qualities of becoming a star in the Seventies. Like you said, you weren’t born, and we had the hippie era, [laughs] we had the disco era, we had the rock and roll era, but now you have a chance to relive that but also it’s not any different. Except now you have hip hop. But then in the Fifties, you had beatniks who would rap poetry to jazz music. So that is why we have to stop the separation. It’s one big pie.”

Gloria and Marc’s musical talent has passed on to Rolan. I read somewhere he has an album coming out? “Yes, he’s working on his career and he will let everyone know when that’s ready. Rolan actually wanted to be a baseball player. How he got into performing was by accident. He had a fractured ankle and so then his friends asked him to perform in theatre at the university so there he was in Hair - which his mom also thirty plus years ago was in the original cast of Hair in Los Angeles.

"The main thing was Marc always wanted Rolan to have an education and that was more important than anything. Now if you find the music and theatre and things after that, fine.
“We’re very happy for Rolan because can you imagine coming into the world, stepping in your father’s shoes - who was one of the largest stars - and really just wanting your own individuality, which he deserves. And I think that’s more important and I think he’s learning that the audience will accept him as an individual and I admire him. I admire any other star’s children that are presenting their own talent and not using a parent’s name.”

Now remarried, Gloria herself isn’t so much involved in music anymore – though she recently duetted on ‘Tainted Love’ with Marc Almond at Shepherd’s Bush – but she is heavily involved in charity work in Sierra Leone, running Youth Net Children Under the Sun. “We are at this time planning on building the Marc Bolan School of Music and Film, and the reason is that we feel that if the orphans can learn an instrument and learn to write a song, they have a chance, you know?

"People will always love music, people will always be creative, and the work we try to do to help these orphans to have a purpose for life. Oh and also mention Gibson for me, Gibson guitars - oh girl, these people have been so supportive - on behalf of our family, Rolan, and the School of Music. So our children are going to be learning guitar.”
Why Sierra Leone? “The children there are very, very lovely and very open and they’re just so genuine with appreciation, and after just coming out of the civil war their little eyes are shining, they still have life. And Marc loved children. Marc did not see colour. Marc’s life was a mixture, so this school, any orphans that want to attend, even from all over the world, they’re welcome; it’s the love of music and to help these children to get on their way.”

Gloria says they would like to show Bolan’s humanitarian side. “[Marc] was about youth. We both were. We were your age, but we were about young people helping young people. Like I said, people knew of his poetry and his music but they didn’t know the man. Marc loved sitting at home strumming his guitar, playing his record collection, watching TV, occasionally pop in a few movies. He was always playing his guitar and reading, he loved to read science fiction and getting new ideas and constantly trying new approaches to making the record business interesting.

“The up-and-coming bands, they all say they were influenced by Marc. The stars that have already had hits, they say they were influenced by Marc. Look at the wonderful Boy George. He used to stand at the front of Marc’s office on Bond Street and he was such a nice guy, such a sensitive guy. And he never bothered Marc, you know. And I used to always watch him because he was tall and he would wear a real short haircut, nice to watch this guy. One time I was looking out of Marc’s office window and there was Marvin Gaye across the road! Window-shopping. And I wanted to run down but you know I was so cautious, and you just couldn’t be that open, and so many times I thought why didn’t I go, why didn’t I grab Boy George, bring him to Marc, why didn’t I go grab Marvin!

“But you didn’t have the freedom like now, the stars are able to walk around. It was very difficult because whenever they saw Marc they would just go crazy. They were so excited. He used to go to the museum and there would be a group of schoolgirls and we would have about thirty minutes alone – but before we can get out of there those kids would be ‘Marc Bolan’s here!’ and there’s running and there’s screaming! Sometimes you do need a break.”

And back to 'helping people on their way', Gloria has a story she wants to share: “There were some gentlemen at Rolan’s first introduction into the industry and they were speaking amongst themselves. One guy told the other guy, oh I can remember when I was around 15 or 16 years old, and my tyre blew out. And all of a sudden Marc Bolan appeared. And he took care and he helped them out, they patched the tyre up and came back, put the tyre on and after that Marc said ‘OK gents you’re on your way.’ And he said, I can remember how Marc got us on our way. Isn’t it beautiful? I hope you can print that,” she adds.

So we have.

Official Marc Bolan Fan Club http://www.marc-bolan.com
Gloria’s

charity Youth Net Children Under The Sun http://www.yncuts.net

Interview - The Little Philistines - Southsea Fest

Another of the interviews I carried out in the Kings Theatre's bar during Southsea Fest. Very cheery and charming band.

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in September 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

INTERVIEW - THE LITTLE PHILISTINES @ SOUTHSEA FEST 2009

mINtSOUTH: Tell me a bit about yourselves.
Emily: “We all live in London. I’m from Southend which is a seaside town so I kind of have a kindred feeling with Southsea. John and Rob decided to have a new band. John said let’s have Adam, and I wanted to be in the band but they would only let me sing and play violin if I also agreed to play keyboards.”
John: “…And if she brought biscuits.”
Emily: “Then after that had all been sorted we didn’t have a drummer, then at my birthday party one year we did a little gig and Matt begged us to let him play.”

mINtSOUTH: Can you describe your music?
The Little Philistines: “Poppy, indie, guitary, violiny, quirky, banging drumming, harmonies, intelligent lyrics, a bit political. Music to have fun to basically - but also to make you think.”

mINtSOUTH: What do you like your listeners to be doing while they’re listening to you?
Emily: “Hopefully our listeners will be singing along with our music, or dancing, or both. We did an acoustic set for Recharged Radio and it was nice to get instant feedback in the chatroom.”

mINtSOUTH: Southsea Fest – have you played yet today?
The Little Philistines: “We played at the Kings upstairs. It was great. Everyone’s just been really really friendly.” John: “But then I don’t imagine many people are drunk yet, so maybe later it will turn dark…”
Adam: “It’s a great set up having all these venues on the same road. It’s really cool.”

mINtSOUTH: Any bands you’re looking forward to seeing? The Little Philistines: “Tubelord, Anja McCloskey who’s from Haunted Stereo, Strange Death of Liberal England, Beans On Toast.”

mINtSOUTH: What are your plans for the rest of the weekend?
Rob: “That’s very forward of you.”
Matt: “I’ve got to drive to Sheffield tomorrow for my mum’s birthday, so I’m missing all the bands I want to see today. This Town Needs Guns, I wish I were seeing. This City I wish I were seeing, The Xcerts I wish I were seeing.”
John: “Emily, can you go and get the violins?”
Adam: “I’m going to find out where the free drink is. The rest of the weekend may do as it will.”

mINtSOUTH: How did you choose the name of your band?
Emily: "There was a bit of a band name war, it went on for several decades. We ended up with a shortlist and The Little Philistines was on the shortlist because that’s what my dad used to call me and my sister when we were little and we didn’t appreciate culture. It kind of won by default because it was the least unpopular. But actually we’ve quite grown into it now. My dad’s reaction has been fairly non-committal - he just raised his eyebrows.”

mINtSOUTH: Which band member would you eat first on a desert island?
Matt: “I’m the meatiest.”
John: “I think I would go for Emily because I suspect that Emily eats the best out of all of us. We should get the nutrients from what she’s eating.”

mINtSOUTH: Gorilla versus bear – who would win in a fight?
Matt: “Bear. I’ve seen Grizzly Man.”
John: “A Gorilla could knock your head off with one swipe.”
Adam: “If we’re talking a polar bear, they’re huge.”
Matt: “How many bands split up over this question?”

Shoutbox – Single ‘Bus Pass / Judith Cut My Head Off’ is out now on iTunes.

http://www.myspace.com/thelittlephilistines

Interview - The Ramblings - Southsea Fest 2009

One of the 13 interviews I carried out during Southsea Fest 2009.

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in September 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

THE RAMBLINGS @ SOUTHSEA FEST 2009

mINtSOUTH: Tell me a bit about yourselves.
Robin: “We’ve been going about two-and-a-half years now. We all went to uni together in Southampton and me and Kooksy just used to get drunk and mess around, he had a little electronic drum-kit, I had my guitar and we were just jamming. Then Johnny got involved, started doing a bit of singing, and then slowly but surely building up to getting everybody in the band. We were together for about a month and we played our first gig, and we’ve just been going ever since really.”

mINtSOUTH: Can you describe your music?
Robin: “I’d say it was like progressive indie. It’s got lots of hidden melodies and lots of structure to it, very floaty vocals over some really harsh vocals, nice piano. Bits and pieces all jammed together.”

mINtSOUTH: Southsea Fest – looking forward to your gig this evening?
Robin: “Yeah, big time. It’s going to be really good.
mINtSOUTH: Have you got any onstage antics to get everyone going?
Robin: “Johnny, our singer, is pretty animated, he always gets the crowd going. Lots of feet stomping, lots of hand clapping, lots of audience participation. We’ve played [in Albert Road] quite a lot. As a street, with all the pubs and everything like that, to put something on like this is great. Proper carnival atmosphere. You couldn’t pull it off in Southampton basically.”

mINtSOUTH: How did you choose the name of your band?
Robin: “That was down to Kooksy. He had to come up with a name and he just said The Ramblings because it gives us the license to say pretty much what we like, to ramble on!”

mINtSOUTH: Gorilla versus bear – who would win in a fight?
Robin: “I reckon a bear’s going to do it. Bears have got big paws and they’re very tall. It would be very close.”

Shoutbox – “We’re launching our single at the Dublin Castle on the 17th October. Everybody’s invited!”

http://www.myspace.com/theramblingslive

Interview - Hold Fast @ Southsea Fest 2009

Right, here we go... Southsea Fest is a wristbanded event which lets you into multiple gigs all round Albert Road. I missed the majority of it because I was sat in the Kings Theatre interviewing bands. 13 bands in under five hours... I never want to do that much transcription ever again! Anyway, Hold Fast are a top band.

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in September 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

HOLD FAST

mINtSOUTH: Tell me a bit about yourselves.
Hold Fast: “We’ve been going a couple of years. Had a few change arounds and Adam is the newest member, came in just about a year ago. Used to play reggae fusion, kind of reggae-dance… actually, that wasn’t entirely serious.”

mINtSOUTH: Can you describe your music?
Hold Fast: “It’s post-punk really. Lots of influences thrown in - too long to list. Atmospheric, quite driven, synths, female vocals; call it death pop.”

mINtSOUTH: Southsea Fest – have you played yet today?
Hold Fast: “Yep, we literally just came off stage.”
Mintsouth: How did that go?
Hold Fast: “Really great atmosphere generally today in there, it’s great. Hot and sticky, the way it should be – Little Johnny Sauna!”
Ben Hold Fast: “Amazing. Massive crowd and everyone went nuts.”
Roberta Hold Fast: “A massive thank you to any one who came in and just packed that place out for twenty minutes. It was insane.”

mINtSOUTH: Any onstage antics to get everyone going?
Hold Fast: “We played a bit of Scrabble to warm up. We’re a granddad band.” “We’ve laid off the drinking so far, but now we’re going to get on it.”

mINtSOUTH: Any bands you’re looking forward to seeing?
Hold Fast: “Munroe Effect, we played with them yesterday. Strange Death Of Liberal England are playing in a minute. Fresh Legs, Official Secrets Act, Love Like Fire, B Of The Bang in a sec as well, Kill Em Dead Cowboy. It’s an amazing line up this year. It’s just frustrating having to choose between two bands who are on at the same time. Just run around trying to catch whoever you can.”

mINtSOUTH: Which band member would you eat first on a desert island?
Hold Fast: “Well it’s always got to be the biggest person hasn’t it? Toby, you’ve got the most muscles so you’re it mate. All that drumming… You know Bowling For Soup? They’ve got quite a big guy on guitar. He would be the first. We’d get Bowling For Soup’s guitarist shipped in on a plane.”

mINtSOUTH: What do you like your listeners to be doing while they’re listening to you?
Hold Fast: “Having sex. Ironing – not hoovering, because you can’t hear the music properly. Dancing about, just enjoying it and getting involved.”

mINtSOUTH: Gorilla versus bear – who would win in a fight?
Hold Fast: “Gorillas are probably good at punching but the bear has those big claws and big gnashers. Bear definitely, it would tear your face off. It depends what sort of bear really. If it’s a teddy bear…The panda on the advert, the Knorr Panda might [win], but that’s not real.”

Shoutbox - Hold Fast: “We are playing in 93 Feet East on 26th September. That’s going to be cool, it’s got burlesque, loads of bands, DJs, VJs, trapeze artists, so it’s a crazy event.”

http://www.myspace.com/holdfast

Album Review - You’re Smiling Now But We’ll All Turn Into Demons – Contact High

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in September 2009
Words - Suzy Sims
Editor - Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

You’re Smiling Now But We’ll All Turn Into Demons – Contact High

So I was walking in the forest one day, as one does. Then a magical pixie offered me a mysterious CD full of demons. “This will blow your mind,” she said. “I’ll be the judge of that,” I thought to myself.

This was a true story. Except perhaps it was more of an office than a forest. And the pixie is actually the girl who sits behind me. I’m not sure if she is magical.

Recorded in the creative musical hive that is Nursling, ‘Contact High’ is the third full length release by Portsmouth’s You’re Smiling Now But We’ll All Turn Into Demons. They’ve been releasing music for around six years and describe their sound as ‘psych / drone’ which is pretty correct – there’s an otherworldly, hallucinogenic feel to it and the band love to jam and crash away to themselves.

Starting with a good thirty seconds of feedback, ‘Contact High’ stamps its menacing authority repeatedly into your head. Controlled ferocity bubbles about my ears snarling and whining. My first opinion was that the guitarist should not have been given control of the mixing desk because every other sound is muffled below the fuzzy orgasms of the electric guitar and the crash of the ride. However as it goes on your ears begin to attune to the other sounds and melodies present.

‘Nervous / Alive’ has a surprisingly catchy melody before it descends into clouds and echoes. ‘Out Of Focus’ starts mournfully and is basically two minutes of the band jamming to themselves, the sort of thing it’s fun to do but which can signal a break for the audience to nip off the to bar; luckily here it blends well to become part of ‘Jammin’ On The 13th Floor’, one of the quieter points on the album. ’Calmer’ isn’t the right word at all – it’s not a relaxed tune as there is still a lot of underlying tension to the music.

They’ve all gone a bit wordy with a few song titles (‘The Recidivist’ and ‘Prismatic Reflections’) which makes me fear a Scrabble contest with the band because I would lose quite badly, by approximately seven million points.

The heavy fuzz of Demons suggests they’d be quite a powerful live force although the CD doesn’t quite get that across and I struggled to connect to the sanitised, recorded version. The vocals actually remind me of the Stone Roses and that ‘don’t care’ attitude of the Madchester scene. Despite the frustrated anger in the music it sounds like the songs have been tamed, although they could still snap at your fingers and need to be kept on a leash. Highlights for me are ‘Nervous/Alive’ and ‘The Recidivist’.

‘Prismatic Reflections’ is the band’s magnum opus; their ‘Paranoid Android’, their ‘Revolution 9’. It’s eighteen minutes worth of Last Chance Saloon harmonica, dusty stamping and sexy wah guitar, then the next section is a menacing buzz, leading into disturbing feedback and a whirlwind of noise before eventually braking to a finish. When it came to an end, I was suddenly aware that the real world sounded strangely quiet.

If you like your music with swaggering stoner qualities and a fuzzy snarl of classic metal, then check out the Demons. It’s a bit heavier than the music I usually choose to listen to, but I enjoyed the ride nevertheless.

http://www.myspace.com/thedemons

Live Review - Athlete @ Soul Cellar

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in September 2009
Words: Suzy Sims
Editor: Rob Ball
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

LIVE REVIEW - ATHLETE, LOZ BRIDGE, GARY MUNDAY, IDOL RICH, THE L.C.D. + BRYONY MARIE FRY @ THE SOUL CELLAR, SOUTHAMPTON 26/08/09

It’s like musical Tetris, trying to fit Athlete onstage; band members, roadies and Wave 105 presenters are carefully being dropped into place between keyboards and amps and guitars and drums and more guitars and more people.

Wave 105 are there because it’s Their Night at the Soul Cellar. Athlete are there because they have been picked to play Wave 105’s Up, Close and Personal series of gigs which have previously hosted the likes of Frankmusik and Sharleen Spiteri. The roadies are there, because that’s what they do. Never underestimate the power of a good roadie.

It takes roughly an hour for people to filter upstairs until everyone is crammed up close. There is no warm up act, though temperature-wise it couldn’t get much hotter without the fans and competition winners starting to wilt a bit.

Standing front left, just underneath the speaker, I struggle to see most of Athlete hiding behind their equipment. There’s singer Joel Pott in a red checked shirt. Serious-faced keyboardist Tim Wanstall is shielding his eyes as he motions to the soundman to adjust a few settings. Drummer Stephen Roberts is completely out of sight, and I can’t work out how many other guitarists they have onstage.

The setlist takes a few tracks from the band’s latest album, Black Swan, including the beautiful title track which Joel dedicates to his granddad, and the fantastic singalong of The Getaway. Longer-term fans aren’t disappointed either, with Vehicles & Animals’ Beautiful and radio-friendly You Got The Style, and a couple of tracks from Tourist including Half Light thrown into the mix. Throughout the night, the band are friendly and relaxed, though leaving their frontman to do most of the banter with the audience. They’re often criticised for not having much of an edge, but Athlete are always a welcome pleasure to listen to.

The band have always been one for mature epics, and the set closes with a stripped down version of powerful tearjerker Wires, with the rest of the band leaving Joel alone to face the crowd chanting “I see it in your eyes / You’ll be all right.”

The set is sadly over after what seems like a short time. It’s no rest for the wicked though, as mintsouth then hotfoot it across the stage and disappear behind the scenes to interview the band.
http://www.mintsouth.com/2009/09/minterview-athlete/

Afterwards we take a short trip downstairs to see what mintsouth have to offer in the way of acoustic acts. Loz Bridge is just finishing his set as we descend; he’s very intense and the sounds seems to completely fill the small room. Up next are the multiple personas of Gary Munday which keep switching back and forth– Gary#1 is a slightly muffled deep voice, while Gary#2 has a belting voice which wakes everyone up. The acoustic is nicely sparse, but the voice is too shouty. Idol Rich is incredibly understated, so understated in fact he’s almost lost beneath the chattering post-Athlete crowd. He’s very bluesy and beautifully mellow, covering a few songs including ‘Walking The Dog’ and ‘I Just Wanna Make Love To You.’

Next up is The L.C.D. and his incredibly quick tongue. The guitar is almost incidental to this street / beat poet who performs a curious cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. The final act we manage to catch before sloping away is the lovely Bryony Marie Fry whose voice is sweet and spot on; easily the best singer of the night.

Often a little mournful musically but always heartwarming, it’s been a successful night for Athlete. And the drinks were cheap. Hurrah.

Athlete
Wave 105
Loz Bridge
Gary Munday
The L.C.D.
Bryony Marie Fry