live

Live Review: Alt-J. Electric Ballroom, London


Posted by tim brown on 14 Nov 2012 / 0 Comment



live review: alt-j. electric ballroom, london. 6 november 2012.

As I’m very lazy, I reviewed Alt-J’s Camden gig directly onto twitter earlier in the month. Here are those tweets.

Live Review: Blur. Hyde Park, London


Posted by tim brown on 19 Aug 2012 / 0 Comment



live review: blur. hyde park, london. 12 august 2012.

I somehow managed to fuck up the site so I haven’t been able to log into WordPress recently, but we’re back now. I’ll post some new stuff this week, but in the meantime here’s something I wrote for Sabotage Times about the Olympic Closing Celebrations in Hyde Park.

What a couple of weeks we’ve had. There was plenty of scepticism going into these Olympics from the media, and a feeling that people just wanted it over with as soon as possible. All that changed with Danny Boyle’s fantastic Opening Ceremony. Now, as the Closing Ceremony was happening across in East London, Hyde Park welcomed the best of British music for a proper celebration.

Even before Bombay Bicycle Club took to the stage the park was full. The band were just finishing school when the last Olympics in Beijing was running, and being from London themselves this must have been a very special moment for them. The crowd, a real mixture of old and young, were fully engaged as they stormed through tracks from all three albums.

A reformed New Order (sans Peter Hook) were next up. The years may not have been kind to Bernard Sumner, but it was like he’d never been away during the short set that included ‘True Faith’, ‘Blue Monday’ and even Joy Division classics ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Isolation’. ‘World in Motion’ would surely have been a fitting addition to this unique day, but alas there was no sign.

Throughout the park you couldn’t move for t-shirts emblazoned with The Specials‘ name. Considering the fact that the Opening Ceremony didn’t avoid some of Britain’s not so great moments alongside those that we celebrate everyday, it seemed fitting that a band known for their protests songs were invited along. Ska is a genre that even yours truly can dance to. The crowd, whether celebrating the lyrics or not, agreed as the entire park erupted into a running man.

The reason we were all there, though, was Blur. It had been a little over three years since I had last seen them, which as it happens had also been in Hyde Park. The reunion back then promised much moving forward, but all we got were greatest hits and special compilations. That was until the announcement of this gig and the performance of two new songs on a roof, written specifically for this date. Despite the omission of ‘The Puritan’ from this performance, ‘Under the Westway’ was a huge success. Early on in the encore. Damon introduced it as a track special to them and to the evening. By then, the emotion was starting to show in his eyes.

That was almost two hours into the set. A set that had started in with the familiar early crowd-get-goer ‘Girls & Boys’, quickly followed by the rarely performed, but very apt, ‘London Loves’. Further tracks that the band love playing live came up next in the form of ‘Tracy Jacks’ and ‘Jubilee’.

‘Beetlebum’, ‘Coffee & TV’… the hits kept coming. Damon then, in typical Damon form, brought up a Syrian musician by the name of Khyam Allami to help out on ‘Out of Time’. He loves his world music, and the fact that Syria are currently banned from the Olympics no doubt had a huge part to play in the decision to include Allami.

We had been promised the rarity of hearing ‘Caramel’ live, and that promise was fulfilled. Phil Daniels (and bizarrely a tea lady played by Harry Enfield) joined them on stage for ‘Parklife’. Not that he was needed as the entire crowd shouted the lyrics at the top of their voice. I could go on and list every song they played, but of course we heard ‘Country House’, ‘Song 2’ and crowd favourite ‘Popscene’, before ending the main set with ‘Tender’ and ‘This is a Low’.

It was during the feature length encore that what this concert meant to them shone through. After the aforementioned ‘Under the Westway’, Damon took to the piano for a wonderful performance of ‘End of the Century’. The set was finished with the perfect pop of ‘For Tomorrow’ and of course ‘The Universal’. This all seemed a bit too much for Albarn, who stood open mouthed on the stage while the crowd sang every word back at him.

As the band thanked the crowd, there was real emotion there. I think Damon, Graham, Alex and Dave, along with everybody there, knew that this was probably the last time we’d see them together. One of the true great British pop bands had just delivered the perfect send off to an amazing two weeks.

Live Review: Bloc Party. Koko, London


Posted by tim brown on 22 Jun 2012 / 0 Comment



live review: bloc party. koko, london. 21 june 2012.

I have waited a while for this. I was at Reading Festival when Kele announced that we might not see the band together again for a while. They’d finished their current recording contract and wanted to go and try other things. Kele embarked on a solo career. Russell had a couple of side projects and joined Ash for a while. Gordon had a baby. I’m not sure what Matt did, but I’m sure it was very cool. Now they’re back with a new album (and stunningly brilliant simple artwork), a new tour and the same awesomeness.

Last night a packed Koko welcomed them back to London for a fans only gig. With not even the slightest sign of rustiness the band played tracks from all three albums, plus some new songs thrown in. The new tracks sound classic Bloc Party. They will no doubt translate slightly differently when recorded, but my early guess is that we’re probably talking a mixture of Silent Alarm and Intimacy for the new album. As interesting as it was to hear the new stuff though, it was the the songs we know and love that people had come to see. ‘Song For Clay (Disappear Here)’ merging into ‘Banquet’ was a particular highlight, along with both encores. Elsewhere there were snippets of Kele’s own ‘Tenderoni’ and even Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love’. After the second encore, a fantastic rendition of ‘Like Eating Glass’, we wanted more but alas they were done. What a band though. What a band.

That at the top is the best photo I managed all night. I thought iPhones were meant to have a good camera?

Live Review: The Maccabees. Alexandra Palace, London


Posted by tim brown on 09 Jun 2012 / 1 Comment



live review: the maccabees. alexandra palace, london. 8 june 2012.

After three successful albums and selling out venues such as Brixton several times over, The Maccabees must feel it is time to hit the big leagues. Last night they played the wonderful Alexandra Palace and anybody there will no doubt agree with the band. A set that comprised of tracks from each album fluttered seamlessly between ‘Feel the Follow’ to ‘About Your Dress’ to ‘Love You Better’. Orlando, Felix, Hugo, Sam & Rupert clearly loved every second as the sound filled the hall and kept an energetic crowd fully entertained. Orlando especially seemed to be thriving in the moment, even when their first play of ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ in a while showed that it had indeed been a while since they’d played it. Seven years after ‘X-Ray’ had ‘Latchmere’ had first caught my ear, The Maccabees are big league.

Oh yes, and…

Live Review. Savages. Shacklewell Arms, London


Posted by tim brown on 06 Jun 2012 / 0 Comment



live review: savages. shacklewell arms, london. 29 may 2012.

I’ve squeezed into the back of a hot, sweaty and packed Shacklewell Arms. There’s an NME journalist behind me, a Radio 1 DJ to the left of me and lots of record label people all around, you can just feel it. Yup, this gig’s got ‘buzz band’ written all over it.

But Savages, a new London-based all girl outfit have even managed to stop the industry types in the room bluefacing for a bit with their bass-heavy intensity. They’ve been around for barely a year and have only one single – ‘Flying Berlin’ with ‘Husbands’ as the b-side to their name, and yet their sound is remarkably assured.

Savages have been compared to Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees, I’d say more like a female Rakes. And I really like the Rakes I hasten to point out. Their lead singer Jehnny Beth (of John and Jehn fame) mixes a nervous inter-song banter with a Justine Frischmann-like insouciance while performing.

Their sound isn’t particularly original or particularly new: anyone who remembers New Wave of New Wave in the 90s (or even the original New Wave a decade before) will testify to that. But it is exactly the kind of stripped down post punk I absolutely adore. I only hope they are allowed to properly develop and go beyond the hype.

Words by Helen Parton

Live Review: Field Day. Victoria Park, London


Posted by tim brown on 04 Jun 2012 / 0 Comment


photo by tim boddy, photo editor of the 405.

live review: field day. victoria park, london. 2 june 2012.

Oh yes. It is Field Day and that means I get to Live Tweet. It was two years ago (not to the day because they’ve brought Field Day forward this year because of people from all around the world throwing spears and running around in circles during August) that I first live tweeted a festival, and that festival was Field Day. What fun.

Anyway, the day didn’t start off brilliantly if I’m honest with you.

Just to be clear, that fucking idiot was me. You can find out if Blood Orange waited for me later.

Those three tweets were just some rubbish stuff about my trip back to get my ticket. Worth mentioning though because walking in and seeing my rocking chair like that WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. I’m pretty sure that it was moving slightly too. Also, a nice little plug for #coffeeonbusesplease.

That was me being hilarious because it was still a good few hours until Summer Camp were on. The queues outside were big though. I don’t really know what the organisers can do about it because they have to do the security checks of course, but where they have the entrance it is quite limited for width so they can’t just stick in a shit load more aisles. I do think that it is something that needs to be looked at though.

Blood Orange didn’t wait for me.

Let’s get on and talk about some actual music that I managed to see shall we. Starting with a band I had never heard before, but fell instantly in love with. Sunless 97.

Don’t listen to that kids. It isn’t big or clever.

It didn’t work, and Natalie & I are still yet to consummate out relationship.

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve seen Summer Camp now, but they never disappoint. I think I’m a groupie. On this occasion it was later revealed that Elizabeth was ill and had a sore throat (I think they’ve had to cancel a couple of shows on the back of it), but none of us had any ideas. Flawless once again. They revisited tracks from their very early days and threw in some from the forthcoming EP. They also replied to this tweets telling me that they are very much in love with me too. I’ve printed it out, framed it and it’s now on my kitchen wall.

The stain was obviously God punishing me for missing Zulu Winter, but the ostrich burger was fucking good.

It occurred to me later that perhaps this was to make up for the fact that Imbruglia couldn’t be delivered. Life then punched me squarely in the face though when her boyfriend turned up and they started kissing very publicly. I’m pretty certain that if he hadn’t been there we would have gone home together.

I’m a bloody idiot. I meant ‘A Thing For Me’. I think people knew this though. It is a great remix and Elizabeth Sankey agrees because she retweeted me. Take a quick break and go and listen to it here. Wow. Enjoy that? Good. More people should put donks on things.

And then my battery died. I can tell you that Franz Ferdinand in the rain was pretty special though. I wish I’d taken a jacket though.

This was a good Field Day. A very good Field Day. The queues outside were still huge, but once within the walls everything was much better than last year. More room in the tents, better bar processes and the toilets… well, nobody will ever solve the problem of queues at festival toilets. Ultimately though it is the quality of the artists that makes a festival and Field Day had them in bucket loads. There were plenty more I could have seen, and the depth of the bill was superb. I’ll be back next year.

Live Review: Theme Park / The Cast of Cheers. The Lexington, London


Posted by tim brown on 08 Mar 2012 / 0 Comment



live review: theme park / the cast of cheers. the lexington, london. 6 march 2012.

What a double header this was. Two up & coming bands joining together to offer a show with something for everyone. With Theme Park taking headline duties, it was up to Dublin foursome The Cast of Cheers to get us underway. Catchy vocals over their Battles-esque rhythm, the band were as into it as the expectant crowd. They steamed through a collection of tracks including the fantastic ‘Family’. Theme Park followed with a flawless set that showed off their potential to be a real cross over act. Both bands worked together perfectly and I salute their idea to tour together as such close buddies.

Live Review: Sleigh Bells. Electric Ballroom, London


Posted by tim brown on 04 Mar 2012 / 0 Comment



live review: sleigh bells. electric ballroom, london. 1 march 2012.

Fascinatingly for you sockformation readers, this Sleigh Bells show is the first fruits of my New Year’s resolution to buy more gig tickets in advance rather than wait for last minute spares or guestlist +1s. And so it’d been nearly two whole months since my purchase. Practically forever.

I’d worked myself up into a bit of a frenzy truth be told, having repeatedly watched this promo video and latest single ‘Comeback Kid’. And grown a bit of an obsession for singer Alexis Krauss’s fringe (usurping my previous hair idol Zooey Deschanel) as well. Well, the fringe and the rest of her and bandmate Derek Miller didn’t disappoint.

A wall of amps and a smoke machine turned up to 11 worked as a perfect backdrop to Sleigh Bells’ own brand of hardcore riff laden with girlie vocals. All the two minute wonders: ‘Kids’, ‘Riot Rhythm’, ‘Infinity Guitars’ from their debut album Treats were powered through. They’ve really cornered the market in metal-lite that doesn’t scare the horses. Much like Pulled Apart By Horses. That Leeds quartet aren’t quite as stunning as Alexis or as hipster as Derek though.

The encore begins with the Funkadelic-sampling ‘Rill Rill’, which like Florence’s ‘Kiss With a Fist’, sounds confusingly like nothing else they’ve ever produced. It’s like a little bit of light, bubblegum relief amidst the sweaty, stop-start noise of the rest of the set.

Like wearing a distressed Iron Maiden t-shirt, Sleigh Bells are essentially an indie kid’s entry point into something a bit heavier. Don’t think I’ll personally be swapping their latest release Reign of Terror for Slayer’s Reign in Blood any time soon though.

Words by Helen Parton.

Live Review: The Black Keys. Alexandra Palace, London


Posted by tim brown on 12 Feb 2012 / 2 Comments



live review: the black keys. alexandra palace, london. 10 february 2012.

I’d never been to a gig at Alexandra Palace before. The setting is of course beautiful. The acoustics not bad (also not perfect). The bar large enough to cope with the crowd. And it’s five minutes from my flat. Perfect basically. It is not your usual venue. It’s much closer to a festival set up with different food vendors and a large open space for the bar. I saw Bloc Party at Olympia a few years ago and it’s the same sort of set up.

Nobody gives a shit about me describing the venue though. Let’s talk music. The Black Keys are so damn good live. Dan Auerbach’s voice is as good as ever, whether revisiting older tracks from The Big Come Up or playing the brand new El Camino album. I love Patrick’s energetic drumming, although I’m convinced that he will end up with some serious back problems thanks to how hunched he gets over the drums. The way he bobs along means that even I, with my absolute lack of rhythm, can attempt to nod along in time.

It’s the combination of the band and the venue that really makes this worth talking about though. Just look at how big The Black Keys have become. It wasn’t so long ago that the band were considered a good, but low key, rock band with a blues edge. Over the past two albums they have become one of the biggest rock band on the world. Somehow they have managed to keep to the ideals that made them stand out in those early years, but also become huge. Properly huge. Huge enough to pack out Alexandra Palace for three straight days. And the venue and the band are the perfect match

Oh, and I hit a man for spilling my pint.

live review: toy. shacklewell arms, london


Posted by tim brown on 28 Jan 2012 / 0 Comment



live review: toy. shacklewell arms, london. 25 january 2012.

“If you like the Horrors, you’ll like Toy” was the line I was using to get someone to go with me to this gig, the second week of the band’s monthly residence at East London’s Shacklewell Arms. It worked, I got gig friends, but I think it does them a disservice.

While they have the Krautrock and psychedelic wig-out of Southend-on-Sea’s finest, Toy have something different going for them. Less posturing, less 80s synth and a more authentic 60s sound are three things, and one of those rotating kaleidoscope projections that make you feel like you’re in Performance is another. Oh and hair. This London five-piece has lots of hair. Lots of hair grooving to long, proggy tracks. We, the audience, had earned our prog stripes by enduring the support band who never announced who they were, but whose songs were so long, it made Toy look like they were three minute power pop wonders. Toy’s latest single ‘Left Myself Behind’, clocking in at nigh-on eight minutes, was a walk in the park by comparison.

The fact I’m obliged to drop about Toy according to the lore of music reviewers is that three of them were in the ill-fated Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong. But you don’t really need to know that. What you do need to know is that you’ve got two weeks left to enjoy them for free at a Dalston dive bar and say you saw them before anyone else.

Words by Helen Parton (twitter)