Wolf Alice, Tues 11 March, Latitude 30, Austin, SXSW 2014

There was a real sense of excitement as Wolf Alice set up, bringing out huge boards of pedals, crunching guitars and pounding drums. During the set there were people filling the street outside Latitude 30, and afterwards there was a real sensation of having seen something special at the opening of the festival.

The sound check seemed to show the band cared about how they were going to sound, but without being too precious or antsy with the sound crew, which seemed to bode well for the set. When they launched into the first song, with grungey guitars and metal-influenced palm muting, they created a sound akin to Pavement or a more textured Hole or L7.

They played straight through most of the set so that it was not clear where one song ended and the next started, which worked really well, and there was great singing from the whole band, especially a top-notch falsetto from the drummer. He was really great throughout the set and seemed to be the centre of many of the songs and driving the songs dynamics and shifts.

The band created a real range of sounds using effects pedals, some really effective structural dynamics in the songs, and some jumpy and skitterish rhythms. It was refreshing to hear a new band create a wide range of atmospheres without changing instruments every other song.

When the band played "Bros" 10 minutes into the set, they created a great pop moment in the middle of their rocking-out set. Their less grungey song about "punch drunk love" created an enveloping cloud of sound with ethereal vocals. It different from their heavier sounding stuff and promising of being more than a one trick pony.

What a great start to SXSW 2014!

Other SXSW 2014 show reviews from Broken Biscuit Records:
Pins
Two Cow Garage
Jesse Malin
Sweet Baboo
Family Folk Revival

Sweet Baboo, Latitude 30, Austin Tx, Tuesday 11 March

The Sweet Baboo frontman's solo set featured some touching love songs. Without the band to accompany him, he filled by explaining to the audience where the band would have come in. 

Apparently one of the songs would have sounded like Prince with the full band. A mid-set song opened with some off the wall lyrics about ladybirds which turned into a moving declaration of love.

Another song that set homespun emotion in the context of wanting to stay at home the whole time and play northern soul songs to his lover was a favourite in the set. 

The singer acknowledged that a couple of the references to Finlay Quaye and caravanning in Northumberland would be lost on the audience but the emotional final song touched the audience.

Other SXSW 2014 show reviews from Broken Biscuit Records:
Wolf Alice
Pins 
Two Cow Garage
Jesse Malin 
Sweet Baboo
Family Folk Revival

Withered Hand, Lexington, London, 10 Jan 2014

Opening with tales of toenails lost on a waterslide, some REM-tastic mandolin, a brave stand-in drummer and no bass, Withered Hand painted pictures with words. 

Highlights of their bouncy, lyrical rock and roll included Black Tambourine,  new song California and a rousing Religious Songs.

The crowd were really on the band's side as they apologised for delays between songs and extended the set several songs after the intended finish. A fun and emotionally engaging set.

Spook School, Lexington, London, 10 Jan 2014

Ragged but brilliant, with a looseness akin to Los Campesinos. 

Enthusiastic high jinks and energetic, scuzzy guitar pop. Charmingly shambolic, with high jinx and great freeform witty banter from the drummer. 

Veronica Falls, The Dome, Tufnall Park, London, 23 October 2013

Veronica Falls played an accomplished and engaging set. They rattled through favourites and new material and kept the rather international audience enthralled.

The band's sound mixed melodic harmonies with a more scuzzy indie rock vibe with a pop sensibility. The lyrics are worth a listen too, quite dark at times but also witty. 

While they were playing we kept a note of where we thought we could spot musical nods, parallels or heritage. It is a tribute to the band that they have a tight, uniform sound throughout and at the same time got us thinking of early Blur, baggy, Depeche Mode, the Housemartins, Orange Juice and Teenage Fanclub.

Top notch music and an enjoyable show.

Bleached, Dome, Tufnell Park, London, 23 Oct 2013

Bleached played a fantastic rocking show. They were really tight and hammered through a well-structured set. 

The band connected brilliantly with the audience who really got into the show. 

Their playing was really finely honed throughout, but four or five songs really stood out, including a magnificent Dead in the Head and When I Was Yours, which they closed with, and really rocked out on.

Look forward to seeing them again before too long.

Theme Park, Scala, 13 Oct 2013

Fantastic performance brought the sunshine inside and got the audience dancing on a chilly Tuesday night.

The band sounded great and played really well, with punchy bass and Nile Rogers guitars. The set list worked really well too, with a quality cover of Jessie Ware's Wildest Moments and a strong run at the end of the set.

The dramatic ending to Blind made us remember how great a clattering finale with everyone joining in to pound drums can be. It seems to have been overdone so much in recent years, but Theme Park showed how it should be done.

Night Engine, Scala, London, 15 Oct 2013

Eighties-influenced pop, with some funky basslines. A couple of real stand out tracks and some nice dynamics at times.

Fanfarlo, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, 1 October

A high octane evening to celebrate the band's new EP opened with The Sea. Fanfarlo's set showcased their accomplished musicianship, but not at the expense of an up tempo and thoroughly enjoyable set. The violin was classy, and we loved the trumpet and sax. 

The band's multi-instrumental songs which managed to conjure 80s alt-pop, rock and a bit of folk together with some beautiful harmonies put us in mind of the Delgados overall. Their versatility, tightness and spark as a band meant they didn't stop there.

The guitars were ditched to perform the the second track on the EP. This had a really danceable beat and made us feel a bit Talking Heads.

Fanfarlo hammered through their set. They got the funk for an unlikely love song about having a cold and whipped up the crowd for a cover if Orange Juice's Rip It Up. 

The evening finished with a not at all surprise encore. Fanfarlo and the audience seemed thoroughly elated.

Pale Seas, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, 1 October 2013

Melodic, jangly rock, driven by the lead singer's acoustic guitar and quite reminiscent of late 80s US college radio sounds. There were nice harmonies between lead singer and girl drummer. They also have a bit of a secret weapon in the bassist doubling up on keys and effects.

They  had a well prepared set list and strong transitions between songs which worked really well.

The way the last song really built to create an enveloping sound of first vocals then instrumentals was really good. A bit reminiscent of Carwash Hair-era Mercury Rev at times and of Mona at others. It would be great to hear some more of their material.