‘Live Reviews’ Articles
Written by martyn foster on 04 May 2010
Iggy and the Stooges perform Raw Power
Now most artists who have been around for a while mellow and love to relive their past glory, the nostalgia tour and reforming the Stooges with James Williamson on guitar could have so easily been that ” a bunch of guys reliving their youth “ apart from one thing.
This is the Stooges with Williamson on board they are tonight something else visceral aggression and energy playing tracks from Raw Power you are reminded of what gave birth to Punk, and for all it posturing it was only a pale imitation of its ultimate creators.
At 63 Iggy is still the ultimate showman a kind of primal force on stage delivering increditably dark lyrics whilst pushing himself to the limit , his retirement from stage diving is rather on hold it seems no gentle slowing down here, for tonight was an all out assault on what live music has become.
It could be considered strange that the band that started in some respects punk and garage rock is still its crowning glory, or it could be really highlights most modern bands desire not to upset a middle of the road audience, not the case here as in the latter stages of the bands set they rip into open up and bleed and cock in my pocket and death trip, which marked the decline of the band in the seventies now they stand as vindication.
Clear highlights from tonight are search and destroy which show Williamson guitar playing at its best with his shear speed of attack in the Solo, but to pick just one moment is unfair this was quite simply the band at their best and Iggy too, audience stage invasions, stage diving and beer too a perfect gig for perfect band renewed.
If you get the chance to see the band do as the opportunity may not come around again
10/10 Iggy and the Stooges Raw Power one of the best gigs ever
Tags: iggy and the stooges, iggy pop, live review, livereviews, Music, reviews
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Written by martyn foster on 30 March 2010
Paloma Faith o2 Oxford
Now we aren’t saying Paloma Faith isn’t a gifted singer far from it, but like a lot of Artists they strike you as being over produced which seems to becoming increasingly common amongst female performers.
This evening at the rather initimate o2 Academy Oxford was our chance to see if Paloma Faith is all hype or if there is real substance behind it, I am glad to say there is some real substance behind the image she and the band played a blinding set at what was a hot and sweaty venue .
The set piece songs Stone Cold Sober and New York were there which wouldn’t fail to please the crowd, however its the remixes which showed that the band can do something very few bands can do today which is put on a true show.
This is something amazingly Paloma Faith managed to do in what was a cramped hot and sweaty venue, through the costume changes from bizzare bunny girl to sophisticate jazz club performer and changes in tempo and style you got told a story and be entertained at the same time.
One of the things that sticks from the performance was the vocal ability of Paloma
Faith not just in the notes sung but also in the emotional integrity of the vocal exhibited in the more jazz styled numbers
It was also surprising how heavy some of the songs were given the perception one has of Paloma Faith being slightly whimsical in a style similar to Lily Allen, all similarities end there with the remixes giving her backing band permission to go nuts sounding like the love child of Hendrix and sly and the family stone.
Its not often you can get a crowd to react to a request to sing or dance in unison but that’s what they managed in a cramped sweaty venue
It was these seemingly impromptu moments which made the evening what it was simply one of the best concert experiences and one we would recommend.
Paloma Faith simply one of the best performers of her generation 10/10
Paloma Faith o2 Academy Oxford
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Paloma Faith o2 Academy Oxford
Tags: live review, livereviews, Music, o2 academy, Paloma Faith, reviews, Tour
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Written by martyn foster on 29 March 2010
Kassidy Barfly
Following our interview with Kassidy we had the chance to catch their live set at the Barfly Camden to see how they performed in front of a live audience and see if they could match what we have heard from the Rubbergum E.P and extracts from the New Album.
This wasn’t probably the best place to see them, a cold wet Thursday in Camden a day before pay day is never going to lend itself a packed out venue saying that the place was comfortably busy on the night.
At 9:30 the band came on after a short soundcheck in a four abreast line up, this wasn’t down to the compactness of the stage but as a matter of choice the band have this gang of gunslingers thing going on, which accounts for the play on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid thing with the name that said it works very well for them and comes into play as they kick into the first song.
What you hear is a complete suprise, for a live performance the band have nailed their three part harmony spot on and with the layering of the guitars over the top from the outset this sets them apart from every other band out there at the moment, for there is such a clarity in both the vocal and guitar performance it takes you back.
In affect you’d have to go back to the likes of Crosby Stills and Nash to experience something similar, but its not that simple this isn’t folk rock its comes across as having a dirtier sound too it a little more raw.
That is what makes this performance unique its the blend of harmony and grittiness the band achieve on each song they perform throughout the set, for a band that has only been together for two years the performance is stunning.
The only thing we can hope for this band is that they start to play venues their ability is suited to, for it would be a shame for them to stick to small venues they deserve better.
In the meantime it would be recommended to catch them now whilst you can see them up close in an intimate venue for those days won’t last long.
Kassidy Barfly London questionable venue but a truly stellar performance 9/10
Tags: Barfly, Kassidy, live review, livereviews, Music, News
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Written by martyn foster on 18 March 2010
The Fun Lovin Criminals tonight returned to another old stomping ground KOKO in Camden performing to a sell out crowd the venue being so full you couldn’t hardly move, some were old fans from when they first broke in the UK way back in the dim and distant past some new converts to the former Brooklyn residents thanks to their new album Classic Fantastic.
Whilst others really came a long to see if they lived up to our memories of their early glory days before the drawn out legal fight with their former manager which sadly left them absent over the last few years.
In reality there was no need to fear Huey Morgan and co delivered and then some, in a performance marked by the bands very open style you could have been forgiven for thinking that they were holding court which in some cases they were.
The band played material from the new album which was well received although softer in some respects than the bands previous work , it still had the charm of classic FLC albums a blend of rock funk and just a little bit of rap wrapped up in a rather attractive package.
The thing that stood out was the musicianship displayed by FLC from Huey Morgan’s very open guitar playing to the horn section everything was how it should be, this was certainly apparent when the band played some of the classic tracks.
The underpinnings might have been the same but each track had slight alterations which has kept them fresh unlike other bands with a glorious past this is a group which is very much a live and long may they be so given tonight’s performance.
Fun Lovin Criminals at KOKO a group resurgent 9/10
Fun Lovin Criminals
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fun lovin criminals at koko camden london
Tags: albumreviews, Camden, FLC, fun lovin criminals, Huey Morgan, KOKO, live review, livereviews, Music, reviews
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Written by martyn foster on 15 March 2010
Joss Stone at the shepherds bush empire 11-03-2010
This was her only true UK date on her tour and it was a pleasure to see her back here again as in some respects she has been absent for too long from these shores, with the sometimes founded complaint levelled against her that she has become more middle of the road with less of an edge.
This has seen singers like Duffy come in and take her crown of late regardless of your view point on that subject matter this performance was a masterclass in
why in many peoples eyes Joss is still rated as one of the best singers we have produced in recent years, for this was a low key performance no costume changes no 1500 dancers just a relaxed singer and her band from what could be seen just having a great time on stage and the audience loved it and why shouldn’t they as they were treated with what was in many respects a consummate performance.
Although it held no real surprises in the set list and arrangements of what in many cases are standards this only really plays to Joss Stone’s strength in terms of vocal ability and the emotion she can get into what is essentially a rather flat lyric.
Is this what it is to be middle of the road then that can’t in this case be a bad place to be , as in the Soul R n B Jazz genre’s that is how you become a rock solid international artist no rapid burnout but a true year on year performer.
That is what Joss Stone is now about and really what tonight’s performance demonstrated with out doubt, can you find more experimental artists yes but you won’t find many people better.
Joss Stone at the Shepherds Bush Empire consummate performance in a low key style.
10/10
Joss Stone at the shepherds bush empire
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Joss Stone at the shepherds bush empire
Tags: Breaking News, Joss Stone, live review, livereviews, Music, Tour
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Written by martyn foster on 15 March 2010
Emilie Autumn at the o2 Academy Islington
This was the colmination of the UK leg of her European tour and it showed in its sheer entertainment value not just because of the stage performance but also how up the audience was for it for what is a truly unique show.
In that it is really hard to pin down Emilie Autumn as her stage performance is not just that of a very talented musician and singer but also that of circus ringmaster come burlesque performer, along with VK and the captain it adds to the sense of theatre which is sadly lacking in the goth genre.
not that you could call EA true goth its a little bit too rocky horror for that, which is never a bad thing.
The set itself was built around the set pieces of art of suicide unlaced and thank god I’m pretty as well as misery, so this really held no surprises but as said before the music is only a part of the package here.
EA show is so much more than that, its about freedom, abandonment and tongue in cheek entertainment and really as such can’t be faulted, it is only a shame EA is still held in the what could be considered in this country the goth culture and hasn’t experienced more mainstream success which from tonight’s performance is clearly deserved .
Then again it could be considered a good thing that Emilie Autumn performances are under most peoples radar a happy privallege for those in on the secret
EA one of the most entertaining performers out there today and as such shouldn’t be missed.
9/10
Tags: Emilie Autumn, live review, livereviews, reviews, Tour
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Written by martyn foster on 03 March 2010
Tiffany Page Camden Roundhouse
Tiffany Page is and artist who’s struck it lucky landing the support slot on the current Noisettes tour, signed to the same Mercury label she is about to headline her own shows and from tonights performance they shouldn’t be missed.
The songs from her debut album on Mercury were performed with a confidence and passion which won over the crowd at the roundhouse, refreshing in its vocal dominance with the delivery of classic breathy rock vocal over electro accoustic backing marking the band out as quite an intriguing combination
, which can never be a bad thing in an age of carbon copy bands Tiffany Page isn’t amongst them.
The bands sound has elements of no doubt and classic lou reed but this is not a critism of the band but a positive comment of their maturity as performers as they from this produced something that was distictively theirs in its sound in that the performance draws you into the music, which when its not your gig is a difficult thing to achieve but it was done here tonight.
We now wait for Tiffany Page’s own headline shows which will be later this month as then we’ll see if they deliver on the promise shown here tonight, if so then Mercury are going to have a great performer on there hands.
Tiffany Page a great performer in the making 8/10 we can’t wait to see more
Tags: Breaking News, live review, Music, News, tiffany page, Tour
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Written by martyn foster on 02 March 2010
Noisettes at the Camden Roundhouse 27/02/2010
This being the first night of the Noisettes stint at the Camden Roundhouse it couldn’t have been a better night for them in the venue, by the time they came on the place was packed which given the conditions outside went to show how much of a draw the Noisettes are now.
This is no surprise over the time we have followed them they have matured into a group who deserve their reputation as one of the best live acts around at the moment, if you ignore the songs they have which are being played out on commercials you find their live performances are a much richer experience and in parts much heavier and guitar driven .
That withstanding the vocal power of shingai easily keeps pace with this and with outfit changes mid set she’s certainly following the trend, but throughout all this that power and sense of fun is still there its only a suprise they haven’t been noticed moor.
Noisettes one of the great live music experiences
Noisettes playing the Camden Roundhouse
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Noisettes playing the Camden Roundhouse
Tags: Music, News, noisettes, singles
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Written by martyn foster on 01 February 2010
The Goldhawks played the Barfly as part of XFM’s exposure event a great opportunity for a band which is rapidly making a name for themselves as one of the brightest up and coming bands currently on the circuit.
That said we have to separate ourselves from the hype record companies construct around the bands they want to drive forward, in this case its easy to do the band stand by themselves with a stage presence and ability well beyond their years as a band who only formed relatively recently and named after a London street.
The set list tonight is fom their forthcoming album which is released on Vertigo and includes their previous singles as well as Where in the worldwhich is released on the 29th of march, if tonight’s performance is anything to go by it looks good for them as the Barfly isn’t a venue you take lightly.
The Barfly is its usual self hot cramped and as usual poorly lit and packed to the rafters with very drunk people who seem to dominate the place on a Saturday night, in other words a great place for a band to cut their teeth and this really is where Goldhawks show they are so far ahead of the game in that tonight they made it their stage not some shared stage as part of a XFM promoted package but theirs.
Their set captured the crowds attention which they have proved they are good at with catchy songs that still have enough energy to make it a fun evening for everyone whilst not being to guitar driven indie rock that they sound the same as a hundred other bands hoping to make an impact on what is a very competitive music scene.
That is something very difficult to do and as such its an amazing achievement and it can only be hoped that they do the same on the rest of the tour, if they can then not only are Goldhawks a band to watch they will also be one of the best live acts around and as such they have a chance of being around for a long while yet.
Goldhawks at the barfly camden
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Goldhawks at the Camden Barfly
Tags: goldhawks, live review, livereviews, Music, reviews, XFM
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Written by martyn foster on 24 January 2010
Brett Anderson’s return to the UK music scene has been a while coming and from tonight’s performance at the shepherd’s bush empire it was worth the wait although I am sure they’ll be a few people who’ll disagree with that statement .
The new material he performed along with his group showed a maturity which was lacking in previous outings, the whole feeling behind this was someone who has come to terms with themselves as a performer and that showed in how the audience reacted to the new material in that it was embraced.
In other words this was no nostalgia show this was someone who has something to say that they feel is fresh and new which is welcome when music can be derivative.
Overall in all aspects Brett Anderson did not disappoint whilst most of the material came from the new album there was enough old material to keep his original fans happy in other words like the performance it was well balanced although not with out passion.
Brett still has a passion for the melodramatic but that is acceptable compared to a performer who stands on stage like a plank this is all about performance and entertainment and that is what was delivered .
a great show and hopefully one of many to come .
brett anderson
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brett andersen shepherds bush empire
Tags: brett anderson, live review, livereviews, Music, shepherds bush empire
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Iggy and the Stooges perform Raw Power
