Saturday, 25 May 2013
Bat For Lashes, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
A really good show as the sun went down. The audience was held rapt during the quieter, slower numbers, especially a mesmerising Laura. When the more pulsating tracks came along everyone was shaking their stuff and the ladies were trying out their 'interpretative' dances from teenage years. A fun end to the daytime.
Local Natives, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
What a surprise. Everyone had been very tight-lipped about who the line-up's 'very special' guests were. There were rumours that Vampire Weekend might make an appearance. Quite a few members of the audience clearly recognised the band as they set their equipment up. People came rushing in as they'd obviously heard from their friends who was playing. We didn't immediately recognise them but a few songs in recognise songs we knew and were very excited. The set was really really fun. They played a run of songs of their first album which we knew well and many in the audience did too. The set was really well structured and built very effectively towards the end. The band seemed very excited to be playing and pleased with the turnout in the tent, especially given that the show hadn't been announced. They'd flown over from Barcelona that morning and said they were tired but very pleased to see so many people. It was a real joy and highlight of the day.
Kurt Vile and the Violators, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
They looked and sounded like a whole band of J. Mascises, quite 90s American rock, but more four to the floor than Dinosaur jr. On some of the songs the band had three guitarists and no bassist.They also had a big dollop of Lou Reed and 70s Dylan about them.
James Yorkston, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
James was backed by a five piece band (double bass, drums, violin, keyboard and a female vocalist) and played folky rock with a Celtic tinge. There were some good and really striking acapella sections with great harmonies, especially on the entirely acapella 'Tortoise regrets hare'. The crowd was pretty enthusiastic and grew steadily through the set. They played a lovely, soulful cover of Erasure's 'A Little Respect'. Then they played a run of three really great songs to close the set, ending with a really great wig out reminiscent of Wilco's 'Kidsmoke'.
Splashh, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
Psychedelic, baggy sounding with a nod to Field Day stalwart Tim Burgess's Charlatans in sound and appearance. Swirly keyboards. A sound to suit the welcome emergence of the sun.
CHVRCHES, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
Really enjoyable upbeat set. The band were playing to dozens times as many people as when we saw them IN Austin and seemed to be lapping up the audience's enthusiasm. Lots of people knew 'Recover' and it prompted waves of hands in the air dancing. A really uplifting and joyous set.
Feathers, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
All girl electro bassy Goldfrapp channeling Abba meets Erasure. The singer tries hard to generate a stage presence. For a band making music which should make people tap their feet, some of the other band members could look a little less bored. Fourth song was a stand out, and the band seemed to know it, seeming to lift themselves as they went into it. An enjoyable set.
Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs, Field Day, London, 25 May 2013
Enjoyable, loud early-90s-style rock. Band were tight and looked young, so may be one to watch out for as they develop.
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Beatles Tribute, Fri 15 March 2013, St David's Bethell Hall, SXSW 2013 (The Grammy Museum, Musical Milestones: 50 Years of the Beatles)
This was a really fantastic evening organised by the Grammy museum. A succession of artists took on two Beatles songs each to make their own and then moved off to allow the next artist their turn. A great way to experience so many musicians interpreting Beatles favourites.
The Dunwells took on Come Together and Norwegian Wood, with great harmonies and nice arrangements. Come Together was brooding and rumbling. Norwegian Wood took off into a hoedown in the second half.
Tori Kelly sang Blackbird, in a lovely rendition that made it sound like a Joni Mitchell song, and Eleanor Rigby, as a Chicago blues number.
Jovanotti sang Yesterday, in a spaghetti western style, and I Saw Her Standing There, in a rockabilly version, with both in Italian. He explained how big pop hits used to be translated into Italian, but that the Beatles never approved the translations of any of their songs, and the "translations" often bore no relation to the original words.
Ron Sexsmith covered Old Brown Shoe and Mother Nature's Son, which he'd rehearsed, and then Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, we he hadn't, but he'd been asked just before he came on if he could do three songs. For Lucy, he asked if we could help him out on the chorus.
La Santa Cecilia sang a great bluesy rock version of I Want You (She's So Heavy) and then a wonderful Strawberry Fields Forever, in Spanish and in a tango style, re-imagined and dedicated to people who work the land.
Andy Allo from Prince's New Power Generation sang Yesterday and a soulful version of Let It Be, then a new song of her own.
David Garza took on Julia, She Loves You and then Ron Sexsmith joined him for Here Comes The Sun, which they had just worked up in the dressing room.
Jenny O covered Paperback Writer b-side Rain and then I Will.
Pyramids, the OK-Go and He Say She Say supergroup, sang I'm So Tired, Dear Prudence and then their own Don't Go.
Alexandra and the Starlight Band ripped through glittery garage rock versions of Get Back and Dig A Pony.
Nina Diaz from Girl in a Coma took on Something and In My Life.
Tom Freund sang With A Little Help from My Friends, joined by David Garza, then his own song Collapsable Plans.
With the lyrics on his iPad Mini Luke Sital-Singh covered Honey Pie and did really great version of Girl, with delicate guitar picking and really powerful and touching vocals. He said that, rather than being brought up on The Beatles, he'd be brought up on Chris de Burgh, but that luckily Chris had covered Girl.
Steve Forbert sang great rock and roll versions of You Can't Do That and I'll Follow The Sun, and then his own song about imagining John and Paul meeting.
Blue Sky Riders, including Kenny Loggins, took on Nowhere Man and Help in a bluegrass country style and then a version of their own song Just Say Yes.
Delta Rae sang Oh Darling
Willie Nile spoke about visiting Paul McCartney and John Lennon's childhood houses. He was told about John's treehouse ("No one I think is in my tree...") and about the two of them singing in Paul's porch (or "vestibule" as Willie said). He sang Hard Day's Night and Anytime At All. He also told a sad story about lending guitar strings to John, who was recording in the same set of studios, on the night John was shot. He then closed the evening with a rabble-rousing version of Revolution.
The Dunwells took on Come Together and Norwegian Wood, with great harmonies and nice arrangements. Come Together was brooding and rumbling. Norwegian Wood took off into a hoedown in the second half.
Tori Kelly sang Blackbird, in a lovely rendition that made it sound like a Joni Mitchell song, and Eleanor Rigby, as a Chicago blues number.
Jovanotti sang Yesterday, in a spaghetti western style, and I Saw Her Standing There, in a rockabilly version, with both in Italian. He explained how big pop hits used to be translated into Italian, but that the Beatles never approved the translations of any of their songs, and the "translations" often bore no relation to the original words.
Ron Sexsmith covered Old Brown Shoe and Mother Nature's Son, which he'd rehearsed, and then Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, we he hadn't, but he'd been asked just before he came on if he could do three songs. For Lucy, he asked if we could help him out on the chorus.
La Santa Cecilia sang a great bluesy rock version of I Want You (She's So Heavy) and then a wonderful Strawberry Fields Forever, in Spanish and in a tango style, re-imagined and dedicated to people who work the land.
Andy Allo from Prince's New Power Generation sang Yesterday and a soulful version of Let It Be, then a new song of her own.
David Garza took on Julia, She Loves You and then Ron Sexsmith joined him for Here Comes The Sun, which they had just worked up in the dressing room.
Jenny O covered Paperback Writer b-side Rain and then I Will.
Pyramids, the OK-Go and He Say She Say supergroup, sang I'm So Tired, Dear Prudence and then their own Don't Go.
Alexandra and the Starlight Band ripped through glittery garage rock versions of Get Back and Dig A Pony.
Nina Diaz from Girl in a Coma took on Something and In My Life.
Tom Freund sang With A Little Help from My Friends, joined by David Garza, then his own song Collapsable Plans.
With the lyrics on his iPad Mini Luke Sital-Singh covered Honey Pie and did really great version of Girl, with delicate guitar picking and really powerful and touching vocals. He said that, rather than being brought up on The Beatles, he'd be brought up on Chris de Burgh, but that luckily Chris had covered Girl.
Steve Forbert sang great rock and roll versions of You Can't Do That and I'll Follow The Sun, and then his own song about imagining John and Paul meeting.
Blue Sky Riders, including Kenny Loggins, took on Nowhere Man and Help in a bluegrass country style and then a version of their own song Just Say Yes.
Delta Rae sang Oh Darling
Willie Nile spoke about visiting Paul McCartney and John Lennon's childhood houses. He was told about John's treehouse ("No one I think is in my tree...") and about the two of them singing in Paul's porch (or "vestibule" as Willie said). He sang Hard Day's Night and Anytime At All. He also told a sad story about lending guitar strings to John, who was recording in the same set of studios, on the night John was shot. He then closed the evening with a rabble-rousing version of Revolution.
Monday, 18 March 2013
David Wax Museum, Sat 16 March 2013, Victoria Room at Driscoll's, SXSW2013
David Wax Museum featured our first sighting of the donkey jaw onstage at SXSW, a percussion treat that is too often overlooked.
They played some great rousing tunes, with snatches of Spanish and Mexican rhythms and melodies, and made a big sound for the four of them. The band got some very tired feet dancing at close to 2am on the last night of SXSW, which is no mean feat, and really rocked at points, finishing with an brilliant Born With A Broken Heart.
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