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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
REVIEWS
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NEW YORK DOLLS/MELODRAMAS – Talking Heads – Sunday 6th
December
 What have the
unlikely mix of Kiss, The Smiths, Blondie, Motley Crue and The Clash all got in
common? They, amongst many others, count New York Dolls amongst their
influences. The band that have since been identified as the missing link between
the Rolling Stones and the Sex Pistols came and went with just two studio albums
to their name in the early 1970s. Having exploded into a huge cult phenomenon
since initially reforming for a one-off show in 2004 at the request of none
other than Morrissey, they have recorded two albums of new material, toured
incessantly and generally seem to be having the time of their lives.
Tonight’s sell out crowd is representative of the intrigue and excitement that
their reformation has caused. In fact, it is highly unlikely that the Talking
Heads has ever played host to such a cross section of cultures and ages. Mods
and punks rub shoulders with Goths and Hells Angels, whilst there is also a fair
share of intrigued indie kids. Somewhat predictably there are also one or two
Morrissey style quiffs apparent as well.
With the crowd seemingly here to see ONLY the New York Dolls, it is a tough gig
for the most seasoned of support act, hence why Southampton band Melodramas
deserve to be lauded with the highest of praise. Chosen by none other than David
Johnansen himself to support the Dolls tonight, the energetic four piece come
out fighting and win over an initially suspicious crowd with a raucous set. The
punk tinged eccentricities of “Ewok” and “Elephant” are played with a confidence
that belies the backs against the wall nature of the gig and are greeted with a
warm appreciation. With a number of festival appearances and a superb EP under
their belt, 2009 has been a triumphant year for Melodramas. 2010 should see them
reach dizzying heights.
There is a celebratory feel in the air when David Johansen leads the New York
Dolls onto the stage. The emphasis is firmly on having a good time, to Hell with
the consequences. The title track off of the Dolls most recent album “Cause I
Sez So” is one of the finest, good time rock n roll tunes to emerge this year
and gets the crowd’s vocal chords warmed up for the classics to come.
“Jet Boy”, “Looking For A Kiss” and “Personality Crisis” are the kind of classic
feelgood tunes that deserve to be heard by the masses. Indeed the outpouring of
joy that these songs and this band provoke, is heartwarming to say the very
least. There is a brotherly love between Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain
which shines through in the banter they share with each other and this adds to
the already euphoric vibes.
It is little wonder that New York Dolls have influenced such a wide range of
great bands. On this evidence, they will continue to do so for many years to
come.
Paul Lane.
ANGRY BADGER RECORDS SHOWCASE NIGHT
The Visitors / Timshel / Kodiak Jack / Rivers Of Sound - Soul Cellar – Sunday
20th December
 For
a relatively young label, Angry Badger Records has come on in leaps and bounds
over a very short amount of time. Having been involved with some of the more
exciting bands from around the region, the future should be bright for the
Southampton based label.
Tonight’s show looks to bring the curtain down on 2009 in style and newest
recruits Rivers Of Sound make their Angry Badger Showcase debut in suitably
polished fashion. Their slightly gloomy mix of The Strokes’ garage sound and
Duran Duran’s pop sensibilities instantly likeable and sees them win plenty of
new friends this evening.
You know exactly what you will get with Kodiak Jack. A crashing whirlwind of
riffs and lung bursting vocals, it has to be said that The Jack can rock it with
the best of them. The Velvet Revolver style licks of “Bunny Girl” are played
with a filthy glee and “T.H.E.M.” is angry and damn good fun all at once.
 Timshel’s
set does not get off on the right foot with singer James Carey’s acoustic guitar
failing a late fitness test. The band therefore are forced to rethink their
entire set. Many bands would sulk and melt into the corner but Timshel seem to
almost thrive on the setback and rise to the occasion. Not only do they
reshuffle their whole 40 minute slot but they have the sheer audacity to cover
“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” from The Beatles’ White Album. Covering The
Beatles takes guts, covering a slightly lesser known throw away song by The
Beatles takes even more guts but covering a lesser known Beatles song when your
back’s already against the wall is possibly the bravest thing the band has done
all year! The set is a resounding success and with new EP “The Vagabond Cain”
turning heads already, Timshel are ready for the next step.
Bringing tonight’s Showcase to a climax are The Visitors. Their laid back brand
of acoustic Americana sees them surely on the periphery of greatness. Tonight’s
set is somewhat set back by one or two sound problems. The songs though are
still good enough to carry the band home. “Same Old Me” and “Around The World
And Back Again” are tuneful gems whilst the driving acoustic rock of “Promised
Land” brings the night to a barnstorming end.
Angry Badger Records’ success story carries over into the beginning of 2010 with
indie upstarts Moody Tuesday gaining the much coveted support slot with ex-Happy
Mondays man Bez’s new band Domino Bones. The gig takes place at Soul Cellar on
22nd January and promises to be the launchpad for another rollercoaster year in
the life of The Badger!
Paul Lane.
PAUL WELLER – Portsmouth Guildhall –
Tuesday 8th December
 It
must be tough being Paul Weller. Let’s face it. Everything the Great Man does
always comes under enormous scrutiny. Whether he’s releasing the most varied
album that’s been released by anyone in recent years- last year’s epic “22
Dreams” – or wearing new shoes, Weller provokes opinion with almost his every
move.
So when it comes to playing live, he has so many generations of fans to please.
There are the veteran Mods who are keen to relive The Jam’s heyday, The Style
Council romantics, those who stumbled across him on the back of the colossal
success of “Stanley Road” and a whole new generation of fans who have only
discovered him now following the continuous name checking he still enjoys from
bands such as The Enemy. Lesser men would crumble under the strain of having to
please such a cross section of followers. Not Weller….
He does serve up a mixed bag tonight, delighting hit hungry punters early on
with “Peacock Suit” and “From The Floorboards Up”. However tonight’s set is
heavily based around “22 Dreams”. The likes of “Echoes Round The Sun”, “All I
Wanna Do” and the title track are all outstanding Weller tracks, yet seem to
fall on deaf ears somewhat. The atmosphere is flat and predictably the loudest
cheers of the night are saved for The Jam moments - “Pretty Green”, “Start!” and
“Strange Town”.
Weller himself even notes the apathy towards the newer songs when introducing
brand new tune “Fast Car/Slow Traffic”. ‘Here’s a new song,’ he states in a
typically surly, almost confrontational manner. ‘I know it’s not always easy to
hear new songs but there we go!’ The song itself is one of the most urgent,
poppy things that Weller has written and clocks in at a fraction under two
minutes. Other tasters for next years “Wake Up The Nation” album are also given
an airing. “7 & 3 Is The Strikers Name” is a pleasing and intense wall of
psychedelic noise whilst “Pieces Of A Dream” is a disappointingly sluggish
dirge.
On the whole, the night is a mish mash of mesmerising highs and flat lows. There
are threatening bursts of greatness but an overwhelming sense of anti climax.
Despite this, we must take our hats off to Paul Weller.
After years of ignoring his glorious past, he is now acknowledging it and
drawing from it but strictly on his terms. Weller must be praised for always
looking forward. It would be too easy for someone with his quality and depth of
back catalogue to rest on his laurels and rattle out a greatest hits set on auto
pilot. Not a bit of it. Weller will always give his fanbase value for money by
playing what he believes in and therefore giving it everything he has got in the
honest, wholehearted fashion that has helped make him the English institution he
is today. As always, his next move will be well worth the wait.
Paul Lane.
CD Album Reviews
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TIMSHEL – “The Vagabond Cain”
 Timshel’s
first release through Angry Badger Records – “The Vagabond Cain” EP – captures
the live power of a band set for dizzying heights perfectly.
James Carey’s distinctively angry yet vulnerable growl is backed up by good,
honest meat and potatoes rock and roll with the virtuoso guitar playing of Jamie
Wilson ensuring not a single note is wasted. Imagine a really enraged version of
The Black Crowes and you’d be close to nailing Timshel’s sound.
The relentless onslaught of “Animal 2” stirs the soul and the driving acoustic
rock of “Tree Frog Song” is good, solid stuff. Pick of the bunch though is “We
Be Believed”. The mellow and melancholic verses soon give way to the screeching
guitars, crashing symbols and intense rage of the chorus, ensuring a mini epic
that is very special indeed.
For those about to rock, Timshel are an authentic and essential listen and are
testament to the quality control at Angry Badger Records. Exciting times lay
ahead for them both.
(“The Vagabond Cain” is now available from
www.iconic-culture.co.uk )
Paul Lane.
LITTLE RED – “Listen To”
 Little
Red are a 5 piece rock n roll band from Melbourne, Australia. Somewhat unfairly
pigeonholing themselves as Australia’s current “buzz” band, one listen to their
debut album suggests they have far more longevity than being here today and
forgotten tomorrow. Drawing upon a large array of iconic influences ranging from
Bob Dylan and early Elvis Presley through to Radiohead and Lou Reed, “Listen To”
demands that you do just that. It is a hugely enjoyable and entertaining album.
“Listen To” dispenses the pleasantries and bombards its way into your life with
the instantly lovable strut of “Coca Cola”, a song that confirms that you are
dealing with a band who know they are good at what they do and not in an overtly
arrogant way either.
The doo-wop stylings of “It’s Alright” and “Fool” are drenched head to toe in
Sam Cooke’s influence and could easily be part of the soundtrack to a 1950s teen
movie. “Waiting” goes completely the other way with a glamtastic riff and disco
influenced bassline that would not have been out of place on Franz Ferdinand’s
latest album. “Fight Song” – surely an ironic title? – is light and airy pop
gold and “She’s Not The Only One” has a deliciously raw, garage rock feel to it
that made The Strokes so cool.
This is good time rock n roll with one eye on the glorious past and one firmly
fixed on an even more glorious future. Little Red will prove in 2010 that they
are so much more than the current “buzz” band.
Paul Lane.
HOT VAMP CLUB – “Speaking
Tongues/Symphonies”
 Bournemouth
band Hot Vamp Club are causing a wee bit of a stir in sunny Dorset. The urgent
punky energy of “Speaking Tongues” adds weight to the reasons why.
Intricate guitars and stark bass led interludes all mix into a nicely retro feel
topped off by wonderfully deadpan vocals. With handclaps thrown in for good
measure, this stop/start indie gem is sure to get the tongues wagging and feet
dancing of those fortunate enough to hear it.
“Symphonies” has more of a garage disco feel. The distorted bass recalls The
Rapture before the sugar sweet chorus kicks in. On this evidence, Hot Vamp
Club’s gig at Bournemouth’s iBar on 19th February is one not to be missed.
Paul Lane.
THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND – “Nobody’s
Coming To Save You”
 The
Sunshine Underground’s latest offering is full of glitzy indie dance anthems
with a gritty raw underbelly. It does sound slightly dated in places but the
passion and honesty with which the songs are delivered mean they have enough to
get away with that. Indeed there are more than a few memorable moments on offer
here to ensure that the bar set by The Sunshine Underground for 2010 is a high
one.
The swaggering “We’ve Always Been Your Friends” has what can only be described
as Kasabian-esque in it’s confidence. “Here It Comes” and “A Warning Sign” both
spring The Killers to mind, when Brandon and co were still relevant, that is.
Sobering anthem “Any Minute Now” is their lighters-in-the-air moment and the
clean, crisp electro-pop of “In Your Arms” delights. In a word….ace!
Paul Lane.
THE FINAL RIOT – “Buttercup / Deadline”
 Good
rock n roll should make you feel like you might lose control at any given moment
and repeatedly bash your head against the nearest wall.
Thankfully Winchester band The Final Riot deliver this feeling with aplomb in
the shape of “Buttercup” – a no-holds-barred, full on guitar driven gem. Paul
Rose’s confident vocals demand to be heard over the top of a water tight block
of authentic rock n roll swagger. “Deadline” is moodier and darker, boasting a
menacing and nagging riff.
Live, you’d imagine The Final Riot to be quite a mouth watering proposition. One
to watch….
Paul Lane.
CD Single Reviews
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BY MARTIN SIRL
Single Reviews Coming Soon
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