Thursday, April 27, 2006


THE PRINCE OF WALES, FALMOUTH (12TH APRIL)

THE CHINASKI EFFECT
THE LUCKY POLARBEARS

THE CHINASKI EFFECT & THE LP`S

Reviewed by Beccy Melling

It was my first visit to the Prince of Wales, and I was pleasantly surprised. Its a small, intimate venue that leaves the audience no option but to participate, or leave, there is no escaping the music!

Luckily, there was no need to escape, as first up were newcomers The LPs, a Camborne trio consisting of Phil Marshall on guitar and vocals, Craig Broad on bass and Luke James on drums. Roused by the enthusiasm of the capacity crowd they launched into their set. It was the first time I`ve seen the LPs, and they certainly made an impression, nodding to their influences (Sonic Youth, Pavement, Lemonheads and Pixies) whilst retaining an original sound. Phil`s was the kind of soulful voice that made you aware of the lyrics, and their set combining the wit of Sally (a girl with comedy breasts) with their heartfelt final song Linus, about a girl who thinks the world is against her. This song stood out from an impressive set, and being their most recent can only indicate that better things are yet to come from a band still in its conception stages. The LPs evoked such a crowd response, they are unlikely to be a support band for long, and as they grow in confidence they should set the local circuit alight.

The crowd were now buzzing with expectation, and when The Chinaski Effect took to the stage, they didn`t disappoint. The St Austell boys, (Kevin Pearce - vocals/guitar, Alex Stenhouse - guitar/backing vocals, Matthew Duggan - Bass and Chris Morley - Drums) were promoting their Ep and their set was littered with old favourites, but also gave tantalising glimpses at their new direction. This is a band that has grown and developed their sound, the anger and crashing melodies are no longer the focal point of all their songs, an exciting dynamism is surfacing as the band mature, with songs such as Mr Soft and Jevo highlighting the bands diversity, and showcasing a softer vocal from lead singer Kevin. Guitarist Alex has given their new sound the moniker Evo, or evolved hardcore, and their songs are not the only thing that has evolved in the Chinaski camp. On stage banter had the audience laughing with them, and the new relaxed confidence was evident in the ownership they stamped on the stage. Old favourites Daddy-Oh and Alibi got the crowd moving, and by the time the band reached its triumphant finale with Megatron Star Alliance the dancing crowd were oblivious to the beer they were sloshing around!

That time of night, the time where all you can hear is the ringing in your ears, came far too soon.

(Photos by Becs)

Friday, April 21, 2006

BUNTER`S BAR, TRURO (20TH APRIL)


RUDI`S MESSAGE

Thursday night in Truro has many things to offer those who shelter from the cold spring rain, but by far the best things come in musical forms and Rudi`s Message, the good time ska band from Cambourne, helped to dry us all with their infectious good humour and 2-tone tunes. They`re a covers band that formed back in the 90`s to recreate the rude boy sounds that were made popular by bands like Madness and The Specials, and they do it damn well my friend. `It must be love`, `Gangsters` and `Shiver` were particular highlights, as was the old Toots and the Maytals tune, `Monkeyman`, which became a theme for the night as their own bass player Gary `Monkeyman` celebrated his birthday. But close your eyes for a second and you`d swear you were hearing the original artists playing live - it`s really exceptional. The place wasn`t as packed as I`ve seen it in the past, but those who were there, clearly enjoyed the music and the band performed a great show with lead singer Simon bouncing around like a rubber ball.

Live gigs are often won or lost depending on the audience reactions and interactions with the bands; great bands have died on their arses when the audience wasn`t up for it and conversely dire little gits have had fabulous success when an audience has taken to the gig.

Rudi`s Message are a great solid ska band that you really should see, its just a shame that not many people made the effort to on the actual night - it was their loss. The one drawback of having this sort of high quality musicianship in a covers band is that it`s really a waste of obvious talent; maybe they should showcase some original material too, because I`m sure they would win more fans. That said, I`d recommend Rudi`s Message to anyone who still has a pulse.

(photos by Fang)

THE OLD ALE HOUSE, TRURO (20TH APRIL)


ME AND THE DEVIL

The Old Ale House in Truro is my favourite pub in the city; it`s rough and ready with honesty and charm, dark and out of the way, it serves the best food I`ve eaten in many a month and above all the name gives you a fairly good idea why I like it best - the ale is, indeed, good.

I saw no jukebox, no gambling machines, but what I did see and hear was heaven to these ears, because there in the heart of the pub, Me and the Devil were playing the sweetest blues in town. This is just the sort of place where the blues fits in like a jigsaw piece and Steve, Morgan and Tony are excellent company at the end of a long night as you sup the ale in the dimly lit surroundings. It feels like you`re all alone in a crowded room, when Morgan`s haunting harmonica plays across a Willie Dixon classic. It just takes you away man. Steve Mole mastered the slide guitar a long time ago and with Tony slapping his double bass this room rocked like time stood still while the world outside the Old Ale House doors continued on it`s merry way. We were treated to some of the finest rock`n`roll and blues this side of the Mason Dixie line and if, like me, this is your idea of a perfect way to spend your living years, I suggest you get your bags on that mystery train and shake your boogie to Me and the Devil quicker than Lightnin` Hopkins.

...I love this pub, and I love this band!

(photos by Fang)


Thursday, April 20, 2006


SANGUINE AND BETRAYAL OF FAITH PLAY NICALS, BODMIN (7TH APRIL)

Reviewed by Johnny Echo Echo

Nicals in Bodmin is rapidly becoming one of the great venues in the area to see live local bands and this Friday saw two great rock bands from Cornwall and Devon.. Eyedealsounds are presenting what the people want, the evidence being the good sized crowd that packed into the compact back room. We are talking Metal and we are talking Rawk, (the two middle fingers that were lost in a sawmill accident seem a rather common ailment these days...)

Betrayal of Faith, (it does what it says on the tin), are a rock/metal outfit from Cornwall that have a very fresh full rock sound. Mike Walby the lead singer has a raw and powerful voice that suits this style of music perfectly and in all honesty, is probably a requirement for the job. After a few recent line up changes, which have improved the band`s sound and their tightness when performing, Betrayal of Faith must be on line for more bookings as this excellent hard rock band put on shows like tonight`s. The commitment to the music is total and is a joy to behold when compared to others of their ilk.

But, Oh what the world was waiting for has just walked through the door... Sanguine are with us and we are the chosen ones! This female fronted rock/metal act from Exeter gave the Bodmin crowd something to cheer about when they hit the very first chord.As lead singer, Tarin Kerrey`s angelic looks, lips and hips fool you into thinking it`ll all be ballads and swooning until her equally angelic voice turns like a kicked cat on your leg and rips the air apart. Demanding attention with the control of a dominatrix, she moves about the place like a hunting cobra; the audience her willing victims. Professional and explosive, Sanguine are what dreams and nightmares are made of...but don`t expect the arms of morphius when they`re in town!

Another cracking evening at Nicals, (as Walace might say to Gromit), and another opportunity to hear some fine musical talent. Let`s see the promoter Andy top this line up then!

(photo of Sanguine nicked from their fabulous website sanguineband.com - ta!)


ALMOST FAMOUS - SETH LAKEMAN (MERCURY PRIZE NOMINEE) Interviewed by Alex Kendall back in January 2006 -

He cuts a striking figure; a dark, brooding, handsome young man, blessed with a strong voice and a powerful fiddle, but somewhere out on the windswept heart of Dartmoor, last year`s Mercury Prize nomination for `Kitty Jay`, caught Seth Lakeman by surprise

.......... it`s an achievement, a dream. I was nominated for the (Radio 2 best newcomer & best original track) folk awards and when I first got the phone call, I was over the moon, I couldn`t believe it. I was literally walking around the moors bloody shouting, I thought this is incredible y`know? I was unemployed then, so after that, the Mercury thing, well it`s surreal. It is surreal! I would never, ever in a million years, have thought or even imagined it...in isolated moments, in solitude, just trying to get my head around it...it`s quite a big thing for me. Things went a bit crazy, yeah.

The master of the understatement, you can feel his excitement as he recalls how the events of last year changed his life forever, as more and more accolades were thrust upon his shoulders from the likes of Billy Bragg, Jools Holland, Eddie Reader and The Pogues

............ It`s a very strange feeling, (he laughs), y`know what I mean? A year ago I`d never have thought I was going to be here, it was just me experimenting and mucking about with different styles for six months to write that record `Kitty Jay` and its incredible that I`m able to do this now. I`ve had to sacrifice personal things in order to concentrate so highly on the work, so there is a flip side, but you can`t ever moan about this sort of job - you have to take it while you can.

Having created early success and critical acclaim with his brother in the band Equation, Seth`s songwriting went from strength to strength whilst he played (first) fiddle for a host of haunting voices including Kathryn Roberts, Cara Dillon and Kate Rusby. Finally, however, his own voice has been given the freedom that it deserves, as he builds on last year`s stunning solo success with the first new material from any of last year`s Mercury nominees. It may take a while for the likes of Coldplay and The Kaiser Chiefs to come up with a new song, but Seth Lakeman has his new album,`Freedom Fields` ready for release this March. Once again recorded in his brother`s kitchen studio on Dartmoor

............ basically I stuck to a similar approach to the writing of `Kitty Jay`, but involved a band of acoustic musicians, we used a great bodhran player to drum and do the percussion, a straight double bass all the way through and whatever my brother (Sean Lakeman) and myself do, plus a few guests on the vocals. It`s going to be a great live band that you see when we`re touring this year.

`Freedom Fields` has some unexpected turns

............. there`s still quite a `landscape-songwriting` thing going on there, but theres a number of different elements that are a progression from the previous record. Some people who`ve heard it are picking up bits of Led Zep III in there and things like that. There are a couple of tracks that are full on, all acoustic wooden instruments yeah, but played quite heavily. It`s cool, it`s what we like to do, yeah? We`re young and we enjoy playing upbeat energy songs. I guess I have to be honest and say I`m not a straight forward "folky" in any sense, I don`t look like a folk musician (laughs). I`m just trying to be true to my roots, myself and my surroundings and at the same time I`m trying to write in other people`s shoes and see other perpectives.

The title track of the new album comes from one of the most significant battles of the English Civil war

.............. it happened at Plymouth and was probably the most important turning point in the whole war. Charles 1st had to bring his troops down to try and quell the locals as they fought his Cavaliers, and after vicious fighting the people of Plymouth routed the King`s army and held their ground. It`s a very significant event.

Not all the songs are historical though

.............. it doesn`t necessarily happen over the whole concept of the record, but in individual songs, you don`t have to keep to the facts all the time, they (the facts) relate to how you`re writing the song and it`s style. `White Hare` (the single), it`s related to something called the Tinner`s Hare which was a superstition that the miners had: They used to believe in a witch that lived on Bodmin Moor who took the form of a white hare and if the miners were walking at night and the white hare caught their eye in the moonlight, it would steal the miner`s soul...mind you they used to believe a lot of things back then! (he laughs long and hard).

Touched by Mercury, but not poisoned, Seth Lakeman wants to take us all to Freedom Fields with the authentic sound of the people`s music.

SETH LAKEMAN AT THE PRINCESS PAVILIONS, FALMOUTH (12TH APRIL)

Reviewed by Brian Damage

The anticipation in the atmosphere could be cut with a knife on the night Seth Lakeman chose to grace the stage with his up beat modern folk music, while the audience watched the opening act on stage at the Princess Pavilions, Falmouth last Wednesday night. Dan Donnelly strolled on to the stage like a stagehand doing a sound check, but started to play his guitar. Support acts are usually trying to upstage the headliners or riding on their coat tails, but Dan Donnelly was a true musician. By that I mean that he let his music do the talking and never once made the audience feel anything other than lucky to be witnessing such a talent. (The only other time that I`ve seen such an event was at the old Cornish Colisium in St.Austell when an old man with a wooden chair and a battered old acoustic strolled to centre stage without introduction or fanfare and played the most wonderful blues in support of the equally fabulous Rory Gallagher, back in `87). Donelly’s music was a breathe of fresh celtic air for all those who are sick of bands that use hype over talent as a way to rise to the top.

And then it was the turn of the evening`s main turn, mercury music award nominee and radio 2 folk musician of 2005, Mr. Seth Lakeman. He strolled onto the stage as if it was his frontroom and we were all house guest of his. As the lights went down the excitement levels went up creating an electric atmosphere. As a multi-instrumentalist, Seth whips out his guitar, violin and then ukulele at the drop of a hat, amazing the audience not only with his powerful voice but also with his passionate delivery. The tight backing band enhancing his vocal talent have been with him for many months now and created an almost instinctive style that turns on a note like surfers on an aural wave. Song after song from his award winning Kitty Jay album was intermingled with the new material from this year`s Freedom Fields, creating a spectural and bewitching evening in the presence of one of the West Country`s most skilled musicians. Folk music for the soul.

(Interview with Seth Lakeman by Alex Kendall above)

O’ CALLAGHANS PUB, ST.AUSTELL (11TH APRIL)

THE REPLICAS & LAST TO FALL

Reviewed by Dickie Burd

O’Callaghans Pub is the only real music venue in St Austell for up and coming musicians and on Tuesday a lively crowd were treated to two excellent sets by local bands.

The Replicas play a melodic brand of Ska/Punk that always goes down a storm with audiences. This young band treated the crowd to a number of remarkably strong songs that they had written themselves, as well as some covers of both obscure and better known songs. As three of the band are only 15 years old and the other member has just turned 16, their skill at rousing the crowd was astounding. The Replicas created such a buzz amongst the crowd that immediately after the show they were invited back as headliners in their own right. In the meantime, if you can`t wait, you can often find them at the open mike night at O`Callaghans on Thursdays. Watch out for this band though, because they are sure to be at a venue near you soon.

Finally came Last To Fall, (and they may well have been). They have been together since early 2005 and have certainly built up quite a following, who were singing along with many of the original songs performed, which is more than most of us who count English as our first language, could. (Surely there must be a lingaphone language course for the generation that came BT? (Before Txt)), but their mix of Emo and Post Hardcore music did excite the youthful crowd admittedly. (But bare in mind the effect of alcohol on the senses)

The two bands complimented each other well on the night, because each played their different style of music with passion and entertained the pub audience. But the winners on the night were The Replicas in my mind, as they entertained with a skill that belies their age.

The venue, O`Callaghans, is known as a musician`s bar and lives up to this reputation on all occasions. Talk about a beacon in a dark and stormy night - Harry and his team are fighting their corner in St.Austell to give the fresh talent a venue worthy...and that`s worth supporting.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006




THE FRENZY PLAY AN INSTORE GIG AT SOLO RECORDS, TRURO (8TH APRIL)

St.Tudy to Truro - The Frenzy did their first ever gig in Truro on Saturday afternoon at an instore show in Solo Records on the 8th April. Setting up before hand you could see the usually confident Rich a little on edge as this was an uninvited public audience that the band were going to try and convert. This sort of environment doesn`t suit all types of live bands as the venue is quite small, (...it`s a record shop so the capacity must be thirty at tops!), so loud bands need to often `unplug` to get the best sound effect, but The Frenzy sound didn`t suffer in this confinement and filled the shop with thier music.

Playing a set list that comprised of the current EP `Watching the Shadows`, (almost entirely in order), the band showed that youthfulness does not have to always mean a lack of technical skill. Rich`s younger brother Ben played the drums with a confidence and ability of one much older and held the songs together tightly at all times. Quite a large crowd gathered and stayed for the whole set, showing their support, while others who were just popping into the shop to get a CD, often stopped and stayed to listen with quite a few who didn`t, passing encouraging comments to the staff about the band.

It`s easy to be critical of live music and original material if it`s not to your taste or not as professional as people who charge you for your presence, but everyone has to start somewhere and even Eric Clapton was crap once upon a time, (...some would say he`s still a boring, beardy git)! The Frenzy are new and young, and yes, there are places where they need more practice in the performance, but this is the whole point, because this is your opportunity to see them improve and grow. This is a young three piece (all 18 or under) that, rather than do a load of old covers, are creating something new that wasn`t there before they started and that is a far better thing to do than recreate a human jukebox any day, regardless of whether you like it or not. New talent is not born out of copy, but through innovation and originality and if you really like music of any type, you should support local bands that play their own material.

This sort of event works on many levels; the talent gets an audience, the store gets sales from the audience as they stand and listen and the local music scene gets publicity that is not only free, but unbiased. Solo Records should be applauded for taking a chance like this and promoting local musicians, innovations of this nature can only be a good thing.

(photo of Rich nicked from their own website; thefrenzyrock - ta!)

Thursday, April 06, 2006

GIGS IN MARCH 2006

THE HIGH ROLLERS, THE STANNARY, FALMOUTH (10TH MARCH)












MY ELVIS BLACKOUT (ABOVE)

5 fantastic up-and-coming bands, 4 1/2 hours full of excellent new music, 3 quid to get in, 2 top DJs? It all added up to one hell of a night out at the "High Rollers" gig held at The Stannary in Falmouth last Friday. With a full lightshow, projection videos and a cracking, well balanced soundsystem, the DJs Vicar & The T-Bone set the tone of the night, raising excitment in the audience between all the live sets and creating a heady atmosphere which was conversely intimate and epic at the same time, their involvement was crutial.
Opening the evening for the live acts, Tom Mounsey bravely took to the stage with only his steel national guitar and a mic-ed up foot for rhythm, his wild bottleneck guitar playing quickly turning heads. Like a young Lightnin` Hopkins mixed with a dash of Stevie Ray Vaughn, his performance warmed the audience up and showcased the quality that was on offer. This was already feeling like one of those nights when an audience collectively experience a musical landmark, and the pace was just warming up!

Next on the bill were The Noel Prior Band, riding high on a wave of recent success across the county after releasing their first album Outside In. Noel and the lads, break the mould of other performers by having an absolute ball on stage, grinning and dancing like mad children, chatting to the audience like old friends and totally at ease with their surroundings. The music is uplifting, happy, acoustically driven and perfectly paced for summer success. Like Jack Johnson fronting a rock outfit, The Noel Prior Band have similarly catchy tunes and it can only be a matter of time before you won`t be able to afford tickets to see them.

Following hard on their heels like rabid dogs, Truro`s My Elvis Blackout hit the audience with a wave of raw energy that recalled the young days of The Damned, (which explains Captain Sensible`s reference to them as `the future of rock`n`roll` when he witnessed an earlier show). However, although a contrast to the previous acts, My Elvis Blackout stole the open-minded audience`s hearts with their passion and power driven Stooges sound that was at all times exciting, loud and confident. This was completely the right venue for the band; large enough to take the volume levels required to do them justice and placing them mid-pack, allowed them to stamp their authority all over the evening`s proceedings.

The DJs had to work hard to follow this performance, but rose to the challenge and by the time The Truths came onto the stage the audience were bouncing off the walls with energy. The band are instantly on a groove, stirring their music, which recalls the likes of Kasabian, late Stone Roses and Can into a rhythmic swamp gumbo. Swirling guitars and keyboards were mixed with the best vocals of the night when The Truths slowed the audience right down and took them on an atmospheric journey. Recalling both Ian Brown and Liam Gallagher`s style of singing, Anthony Neale prowled the stage drawing the audience into the songs like a cobra to it`s prey. All too soon they left us and the DJs were back, but with little respite, the headliners were soon there to fullstop the evening`s entertainment.

The Hitchcock Rules, clearly loved by their dancing fans at the front of the audience, had little to prove here but took to the stage with friendly banter and cracked into their set. Having your main singer, in this case the witty Ryan Jones, leading the band from behind a keyboard centre stage does pose a problem with the notion of a barrier between the audience and focal point, it also denies the singer mobility. So after the previous band`s frenetic performances, The Hitchcock Rules seemed a little subdued. However, living up to their, `quirky and charismatic` label, the band played a warm and wonderful set of smooth pop tunes with jazzy overtures that rounded off an amazing evening and won them many more new fans.

It was a blinding night at a fabulous venue. The Stannary has got it right - five local up-and-coming bands for £3? You`re getting the best deal in the county! This is grassroots, this is where the tide turns and a music scene in Cornwall is finally is born. Sick of waiting for someone else to do something, the bands are organising themselves in a true DIY punk attitude, but with professionalism that belies their youthful exuberance. Wake up Cornwall - finally theres homegrown talent worth hearing..."Get off your arses!!"

(photos by Laura Snapes)
NICALS in BODMIN (31ST MARCH)
(above)St.Tudy`s The Frenzy
(above) From Plymouth - Koda
Truro`s own Mechanical Swagger

The end of March saw a four band extravaganza at Nicals in Bodmin in aid of charity.

Cambourne`s own Lucky Polarbears, treked up the A30 to start the proceedings off infront of an excited and lively crowd. The labelling of bands as `alt rock` is a misnomer that seems to be used to try and give a little youth cred to rock bands that have some angst in them, but The LPs played a confident, fast set of original rock material that was over too soon for most of us and left with their posse before the next band had started. This seemed to be the reaction by each band and their following hordes, but as they filed out they missed the opportunity to both support a good cause and witness fellow bands perform some great music.

Bands like The Frenzy, from the sleepy little village of St.Tudy(!), were not as frenzied as the name suggests, but this young three piece produced some of the night`s best songs in an original style that recalled the innocence of Ash and early Blur. Rich Partington`s voice had a Pete Shelley-esque tone to it that blended brilliantly with his brother Ben`s drumming and bass player Fiona`s wounded rhythms. This band is really new, but shows a great deal of promise.

Next to take the room was Plymouth band Koda. Now this was on a different level entirely from the rest of the evening`s entertainment. Easily the most professional, oldest and loudest band that played, Koda performed like stars rocking an Aussie built football stadium. They were punk in the way that Suicidal Tendencies and Black Flag were; raw, fast and stunning. By far and away the best performance of the night, Koda`s lead singer Owain turned the Nicals audience into a grinning, happy mass before departing back across the bridge.

Finally Mechanical Swagger had the unlucky task of following this performance, but did an excellent job by mixing mad drumming rhythms, screaming vocals and a distorted guitar to create a wild vortex of sound. However, the band`s ultimate saving grace is it`s relaxed sense of humour; they are a bunch of nutters led by a fraggle called Jonny C, who are so entertaining they should have their own TV programme. Seeing this crazed Truro band collapse into fits of giggles was real `alt rock`, and ended the night on an excellent note.

To some it may look like a sweaty backroom in an old pub, but to others it was our very own Cornish Cavern. The heady atmosphere of loud rock comfined in a compact venue full of the next generation of musicians and their fans, created sparks of raw electricity and enthusiasm. This is the place where fresh young bands cut their teeth and where the lucky few get to witness the enormous talent that is rising through the ranks of local bands. Nicals put this showcase on to raise money for the Air Ambulance, Cancer Research and the homeless, but even without the good causes involved, if you weren`t there, you couldn`t have spent a better evening in Cornwall.

(all photos by TeeJ)