Sunday 12 December 2010

Review: Jenny and Johnny, Luminaire, London UK, 10 December 2010


Top rock'n'indie pop. Now I understand the rave reviews. I've been enjoying the album and thinking 'Lemonheads and Juliana Hatfield' but this set rocked out. The set was full of energy – didn't hang about between songs and high pace. There's a back catalogue that we weren't aware of but like a lot.

For a new band you could see their experience they knew how to plan a set and performed it really well. Jenny has a great voice and they both were really good musicians without being showing.

Johnny's falsetto was impressive and it was good to see Jenny singing lead on so many of the tracks, rather than just doing backing.

The kind of group that make you want to buy a guitar and start a band.

Review: La Sera, Luminaire, London UK, 10 December 2010


A classic two-girl, boy-with-glasses-on-drums beat combo. They made us think of a slew of other girl-fronted bands with sweet voices over loud guitars: Veruca Salt, Blondie, Bettie Seveert, Madder Rose etc.

Vocals were quiet in the mix, but assume that was deliberate and it did work to make the sound more like a garage band.

Enjoyable pop songs. One which they said was available on 7-inch online and which they had to restart after blowing an amp was really good. Also solid cover of 'Dedicated To The One I Love'.

Thursday 2 December 2010

Review: Arcade Fire, The 02, London, UK, 1 December 2010

Seeing the Arcade Fire play an arena show felt slightly surreal. As they said themselves, they haven't had any hit singles, and hurdy gurdy and mandolin solos are hardly typical arena fare. Yet here were all 17,000 of us, braving transport chaos on a freezing night to see them. They have become an arena band by virtue of record sales and popularity, but without having to compromise their sound or show.

The set opened with real oomph, and a barnstorming Keep the Car Running about four songs in. There was then a more subdued run of songs from The Suburbs, after which the audience were asked to imagine they were at a real rock show for the set-closing run of classics (that should have been hits had they). I don't know whether it was because of audience reaction to it, or the band's familiarity with it, but the older material seemed to lift off in a way the newer songs didn't. Perhaps that will come with time.

We managed to grab a great spot right near the front, as the side of the floor was being kept clear, allowing people to walk right up to the front before the show started.

Overall, the show was a great improvement on their Neon Bible show at Ally Pally which felt rather hollow and had few of the peaks in this show (Keep the Car..., Wake Up... etc). With faith restored, it'll be exciting to see them next time they play in London. I suspect that, more than many bands, it'd be especially thrilling to see them in a theatre-style venue, so will definitely keep an eye out for any announcements about more intimate shows.