Tag Archives: Union Chapel

Gig Guide w/e Sunday 8th September 2013
2
Sep

How did it get to September again? Seriously? Quite a few bigger names starting to play the odd gig or even tour now that everybody’s back from their holidays. Here’s a few suggestions for some great live music entertainment this week, starting with the only “bigger name” I’m including this week!

Monday – Be Good Tanyas, Union Chapel

Alt.country royalty play the beautiful Union Chapel with its fine acoustics and all, ahead of their greatest hits collection which is released on September 24th in the UK if anyone wants to buy me an early Xmas prezzie.

Monday – Black Yaya – Hoxton Kitchen & Grill

Black Yaya is the offspring of rage and thunder. Black Yaya is anger and guile. Black Yaya is a merciless fight, and redemption songs.

Black Yaya is also David Ivar, frontman of Herman Dune, who seem to be getting in here on a weekly basis in various guises.

Tuesday – Splaaasshh – Rough Trade East instore (7pm)

OK then, Australia. You gots Tame Impala. But the Kiwis and Poms have joined forces to give you some serious competition in the dreamy psych-rock stakes. Ten quid or so gets you the album plus a ticket to this gig, which is the best value of the week in my book.

Tuesday – Heartless Bastards – Garage

Excellent classic garage rock stylings from Heartless Bastards. Imagine Black Keys only with more tuneage and (slightly) less riffage, and a frontwoman with the most powerful voice this side of Janis Joplin. Been waiting to see this lot for years, ever since I heard “The Mountain”.

I shall most assuredly see you down the front for this one.

Tuesday – Cayucas – 100 Club

Arse! I think I’m destined to never see this band live, there’s always a clash. Next time, Cayucas. Next time. If anyone reading this goes along, I want a full review please.

Wednesday – Drenge – Tipsy Bar

And guitar-based indie STILL REFUSES TO LAY DOWN AND DIE! Drenge are from Castleton, a lovely small town in the Peak District about thirty miles from Sheffield. Rawest thing to have a chance of chart-bothering action since the Arctic Monkeys, also from these parts (and with a cracking new album about to drop).

Thursday – Khalilah Rose – Hootannanny

For reggae singer Khalilah Rose, being in the music business is not about the pursuit of fortune and fame. This talented Rastafarian empress has no time to be caught up in the hype of the music biz, as she is more concerned about setting the standards for roots reggae music on a global level.

She is on a serious musical mission in the name of Rastafari to restore the genre to its past glory.
Rose joined the Rastafari faith in 2009, the following year she moved back to Jamaica, where she was discovered by Tanya Thelwell of UMI Records. Since then, her career has been growing from strength to strength.

To date, she has recorded a number of popular singles, most notable are her collaborations with other cultural reggae acts such as Unite and Be Strong, done with Turbulence, and Jah Is Living, featuring Lutan Fyah. Both songs are featured on her debut album titled Zion’s Lullaby, which was released on the Ackee & Dumplin imprint earlier this year. The 14-track album features production work from a number of top-flight musicians and producers, including Dean Fraser, Ed Robinson, Fifth Element Crew and Carl James.

Although Rose is not yet a household name in Jamaica, her music has spread far beyond the shores of her island home. As a result, she has made numerous appearances on events in Europe, Africa, Brazil, Israel and North America. The music video for her single titled Hail Him is currently enjoying strong rotation in South Africa.

Thursday – Hot Head Show – Garage

OK, if I say to you “blues-rock band” and “fronted by the son of Police drummer Stewart Copeland”, I bet you’re thinking “Nah, I’ll give them a miss”.

Seriously don’t. Raw as hell, and far more experimental and out there than anything Sting and the Boyz ever did.

Think about it. If the guy wanted to trade on his old fella’s name, he’d have gone under his own name, like the various Beatles and Zappa offspring do. This is the real deal.

Friday – 14 Iced Bears – Dublin Castle

Classic eighties Brighton indie band, now reformed and touring the hits, which is what all reformed old bands should do!

Sunday – Ringo Deathstarr, Lexington

Fans of the big buzzsaw guitar sound with lots of echo will love this band. Just a hint of something a bit more ethereal there to differentiate them from the Jesus And Mary Chain and The Raveonettes. All three bands are great, you understand.

That’ll do for now I reckon. Same time next week. Me, I shall be sampling a bit of Heartless Bastards and Splaaassh on Tuesday with some sweet reggae at the Hootannanny on Thursday courtesy of Khalilah Rose.

Sunday – Two Cow Garage – Windmill, Brixton

Gig Guide – w/e Sun 1st September 2013
26
Aug

Plenty of great live music on the capital this week as the best summer in years draws to a close (slowly we hope!)

Monday – Freddie McGregor, Hootannany, Brixton

Freddie McGregor has managed to dip a toe in every different flavour of Jamaican music, be it rocksteady or roots reggae, dancehall or dub. His biggest UK hit was “Just Don’t Wanna Be Lonely” which went To Ten back in 1987. Here’s a live clip of it from a couple of years ago – the man still has it!

Tuesday – Stanley Brinks & The Wave Pictures – Shacklewell Arms

Stanley Brinks is the current identity of André Herman Düne, formerly of the French folk rock band Herman Düne. He has recorded and played shows in Europe, the UK and the US under various other names such Ben Dope, Ben Haschish, Klaus Bong, John Trawling, Lord Stanislas.

Since leaving Herman Düne in December 2006 he has been championed by the likes of Jeffrey Lewis (who wrote a song about how Herman Düne were better when André was still in them) and in 2012 he collaborated with The Wave Pictures for their debut joint release. The follow up album is due to come out on Fika Recordings next year.

Stanley Brinks will be joined by The Wave Pictures as his backing band for this show. The Wave Pictures are David Tattersall, Franic Rozycki and Jonny “Huddersfield” Helm. Formed in 1998 when Franic and David lived in a village called Wymeswold, the band played with several drummers until Jonny became a permanent member in 2003 replacing Hugh J Noble. In the beginning the band learned to play together by covering Jonathan Richman songs.

Their new album, City Forgiveness, will be out in October on the Moshi Moshi label.

Tuesday – California X – Borderline

Punk power trio formed last year in Amherst, Massachusetts.. They wear their influences proudly – eighties indie rock like Dinosaur Jr and seventies metal a la Motorhead (one of them even appears to be called Lemmy). Expect them to rock the Borderline (and the Old Blue Last on Wednesday)

Wednesday – The Barr Brothers – Borderline

Breathtaking Canadian folk quarter. Check the playing on this.

Thursday – Frankie & The Heartstrings – Birthdays, Dalston

Sunderland’s FATH have been around a couple of years, crafting perfect indie pop songs that make you think of what might have been had Edwyn Collins and Kevin Rowland been in a band together. They’re excellent live as you can see here :

Thursday – Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra – Union Chapel

New Zealand’s cult music-comedy sensation the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra makes its London debut this summer with an unmissable show at Union Chapel, fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe.

If there were a Ukulele Orchestra Olympics, NZ’s team would be suspected of steroid abuse, with their high-octane solos, outrageous outfits, batty banter and unstoppable musical mischief. Joining forces seven years ago, these freaks of the four-string have become a cult favourite, causing a mad scramble for tickets wherever they go and sending audiences into a euphoric state.

Delighting crowds of all ages, the orchestra’s signature sound features ten ukuleles, a double bass and a choir of gorgeous voices performing harmonious and hilarious renditions of modern and traditional tunes. Their comedic wit is famously spontaneous, and when they burst into song, it could go either way – the sweet sounds can silence a room in a nanosecond, or bring a crowd of thousands to their feet.

This is their take on Kings Of Leon.

Friday – Violet Class – New Cross Inn

Sounding like the soundtrack to football in the 1970s, Violet Class are a proper guitar band, like Oasis. With killer riffs, like Oasis. And you can dance to them.

All door proceeds to the charity set up for Jon Brookes, the drummer with the Charlatans who sadly passed away a couple of weeks ago.

Saturday – Damien Jurado, Bush Hall

With its perfect acoustics, The Bush Hall should provide the ideal setting for Seattle indie singer-songwriter Damien Jurado, who released his tenth album last year.

Sunday – Los Pelos Rizos – Half Moon, Putney (13:00 – 16:00)

A couple of free gigs for Sunday, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

Los Pelos Rizos is London’s critically acclaimed Gypsy Funk band with their sound described as: “bursting with layers of eclectic energy wrapped in Latin rhythms”. Featuring violin, trumpet, guitars, mandolin, bass and cajon, they have a regular following, a residency at The Troubadour and played to jubilant audiences at The Edinburgh Festival. So come on down for a some Latin-fuelled Curly-haired Gypsy Funk!

Sunday – Diabel Cissokho – Hootannany, Brixton (evening)

Rootmaster presents a genuine musical genius from a long line of griots + long time kora player for Baaba Maal! Diabel Cissokho, from Senegal, toured internationally with his family’s band Bannaya leading to his stint as Baaba Maal’s kora player, as well as acclaimed musicians like Kandia Kouyate, Pee Wee Ellis, Nuru Kane, Daby Balde, Omar Pene and Abdou Diop. Now well established in the UK, Diabel’s virtuosic talent, his “resonant voice and rocking kora style” (Songlines), have been welcomed everywhere.

Should be something there for everybody, even metal fans.

See you down the front!

Gig Guide w/e 11th August 2013
5
Aug

“Describing a path of great live music through the aftermath of the short but marvellous London summer”

Thomas Dybdahl – St Pancras Old Church, Monday

Norwegian singer-songwriter who has drawn favourable comparisons to Tim Buckley.

Swim Deep – Rough Trade East instore, Tuesday

Plenty of buzz around this band who peddle a nice line in feelgood sixties-tinged indie.

If you order the superbly-titled new album “Where The Heaven Are We?”LP quick from Rough Trade you’ll get a free wristband for this instore which is sure to be packed, given that it’s the school holidays.

I love this band. They’re also doing Banquet Records in Kingston on Thursday.

Polyphonic Spree – Village Underground, Tuesday

Yes, It’s True! The band of a million members (maybe a few less than that) return to tour their new album. (you see what I did there?) If you can’t make it to the gig then you can watch the live stream here

An interesting move, which is becoming more common with bands at all levels of fame and experience.

Could be the way forward?

Josefin Winther – Rattlesnake Angel, Tuesday

Norwegian songwriter based in London. Haunting melodies with that Elsewhere quality, drawing comparisons to Patti Smith and PJ Harvey

Also playing an acoustic set at the Half Moon, Putney on Monday for the bargain price of £2.50. Car trouble is the only thing preventing me from attending that as as well. Damn you, Ford Focus. Damn you.

Tako Lako – Windmill, Thursday

Hailing from Denmark and Serbia, this seven-piece sound a bit like Gogol Bordello or Katzenjammer, but a bit less frenetic and perhaps more musical.

Stoneface Travellers – Boogaloo, Thursday

Classic Rock-styled three piece – and I’m talking about the swampy rock sounds of Free or Creedence rather than stadium, which is just fine by me. Sounds pretty authentic too (American drummer, duh!) . And the Boogaloo is a great venue. And you can park on the road nearby after 6pm.

This clip (shot at the Water Rats) gives you an idea (dodgy sound quality aside, which isn’t their fault)

Catfish And The Bottlemen – Koko, Friday

Biggest gig so far for Llandudno’s CATB, feted by Steve Lamacq and others, and rightly so. Last time I went to Koko I had to be restrained from lamping idiots taking selfies while Of Montreal were playing so be warned. Kids, eh?

Hannah White – Union Chapel, Friday

Excellent singer-songwriter in the Laura mould (more Viers than Marling to these ears).

This is “Flawless”. By which I mean, this is flawless.

Nice Peter – Bush Hall, Saturday

Comic / Guitar Heo / Youtube sensation. Best to watch this vid as it’s a bit hard to describe why he’s so great …

Azure Blue – Lexington, Sunday

Azure Blue, the third Scandinavian act featured this week, is the new solo project from Tobias Isaksson. His old bands Irene and Laurel Music attracted worldwide recognition, documented from The Allmusic Guide to the blogosphere, but this is a brand new start. With Azure Blue, Tobias has surpassed all his previous work. The whole process has been like watching a baby dolphin being born.

The name is a paraphrase of the title of Dennis Wilson’s timeless classic album “Pacific Ocean Blue”.

These ears hear lovely, understated old school indie sounds (circa Fac 39 or thereabouts)

I’m definitely going to be getting to a couple of these myself. See you down the front!