Cornish Live Gig Review

2009-10-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

GIGS IN SEPTEMBER 2009

Spike Hooper Memorial Gig

The Cookworthy, St.Austell (27th September)

It was a gathering of friends and family, a respectful reminder of days gone by. Ten years down the road and Spike Hooper can still draw a crowd. Anyone who was anyone in St.Austell came out on the afternoon and gathered at the Cookworthy to show their respect to the greatest Cornish musician that ever there was. He inspired so many other people to take up an instrument and play throughout his life that many owe their success to Mr.Hooper.

First up this afternoon were some jazz bands reflecting Spike`s love of that type of music, Gareth Menadue and Mark Bullen did a fine job with The Jumping Out Jazz Band, who included Pete Flaskett as a guest.

David Penhale and Jericho Road were a disappointment, but they were quickly followed by the loud Beaver and the rocking Templemonkey.

The highlight for me was going to be the return of the Buick Boys, but along strode the legendary Mr. Alan Ross to the stage. Ex-Flying Tiger, ex-Shades and ex-cellent performer. He took the audience on a professional journey with his stylish rock`n`roll singing, accompanied by Pete Berryman. Pulling faces and cracking jokes throughout, Alan Ross stole the show. Being the only survivor of Spike`s most successful bands to perform on the day, (although Mike Bunt was in attendence), it gave us all a taste of days gone by and what we were really missing.

I asked Liz, Spike`s sister, what she thought he would`ve made of this afternoon`s event and she replied with a huge grin, that he`d have both loved it and been amazed at the turnout.

The Buick Boys tore the place apart as expected, but after Mr.Ross` performance, everybody needed to up their game!

Best Sunday of the year!

2008-12-12T01:48:00.000-08:00

GIGS IN DECEMBER 2008

THE HALL FOR CORNWALL, TRURO (3RD DECEMBER)

THE LEVELLERS

The Cornish crowd consisted of a cornucopia of crusties back from the beanfields, in search of fiddle-led folk music, and they were not disappointed by The Levellers performance.

Old tracks and crowd pleasers from their thirty year career mixed seamlessly with new material from their latest critically acclaimed album `Tales From The Underground`.

Harking back to the early Clash in politics and sentiment, if not style, the band`s new material lends itself well to the live situation and tonight proved the point to perfection.

There is of course, no show without Punch, and many a flailing arm was indeed seen in the audience as in unison they joined with the band in the anthemic `One Way of Life` choruses, without a trace of irony in their voices.

`Joyful abandon` are two words to describe the evening, as the world was put to rights by a bunch of alcohol fuelled, soap dodging herberts in Truro.

No change there then.

2008-12-12T01:44:00.000-08:00

GIGS IN OCTOBER 2008

THE HALL FOR CORNWALL, (11TH OCTOBER)

WISHBONE ASH

The seventies are still alive in Cornwall, so bands like Wishbone Ash can always rustle up a crowd when they visit and tonight was no exception.

Like many of their fans, original members have fallen by the wayside over the years, but the spirit lives on in last surviving man standing, Andy Powell and his trusty Gibson Flying V guitar.

Surrounded by a younger band, Andy brought those damp student bedsit days back with note perfect versions of the classics, `Blowing Free` and `The King Will Come` to the delight of the hairy, and the not so hairy alike on this chilly autumnal evening.

Memories topped up, ancient tour shirts aired, and youth slightly recaptured, the crowd left happy in the knowledge that classic rock will endure as long as Wishbone Ash exist.

2008-12-12T01:40:00.001-08:00

THE HALL FOR CORNWALL, TRURO (8TH OCTOBER)

ELBOW

Mercury prize not withstanding, Elbow has had a long journey that seems to have been well below the radar for many in the audience tonight as early material is given muted applause whilst recent chart friendly and Glasto anthems get the sing-a-long treatment of the relieved ticket buyer. For the sensitive souls in the house tonight, the big, beardy bloke called Garvey pulled at the heartstrings with his silky smooth vocals on tracks such as `One Day Like This` and `The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver`.
This is the band that clearly has Coldplay and Radiohead in their sights and so perfection is the keyword of this unusual underdog still waiting for it`s day. They have the songs, they have the staying power and they certainly create an uplifting live experience.

Thom and Christopher had better up their game, its dog eat dog out here.

2008-10-03T02:38:00.000-07:00

BUNTERS BAR, TRURO (2ND OCTOBER)

EVEN NINE

Get your shiters round this:

What the hell is this shit? - By Adam Puckey of The Gay Horses.

I moved house today. I'm back in Truro. After sorting through MOST of my things (A bit of washing needs to be done - i.e all my clothes), I decided to head down to Bunters for a pint of Cider.

Cider is the grease of wheels. It is the river of my dreams. It is the very cloud that fuels the rain of my content. Imagine my dismay to see, as I zoned in on the stage, that the blandest rock band ever created were pumping out perfectly timed, graceless, passionless pseudo-american super-pap to a crowd of bemused (possibly hypnotised) nodding bystanders.

Imagine it.

I had my hat cradled under my arm and I texted Gemma, my lassie, to inform her that I may just go back home again. Forget the cider.

I'm sorry. I am 'technically' a musician, and to be honest, I'm not very committed, or very good. I never practice. I can't be assed to arrange practices, gigs, shows, interviews, or anything. But if you put me on stage for an hour and a half with no microphone, no lights, no instruments, no band and no crowd, I'd STILL entertain more people than Even Nine did tonight.

You know that feeling you get when you lock the keys in the house and you know your landlord is away in corfu spending the rent that you can barely afford to pay? That's how it feels when I realise even nine are on the bill.

I once left in the middle of their soundcheck it was so soul destroyingly devoid of energy They just hit the bass drum for half an hour. The lead singer (can't be assed to learn his name) just ignores the crowd most of the time, with his back to the audience. He keeps doing some sort of royal wave (one surmises that this is an attempt to get the rest of the band to jam) while he stoops to drink his water.

WATER!!! FOr FuCk'S SAKE!!!WATER?????!!!!!

Who the fuck drinks water?Only Jack Black gets to drink water right? He's PAID his fucking dues.

There is a bit of bouncing about. The guitarist looks like that bouncer that shagged nancy off hollyoaks and the bass player may as well be the bass-tron 220 for all the fire and charisma he injected into the proceedings. The drummer is good. In the same way a click track is good.They all look at each other with embarrassed expressions on their faces, and when they did a little showy off bit each, they took turns one after the other, like it was a cbeebies rock show.

Believe it or not, they ruined a FEEDER song. How can you ruin a feeder song? Feeder write songs for eight year olds to learn to play on a the keyboard. (This is no slur against feeder. Feeder are wicked.) My point is that even nine sucked the life out of a song that was written as a celebration of the vacuous nature of pop music.

I HATE the fact that they play.

AND now I need a piss.

It could only get worse if my elvis blackout came to my house, deleted all my music, bluetoothed their ep or whatever, onto my phone, and set 'dat's kapital' as all of my contact ringtones, my main ringtone, my text message alert, and all seven of my alarms.

Actually, It could be worse.

I've got two phones.

www.myspace.com/evenninemusic

2008-09-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

THE 11TH CHAPTER IS OUT IN SEPTEMBER 2008!

AT ALL THE USUAL PLACES I EXPECT ...

BUNTERS IN TRURO, THE MUSIC SHOP IN ST.AUSTELL, SOMEWHERE IN CAMBORNE PROBABLY, PENZANCE EVEN... OH AND JAM IN FALMOUTH. MIGHT EVEN GET A FEW COPIES INTO NICALS AGAIN IN BODMIN, WHO KNOWS?

2008-08-16T05:08:00.000-07:00

GIGS IN AUGUST 2008

THE PRINCESS PAVILIONS, FALMOUTH (15TH AUGUST)

STIFF LITTLE FINGERS

Heading tonight`s bill were the finest punk band of their era; Ireland`s own rebel-rousing Stiff Little Fingers! Much more in line with The Clash than The Pistols, SLF used punk music to voice their political opinions and frontman, Jake Burns hasn`t changed a bit - he berates the obvious George Bush to the delight of the crowd and yet has the wisdom of age to see the funny side of the band`s erratic career when he discusses the songs with the crowd.

Generally a middle-aged bloke`s audience with the odd `long suffering` thrown in, mixed with a healthy number of kids with good taste, the Pavilions was packed to the rafters and a sell out performance like this will hopefully bring the band back again, because I think this may have been the first time they`ve come this far down the country in their 4000 year existance.

So to the gig - it was a self confessed `greatest hits` package, due to the lack new stuff to flog us (to paraphrase Mr.Burns), but there`s nothing wrong with that as it gave us all an opportunity to sing as loudly as we could and not get any of the words wrong. So there was, `Strummerville`, `Tin Soldiers`, `Wasted Life`, `Nobody`s Heroes`, etc, each with introductions and stories surrounding them. There was `No Surrender` from the rarely heard `Flags and Emblems` album with the said message to "George W. Fuckwit", and amongst others The Specials` `It Doesn`t Make It Alright` and finishing with the obvious encore `Alternative Ulster`.

I could have listened to them play their whole back catalogue (including Tinderbox), and not been happier.

Stiff Little Fingers were and are still the best Irish punk band and I don`t think that you`ll find a more full-on, hard working band of the same pedigree anywhere in the world today. It was like the intervening years slipped away. What a night.

Punks not dead!

www.myspace.com/stifflittlefingers1977

http://www.slf.com/

THE SURGEONS

Pete Kliskey, Mike Kliskey and Jimmy Jewell, collectively `The Surgeons`, were first on tonight`s bill in what I think was an act of great kindness to another younger, (and less talented) local support band, but had no need to fear playing to the legendary `one man and a dog` audience as the place became filled almost the moment the first chord of opening number `Denabin Sun` rang out.

The last time I saw the band was also at The Pavilions a year ago supporting The Damned on The Surgeons second comeback gig and I`ve gotta say they`ve tightened up their performance until its a rigid (digit?) and taught experience. The audience sensed a worthy band and came streaming in to witness the local heroes pulling out the stops as they visibly swelled with pride before their own heroes backdrop and stage equipment.

Twelve anthems of punk heritage from as far back as 1977 were sprayed out at the crowd of revellers with such titles as `Cut The Cackle` and `Radio 1 Conspiracy`, "...written way back, when radio was really bad" (!)

It seemed a short set, but the band clearly wanted to see Stiff Little Fingers and so were keen to get the job done to join the crowd for the headliners appearance. The Surgeons have brought life back to their own career with performances like this and with these practitioners, you can be sure local punk rock is in safe hands.

Fuck BUPA - lets go public!

www.myspace.com/penzancesurgeons

2008-06-17T01:10:00.000-07:00

GIGS IN JUNE 2008

THE BRIT INN, ST.AUSTELL (7TH JUNE)

THE MIGHTY OFFBEATS

(Reviewed by Billy Idle)

This new band built from the ashes of Ska`d For Life is making some pretty impressive gigs in the short time they`ve been around; live on the local radio, The William Cookworthy pub and now the Brit. Not the headliners this time, (but probably for the last time), The Mighty Offbeats stole the show from the official stars by means of their cunning ska-fest beats that rocketed around the marquee and drew in a capacity crowd to dance their cotton socks off!

A massive write up in the local paper, (who sponsered the event), failed to mention that the landlord literally forced the band to encore well over their allotted time and thus annoyed the hell out of the band that was unfortunately to follow them.

This is music that you can`t ignore. Yes they do covers mixed in with their original material, but the audience wanted to hear the familiar songs too and being such great musicians, this lot can adapt their sets at the turn of a pork-pie hat to suit the crowd.

You like ska? You like smiling? ...You like The Mighty Offbeats then!

2008-05-21T03:28:00.000-07:00

GIGS IN MAY 2008

THE BRITISH LEGION, ST.AUSTELL (18TH MAY)

RAMBLIN` MINOR

Brett Damarell brought his Ramblin` Minor showcase to the Sunday afternoon punters at St.Austell`s British Legion Club last week to perform some cracking acoustic tunes, original and cover versions of unlikely songs mingled together in his own celtic-stylie. The Irish traditional tin whistle tunes came from Mick `de whistle` Cheyne and the whole set was peppered with witty asides as Brett tried to create a joyful celebration of all things folky.
Unfortunately the crowd, (except for a few souls), were mostly unresponsive and seemed intent on doing their best to ignore the celtic corner, which is a shame really when you consider how few venues there are for live music in St.Austell.
A few members of the club said they enjoyed it, but most of the old codgers sat around looked completely non-plussed about the whole affair. This probably accounts for the complete lack of publiciity about the event aswell.
Another missed opportunity for St.Austell.
Brett and his three man gang did their best against this tide of apathy, but it was all too Kanute in the end.

2008-04-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

THE 10TH EDITION - OUT IN MAY 2008!

THE ALL NEW CLGR IS AVAILABLE AT MOST OF THE NORMAL OUTLETS -

NICALS IN BODMIN

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY (THE MUSIC SHOP) IN ST.AUSTELL

BUNTERS IN TRURO

JAM RECORDS IN FALMOUTH

A RECORD SHOP IN HELSTON

AND SOMEWHERE IN CAMBORNE THAT WE HAVEN`T YET CONFIRMED

...OH AND PROBABLY OTHER PLACES TOO!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WARNING - THIS ONE BITES!

2008-04-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

GIGS IN MARCH 2008

THE CARLYON ARMS, ST.AUSTELL (29TH MARCH)

THE DIRTY LIVIN` RHYTHM BAND

(Reviewed by Andy Kearns)

The best band I`ve seen all year! They were stunning, they blew the place away. It was all blues and rock stuff, but the acoustic guitarist was amazing. His hands were flying and the singer was a young bloke, but his voice sounded really old. I`m telling you they`re amazing, you`ve gotta see them! When they did an encore at half eleven it was another twenty five minutes before they were allowed to finish by the audience who were all crowding around the band as they played.

Stunning!

2008-02-24T09:05:00.000-08:00

GIGS IN FEBRUARY 2008

THE SANDSIFTER, HAYLE (23RD FEBRUARY)

SLEEP GOOD FEEL GOOD

First on tonight`s bill were this Cardiff based band with local connections. The room was packed, but as the band started it was clear that the mixing desk was not doing a great job of balancing the sound in this low ceiling-ed room. The PA was too low and the vocals hard to understand over the far-too-loud bass. This was a great shame because Sleep Good Feel Good are an excellent band, (just listen to the tracks on their myspace page) often unjustly compared to The Stereophonics, (they are so much better), but tonight battling against a rogue sound system setup was hardly a true picture of their potential.

But battle on they did, and with some indie/punky tunes led by Owen Griffiths, (looking not unlike John Power from The Las/Cast), on vocals and guitar and some excellent work by the best drummer of the night (step forward Mr.Oliveri), finishing a short set to great applause.

In retrospect, I`m really annoyed that the performance was marred by the sound at The Sandsifter, because if the demos I`ve heard are anything to go by, this is an excellent band with cracking songwriters - catchy as hell, but with a real sense of purpose.

I`m going to make it my business to catch them next time they come back to Cornwall (at a different venue!) and I`d advise you to do the same.

THE UNDERGROUND PRESS SYNDICATE

Second on the bill came local band The UPs. With some bizarre dress code straight out of Brideshead Revisited, (all braces and cravats), Jo, Jack, Jake and Sam, (I wouldn`t like to say which is which, but I`m hoping the bass player is called Jack), played their equally short set with enthusiasm and verve. A little funky Chili Peppers stylie thang going on in some of their songs, which made for an interesting combination with the look of the band, in others I could hear the Babyshambling vocals occasionally over the jangling guitars. I imagine that when they headline gigs the sweat is pouring off them and the audience, but tonight with their placing on the billing, I felt that they were holding back a bit in their performance.

Again the sound system was causing problems for us to hear what was being played/sung, in fact the second mic only actually got to the right level as the last song was halfway through.

Clearly a well polished band that will excell when given the right live sound mix.

THE SYCAMORES

God only knows why The Sycamores weren`t headlining tonight, but as it was we got to see why these boys are causing such a stir on the local scene and must be a sure thing for a gong at the next local award shindig.

The crowd were by now (11.15ish) fairly sweaty, pissed and jumping all around, so when Jason, Robbie, San and Kenny started up they were guarenteed a good reaction, (not many unsigned bands get a cheer from the local audience just for stepping up onto the stage).

Playing a new set of tunes like The Theory of it All that both followed the themes of the older material and at the same time stretched The Sycamores further onwards and upwards, they lept into action like the mentalists that they are. A touch of Buzzcocks here, a touch of Gang of Four there, Jamie T at times, Jack P at others; The Sycamores are all these and more. A combination of everything they`ve ever heard and something that has yet to be created, this band are not pigeons and you won`t stick `em in a hole with stupid labels and musings of the lazy.

In this local scene thats having it`s golden years as we speak, The Sycamores are at the forefront of the push for national, (and international if I have anything to do with it!), success and recognition. They are the great white Cornish hope for 2008 without a shadow of doubt or competition in my opinion.

Stunning.

(Photos by Lord Itchfield)

www.myspace.com/thesycamores

www.myspace.com/undergroundpresssyndicate

www.myspace.com/sleepgoodfeelgood

2008-02-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

THE TUCKSHOP @ L2, TRURO (5TH FEBRUARY)

THE COURTEENERS, DISPLACEMENTS & THE REELS

Review by Joseph Maguire

On a dreary Tuesday night in Truro the last thing you’d normally expect to find is 250 sweaty bodies pogoing to the one of the hottest bands of the moment. This sort of event is normally what we (live music lovers that is) have to travel some distance to witness, normally a small mission up the A30 to Exeter.

It was then a total breath of fresh air to see L2 in Truro transformed from its usual guise of sweaty commercial nightclub into the coolest indie emporium to be seen this side of the Tamar complete with a real tuck shop selling a vast array of retro sweets and giving away free CD’s.

As the venue doors opened local band The Reels took to the stage to be the first to play SW1 Productions, re-launched, ‘Tuck Shop’, an Indie club night dedicated to bringing the hottest new ‘buzz’ bands to play our little city.

The Reels played a spine tingling set, they really are Cornwall’s dark horse, their potential as our most promising export was proven here, and that was even with a drummer who had had his appendix out a mere five days before! With anthems in waiting like ‘Me and the Kid’ and ‘Mondayze’ it really can’t be long before we see The Reels gaining the national success they surely deserve.

Next up were Leicester’s The Displacements. Hailing from the same little village that gave us Kasabian, The Displacements played a crowd pleasing set of instantly memorable indie pop with an irresistible two step undertone ideal for those donning their dancing shoes. By the end of March we may have to claim them as our own with another two performances due in the county between now and then, one as main support to Indie heavyweights The Twang at The Stannary in Falmouth on 17^th Feb and another later in March at Club Cuckoo, Falmouth.

Resident Tuck Shop DJ’s the Earls of Suave kept things moving in between bands with their usual ‘latest and greatest’ policy on the playlist front getting people moving nicely in time for the headline act.

Taking to the stage in front of the most enthusiastic crowd I have seen for some time The Courteeners ripped straight into ‘Acrylic’ and the audience where instantly in fine voice singing along every word to a somewhat overwhelmed looking band!

It was immediately evident how lucky we were to have this band in Truro. I must say I had been expecting yet another indie guitar band thinking they were The Libertines but The Courteeners have something a little more, they are by no means innovative but somehow seem go the extra mile and are a great live band.

Front man Liam Fray has the Northern swagger and rock star qualities of another certain Liam but with a charm and charisma that the Gallagher could only dream of. This band have been lumbered with ‘the next big thing’ label for so long that many would find it a burden but it seems that The Courteeners fully embrace this idea and definitely have the potential to exceed this clichéd mantle.

Set closer ‘What took you so long’ (predicted by NME as a future number one) closed the first Tuck Shop at L2 in spectacular style with the crowd firmly eating out of their hands and surging towards the stage, to the obvious dismay of the bouncers, it really was a good sight to be seen.

(Photos by Lee Searle)

www.myspace.com/thereelsband

2008-02-01T01:24:00.000-08:00

GIGS IN JANUARY 2008

THE M.I. BAR, FALMOUTH (28TH JANUARY)

THE UPS, NERVOSA, ANDREW BATE, DISCO PIP, THE PITTS & MY ELVIS BLACKOUT

(Photos & review by Melanie Banks)

The West Briton announced the event as "The Best of Cornish Music" so it was time to see if the eclectic line up lived up to the hype...

With the venue still filling, first up were The Underground Press Syndicate, a band that hadn't appeared on my radar before. Their set was a stop start affair, with a promising, if not very original, sound. Think all that NME tells us is cool right now, with jabbing guitars and Kate Nash style affected vocals, and your almost there. It wasn't particularly tight, or inspiring, but wasn't bad. They lost the crowd a little with their uninspired chatter in between songs, preferring to shift the focus onto their t-shirt sales and sunglasses, rather than concentrate on the job at hand.

Something the next band, Nervosa most certainly did do. There were no awkward pauses or jokes without punch lines, and they were tighter than an emo's jeans. Interesting instrument selection, with an old 80's organ, mandolin and dj decks, and songs that defy the current trends, opting for the anthemic over the endemic. Not necessarily the band that would get you dancing round the room like a deranged monkey, but quite possibly the band whose infectious riffs and hooks would loop round your brain for days on end.

A change of pace with Andrew Bate. Wildly hyped as the Cornish Jeff Buckley, I was intrigued. Then a little disappointed. I'm all for falsetto, but there was something in his vocal performance that just made me feel slightly uncomfortable, and the crowd's chatter was more audible than him at times. Maybe that's the problem with being compared to someone so great, it just makes you want to reach for the original.

Next up, the new Marvin and the Gayes/I Say Marvin, Discopip, who sound, well, just like I Say Marvin. An energetic performance, which encouraged a handful of drunken dancers to spasm all over the place to the amusement of the rest of the crowd. They had a couple of great tunes, but you had to wait for them. With a set that seemed twice the length of any that had gone before, maybe this was indicative of the amount of filler they had shoehorned in.

The Pitts, (Tom Pitt) proved to be far from it. Banging on his guitar as if it were a drum kit, and encouraging the crowd into a stamping/shouting along routine, his lyrics of sweaty genitalia and songs about "that bitch from Leeds" brought smiles and cheers from the crowd. His brand of genre defying, self depreciating musicianship was a breath of fresh air.

The whole night, however, seemed to have been set up for one purpose, for the benefit of My Elvis Blackout, although it remains to be seen whether the rigging of the competition rumours prove to be true. Much has been written, glowingly, about them, but this had obviously escaped the attention of the crowd who had dwindled to half the size before MEB took to the stage. They know how to put on a performance, but it's all meat and no sandwich, and after a few numbers, it started to wear a little thin. I could go on, but I'm sure a glowing review will appear in the West Briton this week, so why not subscribe to the hype instead?

So Red Stripe, it's over to you.

www.myspace.com/nerv0sa

www.myspace.com/undergroundpresssyndicate

www.myspace.com/thpitts

www.myspace.com/discopip

www.myspace.com/andrewbate

www.myspace.com/myelvisblackout

2007-12-07T01:11:00.000-08:00

THE 9TH EDITION - OUT JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 2007!

AVAILABLE AT ALL THE USUAL PLACES -

NICALS (BODMIN)

BUNTERS (TRURO)

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY (ST.AUSTELL)

JAM RECORDS (FALMOUTH)

...and possibly somewhere in Camborne!

2007-12-02T03:06:00.000-08:00

GIGS IN NOVEMBER 2007

THE PRINCESS PAVILIONS, FALMOUTH (17TH NOVEMBER)

THE SEX PISTOLS EXPERIENCE & LONDON CALLING

(Reviewed by Shrimp)

London Calling, (Clash tribute band), looked nothing like the originals, but sounded spot on. Only major disappointment was them not playing White Riot in their set. Audience generally unresponsive apart from one fat, young twat who spent his time banging into people and punching out at others in an effort to liven up the audience. (Later he was head-butted by a lady and floored by another gentleman to the great delight of his victims).
The Sex Pistols Experience were excellent - looking like the band used to back in the 70s. Having seen the real Pistols at Finsbury Park and Crystal Palace in recent years, I can truthfully say that this lot are as close as you`ll ever get to the originals. The music and posing were S.P.O.T.S. on!
The Johnny Rotter character continues his impersonation even when off stage with his Richard the 3rd posture and sneer, while the Kid Vicious bloke has clearly spent a long time in the mirror perfecting those iconic images of his own sneer, pulling them at every opportunity.
Realistic and a good laugh, but for that idiot bashing into everyone, it would`ve been a perfect rock`n`roll swindle.

www.myspace.com/londoncallingclashtribute

www.myspace.com/sexpistolsexperienceontour

2007-11-19T05:14:00.000-08:00

THE HUB, PLYMOUTH (10TH NOVEMBER)

NERVOSA & THE VICTORIAN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN`S CLUB

(Reviewed by Matt S)

The support for (the allegedly arrogant and stage-selfish, but that's solely conjecture) Sons and Daughters at The Hub last Saturday (10th) night were two bands who might be able to offer something different to modern music. That is, if they have things their way. Two different sounds and contrasting levels of on-stage technological sophistication contrived to happily and fully engage a moderate crowd of student-types and rockers.

6-piece Nervosa, having travelled up from Cornwall to be crammed onto the front of the stage (to accommodate Ss and Ds' not-to-be-touched drumkit) started with gusto and grabbed the slowly filling auditorium with a building funk-down that moved into the catchy 'Breathe In'. They followed this with a set combining raw emotions and some high-class musicianship, the highlight of which for me was a 3-pronged roll of songs mid-set that went from the soft and melodic to the strong and anthemic and finally onto the simple and nostalgic, and confirmed their progressive rock tendancies.

With a drummer aptly wearing a T-Shirt emblazoned in 'Animal' regalia, an ability to use slightly off the wall song structures and sounds and a lead vocal with a wide range of pitch and emotion, Nervosa have plenty of weapons in their armoury. They had the increasing Hub crowd's attention almost constantly, and the bar in the next room was merely a calling post, not somewhere to stay during this set. It wasn't flawless, and there were one or two moments when one remembered the reality that this was in fact only their second live electric performance, but, like at Oxjam 2 weeks prior, they demonstrated a great tendancy to entertain and are very much worth catching in the future when you can!

Next came 3-piece The Victorian English Gentlemens Club (The Vic Club from hereon down) with a quite different vibe going on. All three members took on singing/shouting/screaming duties at various points in a drum-led performance, accompanied by racing bass and part punk, part psycadelic guitar. The set is obviously well rehearsed and they definitely aim to put on a spectacle. Visually they are a joy, sexy and vivacious and the half-full venue were very much engaged when they made their entrance.

A stomping solo drumbeat kicked off the set as the Vic Club formed an enclosed circle (triangle) in the middle of the stage, and brought to mind a fascist rally from the early 20th century. The female 2 thirds of the band (bass and drums) then engaged in an interesting operatic wailing that was hugely appreciated by their followers at the front, but seemed to lack an endgame and the song felt like it was lacking a point. The following songs seemed to swing between just two basic drum beats that were carbon copied in alternate songs. This was disappointing from a band whose myspace page had promised more diversity and innovation than, on this evidence, they perform live.

There were highlights though. Two tracks mid-set shone out and visibly grabbed the ever-increasing crowd's attention long enough to impress. The first, featuring a psycadelic screen projection behind the band, was much quicker and encouraged members of the audience into minor acts of dance... a catchy riff and vocal drew us in and the song that followed capitilised well. Kicking off with the girls' combined drumstick beating with the odd bell thrown in, it came to life with a big bassline reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age. An anguished falsetto moved into a mesh of feedback and with the bass player seemingly orgasming on stage, the band built up into a crescendo that then progressed into a finish featuring all three members screaming in and out of tandem and then to an abrupt stop. It was impressive.

Alas, despite one or two brief moments of punk or psycadelic hope there was nothing too notable about the second half of the set. The Vic Club have an interesting sound that could be developed further, one feels, but too many of the songs felt the same and failed to capitilise on some notable ideas. They appear to be a band who will have a small but very loyal following who believe wholeheartedly in what they do, but to appeal to a wider audience they may have to differentiate their sound further.

www.myspace.com/nerv0sa

www.myspace.com/thevictoriangentlemansclub

2007-11-18T01:56:00.000-08:00

THE CRUMPLEHORN INN, POLPERRO (17TH NOVEMBER)

KRIS DOLLIMORE

The legendary ex-Godfathers` guitarist, paying his first visit to Cornwall, chose the sleepy and homely village of Polperro to showcase his blues enthusiasm. At the equally homely and extremely traditionally Cornish Crumplehorn Inn the evening`s clientele sat munching their suppers as Kris started his set of traditional delta slide blues covers and original songs. Soon, however, the pub was filling up with drinkers who`d come just to hear the music, (most of whom had no idea who Kris was or his pedigree).

Mr. Dollimore has been a jobbing guitarist for the last few years after leaving The Godfathers, working with amongst others Adam Ant, Del Amitri, Dee Dee Ramone and The Damned. He can number both David Bowie and Johnny Depp amongst his fans, (although neither made an appearance tonight) but has recently changed tack somewhat by reinventing himself as a blues guitarist.

His set tonight included John Lee Hooker, Iggy Pop and Robert Johnson covers authentically mixed in with his own similar styled slide blues songs. His voice was both raw and powerful when he sang and yet gentle when required. Playing tracks from his first solo album 02/01/1978 including the instrumental East of England and the truely wonderful Brother Ray, he easily won over the local and visiting walking crowd.

As one lady said to her friend, ...you have to be in the right frame of mind for the blues, don`t you? and although I agree to a point, Kris Dollimore was able to create the right atmosphere in this chocolate box-quaint pub so that everyone was in the right frame of mind. (So much so, they cheered and forced three encores out of him at the end of the evening).

He`s already booked to return early next year, (19th April 2008), so if you like your blues authentic, delta slide and acoustic as they were meant to be, mark your new calender now because you won`t find better this side of the Mississippi!

www.myspace.com/krisdollimore

(Photos by Lord Itchfield)

2007-11-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

THE MI BAR, FALMOUTH (12TH NOVEMBER)

CLUB CUCKOO LAUNCHES IN FALMOUTH

(Review by Joseph Maguire)

Landing in Falmouth for the first time indie, rock n roll club night ‘Club Cuckoo’ took over the upstairs of the MI Bar on Monday night and to great success.

With an audience full of Falmouth’s beautiful young things, intermingled with Cornwall’s rock n roll royalty, you could’ve easily been mistaken for thinking you were having a night on the tiles in London. There was an atmosphere that brought back memories to this reviewer of his first time at something like Erol Alkan’s now defunct, but
legendary, ‘cool place to be’ club night, TRASH.

Penzance band DISCO PIP opened the show with a rocking performance that proved why they are heirs to the indie-disco crown in Cornwall. Next up, using the night as a launch party for his new (amazing by the way) album was Redruth rap star, HEDLUV. Featuring his mate Passman on backing vocals and electric drum pad ‘thing’ the pair at one point broke into a chaotic, yet somewhat moving, cover the Spice Girls classic ‘Two become on’ and to rapturous applause.

With indie DJ duo extraordinaires The Earls of Suave on the decks before and after each live act the dance floor was starting to move in the build up to Falmouth’s very own, EYELIDS. Four girls, playing punk rock psychobilly via influences such as The Cramps and using a double bass, how can this formula not work? If you haven’t yet seen The Eyelids then put it at the top of your to do list now!

Headlining were Bude’s resident Rock stars, THE FIRES. The Fires never fail to impress, with new tunes thrown into a set of ‘punchy, attacking melody loaded’ rock n roll these guys were on Fire tonight. It was a shame that some people had gone because they missed one of the best bands in Cornwall on form.

Perhaps the people who missed out had a good excuse. Maybe they had to go to work the next day, it was a Monday night after all, well Tuesday morning by now actually. Or perhaps, even worse, it was that age old Cornish problem of routine, the lure of the free night club down the road playing a bit of chart and cheese? Who knows?

One thing is for sure that if promoters SUAVE continue to put on nights that rock like this then give it a year and it’ll be ‘cheese? What cheese?’

www.myspace.com/thecuckoobar

2007-11-03T00:32:00.000-07:00

GIGS IN OCTOBER 2007

OXJAM, CAMBORNE (27TH OCTOBER)

NERVOSA

(Reviewed by Matt S)

A mini version of a circus big top near a disused mine in Camborne, late on a damp and dark afternoon was the setting for the first full live electric performance for Nervosa, the St Austell band for all seasons.

Sandwiched between the accomplished Suite Noir and the well supported Shrug, the fact that 6-member Nervosa set-up and fitted themselves onto the small stage was achievement itself. That they then produced a skillful and captivating performance on what was essentially their debut was something more. From the moment that the rhythm section (Drummer Ant Barrett and bassist Bryn Powell) got their groove down in Crazy Bass, the introduction to their first ‘song’, the catchy Breathe In, the crowd stopped chatting, comparing war scars and rolling cigarettes, and became captivated by the group playing in front of them.

Breathe In, a sometimes haunting track that showcases a broad range of the band members’ talents, introduced the crowd to frontman Jon Winter’s intoxicating voice (some say part Brian Molko, part Billy Corgan, he probably wouldn’t), and they were hooked. The girl up the silks in front of the stage (the event part organized by CircoKernow) was good value but could never quite compete with what was going on on stage. The next track, Lullaby uses a gentle organ melody (played by Alex Perry) alongside a tremolo-ing mandolin to set the scene for a boisterous chorus that just about snaps everyone back into the room from the seaside daydreams of the verse. 42 Pigeons, powered by the electric Barrett behind the kit, erupted in a flash of guitar and mandolin, and was especially notable for Beccy Melling’s mandolin solo that gave the song a calm against the torrent. Funky Moped presented a more chilled view of the band, with the panoramic guitar sounds between verses a great example of the band’s inventiveness.

There then followed a remarkable rolling triplet of tracks that potentially demonstrated Nervosa’s ability to become live entertainers with a bit of extra pizzazz. The initially melancholic It’s Over slowly built until, before anyone knew it, they were in the middle of a progressive movement reminiscent of late 60s Pink Floyd, and then it suddenly collapsed brilliantly into the anthemic Black Box with its powerfully evocative chorus tagged between bright and breezy verses. The Chinaski Effect, a tribute to the sadly defunct St. Austell band, came in with its simple verse and melodic chorus, and even featured guitarist and sound whiz kid Andy Cunningham encouraging an enthralled audience to clap along at the breakdown!

Nervosa finished with Gripped, possibly their most accomplished performance of them all, with a powerful vocal from Winter, a harmonious combination of guitars, mandolin and organ bestowing a depth of sound unusual in any band, unsigned or not, in this day and age. It was pushed along by a driven rhythm section that doesn’t allow any verse, chorus or bridge to drag behind a pace that keeps band and audience on their toes all the way through. And that seems to be one of their strengths – as a clearly rather talented group of musicians it would seem easy to produce tracks of great musical worth, if not of interest to most listeners. That they combine great musicianship with considered songwriting that allows the listener to enjoy the various talents on show without becoming bored or overawed by exaggerated solos or other frivolity stands Nervosa in good stead, for entertainment is the primary objective of all music (or should be), and these guys left an enthusiastic crowd truly entertained!

(Photos from Nervosa)

www.myspace.com/nerv0sa

2007-10-21T13:06:00.001-07:00

THE PONSMERE HOTEL, PERRANPORTH (21ST OCTOBER)

GIVEWAY

As part of the Lowender Peran Festival of the Celts in Kernow, the good people of the Ponsmere Hotel in Perranporth played host to a five day celebration of all things folk, from storytelling to traditional dancing, from arts and crafts to live performances from some of the most inspiring celtic performers. There were Irish and Scottish Ceilidhs, Irish, Welsh and Manx dance workshops, guided walks around the local area and above all, fine local real ale provided by Skinners of Truro! The audience was unsurprisingly mainly adult, with a few children in tow, (teenagers always seem sparce on the ground at these events). Having the festival located in one venue made much more sense as you found events running after each other and not crossing over, which always annoys me that I have to choose between two things at other festivals, (being inside also made for a more `conference` feel to the event, but hey we were a damn sight warmer!). The festival was also well supported by Hobgoblin Music, who are surely becoming the first word in folk music in the county after rescuing the annual Wadebridge Folk Festival earlier in the year, (and supplying my own fiddle - natch).

And so to Giveway - four sisters from Scotland who performed for three days running at the festival, (between surfing the local waves), and wowed the crowds everytime with their panache and skill. Playing a mixture of haunting traditional accordian led instrumental sets and reels with some fine homegrown tunes that whipped the audience into a stomping, hollering frenzy, the sisters Johnson produced one of the highlights of the festival.

The cheeky introductions between songs endeared the girls to the near-capacity crowd, but it was the music that we`d come to hear and having seen the band twice this year at different events, I can tell you that we weren`t left in any doubt about their greatness.

There was Fi on guitar, fiddle and whistle, backing the vocals of her sister Kirsty, who led the band on the piano accordian for most of the sets. There was Mairi lending a bass melody on the keyboard with her jazzy style; delicate at times and at others pounding and then there was her twin Amy hidden in the shadows at the back, keeping it all together on the drums. Tunes such as Calum`s Waltz and For the Love of Mhairi spliced into each other seamlessly, but it was the collection of pieces under the title `Rockin` that hit home with my ears. An hour and a half set from the girls wasn`t enough for me, but thats all there was after a much deserved encore and many a happy punter away home for their Sunday night supper, (...or up the stairs for a quick pint of Skinners in my case!).

Giveway could so easily fall into the gap left by the recently split Corrs, (and I`d bet it isn`t the first time this easy comparison has been made), but they have so much more to offer; apart from the obvious age difference between the two bands, Giveway are by far the more talented musicians and the songs that they have written themselves show a maturity and depth that suggests a much brighter future.

(Photos by Lord Itchfield)

www.myspace.com/givewaymusic

http://www.lowenderperan.com/

2007-10-20T00:39:00.000-07:00

THE ST.AUSTELL BREWERY (19TH OCTOBER)

RORY MCLEOD AND RADJEL

Restormel Arts` Autumnal season this year launched a unique and intimate venue with their first live gig on Friday at St.Austell Brewery`s visitor centre with the multi-talented Rory McLeod supported by local cornish folk band Radjel. I don`t imagine Walter Hicks would have ever had intended this event occuring on his brewery site when he established it in 1893, but music and ale have long been close bedfellows in the eyes of the common man and so the logic of opening the visitor centre to live music is not really as strange as it may seem.

First up were the local three piece Radjel, a traditional Cornish celtic folk band led by Will Coleman, who happily attacked the ears of the largely middle-aged audience with bagpipe and drumming tunes that often sounded quite Turkish and had no need of amplification as they droned through the ancient brewery. Completing their jolly three song set, it was left to Will to introduce the main attraction for most of the audience, in the shape of Rory McLeod.

Travelling is a way of life for this modern troubadour and so a journey all the way from the Orkney Islands in Scotland to headline the opening of this unusual musical venue, is all in a couple of days work for Rory. Admitting a propensity towards `blathering` between songs, his style of modern folk music has more in common with Billy Bragg than Euan MacColl and with a storyteller`s ear for placing the audience within the epicentre of the song, he explains how his travels have enlightened his perception of the global frailty of man. Rory`s songs deal with hardship and politics, but mainly they are about love and the human condition. Starting with an extended harmonica workout, Rory played songs from all points of his large back catalogue right through to his most recent album Brave Faces and showed his diverse musical talents by employing not only his guitar, harmonica and tap shoe rhythm, but also the rarely seen-these-days, spoons. Songs such as The Emperor`s New Clothes, When Mum and Dad Made Me and London Kisses delighted the enraptured audience and brought tapping feet, joining clapping hands to the smiling faces all around.

A fantastic start to the Restormel Arts season and a "Proper Job", as the keepers of this modern day brewery would undoubtably say.

(Photos by Lord Itchfield)

www.rorymcleod.com

2007-09-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

THE 8TH EDITION IS OUT NOW

AVAILABLE AT -

JAM RECORDS IN FALMOUTH

M.T. IN ST.AUSTELL

NICALS IN BODMIN

THE CLIPPER BAR, THE CORN EXCHANGE & `TALK TO ME` PHONE SHOPS IN CAMBORNE & HELSTON

...And thankyou to BUNTERS BAR IN TRURO (who also now stock the CLGR)

2007-09-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

GIGS IN SEPTEMBER 2007

THE CUCKOO BAR, TRURO (15TH SEPTEMBER)

LEAD CHERRY, THE SYCAMORES & THEM IS ME

(Review by Adam Puckey)

Rest in Peace dear Cuckoo Bar - Last gig ever, what a rocker!!
Hey!
Gemma and I went to the Cuckoo Bar in Truro last night to watch the last ever gig before it closes down. I'll spare the details, but basically, money has more sway than art in this world, so the pub is shutting.
Making sure we had Gemma's passport on us (despite being 24 years old, she frequently gets ID'd), we bused down from Chacewater, taking stock of our bus compatriots (all the saddos who couldn't get someone to drive, like us), and discussing vehemently the do's and don'ts of personal hygeine, relating chiefly to some of the denizens of threemilestone. Anyway, I wordily digress.
We got into the pub and got ourselves some pints, and wandered over to the (beautiful) sound desk just in time for Lead Cherry's soundcheck. It was amazingly clear and loud. I attempted to conduct a conversation with Liam, the manager, but ended up in the midst of a back-slappingly comical mime session.
Loud guitars make me grin like a fucking Orang-Utan.
I had brought with me four Nino Tires demo cd's. One was for Liam, for future events co-ordination, one was meant to be for the lead singer of 'Them is Me', but he never got because I didn't enjoy the music. More on that later.
I gave Liam a cd, I gave Charismatic barman a cd (His name is Mark), I gave the lead guy from Lead Cherry a cd (Because they are fucking amazing, and Nino will DEFINITELY be gigging with them next year) and, I gave a group of men a cd.
It wasn't just any group of men. It was a group of men who I thought were one of the bands. One of the men had a ponytail, so I naturally assumed it was the ex-lead singer of Reef, who had been led to believe was the new lead singer of 'Them is Me'.
So, in a comedy escapade befitting only fools and horses, I plucked up the courage to go and talk to the group of men and give them the cd.
They weren't the band.
They weren't even A band.
I told them that they looked like a band and could have the cd anyway.
So somewhere in cornwall there is a cheap, copied, eight track cd with my handwriting on it, changing the lives of those men and their families and friends...

So, first band on. Lead Cherry. AMAZING. Absolutely wicked. It was like Led Zep without any of the slow bits. (There was ONE slow bit, but it was comedically and artfully done). I didn't want to get too near them, in case I could not get my head out of their asses to watch the next band.
At one point during the night, I think I insulted their bass player. I am not really sure now cos I was a tiny bit drunk. I certainly didn't insult his bass playing skills, which were top notch (It helped that the speaker stack had bass bins bigger than my front door), and he was wearing an ill fitting 'Wayne's World' baseball cap. We are officially fans of this band. The drummer had a voice that could be heard without a mic too. I always approve of loud voices...

Next band... THE SYCAMORES.
By the time the sycamores started playing, we were at the front, practically ON the stage. To my right was Gemma (my lass) and Jamie from the Ventongimps (he was dressed like a gangster). Most notably, to my right, were couple of fit birds. I looked over one of their shoulders as they were sending a text. I'm so rude. The text read. 'I am in the pub with topless Sycamores!! Mruggghhhh!! Yum!. xx'
That about sums them up. They have good shoes, good skin, good tunes, good dancing skills, TONS of energy, great hair, guitar skills, great drums, great stage presence, great audience interaction, loads of charisma, they all sing and enjoy themselves. Halfway (not even halfway) into the set, covered in sweat and glowing like seraphim from the Cuckoo's yellow stagelight, Jason informed the (buzzing) crowd that they were knackered.
It is worth mentioning that I got up on stage at one point, along with Lead Cherry's guitarist, a harmonica player, someone else, and a random dancing ginger man who was holding a can of beer. That was their last song I think. I hugged their bass player I think too, who was sweating like a beast, but wearing red pants and a waistcoat (I mean pants like underpants).
Also, has anyone else noticed that San's stomach looks like a load of bread rolls. I think lots of the girls must have been hungry, cos they couldn't stop looking at them and licking their lips.
Fucking ace. Musically, sounds like Libertines/ArcticMonkeys kind of stuff, but really really really loads more energetic and playful. Their onstage banter is a mix of self deprecating humour and simply catching breath. Oh and San plays his guitar the wrong way round and upside down, not even re-stringing it like Kurt did. 4 Legends in the making, no doubt. Gemma thinks they will be famous. I am trying to think of ways I can make money out of them....

Last band. 'THEM IS ME'.
Boring, slow, dissapointing. We left and got the bus home. They didn't get a copy of our cd. Seriously. I reckon they'll get a record deal of some kind simply because of their connections, but compared to some of the really bloodily talented unsigned acts around, they just didn't cut it. Shame, cos I 'Consideration' by Reef is one of my favourite songs. Dancefloor was packed though.

So, reflections...
Apart from the night I played there myself, this was the best time I've had at the cuckoo. A fitting end. Such a fucking shame. As I write, my girlfriend's cat is harassing her for some of the pate she is eating. Life has returned to normal. But...
What about saturday nights? Where do I go if I want to watch a band and not listen to shitty dance music?
Where do I rally, and network, and emabarass myself in front of my contemporaries?
Bunters on a thursday is alright, but they have been booking even nine for about six years...
The Cuckoo has died. Liam has some things to do, but SUAVE are coming back with the cuckoo brand and sorting out live nights and whatnot. Fucking good promoter that one. The early stages will be rocky and weird (I sense a few PA's not arriving on time), but it should be akin to a cuckoo-derived-phoenix, soaring through mid-cornwall, setting fire to pubs and hearts.
Gutted, but I can't fucking wait. Adieu...
Ad.
ps. Just been told by Gem that the Sycamores are playing in Bunters on the 27th of September, and Lead Cherry are at Bunters on the twentieth, so it's not all bad.

2007-09-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

THE CUCKOO BAR, TRURO (15TH SEPTEMBER)

THE SYCAMORES

Ladies and gentlemen, the search is over, the future of is secure, The Sycamores are here!

Without a shadow of a doubt, this crowd are the most fuckin` awesome band on the scene! (The phrase, `blown away`, doesn`t even come close). I mean, like the bloody SAS, they seriously don`t take any prisoners.

Exploding on stage in all directions, The Sycamores tore the place apart.

Jason at the front, bare chested and giving it the vocals, San pumping his guitar to death with cutting strokes that Paul Weller would recognise from his earlier life, Robbie on the bass throwing himself around the stage like a possessed mentalist lost in the music and holding the whole thing together at the back, Kenny on the drums.

Claiming to come from North Praze, (we think that should be `another planet`, cos nothing this good ever came outta Praze!), and having been together for less than a year, this stunning four piece are knocking the competition into the preverbial cocked beenie.

Likened to a cross between Bloc Party and The Kings of Leon, I personally saw the live danger of early Pistols gigs bouncing off the magnicence of prime arena Thin Lizzy`s rage across the Cuckoo`s stage as The Sycamores performed.

I can only end this review by telling you that if you haven`t seen The Sycamores yet, then you are living a sad and empty life.

Trust me, The Sycamores are your epiphany - resistance is futile!

www.myspace.com/thesycamores

LEAD CHERRY

This new three man rock band from Truro took to the stage at Cuckoo`s last night of live music, (how could they let The Cuckoo Bar die so quickly - it`s a damn crime I tell you), and showed that a headline spot would soon be theirs as they brought some much needed rawk to blow the audience`s ear drums clean.

An aural tsunami of classic riffs from the guitars and bass of Joe Hodge and Martin Williams, (respectively), and a relentless drummer in the shape of Roger Luxton mean that Lead Cherry are due for a massive future.

Their original songs showcase guitar work that harks back to Hendrix, Zep and Free with vocals from the school of Kravitz and its a blessing to hear such quality vocal harmonies mixed with powerful playing like this, (special mention must go to Mr. Luxton though for a performance second only to the great Bonzo himself - absolutely stunning especially on the one cover in the set, a rare Zep track).

The classic rock power trio is reborn - Long live The Cherry!

www.myspace.com/leadcherry

(Photos by Lord Itchfield)