|
|
PLAYING OUT LOUD!
ARTICLES
GIG OF THE MONTH
THE PHANTOM BAND, RAILWAY INN, WINCHESTER – TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 24
 The
Phantom Band come to Winchester with their brand new debut album Checkmate
Savage which was released last month.
“Over-population, dwindling natural resources and the yawning void within every
one of us caused by society's unnatural social contracts and mass sexual
repression means one thing: its checkmate for the human animal.”
So say The Phantom Band, with an invisible tongue firmly in an invisible cheek
and if the sibylline verdict delivered by this mysterious Pan-Scottish sextet
leans towards the dark side, then at least they’ve had the good grace to supply
us with a fitting soundtrack for our spiral into the void. All universal matter
can converge in a black hole – Checkmate Savage is where Beefheart meets Bonnie
'Prince' Billy and where Neu! meets Nick Cave.
The album was recorded in the band's adopted home city of Glasgow, beginning at
Chemikal Underground's Chem 19 and finishing at Franz Ferdinand's own facility
at an old Town Hall in Govan. Paul Savage of cult Glasgow band The Delgados
served as producer, engineer and guiding force. The recording sessions were like
their early jams: long, meandering and experimental; the band beating out
rhythms on broken wood blocks and organist Andy's 'shelvaphones', a home-made
instrument created from metal shelf brackets.
“When you have been playing together for a good while you'd be amazed at the
breadth of music you come up with. We ended up playing stuff that was folk, pop,
techno with guitars, classic rock, metal, noise terrorism, gospel, soundscapes
and parodied every band that we hated as well - it was great fun,” says bassist
Gerry of their prolonged sessions. The Phantom Band is a dionysiac of six people
trying with all their might to pull in six very different directions; studio
arguments were heated and personal.
The end result however is truly special, bringing to mind the beat savvy of The
Beta Band, the other-worldliness of Super Furry Animals and the mood of Hallowed
Ground-era Violent Femmes.
If it sounds like they're hard to pin down in words, then that's the idea. They
took to calling themselves The Phantom Band after a period of switching their
identity with each successive gig, performing as Wooden Trees, Robert Redford
and more. Early photos of the band pictured them with bags over their heads.
It's all part of their mystery and sense of the bizarre: some shows have seen
them play with a giant, smoke breathing wolf head, others, with a Stairmaster
onstage so audience members can work-out during their set.
In addition to The Phantom Band, the individual members each make music in other
projects and guises, some better known than others. A few of them have an
offshoot band called Omnivore Demon, a costumed improv group that play mostly at
exhibitions and art events while Rick does solo folk stuff under the name of
Rick Redbeard. Each Phantom brings a strong sense of identity to the project,
counting artists, social workers, librarians and lawyers in their ranks. Never
short of ideas and opinions, the entire band take a key interest in the album
artwork, posters and onstage visuals that all add to this extraordinary band’s
immersive world.
BELLOWHEAD, THE BROOK, SOUTHAMPTON – THURSDAY FEBRUARY
19
 This
11-piece folk big band are going to pack the stage and the venue when they play
there later this month. In the last three years Bellowhead have exploded onto
the festival scene and have become one of the most talked about bands on the
folk circuit.
The rousing, sharp-suited band were first unleashed on an unsuspecting audience
at the Oxford Festival in 2004, brought together by the award-winning duo Spiers
and Boden. Their plan was to gather a collective of disparate musicians into a
group capable of playing many styles, idioms and textures from around the world
big band to soul, jazz-funk to classical strings, yet retaining at its’ heart a
sensitivity to the essence of English traditional music.
The band was an instant success and within a few months was voted Best Live
Group in the 2005 BBC Folk Awards. The following year saw the release of their
debut album Burlesque, a groundbreaking album which received critical and
popular acclaim. On a roll now, Bellowhead picked up two more awards in the 2007
BBC Folk Awards – Best Group and Best Live Band.
After livening up proceedings with a show-stealing performance at the reopening
of London’s Royal Festival Hall, the band spent the rest of 2007 honing the
ever-increasing theatricality of their euphoric live shows touring the UK and
playing major festivals including The Big Chill, Glastonbury and Womad. 2008 was
another good year for Bellowhead who picked up Best Live Band at the BBC Folk
Awards for the third time in a row, toured the UK and Canada and played a host
of top festivals.
Bellowhead’s second album Matachin was released in July of last year with
reviews once again unanimous in their praise.
CHRIS HELME, THE CELLARS AT EASTNEY,
SOUTHSEA – SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21
 Exciting
young singer songwriter Chris Helme cut his teeth as lead singer with the
legendary 'Seahorses' and is now hitting the road with his new songs.
Chris was catapulted to stardom when his first band, the Seahorses saw their
1997 debut album 'Do it Yourself' (Geffen) reach Number 1. The album was
followed by four successful singles, 'Love is the Law,' 'Blinded by the Sun,' ‘
Love Me and Leave Me,’ and ‘You Can Talk to Me.’ After 3 years of intensive
touring, living the rock ‘n roll dream, playing major festivals and supporting
rock giants such as The Rolling Stones, U2, Oasis and Beck, the Seahorses went
their different ways.
Over the next few years, Chris continued to write songs and perform as a solo
artist. Then in 2002 he formed 'The Yards' with Seahorse's bassist Stuart
Fletcher, they were joined by Chris Farrell (Guitar), Jon Hargreaves
(Keyboards/Vocals) and John Miller (Drums). The Yards eponymous self titled
debut album (on Snapper) received much critical acclaim and their second album ‘Sesquipedalianism’’,
was released by Industrial Erotica in 2008.
Chris’s voice has matured since the heady pop days of The Seahorses to become
even more powerful and heartfelt. He writes songs that are beautifully
ambiguous, yet charming and insightful. The lyrics respect the majesty of
seventies troubadours such as Townes Van Zant, Neil Young and Tim Buckley, but
which are nevertheless framed within a 21st century realism.
Spring 2008 saw the release of ‘Ashes’, Chris’s long-awaited first solo album.
Taking a ‘back to basics’ approach and recorded on his trusty, dusty old
four-track tape recorder with just a Jack D for company, Chris has captured the
spirit of his stunning live performances with a gritty honesty and passion
rarely seen these days. ‘It’s a simple affair really, just vocals and guitar
with perhaps a shimmer of strings or percussion.’
MOISHE’S BAGEL, WILTSHIRE MUSIC CENTRE,
BRADFORD-UPON-AVON – WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11 & ASHCROFT ARTS CENTRE, FAREHAM –
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13
 Rip-roaring,
foot-stomping, jazz-inflected klezmer and Balkan music is the speciality of
Moishe’s Bagel whose lineup includes some of Scotland’s finest musicians.
Formed in Edinburgh in 2003, Moishe’s Bagel combines the energy and passion of
Eastern European folk music with the excitement and soul of improvisation.
Boasting some of the best instrumentalists that Scotland has to offer (Salsa
Celtica, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Celtic Feet, Scottish National Jazz
Orchestra), you are just as likely to see them jamming in a late night jazz den,
grooving at a forest festival, or enthralling an upmarket concert hall.
Everything began when four of the band members met in a local tango outfit. With
the recruiting of a percussion wizard to give a new twist to the klezmer/Balkan
groove, the line up found an unbeatable mix. Not too concerned with authenticity
(there are enough people doing that already), they let the interaction of their
individual musical personalities create their own style; a sound that mixes
klezmer, folk dance, jazz, eastern percussion and more, topped off with dazzling
musicality and classical rigour. The result is a band which has the excitement
of occasional improvisation, with an energy that keeps the music highly
danceable, and visually and aurally exciting.
Moishe’s Bagel has toured England, Scotland, Ireland and Eastern Europe.
Festival performances have included The Larmer Tree Festival, Sessiwn Fawr,
Belfast Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Sheep Music, Orkney St Magnus Festival,
The Small Nations Festival, Islay Jazz Festival and many more, including
sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival and the Famous Spiegeltent on the
Edinburgh Fringe.
PAUL LAMB & THE KINGSNAKES, THOMAS
TRIPP LATE N’ LIVE, CHRISTCHURCH – SAT FEBRUARY 28
 Hailed
by aficionados and music press around the world as Europe’s foremost blues
harmonica exponent, Paul Lamb has forged himself a place in the history books as
one of the greatest players of our time. He has won countless awards, sold
record-breaking quantities of albums, and performed the world over with his
long-standing musical compatriots, The Kingsnakes. Recently inducted into the
British Blues Awards Hall Of Fame (alongside the likes of Peter Green, John
Mayall & Alexis Korner), Lamb still continues to bring his infectious brand of
soulful blues to a plethora of fans around the globe…
Born in Newcastle in 1955, Paul began his career at the tender age of 15.
Struggling against the tide of local unemployment and economic depression, he
took to the road working the club scene around the UK, paying his dues in the
time-honoured tradition of the blues. Within a short time he was representing
Great Britain in the World Harmonica Championships, leading to a spell of
working with his mentor, Sonny Terry. He went on to perform with Buddy Guy,
Junior Wells, Brownie McGhee, and countless other blues greats who had
originally inspired him.
However, the need to write and express his own music soon gave birth to the
Blues Burglars, the first incarnation of the Kingsnakes. The Burglars released
the album “Whoopin” and Lamb swiftly became known in his own right due to the
huge critical acclaim that accompanied the release. As the young harmonica
virtuoso became more focused and confident of his abilities, a new band line-up
became an inevitability, and Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes were born. Signing to
Ace Records in 1991, Paul & his band went on to take the blues world by storm
with a gruelling tour schedule in support of their Ace debut “Paul Lamb & The
Kingsnakes.” The band have since released another five albums, which went on to
secure Paul Lamb’s reputation internationally as a one-of-a-kind bluesman, as
did the heavy tour schedules that the Kingsnakes to this day, still happily
endure (approximately 290 dates a year!).
Paul is joined in The Kingsnakes by some superb musicians – vocalist and rhythm
guitarist Chad Strentz, bass player Rod Demick, Paul’s son Ryan who plays
guitar, and Sonny Below on drums.
LE VENT DU NORD, TURNER SIMS CONCERT
HALL, SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY – SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7
 A
treat for folk music fans has been arranged in association with the city’s
famous Fo’c’sle Folk Club, an appearance by Quebec quartet Le Vent Du Nord.
In a mere seven years since their inception the group have captivated audiences
all over the world with their consummate musicianship and boundless joie de
vivre. The group’s first album “Maudite Moisson!” was awarded the Juno for
Traditional Album of the Year in 2004, and was nominated for the same award by
ADISQ. Their second album “Les Amants Du Saint-Laurent” was also nominated by
ADISQ in 2005 in addition to being chosen Album Of The Year at the Canadian Folk
Music Awards.
2005 was also the year that saw the group named North American Traditional
Artist of the Year in Austin, Texas. Their show was nominated for an OPUS award
and was named as Show Of The Year by the American radio-concert series “Bound
For Glory.” The group also appeared on the Top Ten charts of a number of
Canadian radio stations and No 5 on BBC Radio 3 ahead of such artists as Yousso
N’Dour and Peter Gabriel.
The band is made up of some fine musicians: Simon Beaudry on vocals and guitar,
Nicolas Boulerice on hurdy gurdy, accordion, bodrhan, piano and vocals, Olivier
Demers on fiddle guitar, vocals and foot percussion and Rejean Brunet on
accordion.
Looking for a different Article?
Click here for our archive |
Featured artists:
see POL Articles
THE PHANTOM BAND
RAILWAY INN WINCHESTER
TUES FEBRUARY 24
BELLOWHEAD
THE BROOK SOUTHAMPTON THUR FEBRUARY 19
CHRIS HELME
THE CELLARS
AT EASTNEY SOUTHSEA
SAT FEBRUARY 21
MOISHE’S BAGEL WILTSHIRE MUSIC CENTRE,
BRADFORD-
UPON-AVON
WED FEBRUARY 11 &
ASHCROFT
ARTS CENTRE
FAREHAM
FRI FEBRUARY 13
PAUL LAMB & THE KINGSNAKES THOMAS TRIPP
LATE N’ LIVE, CHRISTCHURCH
SAT FEBRUARY 28
LE VENT DU NORD TURNER SIMS CONCERT HALL,
SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY
SAT FEBRUARY 7 |
|
