SHOW REVIEW: Hospitality, Brixton Academy, London (24.9.10)

‘Bass To Melt Your Face’
Friday 24th September 2010
Brixton Academy, London


The increasing popularity of Hospital Records and the unexpected closure of Fabric’s sister club Matter means the Hospitality nights are now bound for bigger and better things. I had been to dance parties at Brixton Academy before but Hospitality is less a dance party and more a way of life. In my mind Drum’and’Bass nights should be small, cramped, dirty, heavy, grimy, sweaty and in the end leave you feeling much the same way. Whether this would transgress to a much larger venue was yet to be seen.

Straight away the immense growth in Hospital Records’ following became apparent, as along with all the usual trainer wearing, shit-talking, face-chewing cainers came a new breed of much more sober looking and sophisticated ‘Ministry of Sound’ types. But there was no doubt all were there for one thing – to get down and dirty to some of the best Drum’and’Bass around town.

London Elektricity have never been a favourite of mine and tonight saw them do no better. While they are good they always seem to miss the mark. Their beats are fine but their lead in’s and climax’s leave you hanging mid-peak, never coming back to get you. Their mixes are disjointed and mismatched at times and often sound as if they’re simply changing records on a player. A steady act that would benefit from stepping it up a notch or 10.

Next were High Contrast, with contrast being the operative word. The came, they saw, the tore the place up. With a savvy MC who knows exactly when and where he’s needed and a stretch of epic beats, breaks and classic samples that almost caused a riot High Contrast got the floor moving and left all wanting to see more. But not now… maybe another time… Danny Byrd was on next. So though High Contrast became a fast crowd favourite no one was that sad to see them go.

It’s hard to review Danny Byrd, as it is hard to put truly great Drum’and’Bass into words. Drum’and’Bass is very much a feeling and experience, making you dance into a frenzy and do things you normally wouldn’t do in front of complete strangers. I don’t think anyone spoke during Danny Byrd’s set for fear of missing a beat, catching a breath and dropping dead on the spot. From housey, dancey, disco samples to the heaviest, dirtiest most evil bass lines you’ve heard in an age Danny Byrd delivered it all and was heard right the way through to China. If High Contrast got the floor moving Danny set it on fire. Not a foot touched the ground until he finally had to be forcibly faded out by the sound engineer to make way for Andy C, but no one would have cared if he played all night. Byrd is the word.

And you’ve gotta love Andy C. We all love Andy C! The original and one of the best delivered his standard high quality set that melted your face and kept you going till sun up. But following The Byrd is a hard yard and as most kept on keeping on some went for drinks, some for smokes, and after half a set from Andy C I reluctantly threw in the towel.

Hospitality is an amazing club night. It’s well done, well organised, always delivers quality line up’s, so it’s easy to see why it has taken off in such epic fashion. But I can’t help feeling we lose a small piece of the true down to earth Hospitality the bigger and better it gets. But that’s the way it goes I suppose.

'And Then We Saw Land...' - Tunng Album Review

*AS FEATURED IN SYDNEY'S Mx MAGAZINE*

Picture this: One of those annoying young couples that are totally in love and immersed in themselves, laughing, caressing and kissing each other as they head off on their first ever road trip, innocently unaware this long uncharted period of time together will either make or break their whole relationship. This is the album they would be playing in their car.

Tunng have brought together beautiful harmonies, soft vocals and excellent acoustic sounds backed by a myriad of instruments ranging from piano to banjo to synthesiser, however overall it all comes across a little too sickly sweet. While the arrangements are daring and complex a lot of it gets lost in the mix. At times the quiet love-laden vocals are almost inaudible under the deluge of layered instruments that are thrust at you through the fold. And yet somehow, despite all this, the songs end up sounding the same, their having used the same formula throughout the album just with different means. The one song that truly stands out - October - does so only because it’s almost a mirror image of Simon and Garfunkles’ version of ‘Scarborough Fair’.

Great changes were afoot in the Tunng camp of late and you can tell. Original singer, songwriter and group founder Sam Genders is no longer with the band meaning the induction of a new lyricist and lead vocalist. Though these tasks have since been fulfilled by two of the remaining five members the album comes across as confused and chaotic. Though there is artistic merit in their work and the talent is definitely there, ‘And Then We Saw Land…’ certainly does give the feeling Tunng is a band lost at sea without their Captain.

'July Flame' - Laura Veirs Album Review

*AS FEATURED IN SYDNEY'S Mx MAGAZINE*

Laura Veirs’ latest work is a sweet and soothing album – the perfect soundtrack to a lazy afternoon in the sun, watching day turn to night and drinking in the sweet Summer air. With an array of talented guest musicians ranging from legendary arranger Stephen Barber to the fantastic Jim James of My Morning Jacket ‘July Flame’ really shows the full extent of Laura’s talent.

Her sweet-as-treacle vocals are beautifully harmonised and well accompanied by her cool and confident guitar and banjo playing. String arrangements and piano score hover in the background giving the album a wistful feel, like a cool change on a hot day. Produced by long time musical cohort Tucker Martine, Veirs describes the album as coming from a ‘…searching, soulful place’ and it does indeed take you away to memories of childhood Summers, trips to the park and scorching days spent swimming. It seems after 6 albums together Veirs and Martine have found their feet in this stripped back and simple yet engaging album.

Stand out tracks include Wide Eyed Legless, When You Give Your Heart, Summer Is The Champion and the title track July Flame. An honest album that floats through the air like shafts of sunlight through the curtains. Sweet, soulful and not to be missed.

'Transference' - Spoon Album Review

*AS FEATURED IN SYDNEY'S Mx MAGAZINE*

It’s been a roller coaster ride for Spoon since the band formed in their hometown of Austin, Texas, in 1994 and Transference is no different.

Opening with the haunting Before Destruction the album then punches in with use of reverb effects on the next song title questioning Is Love Forever? – A song that ends as abruptly as a relationship doomed. They take us into the subconscious in Mystery Zone where fate and destiny collide over use of eerie synthesiser and guitar effects. And Who Makes Your Money lays bare the reality of who works for whom in a world of capitalism and hierarchy.

The stand out tracks are to follow, with Written In Reverse already being released on 7” in the US and UK. The song returns to their indie rock roots with nice guitar breaks and hammer-home chords, perpetuating the songs theme of hindsight being 20:20 and seeing people for what they really are. I Saw The Light continues on this theme, as well as the simple yet effective rock elements that Spoon are cherished for. The stand out heavier track.

They coin a sweet modern lullaby in Goodnight Laura, and bare their souls with the reminiscent Out Go The Lights and Nobody Gets Me But You. Third stand out track of the album is Got Nuffin, releasing us from ‘…darkness and shadows… emptiness and hang up’s’.

The album can sometimes appear disjointed but their simple rough guitars and use of background piano and synthesiser hold it together and drive it home, with occasional strings adding to the drama. And though Transference seems to deal with a lot of love, loss and relationship issues – something the band are not so known for – they’ve avoided the soppy feel with their patented intricate and descriptive lyrics. All in all it’s another fine slab from Spoon.

My first published article - woop woop!

Mx Magazine Sydney - Citybeat Entertainment Section - Thursday 4th February 2009

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AVUMcGRiodSRZGQyM3E2NDZfMGMzY3BjNWNy&hl=en

Stay tuned for more every Thursday!

:-)

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Big Day Out, Homebush, Sydney (23/1/10)

How Many Bands Can You Fit In One Day?
Saturday 23rd January 2010
Sydney Showgrounds, Homebush
　

It was a milestone for the Big Day Out today as they celebrated their 100th show, and what a ride it’s been! I’ve been attending Big Day Out’s from the tender age of 12 and they have never disappointed, offering up a plentiful and diverse range of acts that make it very hard to choose from. Sticking to the Main Stage this year my first act of the day was Sydney’s very own Bluejuice.

This is one hard working band who’ve been treading the musical boards for years so it was good to see them make it to Main Stage status. They drew a large and very young crowd ready to shake their thang to Stav and Jake’s catchy vocals. They’re a fun band with a good sense of humour – donning yellow jump suits with black racing stripes, not so wise a choice for the almost 40 degree heat – and the music is just as entertaining. Bouncing beats, rocking rhythms and a huge inflatable lizard side of stage made the perfect opening act for my day.

Karnivool and Mastodon followed, both with slightly smaller crowds than Bluejuice, and both hammering out the harder rock style. Unfortunately both failed to impress. Karnivool replicated the same epic dramatic sound they have always had which is kinda cool, but I don’t see any great advances on their behalf as far as their new stuff goes. And Mastodon looked and sounded the part with their heavy metal musings but nothing stand out – metal music by numbers comes to mind.

Kasabian were next to the plate and the huge crowd gathered showed how far this band has come. I’ve recently returned from London and they have definitely trumped Oasis in the Brit-rock stakes, producing a mighty fine piece of work in their latest slab West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. The world has gone literally crazy for their ever-growing sound and the set they delivered was nothing short of perfect. Fire, Shoot The Runner, The Underdog and various others were played with talent and fervour and were met with ecstatic sing-a-long’s and dancing. I have no doubt if Kasabian ever return to the Big Day Out circus they will be placed much higher on the line-up ladder.

Biggest Main Stage crowd of the day is a tall title to hold, but the next 2 acts won it hands down. Hilltop Hoods drew an amazing surge of people all ready to throw their hands in the air and witness the MC stylings of the boys from Adelaide. I am not a huge fan of Australian hip-hop but these guys sure know how to get down and work a crowd. Old favourites Hard Road, Nosebleed Section and Clown Prince rang like Australia Day anthems throughout the stadium with the crowd knowing every word. Newer releases Chase That Feeling and Still Standing were greeted with the same enthusiasm, and the MC talents of the boys were highlighted by one of the longest freestyle runs I have ever seen.

Dizzee Rascal represented the hip-hop/grime genre from across the pond and drew even more people into the bowl. Everyone loves a rascal and Dizzee certainly lives up to his name, holding the crowd in the palm of his hand with old and new material including Fix Up Look Sharp, Sound Of The Police, the horribly main stream Holiday, and of course Bonkers. I’m not sure if you’ve ever seen a stadium full of people going bonkers but I can tell you it’s a sight to behold. A great set from the boy from London and an awesome afternoon crowd pleaser.

Sticking to the London theme Lily Allen shuffled on next and provided some light and girlie relief to the afternoon. I like Lily – she’s so cute and fun and entertaining in her personality, however her music leaves a little to be desired. Her lyrics are sweet and personal to the point of prying, but she lacks substance and ability. Her voice is great and the set was fun, but I can’t help feeling she’s a bit of a show pony, wooing the crowd with her beauty and girl power without producing anything that credible. Fun to watch regardless.

Award for best band to clear a stadium goes to The Mars Volta as almost two thirds of the crowd evacuated once their screaming chords kicked in. The dedicated few that stayed to watch were oblivious and went bezerk as the band ploughed through their long and winding list of hits. A friend of mine once described them as being guilty of ‘musical masturbation’ and I tend to agree to a point, but there’s no denying these guys have a wealth of talent that should be admired and their set today showcased those talents well. Their dramatic lyrics, crescendos and time changes make for a rock’n’roll ride like no other and their sound boomed about the stadium nicely.

Australian headliner for the day was Powderfinger and I think we all agree that you can’t get much more Aussie than The Finger (except for maybe The Spoon). Of course everyone came to see them and of course everyone knew all the words and of course we all waited for stalwart favourites My Happiness, (Baby I’ve Got You) On My Mind, These Days and Love Your Way. However I can’t help feeling The Finger have become a little run-of-the-mill as far as festival acts go. They were good, and it was nice to see them, but their sets don’t seem to be as exciting as they used to be. Their new material was so-so and the rest were just the same as usual.

Then it was time for the big guns, the boys from Devon, Muse. I am ashamed to say that up until a few years ago I didn’t give this band the time of day, finding Matt Belamy’s shrill vocals grating. However a close friend has since converted me and I am appalled that it took me so long to catch on. They exploded on stage in an aura of lights, LED screens and audiovisuals perfectly complementing their huge sound and driving rock beats. Muse are a force to be reckoned with and deserve all the accolades they receive. Matt Belamy’s guitar prowess is beyond compare, Chris Wolstenholmes deep basslines keep it all grounded and you could set your watch by Dominic Howard’s heavy beats. Plug In Baby, Knights Of Sydonia and Starlight were among an array of hits that packed the arena, and an encore cover of Back In Black with Jet’s Nick Cester on vocals left us all gagging for more. Far and away the best band of the day and one of the best festival performances I’ve ever seen.

So once again Ken West and Vivien Lees provided us with a stellar day out and showed just how much musical talent is flying around these days. I can only imagine the amazing performances witnessed on the other various stages and wish I could have seen them all. Too much music, too little time.

SHOW REVIEW: Alice Cooper, Hammersmith Apollo, London (6.12.09)

No Mister Nice Guy
Sunday 6th October 2009
Hammersmith Apollo, London

Decapitation, zombies, skeletons, stabbings, straight jackets – not many rock shows can boast such an array of violence and creatures of the undead. But if anyone were to serve it so it would be the Devil of rock himself Alice Cooper.

With a band clad in black and his name in 8ft high silver letters Alice took to the stage with a spectacular version of Schools Out, and the remainder of the set did not disappoint. I’m Eighteen, Be My Lover, Muscle Of Love and No More Mister Nice Guy were all featured amidst various heinous acts. These included Alice himself being decapitated, returning to life brandishing his own head, being strapped into a straight jacket, being stabbed, poisoned and generally harassed by an evil nurse who later demonstrated her prowess with a circular saw on an innocent piece of sheet metal – not to mention the zombies, skeletons and poor unfortunate bride of the undead Alice threw and kicked about the place.

Rather confusingly the encore consisted of another rendition of Schools Out, however this time Alice donned a sliver mirrored 2-piece suit complete with top hat and tails. All in all a great night and fun for all the family, should you be of the family Adamms.

SHOW REVIEW: Editors, Hammersmith Apollo, London (21.10.09)

To Synth Or Not To Synth
Wednesday 21st October 2009
Hammersmith Apollo
　

The lesser-known Airship kicked of proceedings tonight but failed to take flight. They were dull, boring and every indie clad pop milais sounded the same as the next.

Novascotian outfit Wintersleep were an excellent main support. Reminiscent of Midlake and Wilco with a little Arcade Fire thrown in they provided us with fine story telling lyrics, hefty and wholesome guitars and a sound rhythm and drum section that made them an instant crowd favourite. A fine set of talented musicians that complement each other well and will be seen around the traps a lot more in the future I predict.

As you may know Editors have taken a liking to the synthesiser/80’s sound on their most recent slab In This Light And On This Evening, which has obviously worked as it went straight to number 1 in the UK. I personally hate both the synthesiser and the 80's, so was going to be a tough nut to crack. As they exploded on stage in a luminous haze of laser lights and an AV screen big enough to dwarf a zeppelin it became clear they hadn’t lost any of their indie-pop talents. The chasm of difference between old and new was clearly visible, with old hits such as An End Has A Start and Racing Rats pumped out to an adoring crowd. Their melodic riffs and walking-beat hard hits perfectly blend over the amazing tone of Tom Smith’s voice. This may be a random comparison but his vocals have a commanding presence not unlike Brian Blessed’s – they hold your attention whether you like it or not.

Synth-based newer hits such as Papillion were received with equal enthusiasm, coupled by audiovisuals that made you feel like you were in a remake of Tron. A great stage presence and stage show to boot, Editors showed us exactly why they went to number 1 and sold out 2 Brixton Academy shows the following week; cause regardless of whether or not you like synthesiser, they’re good. Damn good.

SHOW REVIEW: The Pixies, Brixton Academy, London (6-9.10.09)

The Legacy Lives On
Tuesday 6th-9th October 2009
Brixton Academy, London
　

With an array of supports and a set comprising of the entire ‘Dolittle’ album plus a few more hits thrown in, The Pixies residence at Brixton would have been hard pressed to disappoint.

The Big Pink did a fine job of opening proceedings on the first night with a wall-of-sound rock style that makes them hard to ignore. Bombay Bicycle Club jumped about a lot on the second night but didn’t seem to make that much noise – all show and no substance for me I’m afraid. Art Brut did their usual fine repetoire of socially observant comedy-laden hits, with a few funny-cause-they’re-so-bad jokes thrown in – I’ll never get sick of this band. And Friday’s offering of Dinosaur Pile Up was a mighty fine choice – a tight and rocky little 3 piece that could be set for big things if this set was anything to go by. It was their superb cover of The Beatles’ Please Please Me that won my vote – awesome! A good sound, a good set, a good rock’n’roll edge that should take them far.

It was announced prior to The Pixies shows that they’d be playing their Dolittle album in its entirety so we knew what to expect to an extent. It was so great to see them back on stage once again, and to see they hadn’t lost the pure indie rock feel that made them the legends they are today. Hits such as Debaser, Bleed, Gigantic and Monkeys were met with ecstatic applause, plus they threw in extra gems Hey, Into the White and Isla De Encanta. A mighty pleasant surprise.

There was little to no banter between band members on stage which might have disappointed some, but it only meant there was room for more songs and encores, of which there were 2 each night. They came, they played, they blew us away. Long may The Pixies legacy live on.

SHOW REVIEW: The Maccabees, Brixton Academy, London (3.10.09)

Please Sirs, May I Have Some More?
Saturday 3rd October 2009
Brixton Academy, London

The Lyrebirds. The name of the first support conjured up exciting visions of rock’n’roll perhaps inspired by The Yardbirds, which was perpetuated further by their look as they sauntered on in smart-but-cool collared shirts, jackets and jeans. But the dream ended there as they were yet another softer than necessary indie rock outfit with repetitive cliched riffs and lyrics.

Second on offer, Peggy Sue, came as a pleasant surprise. At first glance they reminded me of a female Mumford & Sons, with catchy country-esque tales of life and love coupled with finely crafted and creatively personable lyrics featuring guitars, drums, banjo and harmonica. Peggy Sue should go far due to their unique style and creative talents.

Next came the band whose rise to fame has been nothing short of a speeding freight train. With 2 EP’s, 2 albums and 10 singles under their belts the boys from Brighton have much to be proud of. Add to that list a sold out Brixton show and you have what lead singer Orlando Weeks touted as being ‘…probably the best night of our lives’. They played a fiery set and had Brixton in the palm of their hands from the get go.

Including Can You Give It?, Love You Better and No Kind Words they played an outstanding set, with Orlando’s musky tones leading a beautiful, melodic, guitar-driven indie rock set that definitely showed you why they stand out from the crowd. The bassists not afraid to show his rhythm, the drummer beats his skins with a fury, and the addition of horns in various tracks made it a perfect showcase of their ability and diversity. An excellent show, an excellent band, an excellent future ahead of them. May we see much more of The Maccabess.

SHOW REVIEW: Mott the Hoople, Hammersmith Apollo, London (2.10.09)

The Rock Returns
Friday 2nd October 2009
Hammersmith Apollo, London

　
Yet another gig that’s been 30 odd years in the making. Yet another room full of ‘mature’ gig-goers happy as Larry and ready to relive their youth. As I’ve said before, it’s hard to capture the excitement in a room full of people who have been waiting to see a band after 35 years. And I feel sorry for any support act that prolongs their return.

Gemma Ray did try their hardest, with their set up nicely ornamented by flowers, and lead singer wearing a Hawaiian style dress and beehive to match. It’s a shame their music failed to hit the spot. The basic surf rock/rockabilly formula was there but they were just too lacklustre and uneventful. That’s the problem with projecting an image – you must be able to back it up.

Mott the Hoople then reminded us why they’re such an influence in so many lives. Ian Hunter’s blues-rock hooks are almost beyond compare, and the overall pure rock feel of the band is one you don’t see much of these days. A gritty rawness exists there that has rarely been replicated, not so much in their signature track All The Young Dudes, but more so in songs such as One Of The Boys, Rock’n’Roll Queen, Downtown and Midnight Lady. And a heartfelt version of I Wish I Was Your Mother bought a tear to even the hardest rockers eye.

These shows were always going to be once in a lifetime rides. And cameos by members of Motley Crue and Mick Hunter’s daughter on back up vocals made them all the more memorable. A well-known Australian photographer – Tony Mott – turned up at one of the shows and confessed the band prompted his name change, showing just how much they mean to people. And I’ve no doubt the 5 show sold out run meant more than money in the bank to the members of Mott the Hoople.

SHOW REVIEW: Paolo Nutini, Hammersmith Apollo, London (30.9.09)

An All Round Sensation
Wednesday 30th September 2009
Hammersmith Apollo, London

It wouldn’t be hard to sound good following the supports on offer tonight. Will & The People: A catchy indie rock band with potential, providing they can learn to write one song that sounds different to the other. One Eskimo: the main support who everyone seemed keen to see. One Eskimo lasted one boring, uninspiring, nothing of note song for me then I was off to the bar.

I remember the first time I saw Paolo Nutini perform. It was on a breakfast show in Australia – Bert Newton I believe – and I was very taken with him. Not only because he was easy on the eye, but because of his hit at the time Jenny Don’t Be Hasty. The lyrics tell the tale of a young boy in love with an older woman and it does not go well. At the time it prompted me to think ‘If this guy can write such an eloquent heart-felt song at such a young age, imagine what he’ll be capable of when he’s older…’

With tunes ranging from blues to rock to country to pop and back again this kid can play. He is unassuming - spending most of his set hunched over clad in a beige corduroy jacket with his eyes closed - entertaining and unmissable. His erratic vocal stylings never seem out of place and his songful storytelling is superb. Couple that with a backing band that don’t fade into the limelight and take the music well up a notch and you have the musical formula that has made Mr Nutini the sensation he is today.

They were young, old, male and female and came for a good night out. What they got was great, and I thank Paolo for exposing a mainstream audience to some very worthy blues and country flavours within his pop lines.

SHOW REVIEW: Arctic Monkeys, Brixton Academy, London (26.8.09)

Full Support
Wednesday 26th August 2009
Brixton Academy, London

With Josh Homme having produced their latest album the Arctic Monkeys have improved on what was already an impressive sound. Their short punchy riffs have now been slowed down a notch and nurtured to become dark and brooding, sexy and scorching, and have been made more effective and mesmerising in doing so. I’ll admit I was a little more interested to see if Josh himself would make an appearance, though I do love Arctic Monkeys.

But low and behold who should be supporting them but Them Crooked Vultures – a new collaboration featuring Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones. There’s nothing quite like the cheer of 5000+ people when they unexpectedly see Dave Grohl walk on stage, let alone with a pair of drum sticks. What followed was a heavy, riff-laden, rock’n’roll wall of sound that could come from no others. Reminiscent of QOTSA the tunes were hard hitting and powerful, matching perfectly with the sultry yet manly tones of Mr Homme. Yet another super group well deserving the ‘super’ title.

Bravely the Arctic Monkey’s then followed and did mighty well. Their new sound is brooding and moody at times but still delivers those catchy riffs and articulate lyrics without losing their edge. They churned out hits of new including Crying Lightening and Pretty Visitors, as well as old trusty’s I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor, When The Sun Goes Down, The View From The Afternoon and pleased the crowd no end.

Though it was hard to fathom the amazing line up we’d just seen as a support act The Monkeys held their own and showed they’re not just a few boys from up North banging them out. They’re growing, as is their music, and they’ll be here for many years to come.

SHOW REVIEW: Offspring, Brixton Academy, London (25.8.09)

Return To Your Youth
Tuesday 25th August 2009
Brixton Academy, London

It’s always a dubious affair when old punk bands decide to reform. Whether it be for one final run or a new lease on life there’s always a chance they’re going to miss the mark and come across a lot slower and fatter. I’m happy to say Offspring have not encountered such a fate.

As we’d all listened to them in our teenage years everyone at Brixton was amped for the show. The same was reflected in the sold out crowd as young and old crammed the main room to mosh and circle like they did in the old days. Though looking slightly more ample around the gills the boys were true to form and did not disappoint. They were fast, loud and played all the right tracks. Come Out And Play, Self Esteem, their cover of The Damned’s Smash It Up – the list goes on as they served up a hit-filled set at a super speedy pace, which of course included Bad Habit - every road rager’s favourite song and huge crowd favourite.

There have been various occasions at work where I have wanted to scream ‘Stupid dumb sh*t god damn mother f*cker’ at a customer, but I’m glad to say tonight wasn’t one of them. The crowd were as happy as the band at their decision to tour again, measured by the excitement in their eyes and countless shirtless sweaty men crawling their way back from the front. Reformations may for the most part be moneymaking exercises, but they do bring a lot of happiness to a lot of people. And tonight Brixton was a happy place.

VENUE REVIEW: Matter@O2, Greenwich, London

MATTER

O2, Greenwich, London
PH: 0207 549 6686

http://www.matterlondon.com/

Matter is a slightly smaller venture bought to you by the people at Fabric. While not as grand or well marketed as Fabric, Matter can often offer a better night out due to a better lay out and friendlier atmosphere – as long as you can get there.


LOCATION & ACCESSABILITY

Matter is a complete bitch to get to and from mainly as the Jubilee tube line that goes directly to the O2 complex where it’s situated is usually delayed or closed. That means a bus from London Bridge which has taken me up to 2 hours, or a Thames ferry from any stop from Waterloo onwards along the river costing around 4GBP. If you ask me the ferry is the way to go. However getting home there is only one option – cab. Matter usually closes around 6am so the tube is about an hour away, and a bus at that time can often be the same, not to mention freezing!


VENUE LAYOUT & BARS

Matter is very new as far as venues go, opening in September 2008, and you can tell by its user-friendly design and sleek appearance. For those of you who know it, it’s kind of a boxier version of Home in Sydney. However I feel its fine lines and stony appearance would leave a lot to be desired sans lighting effects. With 2 rooms – one main room downstairs and one smaller room upstairs – each with a large bar, there’s not a lot to Matter, but there’s beauty within it’s simplicity. The Main Room is one big dance floor with full circle balconies looking down upon it giving it a Shakespearean Globe feel, complete with tiered steps to dance on either side of the dance floor. The smaller room is quite the non-feature, with a circular bar and not much else.
The smoking area is a fenced off area out front which is not too pretty to look at. The piece de resistance is the caged walkway running along the centre of the rooftop, which gives you a great view of the main room floor but also allows people to pour their drinks on your head from a great height! There’s also ample dance room and comfy couches on the same floor, and a secret hidden toilet should the downstairs loos be rammed.

The loos are always clean and there are ample which usually means no queues but they lose loads of points for making all the taps hot. Fair enough they want us to buy water but what if I simply want a cool splash to the face after an epic dance floor session? There’s also a lift near the secret glass staircase at the rear of the venue that overlooks the O2 complex, but I’ve never had the stomach to get in it.

Surprisingly enough drinks don’t cost the earth, with a double vodka red bull costing 5GBP and water and softies coming in at 2GBP. But be sure to have some cash in your pocket, as minimum on card is 20GBP.
　

HISTORY & SHOWS

Being Fabrics little brother means you’ll never be short of line up’s. As mentioned before, Matter only opened in 2008 and has played host to some impressive shows for one so young: Fatboy Slim, Stanton Warriors, Funkmaster Flash, Justice, Pendulum, Bookashade, plus the regular drum’n’bass nights Ram and Hospitality which I highly recommend.

All in all Matter is a top night out and is fairly reasonable in price as far as clubs go. However this may be to compensate for what you spend in travel costs. We live in hope that the Jubilee line is eventually bought under control, but home is only ever a cab ride away. And at 6am, depending on what state you’re in, a cab may not be a bad idea.

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Benicassim, Spain (19/7/09)

A Fire, A Wind Storm and A Helluva Mess
Wednesday 15th – Monday 20th July 2009
Benicassim Festival, Benicassim, Spain

DAY 5: Sunday: It’s All In The Timing

This morning I opted for the beach rather than the pool and strolled down to the opposite end of Oropresa to find it full of Spanish families. It’s a bizarre reality coupling 100’s of everyday Spaniards holidaying at their favourite beachside resort alongside a few thousand mainly British drunken and debaucherous tourists. I’m sure they love it when we arrive. After a relaxing stint on the sand I strolled back to the homestead and prepared for the last night’s festivities, which included The Killers and TV On The Radio. It was bitterly disappointing upon arrival to find the nights set times had changed once again and we had in fact missed TV On The Radio.

For some reason - of which we didn’t follow up as the information tent was more crowded than main stage – all stages were running at least 1 hour early. Defeated and deflated we head to main stage to wait for The Killers and scored a great spot due to the arena being empty. Obviously not all had caught on as quickly as we did. By the time they snap, crackled and popped onto stage the place was packed, but we maintained a good view throughout their safe and sound set. I do like The Killers – and I don’t deny, oh Brandon – but they’re hardly cutting edge. The songs are solid pop tracks with catchy melodies and good beats and a charismatic front man to sing them. No amazing riffs, guitar solos or epic moments, just purely poptastic. The exact opposite of what came up next – the awesome Rhinoceros.

I don’t know a lot about this band but I know what I like, and I sure as hell liked them. With their space-aged futuristic ABBA-esque get up and eclectic stylings they served as the perfect closer for those who had the stamina. They were rock, they were funky, they had beats, they were dancey – all while oozing effortless style and ferver. One cameo featured a skinny-legged big Afro’d gentleman who sounded not unlike Elmo shimmying his way across stage and wreaking all sorts of havoc with his mic. An awesome end to an awesome week.

Benicassim was obviously not without its faults, but regardless the week was enjoyed by all. The line up was fantastic and the Spanish Summer setting helped ease the pain of long queues, no-show acts and Mother Nature’s wrath. I can only hope that future Benicassim’s are better organised and restructured to cope with its rising popularity and punter demand. If not I fear its current cool-as reputation will soon be blowing in the wind. Or wind storm, as it were.

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Benicassim, Spain (18/7/09)

A Fire, A Wind Storm and A Helluva Mess
Wednesday 15th – Monday 20th July 2009
Benicassim Festival, Benicassim, Spain

DAY 4: Saturday: 2MuchFun

Needless to say our Saturday was fairly quiet. Not waking until afternoon we rolled out of bed, met friends at the beach, nursed our hangovers with food and swimming then set about doing it all over again. Regardless of the night befores proceedings Saturday was to be our night to let loose. With an amazing line up of dance and rock we left Friday’s fiasco behind and head off with high spirits. There were varied acts to see meaning our group of around 20 kept splitting up, but having decided on our meeting place of ‘The G Spot’ (a giant tartan cube selling amazing cocktails) we were never far from one another.

As we arrived I was especially happy to find Maximo Park had taken Lilly Allen’s place due to her being ill. They put on an energetic and amazing set as always, heightened by the fact everyone thought they were goners after last night’s disasters. Next up were Elbow who certainly didn’t disappoint, drawing a huge crowd who came readied to sing their hearts out to the bands solid flowing rock sound, and I can’t tell you how elating ‘Beautiful Day’ was to watch. It may sound cliché but I love that song, and watching thousands of people sing it at the top if their lungs on a balmy Spanish evening makes you feel so good to be alive. It most certainly was a beautiful day.

Franz Ferdinand then joined us at the perfect time – not too late in the evening to rock out but just early enough for everyone to be happy, trashy and jump around. Their stylish rock musings and do-do-do’s got the most tired of us up on our feet and dancing for a solid hours set and even prompted an encore. The lads from Scotland were on form as usual and were a perfect precursor for the nights headliners, 2ManyDJs.

With a small hiatus between the two acts we loaded up on drinks and the like until the Belgians were ready to go. Unfortunately one of our friends had perhaps one too many drinks, resulting in her having a little 2 hour or so snooze just as 2ManyDJs came on. We carried her with us to a suitable clear area and proceeded to dance around her lifeless body until she returned from the land of slumber. I don’t need to tell you this made for some hilarious photos. Just like their show at Brixton 2 weeks previous 2ManyDJs provided the ultimate get up and shake your thang party selection. They posses the ability to mix anything – from Dolly Parton to Sepultura, MGMT to Justice. They banged out the hits with no time to waste and ended with a well-appreciated version of The Prodigy’s ‘Out of Space’. A great set to end a great night.

Once back at The G Spot our weary friend had awoken and was inhaling some chips and a kebab – breakfast of champions. The rest of us however, whilst dancing to 2ManyDJs, had inhaled a breathtaking amount of dust due to the dry ground so it was coughs and blocked noses all round. While some decided to call it a night us girls stayed, having been sucked in by The Orb.

The Orb was bright, sparkly and not easy to ignore - a dance stage tucked in a corner of the site, and in the wee hours of a Sunday morning it provided a refreshing change as the crowd in attendance were actually Spanish! With the headliners being from the UK and USA the majority of the crowd had usually been of British origin – only here or there did you hear a Spanish or French accent. It was nice to finally find a genuine Spanish representation at The Orb even if it was 4am on a Sunday morning. We faced a sea of smiling faces greeting ‘Hola!’ all the way and even leaning in for the 2-cheek European kiss now and then. It just goes to show who has the stamina and who knows how to party properly. Everyone was friendly, fun and ready to dance the night away. Everyone but our sleepy friend who was now wide-awake but had lost her shoes in the earlier commotions. Taking pity on her poor feet we decided to call it a night – or morning, as it were.

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Benicassim, Spain (17/7/09)

A Fire, A Wind Storm and A Helluva Mess
Wednesday 15th – Monday 20th July 2009
Benicassim Festival, Benicassim, Spain

DAY 3: Friday: Who’s On First?

Our first night being relatively sensible we were up at a reasonable hour the next day. Our daytime ritual soon become set in stone: supermercado for food and booze – the latter which we were going through at an astonishing rate due to strapping it under our skirts in water bottles and sneaking it into the festival – then the beach for a sleep and a tan. Good friends were staying in various blocks nearby so our biggest decision to make each day was where to go and lie down. It’s a hard life. Once on the shuttle to the festival excitement began to peak as tonight offered up Kings of Leon and Paul Weller amongst others. Little did we know Mother Nature had other plans.

Entering was a breeze due to already having our wristbands and even the bar queues weren’t that long. The worrying sight was the tall flames licking at the fence bordering main stage as we made our way to Paul Weller. Everyone could see them and they were very close, so normally some heed of warning and mass evacuation would follow. However we were in Spain on holiday at a festival so our carefree attitude had somewhat overtaken and we all decided to ignore the impending doom and carry on watching. It was then the wind started it pick up, forcing an early set finish from Mr Weller and prompting organisers to take down the fabric screens that hung either side of the stage. Kings of Leon were up next so we began the mad mission to the front, ducking and weaving, eventually making it almost to the barrier. And it was there we stood in a cramped and swaying mass mob for the next hour and a half. At first there was nothing – no movement on stage, no information, no nothing. As time drew on and Kings of Leon’s start time came and went the crowd grew restless and began numerous chants, songs and booing. We then started to receive messages about technical difficulties which were endlessly repeated as Kings of Leon’s end of set time grew nearer and the next acts start time – Maximo Park – grew closer.

At last a timid voice announced over the PA that the next band would now be taking to the stage, however our definitions of ‘next’ seemed to differ. The last act the crowd had seen was Paul Weller, meaning the next act should have been Kings of Leon. The promoter’s definition of next turned out to be Australian act Tom Tom Club, the band due to play after Maximo Park. A barrage of booing and flying objects ensued followed by a mass exodus. Not only had we stood there for an hour and a half sans music, but the 2 acts we’d come to see were not presented. No explanation was given and the poor Tom Tom Club were led out like lambs to the slaughter.

It was as we wandered aimlessly through the restless crowd wondering what to do that the winds came. Thankfully the fire had been contained as what followed was nothing short of a tornado. Dust, sand and rubbish flew everywhere as the campsite was swept away and people scattered hurriedly to return to the safety of Oropresa. A general air of disbelief was present on the ride home with disappointed faces all around. There was nothing left to do but go home and make our own party. The remainder of the night is a blur of beer, sangria, dancing in our abode, walks to the beach, other house parties, stops at a few kids playgrounds - finally ending in the daylight hours with 6 girls, 6 headaches, a long lie in and one god damn messy apartment.

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Benicassim, Spain (16/7/09)

A Fire, A Wind Storm and A Helluva Mess
Wednesday 15th – Monday 20th July 2009
Benicassim Festival, Benicassim, Spain

DAY 2: Thursday: An Oasis

We awoke to banana pancakes then set about planning our day. Festivals are never a relaxing holiday: provisions are needed, shuttle bus tickets and wristbands need to be collected, and sunbaking was also high on the agenda. We set off to the supermarket with every other festival-goer and proceeded to fleece them of every essential item they had – bread, milk, alcohol, mixers, sweets, and of course chorizo. Once home with our wares safely stored we hit the pool situated at the entrance to our apartments.

We were residing in Marina D’Or – a mini-city of characterless apartments lining the beachfront of Oropresa, akin to a smaller more condensed Surfers Paradise. We spotted a few Spanish families here and there but the bulk of people appeared to be there for Benicassim. I did feel sorry for them, having their Spanish family holidays loudly interrupted by a large pack of mainly English tourists. Once we’d caught some rays we set off to collect our shuttle bus passes from the same office we’d spent most of our time at the night previous.

At the office we were met with scenes of tears and sadness as hundreds of people had been left stranded. Danesfib – the company we’d booked our apartment and bus tickets through – had run out of apartments, owing to what reason no one had been told. The owner was refusing refunds even though many people had paid in advance, and was telling people to simply ‘sleep on the beach’. Police were at the scene as understandably things had become a little heated, and some of the surrounding neighbours were emerging offering rooms in their homes for inflated prices. Not an ideal start to any festival experience. Counting our blessings we returned to our digs to feast and prepare for the nights musical proceedings, thankful to have a roof over our heads.

It had occurred to me that we should have gone to the festival site early to avoid queuing for our wristbands but the urge to eat, drink and swim overtook so we didn’t arrive on site till 8pm. Once there I wish logic had prevailed. The queue before us was mammoth, a sea of people stretching for an age with an entrance tent about 3 metres wide. Taking our place once again at the back of a long line we feared it was to be a long night – several cigarettes, a few pints and 3 hours later we were right.

The opening night was by no means our big one – Franz Ferdinand and 2ManyDJs on the Saturday were what we were waiting for. I would have liked to have seen Mystery Jets but alas we were waiting in line. Oasis were then the headliner at 11pm. Once through the 3 metre mini-tent we hit a maze of crowd barriers, navigated through them to the wristbanding tents and finally made our way over the threshold 15 minutes after Oasis had started. But our mission did not end there – we then had to buy drink tokens, as none of the bars accepted cash, grab a beverage and weave our way through the huge crowd amassed for Oasis. Securing a position near the back we settled in to watch, and I can tell you a drink had never tasted so good.

The stars were shining, it was a balmy night and what ensued was the worlds biggest British sing-a-long. While they didn’t play my favourite (She’s Electric) they did deliver a non-stop array of all their hits. Stellar renditions of Morning Glory, Roll With It and more were somewhat overshadowed at times by the teetering tower of scaffolding stood behind us which was now covered with drunken daredevils who’d scaled it’s 10+ metre high frame for what was undoubtedly the best seat in the house. Eventually heavyset security guards laden with climbing gear ascended the frame to coax everyone down, but not without several arguments, vertical chases, kicks and punches to the face.

The rest of the night is a myriad of adventures including strawberry daiquiris, finding and losing friends, being sucked into The Orb, exploring the campsite and outskirts of the festival site. All which ended rather abruptly with me popping a plug on my 4 year old black Havianas (they served me well - sniff) and calling it a night. A friend and I then returned to the bus stop, now a chaotic mess of people drunkenly trying to board any shuttle in sight.

The fact our shuttle guide from Danesfib bolted past us at one point screaming ‘Did you see where that bus went?!!’ didn’t fill us with confidence, but upon finding our bus we scrambled to get on in the malaise. Until, that is, one chivalrous soul peeled open the back doors to let his girlfriend on; bypassing the frenzied pack at the front, to which we followed suit. God bless that man! We were home within the hour eating cheese, tomato and chorizo crackers and resting our heads for the next instalment of what was to be the most bizarre festival experience I’ve had yet.

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Benicassim, Spain (15/7/09)

A Fire, A Wind Storm and A Helluva Mess
Wednesday 15th – Monday 20th July 2009
Benicassim Festival, Benicassim, Spain

　

DAY 1: Wednesday: Get In Line

The day had finally come – my first overseas festival and European jaunt travelling with friends! In the past all my journeys had been solo so I boarded the Gatwick Express not knowing what to expect. Benicassim is a music festival that takes place on the coast of Spain. It features some Spanish and mainland European acts but the bulk of the line-up are internationals from the UK and US. This year boasted a sterling timetable including Kings of Leon, Maximo Park, Paul Weller, TV On The Radio, Oasis and more.

I was landing in Alicante then hopping a 4 hour train ride one stop after Benicassim to the beachside resort town of Oropresa. 5 friends and I had rented an apartment there, which included festival bus transfers so we were set. Though you can camp at the festival it seemed easier to rent an apartment as the festival takes place at night due to extreme 30+ degree temperatures during the day, and we didn’t like our chances of finding comfort or sleep in a packed campground in those conditions. However I had taken the cheaper option of flying into Alicante and training it to Oropresa rather than flying into Valencia as my friends had done. I was to arrive first, grab the keys to our new home and be ready and waiting with drinks and nibbles when they arrived at 10:30pm – but not all went to plan…

Landing in Alicante and catching the train were a breeze but once I hit Oropresa with every man and his dog things got ugly. I waited in line for a taxi from the station to our apartment offices for over an hour, mainly as none of the obviously unseasoned travellers before me going to the same place as me would share cabs. An Irish couple behind me also found this odd so we ended up splitting the fare together. I then arrived at the offices to find a 50+ strong queue of people waiting for their keys and linen. I had no choice but to tack myself on the end and wait, as did my friends when they arrived around half an hour after I did. And there we sat. On the pavement. With our backpacks and the rest. For 5 hours.

It’s still unclear as to why it took 5 hours to collect our keys and linen – once inside the office it took only 20 minutes to acquire both. At first sitting outside was a novelty as we got drinks and food and cavorted with fellow festival-goers, swapping stories and taking bets on how long it would take for the next person to come out alive. But after 5 hours it does wear thin and we were mighty glad when the goods were finally received and we made it to our apartment. So after 18 hours of travelling I finally lay my head to rest and dreamt of what was to come: Benicassim – music and fun in the sun.

SHOW REVIEW: 2ManyDJs, Brixton Academy, London (13/6/09)

Hot to Trot
Saturday 13th June 2009
Brixton Academy, London

A ‘fee flow’ dance party at Brixton Academy is a sight to behold. Punters are free to roam wherever they please, whether it be upstairs to the Circle for some seated action, in the main foyer for some slip and slide beats (DJ + spilled drinks + marble floors = smooth dance moves), or into the main room where the stayers are. The only snag with this set up is that normally 1000 or so of the people in attendance would be confined to the upstairs Circle section, where as at a free flow show all 5000+ have the chance to squeeze themselves into the main room.

The above may explain why 2ManyDJs was the HOTTEST SHOW I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. Even donning thongs, a short skirt and mini-singlet top I lost at least 2 dress sizes in sweat that night. People were emptying water bottles on themselves, gasping for air and doing the ‘hand fan’ dance move across the floor (dance vigorously whilst fanning face with hands simultaneously). The sweltering heat was endured by thousands, tossing aside their cares and need for liquids, held up only by the rare and awesome talents of Belgian supermen 2ManyDJs.

It was hard to explain to my Stepdad the next day that I had been ‘clubbing’ – as he phrases with disdain all shows I go to that do not feature a live guitar – and yet I had heard the likes of ACDC, Sepultura, Nirvana, Guns’n’Roses and even Beethoven. Being staunch rock’n’rollers my parents only just endure hip-hop as my brother is an MC and budding DJ. They are nowhere near accepting the fact that people make banging music with little knobs and turntables, let alone the fact that they ‘destroy’ original tracks to do so. I hereby disagree.

2ManyDJs talents to mix anything seamlessly and bring it to the forefront of your rhythmical lobe, coupled with mega-basic cardboard cut out graphics, make them one of the greatest DJ acts of our time. They make anything sound good with a beat, which tonight included an awesome and solid favourite mix of MGMT’s ‘Kids’, The Gossip, Dolly Parton, Dizzee Racal, Justice, Prodigy, and the aforementioned rock and classical tunes.

Their mixes are perfect, their timings spot on and their climax’s orgasmic. As far as I’m concerned there could never be 2ManyDJs, just way 2MuchFun.

SHOW REVIEW: Faith No More, Brixton Academy, London (10/6/09)

And The Circle Of Life Is Complete
Wednesday 10th June 2009
Brixton Academy, London
　

Those of you who know me will know I’ve been waiting for this day for the best part of 15 years. Faith No More are my all time favourite band and have been since my early teenage days, and their Live from Brixton video got an almost constant running in my parents video player. So when they announced their Brixton show for 2009 there were many sleepless nights until the day arrived.

Their support was a band named Selfish C*nt – an interesting phrase to have to impart to any customer who asked the name of the support act. With a name like that I wasn’t expecting a lot but surprise surprise they were excellent. They were a tight driving force with an old school driving rock style, and a lead singer whose make up and wild dance moves would rival those of Iggy and Mick Jagger. Unfortunately the crowd was mostly of the make persuasion and became unnecessarily offended by the singer’s prowess and started booing after every song. Its quite clear this band will find it hard to go far with such a unique name but they certainly didn’t deserve to be ignored or booed.

The Faith No More arrived in a cloud of darkness, but easily spotted in their bright pastel coloured trousers and collared shirts. Though I know it would have been too good to be true I was secretly and slightly disappointed not to see Big Jim saunter on stage with them. Opening with a cover of Peaches’ ‘Reunited’ they slammed into ‘The Real Thing’ and it was on for young and old. The set was no less than perfect for me as they played all my favourites: RV, Epic, Land of Sunshine, Midlife Crisis, Ugly in the Morning, Ricochet, Evidence, Just A Man… All amazing songs, all played by an amazingly tight band with a front man that has never been rivalled in charisma and who’s musical genius has spawned many quality acts including Mr Bungle, Fantomas and Tomahawk.

With all that gushing out of the way I will admit they were a little rough around the edges with timing and out of tunes riffs from time to time. But after leaving such a legacy and being out of action for 11 years I think they can be forgiven, the best part being you could see they were having fun. After a second encore Brixton Academy was left in awe and many stood their ground for a 3rd encore until the house lights finally came up.

So after more than a decade out of action, and 19 years since their original ‘You Fat Bastards: Live from Brixton Academy’ album was released, Faith No More still have it. It’s it. What is it?

SHOW REVIEW: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brixton Academy, London (31/5/09)

The Original R’N’B
Sunday 31st May 2009
Brixton Academy, London

　
This gig begged the question ‘How many Lynyrd Skynyrd songs do you know besides Sweet Home Alabama?’. Many answered none, others answered ‘Freeview’ as heard on the Almost Famous soundtrack if not before. But not many touted they knew 3! At the risk of showing my age, being a hippie chick in my teens and watching Dazed and Confused religiously meant I also knew ‘Tuesday’s Gone’, sad not only for its balladly beauty but as it also signified the end of the movie.

So with confederate flags flying Lyndyrd Skynyrd were introduced to the stage with a fair amount of American fanfare, complete with gratingly annoying voiceover man (‘Ladieees and gentlemeeen, Lynyyyrd Skynyyyrd!’). They may be longhaired and old but they can still rock out. Though missing many of their original members the band have made a healthy life for themselves – admittedly mainly off one song – but their good old fashioned rhythm and blues is a great sound and attracts not only the one hit wonderers but the die hard fans as well. I believe I spotted more George Thoroughgood T-shirts than Lynyrd Skynyrd.

They Southern drawled their way through all the aforementioned hits as well as a whole heap unbeknownst to me, with a down to earth country rock sound that got everyone dancing and drinking. I must admit, thanks to my folks, I’m not adverse to some good rocking country guitar and Lynyrd Skynyrd are one of the masters. They ended the show flying both the confederate flag and Union Jack high and definitely showed Brixton what real R’N’B is all about.

SHOW REVIEW: Antony & the Johnsons, Hammersmith Apollo, London (27/5/09)

A Beautiful Person
Hammersmith Apollo, London
Wednesday 27th May 2009

I’ll admit first hand that this gig was purely a review writing exercise. I’d heard of Antony & the Johnsons and all my arty-farty friends had assured me they were absolutely fantastic, but I’m more of a rock riff kinda girl so had never bothered to bother until now.

The support was a performance artist named Joanna that did bizarre and questionably choreographed moves in an even more bizarre and questionable costume. She was dimly hued by a spotlight and looked like a bad guy from Alien or a female version of Predator. I’m not saying I could have done any better, but it looked like a collection of not-so-in-time-with-the-music arm and leg flailings with a few costume changes. The crowd loved it - whatever floats your boat I suppose.

Antony and the Johnsons were a lot less bizarre and much more in time, flowing and beautiful. The band consists of an amazing collection of musicians, all of whom seem to be classically trained or sessions musicians, with the ability to play more than one instrument whether it be oboe, drums, guitar, clarinet, violin or cello – all of which were featured. At the helm of it all is unlikely conductor Antony – a soft spoken angel-voiced prose-laden piano player who starts off shy and reserved, sweeping sweetly from one song to the next until he surveys the crowd and they in turn earn his respect. He finally opens up, sharing jokes and telling tales of how his songs came to fruition and showing you just how heartfelt his lyrics can be.

It was an outstanding performance even though I know none of their work previously. The highlight for me was a tune featuring a take of ‘…being in love with a beautiful boy…’ consisting of mainly piano with a little guitar and his voice bewitching all and the story, being that of loves had and lost and marking the heart. After this song all others seemed to pale in comparison and for the second half of the show I found myself getting slightly restless. Antony and the band are amazing musicians and have put together and outfit that is rivalled by none in their genre, but in the end I did find a lot of the songs sounding too similar.

However so they were entertaining, and after an intimate and humorous explanation of ‘Heaven Mountain’ – the story of a female Jesus being resurrected in the Afghanistan mountains – Antony and the Johnsons showed us there’s no limit to the imagination, what you can do or who you can be.
　

SHOW REVIEW: Maximo Park, Brixton Academy, London (26/5/09)

Apply Some Pressure
Tuesday 26th May 2009
Brixton Academy, London

Maximo Park are England’s answer to Grinspoon: everyone loves them whether it be for their punchy pop-rock style, care free Northern stained lyrics or stylish dress sense and dance moves. They’re an easy band to love and even easier to sing along to, so it’s no surprise they spent 2 sold out nights at Brixton, especially when backed by popular newcomers The Noisettes.

The Noisettes have eclectic musical influences and it shows. Every song tells a different story, with guitar riffs and drum beats bouncing from the synth-pop of the 80’s to the proper R’n’B riffs of the 60’s. Their lyrics tell you to shake your tail feather whilst musing of loves won and lost, all with the soul driven smoky vocals of Shingai Shoniwa.

Maximo Park then explode at us like a firecracker with perfect stepping stone chord progressions and stick cracking beats. They’re a tight outfit with a stylish pop sound and an even more stylish lead singer. Paul Smith looks the part in his usual white collared shirt, black suit, sleeves rolled up and black bowler hat, and this man has the moves. His Northern twang and charm bounce around the stage along with his sexy crutch thrusts and leg kicks that catch every girls eye.

They pull out all their hits including Graffiti, I Want You To Stay, Limassol, Girls Who Play Guitar, and finish off with obvious crowd favourite Apply Some Pressure – a song I hold dear to my heart and live by more often than not in my various world travels. And after such an amazing show I will continue to do so.

SHOW REVIEW: The Specials, Brixton Academy, London (7/5/09)

Come on in, it's been a while...
Thursday 7th May 2009
Brixton Academy, London

Thanks to my folks I’ve been listening to The Specials from a very young age. ‘A Message To You Rudy’ was a favourite of mine as a little girl and I played it so much even my folks got sick of it. So when, after 30 odd years, the boys from Coventry announced 5 – count ‘em 5! – night’s at Brixton Academy I was first to sign up for bar shifts.

Then came the wait – 3 months of barely containable excitement pushed to boiling point until the afternoon of the first show. I ran throughout my day job shouting ‘Happy Specials Day!’ to everyone, listened to their tunes all day and watched old footage of clubs gig’s I wished I’d been alive for. Then I got the call. 5:15pm Wednesday 6th May 2009. 45 minutes until I was due to work at Brixton. ‘It’s Tina’ said my boss ‘They’ve cancelled due to illness’.

My screams echoed throughout the office and snapped everyone out of their Outlook afternoon haze. This was awful! This was horrible! ‘They haven’t cancelled tomorrow though so be on stand by’. We’d been waiting for 30 years I suppose, what’s one more day?

It’s hard to describe the energy that fills a room when 5000+ people arrive to see a band they’ve been waiting to see for 30 years. To say everyone was ‘excited’ would be an understatement (and my tips for the next 5 nights certainly proved this!). Sitting through supports was almost torture, apart from the Dub Pistols who played the first 2 nights and were excellent. But I’ve gotta say, Ska these days just isn’t the same. I’m not sure if it’s the cultural influence, social conscience or music that’s lacking, but it just ain’t the same.

There was also a DJ and MC playing some top notch old ska and dance hall tunes that provided perfect pre-set sing-a-long conditions. Every night the crowd turned into a grand choir delivering drunken versions of ‘A Town Called Malice’ and ‘The Israelites’ at the will of the MC. And his ever present chant of "Ruuudde Boooyyy’ was always met with an enthusiastic response.

Anticipation was at breaking point when The Specials hit the stage. Opening with ‘Do The Dog’ they set Brixton off – beers were thrown, clothes and bags were cast aside as years of bottled up skanking exploded in 2 hours of beats, jams and lyrics that have been blasted in bedrooms for years. They played the perfect set each time: Monkey Man, Little Rich Girl, Rudy, Rat Race, Ghost Town, my very favourite Night Klub, and the perfect finale Enjoy Yourself.

It was so amazing to see The Specials after 30 years off the circuit, and after some tumultuous times they’re still as relevant as ever. Their performances were spot on and they never missed a beat, nor the chance to convey their regret to the crowd for having taken 30 years to return. I am now stylishly equipped with a Specials bag and T-shirt (never to be worn together lest ye risk looking like a stalker). They later announced shows at both Glastonbury and Hammersmith Apollo (my other place of bar tending) which pleased me no end, as they became like a house band no one ever wanted to see the end of at Brixton. Once they were gone I missed them so. And as I recall these skatastic tales I feel butterflies in my stomach as I remember the excitement and happiness they’re shows produced in people.

Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.

SHOW REVIEW: Lady Gaga, Brixton Academy, London (14/7/09)

Pop Puppets
Thursday 14th July 2009
Brixton Academy, London

I’ve never witnessed the magic that is a pop sensation. I’ve seen live rock bands, DJs, choirs and countless other forms of musical performance but never a one-man (or woman) pop show. Tonight I witnessed the publicity train that is Lady Gaga and it was not a pretty sight.

Having heard a rumour that Miss Gaga goes bankrupt every time she goes on tour I wasn’t surprised to sight various acts of frivolity as I entered the venue. Black tie O2 waiters hovering with free Haribo tooth pick skewers and a lairy pink back drop featuring a mix of world monuments were just a few. We were later told during one of Miss Gaga’s monologues when she sees something that ‘amazes and inspires’ her it is then incorporated into said backdrop.

Her entry was a black and white mock French avant gard film featuring her in a string of mysterious scenarios, which I suppose is fitting as she once described herself as ‘New York avant gard’. What followed was what I can only imagine is your normal run of the mill female pop icon formation dancing, posing and flouncing backed by a rock’n’roll session band. Lady gaga has a good voice and at one stage played a long and very drawn out version of ‘Poker Face’ solo on a pink baby grand, which was not all bad.

She does have talent. Her talent is somewhat over shadowed by her gratingly annoying and always outrageous persona accompanied by gimmicky costumes and backdrops. New York avant gard she definitely was not. Another pop puppet adorned with trinkets and exploited for the masses she definitely was.

FESTIVAL REVIEW: Global Gathering: Long Marston Air Field, Stratford Upon Avon, UK (24/7/09)

It’s All About The Relish
Friday 24th July 2009
Long Marston Air Field, Stratford-upon-Avon

As luck would have it I returned from Benicassim Festival to find I’d won 2 tickets to Global Gathering festival through TNT magazine. I mindlessly enter competitions all the time so had no idea what the prize entailed, but a short click of my mouse informed me I had won the following:

• 2 VIP tickets to the 2 day festival featuring Prodigy, Scratch Perverts, Pendulum, Digitalism, Stanton Warriors, DJ Yoda and more
• 2 return train tickets to the event
• 1 tent
• 2 sleeping bags
• 2 sleeping mats

‘Not a bad haul!’ I thought and immediately called my dancing buddy Kel to sort out a plan of attack. After much too-ing and fro-ing we decided to go only on the Friday night, as I had just returned from Benicassim, Spain and my body and wallet were feeling the effects.

Friday finally arrived, as did the 3-carriage peak hour train to Stratford-upon- Avon, so we crammed ourselves on with 5000 others and set about our adventure. A packed train and one empty double decker shuttle bus later and we were at Long Marston Air Field, collected our VIP tickets, tent and sleeping bags (no mats, disappointing – and an early warning of what was to come…) and head to the VIP entrance.

To this day I have no idea what VIP meant in relation to these tickets. On paper they touted a VIP camping area, clean showers and toilets, plus a bar, food and Jacuzzi area. However these VIP tickets were also available to the public for an extra 100GBP, meaning the majority of festivalgoers were ‘VIP’. Entry was speedy and hassle free – most of the folk arriving through the normal gates were being searched in a manner akin to someone with a bomb strapped to them going through LAX. The whole procedure looked highly unpleasant and I was glad we coasted through… Coasted through to a VIP Camping Area that had more people squeezed into it than the train we rode in on.

VIP entailed being crammed into an overcrowded unorganised mess of tents with one stable-like communal shower tent and a few white cubical loo’s that became as bad as a port-a-loo after a few uses. The chill out bar and food area were OK and did feature a Jacuzzi however all were situated outside and soon became uninviting as the freezing night air drifted in.

We arrived late due to work commitments and had the foresight to borrow a friends pop up tent to avoid erecting a new and unknown tent in the dark. Once camp was set up we ventured into a festival site consisting of a small and terrible sounding main stage, a selection of club arena tents (God’s Kitchen and the like) and a brightly fluorescent, incredibly scary set of carnival rides in the middle. Throw in some loos, a sad excuse for a chill out area and a chew-and-spew food alley and that was it. No theme, no vibe and a fun park so evil I was waiting for Tim Curry a la clown-from-It to jump out at any moment.

Upon exploration we found most of the tents empty bar God’s Kitchen which had a great set up and light show but techno trance just ain’t my thang. The acts I wanted to catch (Prodigy, Pendulum, Stanton Warriors, DJ Yoda to name a few) were in massive tents that were half full, devoid of any atmosphere and – possibly due to the aforementioned – played mediocre to terrible sets. Determined to have a good time Kel and I circled the site numerous times, checked VIP for signs of life – of which there were none – then circled and circled again. Retiring to our tent at 2am, the curfew time for the Friday night, the verdict was all too grim.

With a sight too large and tents way too big for the amount of punters Global Gathering was an empty shell of hopeless vibeless dance music trying to recapture the heady club days of the early 90’s and failing miserably. Maybe the Saturday was better as it was more Drum and Bass oriented – I hope so. Congratulations to God’s Kitchen for having the only constantly pumping tent during the Friday night, a great testament to their staying power. The sad fact remains, and Kelly and I agree, the best thing about Global Gathering was the relish on our midnight snack hamburger.