Interview & Review :: Tiffany Page
Prior to seeing the Noisettes live at the O2 Academy in Liverpool, I went to meet their main support act and currently little-known, but dead-set future star, Tiffany Page.
After entering the Academy, I was taken through the tunnel-like rooms and lead to Tiffany’s dressing room, where I found her chilling out on her computer, surrounded by her male bandmates who departed to set their instruments up for the evening. It was in the dimly lit dressing room that we had a chat about her influences, the release of her single and album and her plans for 2010.
Jodie (Moon&Back): So, it’s the penultimate date of the tour with the Noisettes tonight, have you enjoyed it? Have you had a good time?
Tiffany Page: Probably some of the best times of my life! I don’t want it to end! I think we’re all a bit sad ‘cause we’ve been getting on really well with all the guys including Tinashé, the first support act... Awww, it’s really sad!
J: Sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you! So, it’s sad but you’ve had good reception everywhere?
T.P: Yeah, incredible! Towards the end of the tour we’ve been getting really good at getting the crowd involved with us. Before, we were completely new at this, you know, we’re very new as a band, and it’s getting more and more fun.
J: Awesome. How are you feeling about your debut single release/launch on the 15th March? Are you excited?
T.P: REALLY excited! Bit nervous, but really excited because obviously I don’t know what people are gonna think of it, but, I’m not expecting anything from the first one, usually it’s the second or third, but I hope it does well!
J: I’ve heard it, I think it’s really good! I like it!
T.P: Aww, Thankyou!
J: I read that the album you’re going to release was recorded in LA and London; that sounds very “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, how was it?
T.P: Yeah, well, to be honest we recorded most of it in the UK but I wrote alot in LA and we used some of the demo vocals from the States and actually from the UK aswell because when I’d just finished writing the music, and I’d been co-writing, I started to lay it down and I really started the songs then because sometimes you can’t replicate, so mostly we used the demo vocals and they were fine, but in the UK I had a hand in, you know, saying what I wanted.
J: Do you have a favourite track on your album or do you like them all equally?
T.P: I do, it’s probably the one that means the most to me, it’s called ‘You Won’t’, I think the ballads are probably the simplest songs on the album and we had real strings on it aswell which was incredible to watch.
J: That sounds really good! Do you write most of your songs yourself or do you have other people helping?
T.P: Yeah, well, with other people. We’d go in and I’d be feeling a certain way or something would happen, I’d have an idea... I prefer co-writing, I’d been writing on my own for about 2 years, ‘cause I learn alot more, I can learn from other people who are more experienced than I am. It’s like, instead of going to school ‘cause I’m still learning.
J: Are your songs based on real life experiences?
T.P: Yeah, definitely, it’s mostly what’s happened to myself. Yeah, I’m 23 but I think I’ve done quite alot already and I’m just starting to be settled now.
J: Obviously apart from your single and album etc, what else do you hope to do in 2010? Have you got many plans?
T.P: More tours, I think we’ve got a University tour coming up and a few tours, no dates are confirmed yet, loads more gigging and hopefully festivals! Just being the best live band that we can possibly be.
J: If you could play any festival, which one would it be?
T.P: READING, because I’ve been 4 times and I love Reading.
J: So to play it would be amazing!
T.P: I know, and not having to sleep in a tent!
J: I was wondering, being female do you think it’s important to encourage more and more girls to kind of take the lead? Especially in rock and punk music?
T.P: Definitely, there are loads of girls coming out at the moment; I think it’s really good. The competition aswell is really good because it makes you want to do better! But, also, I guess with more alternative music, people usually associate it with just being guys; I mean we’ve got people like Courtney Love, we’ve got bands like L7 but now I don’t think there’s that much. I mean, there’s Florence and the Machine... I think it’s quite nice girls doing alternative music. I aspire to be like my idols, you know, like Dave Grohl for one, hence my tattoo... [shows arm] I’ve got one like him [Laughs].
J: I was going to ask who are your idols? Are there any female icons that you look to?
T.P: Definitely Courtney Love, she was definitely one when I was growing up. Um, Cat Bolan. That’s probably it... more...grungey sort of people, but I guess because I’m not a loud person really, because I’m not them and they’re someone I’d love to be if I could be someone.
J: That’s cool. So who are your favourite bands and musicians at the moment, who are you enjoying listening to?
T.P: Loads... I’m listening to Wu-Tang Clan at the moment! Just got back into them. Also a bit of old Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Belle and Sebastien, all sorts of bands, I love music; a bit of The Smiths in the van today actually which was cool!
J: Awesome! So, I’ve read alot of comparisons and reviews about your music, on the Guardian website today actually, I read that people are comparing you to the likes of Chrissie Hynde and that must feel amazing for you... but for people who aren’t familiar with your music, how would you introduce and describe it?
T.P: I’d say it’s very pop-rock, I’d say on the album I hope there’s songs for everyone, my favourite songs on the album are the darker songs because that’s the kind of music I like to listen to. I’d like to say there are songs, hopefully, for guys and girls of all different ages. There’s some happier songs and some darker songs, heavy songs and lighter songs, so hopefully something for everyone!
J: Yeah, cool. Do you think at the moment it’s difficult for lesser-known indie bands to get noticed by record labels? Is it hard work promoting yourself to get that recognition?
T.P: I think it’s alot of luck and putting yourself out there but I used to live by this book called “The Unsigned Guide” and the first thing it says in the introduction is that if you’re talented you will get spotted...it’s whether anything comes of it or not, but you know, you will get spotted. It’s all about gigging but also the internet is a great tool that people trawl. You’d be surprised. Just gigging as much as possible and getting yourself out there.
J: Yeah. I know it’s really tricky and everyone always struggles but if you could name 3 of your top albums of all time, what would they be?
T.P: Phwoar, hmmm.... hmmm... OK....I’ll say; Radiohead – Ok Computer, bloody brilliant album! I’ll say; Hole – Pretty on the Inside, love that... and I’ll say... Wu-Tang Clan – 36 Chambers.
J: Good choices! Right, I think that’s everything covered...
T.P: Yeah? Awesome. Thankyou!
J: Thankyou for your time! Have a great time tonight and all the best!
After the interview, Tiffany had a few hours to chill-out, warm up and do whatever it is debutant rockstarlets do before a gig. She, and her band, followed a great act called “Tinashé” (well worth checking out! www.myspace.com/tinashemusic)
Walking on stage after her 3 male band mates, there was no doubt Tiffany Page had the right stage presence to pull off the grunge/rock material expected of her. With an apparent attitude but gleaming personality, evident from her smile and comfortable demeanour on stage, she began her set.
She shook a maraca and played both acoustic and electric guitars throughout her set. She interacted with the crowd, and received a great reception from everyone in the room. I think people weren’t entirely sure what to expect and were pleasantly surprised to hear a vampish purr-like voice seep out of the petite brunette. The band sounded tight and full with great acoustics in the Academy. I got the impression that every guy in the room wanted to be with her and every girl wanted to be her, myself no exception!
Her set was full of grungey, rock, angsty tunes that all had some lyrical depth. She roared, sang and purred over great guitar riffs and their performance of the debut single received great reception and applause from the audience. Said single, “Walk Away Slow”, is out on the 15th March and is available to listen to on her MySpace (www.myspace.com/tiffanypage). The single has received critical acclaim already and Tiffany has received airplay on Radio 1, thanks to Fearne Cotton.
I think she’ll be huge in 2010 and beyond. She’s fresh and new, a nice break from the synth-ridden, electric ladies of the moment, such as Ladyhawke, La Roux and Florence and the Machine. Her music will reignite your love for grunge and remind you of an old sound if you were once partial to the likes of Hole, Nirvana and Radiohead, or introduce you to a fresh take on pop-rock if you weren’t interested before.
Check her out on MySpace www.myspace.com/tiffanypage and give her music a listen! Her single is available to download on the 14th March. Her music is also featured on Spotify, just search "Tiffany Page". [J]
Gig Review :: Fightstar – Liverpool O2 Academy 2
Better late than never, a review of Fightstar at the Liverpool O2 Academy 2, 14th February 2010.
After being surprised with tickets to this gig as a Valentines gift from my boyfriend, it was an amazingly pleasant outcome after having previously been convinced I was, in fact, going to see JLS, of X-FACTOR-runner-up-2008-‘fame’; seeing Fightstar prove that they are more than worthy of a look and listen was a much more fulfilling experience!
After a couple of support acts, one mediocre and one quite good, (apologies for not remembering their names!) Fightstar made their grand entrance. Feeling weak at the knees after having a crush on frontman Charlie Simpson since his Busted days, I looked forward to the gig and hoped they’d play my favourites, which they did, mixed with a wealth of material from all their albums, pleasing every fan in the room.
Since first coming across Fightstar 5 years ago, I felt an instant empathy with them, especially Charlie Simpson, because they must have felt like they had the weight of the world on their shoulders in the form of doubters and critics following the demise of Simpson’s success in Busted. Leaving the full-fringed, Americanised, teen-pop-rock group to aim higher and follow his true inspirations and aspirations would have been difficult and surely can only be described as admirable? After struggling, but persisting, for 5 or so years, the band are now well accomplished and tight in terms of their performance and friendships, which is evident through their chemistry on stage.
The venue itself is small and compact so the acoustics and sounds were amazing; the deep, husky voice of Simpson bellowed and resonated round the room with great power and force, even after apologising for having a sore-throat and losing his voice, he managed to belt out the tracks. The heavy guitars, juxtaposed with teasing, lighter riffs make for awesome music. The vocal harmonies throughout the tracks are a compliment to Simpson and his “right-hand-man”, Alex Westaway. The gravelly vocals and intriguing lyrics, blended with the sometimes rocky, sometimes metallic guitars and bass makes a great, fulfilling sound. There is clear depth and complexity in the tracks, yet they somehow manage to keep their clarity and maintain a forceful sound whilst being melodic and harmonic.
The raw talent, varied and accomplished vocals and polished instrumental finishes make Fightstar a great band to see live. I remarked at the time that I love when you see a band live and they not only exceed your expectations but they deliver incredible sounds, instrumentals and vocals that surpass any preconception you have. Fightstar delivered an incredible set that left you wanting more but not feeling, in any way, unfulfilled. The set included songs from their first album and more recent crowd pleasers like "Mercury Summer", a lighter, more commercial track and their anthem "A City on Fire", one of my favourite songs of all time! Their hit "Paint Your Target" went down really well with the crowd and Simpson's enigmatic and enthusiastic personality had everyone joining in and singing to their hearts content!
After pitying Simpson and his bandmates for years, due to their dramatic rise, harsh criticisms, having bottles thrown at them at various festivals and being initially rejected by the rock/metal circle, they have finally shaken off their pop-related labels and now stand firm amongst some of the best bands of the moment, thanks to their own perseverance and merit. I think they should finally be proud of their achievements and no doubt the sold-out crowd at the Academy would vouch for their well-deserved success. [J]
Check out Fightstar’s album “Be Human” and their website: www.fightstarmusic.com
Gig Review: Boys Like Girls
Courtesy of Moon & Back, I headed off to G2 to see The Auteur, Out of Sight and Boys Like Girls.
It’s the first time I’ve been to G2. It’s not bad inside; quite small and intimate but the acoustics leave a little to be desired. I’m not sure if it was just tonight but the sound didn’t really impress me all that much.
Onto the bands… The first band, The Auteur, were not bad. They had the usual power chords and screeching vocals that most power pop/punk bands have going on. The vocals kind of reminded me of the demo You Me At Six stuff, where you couldn’t really understand what the hell the guy was singing, but you liked it anyway. The songs were catchy and the leading man had enough stage presence to get the crowd going; which is all that’s really needed in a support band. They did do a quite enjoyable cover of Katy Perry’s ‘Waking Up In Vegas’, though I found that some of their own songs seemed a bit repetitive. A bit like Scouting For Girls, where you can listen to the whole album through and realise it’s the same chords with slightly different lyrics.
The next band, Out of Sight, didn’t really hit a chord with me. Don’t get me wrong, they were good performers; they bounced about the stage and tried to keep the crowd singing and dancing which is definitely a plus –there’s nothing worse than a static band on stage. It was just something about the whole set up that didn’t move me personally; it could have been the three different vocalists? They also snuck in a cheeky wee cover of Black Eyed Peas ‘I’ve Gotta Feeling’ which had the crowd screaming along.
Onwards to the main event: Boys Like Girls. Compared to other times I’ve seen them the vocals weren’t great, I think he had a cold or something, but no one in the world can deny that these guys know how to put on a show. The banter and interaction with the crowd was top notch. Whether it was just having a little conversation, grabbing a camera for some up close and personal video footage or the random desecration of some poor girl’s rainbow coloured (and now fingerless) gloves; the lads put on a good show. A nice mixture of some of the tunes from the new album and the older stuff that everyone in the place knew word for word equals a nice and excited crowd. Add to that some stage diving, hanging from the ceiling and an invite for the crowd to swarm the stage at the last song meant a lot of happy Boys Like Girls fans are heading home as I write.
All in all, I’d probably give the gig about a 7/10. The support bands did their job, even if they weren’t standouts, and even though the vocals weren’t amazing throughout, BLG put on a pretty awesome show to make up for it. The major downfalls of the night for me personally were the fact that no one that swarmed the stage jumped into the crowd and that there was a truly terrible pit, but all of these are little more than personal grievances.
www.myspace.com/boyslikegirls
Gig Review :: Doll & The Kicks @ The Ruby Lounge, Manchester – 10/03/10
Expectations surpassed.
Having seen Doll & The Kicks three times last year I had an idea of what to expect when they returned to Manchester. Once again, the guys exceeded my expectations and put on one hell of a show. To describe them as energetic would be the understatement of the year. I really don't know how they do it.
As soon as they hit the stage the atmosphere in the room shifted. I could tell we were in for something fantastic. As great as they were on that ill-fated night in Liverpool, they really do shine in smaller venues. They got off to a fantastic start and immediately had us all mesmerized.
The setlist had a good mix of material from their first release and some newer stuff. We were even treated to a song so new, that didn't even have a title. They proved once again that they are at their best when performing live. The sheer amount of energy, charisma and stage presence these guys posses is unbelievable. They kicked the night off with 'Fire' which was more than enough to warm us up (sorry) and even manged to tug some heart strings with songs like 'If You Care' - a personal favorite.
I've said it once and I'll say it again, Doll is one of the finest front-people in music. She gave it her all and, as per usual, blew us all away with her vocal ability. Her range never fails to astound me. As much as people herald female vocalists like Florence Welch, I think Doll champions them all.
Of course, we can't forget about the rest of the band (as if I would). Chris, Matt and Olivier were all on top form and super tight throughout. The way almost every song merged into the next kept the energy up and the crowd moving. Now I know nothing of the technicalities behind playing music, so I can't fully articulate how great Matt's guitar playing was, how Olivier's bass playing demanded movement and how Chris tied the whole thing together with the way he was drumming. What I can tell you is that, to my untrained ears this was good music. Each member of the band, complimented one another perfectly.
This was, without doubt, Doll & The Kicks at their very best. I'd go as far to say that this is the best I've seen them and I'm eagerly anticipating anything that these guys do. If you want to see talent, dedication and have a damn good time, don't hesitate. Go and see Doll & The Kicks.
You can buy Doll & The Kicks' debut album and any other merchandise here.
Gig Review :: The Drums @ Sound Control, Manchester – 6/2/10
The Summer of sadness has been and gone, now as the winter of discontent comes to a close the world looks to The Drums and asks, what next?
The Drums - the image, the sound and the cardigan
The ‘hype’ band. The label that more often than not sparks the beginning of the end of so many musical careers. Too often do floppy fringed hopefuls fall by the wayside of record label politics, collapsing under the pressure of mass press coverage, seldom having the substance to back up the exposure.
An all to familiar story for The Drums, whose earlier musical careers were quashed at the hands of a brutal industry, as they were cast adrift as nothing more than ‘cheap scene chancers’. However, fast -forward little over three years and several of those same
‘chancers’, produced the debut of 2009.
In the first of two (worst kept) secret gigs the band will play tonight, as well as their NME tour slot, the band convince a shoe box sized room full of tentatively prying eyes, that they are in fact all as they seem. A Manchester backdrop is all too fitting, as the band open with two new album tracks ‘It Will All End in Tears’ and latest single ‘Best Friend’. Suddenly, those early Smiths appearances no longer seem so distant.
Frontman, Johnathan Pierce is Morrissey’s flamboyance, Jim Morrisson’s enigmatic glare and Ian Curtis’s raw live intensity all rolled into the most entertaining frontman this side of the millennium. Guitarist Jacob Graham almost threatens to steal the show on following track (and previous single) ‘I felt stupid’ for surreal tambourine skills, and a dance that would put any would be Moz to shame.
E.P tracks ‘Make You Mine’ and ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ are already the soundtrack to next years festival circuit, with unashamedly surf pop chorus’ however it’s future album tracks ‘Book of Stories’ and ‘Forever and Ever’ that steal the show. The Wake influence comes hurtling through in the more post punk sounds of the new tracks, leaving the Beach Boys tag at the newer, darker post punk door. The notable absence of previous tracks such as ‘Submarine’ and the heartbreaking ‘Down by the Water’ do leave a small void in the set, as without these songs even The Drums would struggle to fill such a compromising venue.
Finally, it seems the ‘hype’ has come to fruition. The rare sight of style and substance coming together making for a refreshing change to the tired pop formula of recent years, making for an exciting prospect to say the very least. Let’s just hope the wave of success the band is currently riding doesn’t pass them by.
Gig Review :: Twin Atlantic @ 02 ABC Glasgow
A sold out crowd in the ABC, hundreds of absolutely mental Scots screaming along to the lyrics, and I was there! Twin Atlantic definitely came back home to Glasgow with a bang!
Me and my loyal band of gig going friends headed into Glasgow to check out Twin Atlantic’s sell out gig. We figured that since the doors were at 7pm we’d head in about quarter to 8. Miss the crowd and still get there for around the time of the first support band. Everyone wins yeah? No. We got there about 45 minutes after the doors opened and the place was queued half way up the street, first sign that it’s going to be an epic night.
Caught the end of the first support band, Light Guides, from what I heard they sounded quite good and Sam from Twin Atlantic said to “Get fucking listening to them” so anyone reading this should hit up their MySpace or face the wrath of Sam!
The main support act, Canterbury, were not bad either. They fit the gig well and got the crowd and the atmosphere buzzing but there’s no doubt that Twin Atlantic were who everyone in the ABC was there to see.
They came on stage and the place erupted. There was a massive surge forward that must have hit some high numbers on the Richter scale and saw me pushed up so close to quite a few strangers that I’m pretty sure some of our DNA may have combined. The banter was flowing throughout the set and it was pretty obvious to all there that the guys on stage did not expect the welcome they got and were pretty humbled by it all. It added to the experience though, they were having the time of their lives on stage and we were all sharing it with them in the crowd.
They ran through all the tracks on the Vivarium album, as well as some new tracks that have me very impatient for a new release by them and they played a fan’s favourite (especially this fan) Crashland. As all this was happening probably 99.9% of all the people in the venue screamed every word along to the music while trying to get as close as possible to the stage. To end an amazing gig TA played Audience and Audio and Sam dived into the crowd where he was most likely violated in several different ways, ravaged by lusty fans of both genders.
So me and my hardy troupe of fellow fans staggered out of the crowd sore (in a good way), covered in many people’s sweat, a breweries worth of beer and cider and I don’t like to think what else and headed home with the hopes of doing it all again at DF Concert’s birthday party in King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, headlining Twin Atlantic!
www.myspace.com/twinatlantic
Gig Review :: GlassJaw @ Manchester Academy, 24/01/10
It's been seven years of wait, I think, for Manchester fans, those who don't travel lots anyway, but it was finally here. GlassJaw in the land of Manc. I could have shit.
It's a horrible day, shit weather, hangover, wet feet, I HATE wet feet, panic attacks, the whole sha-bang, but none of that matters, because tonight, GlassJaw are playing the academy, and I got tickets.
After a duo of poor support acts, Glassjaw take the stage. Ex-straight-edge vocalist Daryl Palumbo gets stuck in to his first on stage beer before greeting the crowd, the band are ready, and just as my friend Tom assumed, "Tip Your Bartender" is the opener, and what a fucking opener. The band are insanely tight, and even watching them, it is hard to believe it is truly happening.
Palumbo's choice of attire is a strange, wearing a jumper that looks like it was knitted by his gran, but this is soon removed and his skinny physique is shown to all.
As the band tear through a number of tracks, new and old, with new tracks such as "Jesus Glue" getting fans more stifled than a crate of cold ones and a double hit of Viagra, this post-hardcore piece clarify themselves as the kings of the scene once again, making every record you bought since Worship and Tribute seem almost sacrilege.
There is one thing missing though, even with rare fan favourites such as "El Mark" and "Convectuouso" exploding into the set and making every member of the audiences ear drums feel like an A-bomb blowing in a bath tub, the set seems to mainly consist of new and W&S tracks, there has not been one song from the almighty, "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence," and as much as "Pink Roses" and single, "Ape Dos Mil" are utter classics from the GJ catalogue, the audience seemed to be salivating for at least one from the 2000 masterpiece, or maybe that was just the puddle of vomit around my feet. Cheers Mark.
But wait, the show aint over yet, with Palumbo shouting, "Can I get another beer up here?" (Palumbo asking for a beer, still seems crazy) off-stage, before addressing the audience with something I think was, "This is another song instead of the encore crap," the band tear into the almighty, the ear canal shredding, "Pretty Lush." The dream has come true for anyone who, like me, has waited the stupid amount of years for this show, and it doesn't stop there, next up in the final three, (all taken from EYEWTKAS) is fan favourite and first ever single for the four-piece, "Siberian Kiss." This is where Daryl and the boys show their musical experience, with Palumbo's vocals reaching new and almost impossible heights, as insane as ever, if not more so, yet still somehow maintaining that mellifluous edge that could make the coldest of souls feel the melodic torture emanating from the throat of the Crohn's disease suffering frontman.
Final song, how could they end such a gig? "Babe" is how. Out of all of GJ's songs, Babe is definitely up there as one of the most brutal and hardcore by far. This just over a minute and half slice of raw, destructive beauty leaves the crowd mentally wanting more, yet physically unable to handle it. The band leave stage with odd rapidity, and the house lights come up.
This was not by any stretch a disappointing gig, the exact opposite in fact. The shit weather, crap supports and slight lack of EYEWTKAS tracks, could not stop the band blowing me away, even Martin had the time of his life, regardless of how little he knew the lyrics.
-Ian Critchley.
Gig Review :: Brand New – Wembley Arena, London, Jan 23
Brand New
SUPPORT ACTS: Thrice, Glassjaw
As soon as Brand New announced that they would be headlining Wembley Arena – their biggest UK gig to date, there would have almost certainly been a majority of people who questioned the band’s choice. People who doubted whether or not Brand New could pull it off or even sell enough tickets to make the show worthwhile in the first place. These doubts come naturally when such an un-commercial band decides to take risks. But those people may have underestimated the power of the Brand New’s music and the shear force of their unmatched fan base. Even though the show isn’t completely sold out, the atmosphere in here tonight would wash those doubts away in a second.
Support band Thrice kick the night’s proceedings off in style, bearing a very competent performance. And although a lot of the crowd seem to be lifeless, each band member seems genuinely ecstatic to be playing at such a famous arena. They manage to bring some life to the arena in the end and overall, were very impressive.
Glassjaw swagger on stage with a certain amount of confidence, which is evident throughout their entire performance. Their post-hardcore anthems enticing and exciting their seemingly vast fan following within the crowd, front man Daryl Palumbo oozing stage presence. They finish their set off with fan favourite, ‘Siberian Kiss’, which causes an increase in mosh-pits and sees the band off to a worthy ovation.
But all of this pails in comparison to what comes next.
As the anticipation increases, and with their usual mystique, the lights go down and the band of the night Brand New enter to a rapturous uproar. They start off their biggest ever UK gig with the intro ‘Welcome To Bangkok’, an intro that delves into a very distinctive and epic sound. This leads perfectly onto ‘Sink’, taken from the band’s newest album, they perform it with just as much intensity and twice the noise. ‘Degausser’ and ‘You Won’t Know’ bring the latter too. Every word etched on the band’s faces, they cavort around on stage like they own it, and tonight, they do.
Fan favourites and the still compelling, ‘Sic Transit Gloria…Glory Fades’ and ‘The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows’, send the arena into a frenzy, while the performance of ‘Okay, I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don’t’, means that you can’t hear yourself or the band over the crowd, singling loudly along to every word.
Front man Jesse Lacey performs a stripped down version of the beautiful ‘Limousine’, by himself, with just a guitar in hand, but has every one hanging on his every note. A man of very few words, Lacey would much rather let the music do the talking for him, which it does in the best way possible.
Newer songs, the violently heavy ‘Gasoline’ and ‘Vices’ are played with the up most power and cause chaos within the mosh infused crowd. The upbeat ‘Archers’ makes its appearance in the set-list with its pop-hooks and infectious exhilaration; it’s a great addition to the night.
‘Jesus’ and ‘You Stole’ bring a chilled out atmosphere with their poetic choruses and soft vocals, played with enough passion to give you chills. Allowing the band to take in the overwhelming feeling in the arena.
Set-list rarities ‘Seventy Times Seven’ and ‘Jude Law and A Semester Abroad’ make appearances that only increase the thrill of the crowd, with their incredibly catchy choruses. A near perfect set-list for a near-perfect gig and when all is said and done, Brand New don’t need a heavy song to finish and end with a bang. Instead they choose to end with the amazing, ‘Play Crack The Sky’ a simplistic yet deep song, haunting and flawlessly performed.
The show may not be a completely sold out show, but from the atmosphere and noise in here tonight, you would never have guessed. The electricity in the arena is unmistakeable. As is the band’s ever-growing fan base. Doubters beware. There is nothing that Brand New can’t do.
5/5
- Amy Parker
Gig Review :: Fyfe Dangerfield @ Glee Club, B’ham, 18/01/10
Frontman of The Guillemots, Fyfe Dangerfield, released his solo album Fly Yellow Moon last week. Stripped back and full of lovely summer-sounds, it was interesting to see if the record could be pulled off live and melt the snow outside. With technical problems rife, coupled with a slightly perturbed Dangerfield, the answer would be: not quite as well as could have been, but suitably impressive enough to justify the ski to the venue.
I've seen many bands get more than a little freaked-out at the intimacy of the Glee Club, and lets not beat about the bush: 200 silent & expectant people seated in front of you can hardly be a comfortable audience to play to. However, Dangerfield's natural charm and confidence in himself and his music helped overcome this, with quips during minutes-long silences during problems with loop-pedals and what-not.
There were many strong moments throughout the show: lead-single When You Walk in the Room was brilliantly performed, Livewire and Firebird offered the biggest lovers of gentle acoustics something to smile about and a couple of Guillemots numbers adapted and thrown in for good measure went down very well. But somehow, the show overall was disjointed and not as smooth as either Dangerfield or the audience would have hoped. It wasn't just the tech probs, it was the music in general: flitting from acoustic, electric and keyboards offered a little too much variety and whilst I applaud his talent and efforts, the overall result was somewhat inconsistent and stuttered.
A cover of Girls Aloud's Call the Shots (Live Lounge material?) admittedly raised smiles from the audience as did the ukelele-based encore, but with the lull in Guillemots filled and Dangerfield's gentle and simpler-side catered for, Dangerfield's road is not one for him to take by himself but as part of the quartet of which he known for.
M&B Special :: Lost Prophets Album Playback
Tonight, Moon & Back Music are attending the exclusive first playback of Welsh-rockers Lostprophets' new album, The Betrayal.
Check back soon for a full account.
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- Album Review :: Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory
- Interview :: Fun Lovin’ Criminals Discuss Classic Fantastic
- Interview & Review :: Tiffany Page
- Promo :: Cha-Cha – Phonographic Love
- Promo :: Subsource – The Ides, released 29/03/10
- Album Review :: Airbourne – Ready To Rock
- Guest Playlist :: ArdentJohn
