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Gig Reviews
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ANGRY BADGER RECORDS SHOWCASE NIGHT.
Orange Rooms – Thursday 4th June
 Southampton
based record label Angry Badger Records are a label on the way up. Run by self
confessed music obsessive Jules Aplin, the label are looking at as many ways as
possible to expand and bring exciting new sounds to music lovers in the South
and tonight’s showcase party promises to be the start of something big.
The release of 2 7” singles, in the shape of “Rise” by Southampton indie band
Recreation and “Another Day” by Americana influenced Portsmouth outfit The
Visitors gave Jules the perfect excuse to put on an event to showcase the bands
he has on his label. And what a wonderful eclectic and talented bunch they are.
Kicking us off were Kodiak Jack whose liking for Velvet Revolver-esque riffs and
funky basslines ensured everyone knew they were in for a good time. “My Fake
Jesus”, with its hell for leather chorus, gave pint sized frontman Bryn ample
opportunity to show off the kingsize voice he possesses whilst “Bunny Girl”
mixes cheeky chappy lyrics with a huge wall of guitar led sound not unlike
Soundgarden.
Andover’s In Darklight were next up. Immensely likeable frontman Ben Sellers
takes every opportunity to thank the audience for coming, in between singing
immensely likeable guitar pop tunes. Imagine Jimmy Eat World being fronted by
Tim Burgess of The Charlatans and that would go some way to describing their
sound. The killer melody and contagious energy of “Slaves” is proof enough of
the bands potential.
Despite not actually looking like a band, when it comes to guitar based indie
pop gems, Recreation are difficult to beat. When they plug in and start belting
out tunes like festival-anthems-in-waiting “Open Up” and “Kids”, they are
impossible to resist. Charismatic frontman Simon Paine looks like he is having
the time of his life whilst bass player Anthony Fryers goes on a brief tour of
the venue during the set. New single “Rise”, with its marching rhythms and
uplifting chorus, goes down a storm and singalong favourites “Jade Harvey” and
“Chemical Reaction” ensure cheesy grins all round.
The Visitors have been around for some time now. Gradually building up and
polishing off their own unique brand of sun-drenched acoustic Americana, they
sound like a band who mean business tonight. The summery folk of “Another Day”
is a song that deserves to be heard by everyone. Ross Murphy and James Dyer’s
clever interlinked vocals along with intricate yet passionate guitar playing are
backed by Ed Hogston’s skilled steel guitar sounds. “Promised Land” recalls
Ocean Colour Scene in their folkier moments and tonight’s closer, “Hold Back”
sees James turn his hand to the saxophone.
Tonight was a resounding success for Jules and his Angry Badger crew. There is
no shortage of talent around the South coast at the moment and tonight went some
way to casting aside any remaining doubters there may have been. Exciting times
lay ahead. Review by Paul Lane.
CD Album Reviews
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CONNETT – “Waging War On The Obvious”
 Surrey
based band Connett have only been playing live and recording together for six
months. Steeped in Mod influences, their debut mini album “Waging War On The
Obvious” boasts alarming potential for a band still in its infancy.
In fact, colossal opening track and lead single “Son” is so good that it lead
none other than Paul Weller to offer his opinion on the track. “A lovely piece
of work” stated the Modfather and who are we to argue with that? Mixing sitars
with a lovely, raw guitar sound, backed up by rampant drums and a thunderous
bassline, this is a song you simply don’t want to end.
The band also delve into slightly poppier areas too. “Perfect Melody” musically
recalls an acoustic version of “Digsys Dinner” by Oasis. Performed with tongue
firmly planted in cheek, the band are clearly enjoying themselves. The same
could be said of “Lou”, a perfect soundtrack for those long, lazy summer days
that lay ahead.
“Can’t You Hear Me” sees the band dream up the unlikely concoction of a Phil
Spector influenced introduction with the good old meat and potatoes rock of
Ocean Colour Scene. Glen Fuller and Steve Hanshaw provide energetic, aggressive
guitar playing whilst never losing sight of the melody. Danny Maidens proves to
be a very capable drummer, keen to flex is muscles at any given opportunity and
Darren J Connett sings with a purpose and a style that makes every word
believable.
Connett are a band with a clear idea of what they want and where they want to
go. For a band that has only been together for such a short spell of time, this
is a very exciting start. Hold on to your hats, this could be a hell of a ride….
Review by Paul Lane.
HOURS TIL AUTUMN – “Make A Scene” EP
Once you’ve supported Bon Jovi at the South’s biggest gig of the summer, where
is there to go next? That was the dilemma facing Southampton band Hours Til
Autumn. Having played a memorable set to warm up a sell out St Marys stadium
crowd for New Jersey’s finest last year, the band decided to do what they do
best – carry on playing live and take that energy onto an EP.
One listen to their “Make A Scene” EP instantly wants to make you see the band
play live. Each song has a very “live” sound to it and a contagious, uplifting
energy. “Believe” kickstarts with some guitar heroics followed by a rock anthem
of a chorus that will not leave your head without a fight. This sets the
blueprint for the rest of the EP. “Promises”, somewhat appropriately, introduces
itself with what can only be described as a stadium rock riff from the 1980s
before transforming into Hundred Reasons influenced Emo rock.
Best of all is “19 (Make A Scene)”. This song is HUGE. A rock epic in every
sense of the word, it has so much going on that it keeps the listener does not
know where to expect next. The fist pumping chorus bursts out of the speakers
with almost terrifying adrenaline. Closing track “Maybe One Day” brings the
curtain down on proceedings, following the same energetic blueprint which leaves
us thirsty for more.
Hours Til Autumn (HTA for short!) have plenty of live dates coming up, including
at the Talking Heads on 3rd July as part of the “Southampton Takedown”. This is
an event which sees a number of local bands playing live to prove themselves
worthy of supporting You Me At Six at Salisbury City Hall later on this year. If
HTA are typical of the quality of the bands that are on show that night, it
should be a great night! Review by Paul Lane.
THE ELVIS SUICIDE – “Sweethearts”
 Violent
band disputes, riotous gigs at disused nunneries and fetish clubs, using the
money from winnings at the bookmakers to finance their new mini album,
fabulously named band members like Rough Monk and The Ladies Choice…..The Elvis
Suicide already have many ideas to share and tales to tell that would make for a
fabulous biography. This love of the unconventional is reflected in their
collection of songs about “girls and feelings and stuff” AKA blistering mini
album “Sweethearts”.
However, power chord opus “Song For A Girl” introduces the album with
heartbreaking lines like “the only thing we had in common is that we didn’t
treat each other too well”. It’s dark, it’s moody and it’s menacing and it
totally leads the listener up the garden path as it sounds like nothing else on
the album!
The following 5 tracks are played with an insane amount of energy, it’s like the
band have spent the last 3 days drinking nothing but Red Bull. They almost seem
to be challenging themselves to fit a four minute pop song into a two minute
slot! No song outstays its welcome. On the contrary, it leaves you baying for
more, more, more!!
The hyper active “Turned Your Back On Me” through to the paranoid, schizophrenic
and downright unstable “Hanging On The Edge” are raucous, riotous and
phenomenally good fun. The curtain comes down to the drunken campfire singalong
of “I Should Have Changed For You” and you suddenly realise that 7 tracks have
whizzed by in just over 10 minutes!
“Sweethearts” was recorded in one day and it shows, but in a good way. It is a
pure adrenaline rush. The Elvis Suicide’s next move is intriguing. Whatever they
choose to do, expect the unexpected! Review by Paul Lane.
CD Single Reviews
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BY MARTIN SIRL
Single reviews coming soon. Watch this space!
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