Gig notes diary 2010

Our diary of short reports, notes and reflections on gigs that took place in Leicester and the bands that played at them

Wednesday 17th November, The Sound House

Three Leicester bands put on a fine set of music tonight. First on: Flat Sounds

The stage performance might have been flat but you couldn't fault their guitar work. The rock equivalent of a string quartet.

The Trio An English Settlement brought the room to life. Their set of vivacious songs bounced along, supported by some upbeat singing from Rich, Chris and Sam, all of whom contributed to the vocals. A pleasing set from a tight band who were lively and listenable.

The last band to play tonight was With Winters. This local four piece seem to have recently got going but I suspect we are going to see a lot more of them in the months ahead. They describe themselves as alternative and their music is certainly not middle of the road. Full marks to them for doing something different.

Thursday 11th November, The Shed

Breek are back in town

Melton band Breek are back. Armed with two new members, Lloyd Watson (ex The Fuss) on guitar and backing vocals and Sam Kirk on Bass, the band played a selection of their new songs and some of their established repertoire. With Ady Thompson on vocals and master drummer Russell Fenby on the skins, the band put on a top class performance. This well established band played its fourth gig with the new line up and it was really good to see them again. A top band with an ace set of songs.

Breek on Myspace

Friday 5th November, The SoundHouse

Dirty Jack

Coalville five piece band Dirty Jack played a set of their own, very agreeable and ear pleasing songs, lead by front man Olly Harris. Laced with stunning guitar flourishes and solo passages and fronted by Olly's strong vocals, the band delivered a varied set of songs. They showed how they could range from moody ballads, to up beat dance numbers to pieces that had a hard edge pumped out with fervour, all executed with passion and commitment. Solidly good music, well played and performed. A band I look forward to seeing again. They are playing at Lock-42 on the 26th November.

Formed this year, Dirty Jack saw musicians coming in from other bands, bringing years of experience with them. Their set included a cover of the late lamented SubDude's dance hit, Summer Vacation,with Subdude's singer Ian and bassist Andy in the audience to hear how they made their song their own and put their slant on it but still retaining the qualities of the original song. Great stuff.

Dirty Jack on Myspace

Arabella

From Coventry, Arabella delivered a fine set of melodic songs that went down very well with the audience. They have played Leicester a couple of times before and the general consensus of opinion was that they can certainly come back again.

Arabella were on their single release tour. Lead vocalist James Sear gave an impressive performance, putting out a set of cool, deliciously atmospheric songs, sometimes funky, sometimes bluesy, but what ever they played, it was very enjoyable, listenable music played well. Nicely blended backing vocals from Matt Morton (guitar) and Adam Nicholas (bass) were complemented by the vocals of Thomas Jewett (now you know how I like singing drummers!). Expert musicians, all of whom sing, this band scored a big hit with me. Lot's of people came up to me afterwards and said "Trev, you must write a review of this band. They were really good". I agree with that and I look forward to seeing Arabella again. Exquisite!

Another good night of music at the SoundHouse. Well attended (despite the rain) and a lineup of well chosen bands. A good way to spend Friday night.

Arabella's website

Sunday 31st October, The Shed

Graeme Rucroft writes:

Selby Green (from Harrogate) took to the stage tonight in hope of getting a place on next years Glastonbudget festival, and they did so in style. Kicking off their set with an astounding cover of "foxy lady" before marching their way through a mixed set of covers and originals. It was clear that this band is already starting to get a solid fan base as they got the crowd moving in what was a quiet halloween in Leicester. Chants of "yorkshire, yorkshire" filled the room as emphatic front man Ross Metcalf introduced the last two songs. Despite the poor attendance, Selby Green were out there to have fun and show what they can do, and their own unique sound was not out of place amongst the likes of Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix and Audioslave, all well performed much to the delight of the traveling fans. Kasabian famously rose to fame after starting out with a gig at The Shed ... Are Selby Green going to follow suit?

Find out more about Selby Green

Sunday 24th October, The Shed

I have long been an admirer of Birmingham band Awaiting Approval. They played at the Glastonbudget festival, earlier this year, a tonight they put on an engaging set of their powerful melodic rock songs.

The show was opened by singed band Exit State, a four piece metal band with some powerful sounds who performed as thought they were already in front of festival crowd. Huge metal songs bursting with energy, their lead vocalist/guitarist did a splendid job, with some striking drum work from the back, and the band as a whole put on a sparking performance. They did some songs from their album Death of a Rock Star.

The Birmingham four piece are no stranger to the stages of Leicester. Awaiting Approval have played here a number of times. Armed with three good front singers, they opened their set with their song "the Last Goodbye" in which the vibrant vocals of lead singer were ably delivered with a lively stage presence.

Songs full of bounce and dynamism, they gave the tiny gathering a good dose of top quality music. I say "tiny" because this was a Glastonbudget audition and neither the venue nor the "promoter" had done any advertising for the gig; as the bands brought very people with them, the few who did find their way there caught a feast of good music. More people might well have come to the show had they known about it. But, good music alone is not enough to get a band on to a festival stage.

Being a good working band, the Brummy band members got up there and did a thoroughly good job. Rousing and invigorating.

Saturday 23rd October, Oxjam

For bands and solo artists see our report on the Oxjam Takeover Festival.

Friday 22nd October, The Donkey

Sara Spade with the Joyful Noise ... at the Donkey

Kevin Gaughan reports

Reggae with soul

There was a pretty full house at the Donkey as Sara and her band took their positions on the stage with a distinctive, partially coordinated 1950s look.

They started with the familiar reggae beat which all their songs had with plenty of violin which made for an unmistakably unique sound. There is no doubting Sara's vocal ability, her voice was silky smooth without any rough edges at all, sounding like a more mature Lilly Allen.

Unfortunately only a few songs really showed off Sara's voice, but those that did were quite special. Sara seemed a little nervous at times, not entirely engaging with the audience, as there was sometimes a reasonable amount of background chatter.

All in all, a great performance with a unique reggae sound a lovely voice.

Find out more about Sara Spade and the Joyful Noise on Facebook

Wednesday 20th October, the Shed

Leicester band Silent Signals played a superb set at the shed. Excellent set of listenable songs. Here's what I said about them when I saw them last: "This six piece band from Leicester University played at the Shed on 10th June. The experimental, ambient rock band played a scintillating set of funky, blues and soul numbers that was as refreshing as it was vibrant. With vocals from the two front singers Jessica Pilkington and Danielle Chung, they produced a finely rounded sound and an engaging selection of songs. The band gradually came together and now delivers a fine line-up of their own original songs and some choice covers. Good stuff and well worth seeing if you like moody, atmospheric melodies delivered by skilled musicians. "

Well I think they have improved since then and tonight's performance was top notch. Tuneful, well played and eminently listenable. Well worth seeing again.

Silent Signals on Myspace

Saturday 16th October, The Y Theatre.

One big band from Leicester; one big live music event. That sums up the event at the Y Theatre today. Headlined by one of Leicester's most successful bands, Maybeshewill and supported by a top class lineup, this was a key event in the music calendar.

Leicester now stands out nationally as being one of the most exciting cities in the country for live music of all kinds. This weekend will certainly earn a place in my review of 2010 and today's concert at the Y was yet another date that can easily be set in the list of great gigs of the year.

In a programme that started in the afternoon, act after act filled the elegant theatre hall with a variety of amazing live music, culminating in a spectacular finale by the unusual Maybeshewill.

The day's lineup included acoustic singer Peter Wyeth and the progressive hardcore band Beunos Aires (I was mortified when I found I had arrived too late for their set) but happily, when I finally got there, the incredible These Furrows were on stage. They always amaze me when ever I hear them. The four member group includes Darryl Reid and Nile Barrow, whose voices blend exceedingly well together in certain of the songs where they share the vocal line.

But what makes this band stand out is their razor sharp execution. In a set of intense songs, their taught music is full of exciting dynamics. Music shaped with expert craftsmanship, they presented a set full of thrilling sounds, bristling with crystalline clarity, sharp-edged instrumentals and distinctive vocals. With a high level of musical creativity, they delivered a dazzling set that crackled with static electricity.

The evening attracted a fair sized crowd; mainly older people (I do too many kids shows I know), ok then 20 somethings and a smatter of band members, there to check over this important happening. It was good they chose the Y on a night with six other gigs going on.

With a row of good front singers, Tellison put on a belting set of songs. Their set of sternly good, ear pleasing melodic songs went down well with the crowd.

The London band delivered their vibrant set with energy and the music was full of solid music ideas, including the bit with the vigorously cow bells; in fact quite a few band members played percussion instruments. One big balladic song started slowly, building to a resounding finale. It was inspiring.

The concert included an set of orchestral proportions from the astonishing band Her Name is Calla. Hailing partly from Leicester, they took a long time to get set up. As sound guy Ollie grappled with the large number of instruments being wired up and tuned in, I spotted a piano, violin, cello, bass, drums, flute, trombone and what looked like a laptop and bank of electrical gizmos. Even the cello has an effects pedal, so it was no surprise that it seemed to take a long age to get ready.

re orchestra than band, their set of evocative pieces were symphonic in scale, with pieces lasting for up to 10 minutes or more. Songs began with long mood setting intros, creating atmospheric landscapes of music, before Thomas Corah comes in on the vocals, skillfully singing the vocal part in a rich and beautifully toned voice.

These highly creative pieces were like Bruckner symphonies, structured into first and second subjects, building up slowly towards breathtaking climaxes. Serene, inspiring and magnificent layers of sound from the strings and wind sections with musicians often adding in layers of vocal backing when the dynamics of the piece required.

This highly unusual but exhilarating music experience lacked any comparison within the Leicester circuit. The audience stood spell bound as the group unfolded one hypnotic, euphoric song after another. They created luscious, shimmering waves of sound and the effect was mesmerising.

Even though at times, the volume of sound was more than was justified, tending to drown some of the instrumental layers, the whole set was a magical moment. I have since listened to their recordings and can see just how wonderful their work can be.

Not the band of choice for most rock afficianados, but for those of us who go for the bigger picture, musically, this was a breath taking performance.

In a complete change of style, &U&I from Birmingham store up the stage and created a mosh pit at the front of the floor. The trio includes, I'm told, members from the legendary Blakfish and they thundered out a storming set of kick-ass songs, led by vocalist Thom Peckitt. Having been on tour with Maybeshewill, they joined them at the last gig of their UK tour.

Sound like a meeting of punk, screamo and metal their songs were full of force and energy, throwing themselves around the stage as they totally lived the music. Massively big sounds rocketing off the stage and a crew of guys in the front were going mad for it. An amazing set of ballsy numbers that grabbed the fans and set the room alight.

The finale of the evening saw a stunning performance by Maybeshewill. Returning to their home town after an exhausting UK Tour, many fans have been looking forward for months to seeing them play here again. What was unique about this set was that it played instrumentally, no vocals at all. This is a rarity in the rock world, although one or two bands have reached considerable acclaim for this approach.

The band was formed in 2005 by Robin Southby, James Collins and John Helps and has had a number of lineup changed since then. In 2009 they were joined by ex-Kyte and Tired Irae musician Jamie Ward, who was on the bass tonight (and clearly had some personal fans in the audience.)

The band introduced new material for their, as yet, unreleased third album as well as launching a new single. As an instrumental band, they delivered a superbly good set of fine 'songs', supremely enjoyable, so that you didn't really notice the absence of vocals. The set included some programmed and sampled electronic elements, although these did not always stand out very much.

A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable set; it was great to see such an unusual and talented band.

These Furrows | Tellison | Her name is Calla | &U&I | Maybeshewill

Sunday 10th October, the Shed

Ashdowne played at the Shed and secured a slot at Glastonbudget Festival 2011

It was an absolutely wonderful set from a really great band.

Kevin Gaughan reports:

Another Sunday night at the Shed and some fine bands to look forward to for this Glastonbudget qualifying night. The Shed was busy, not surprising considering the line-up.

First up, Signify, a four-piece from Dudley, having built up quite a reputation,which was reflected by the size of the crowd. Their mix of high octane - verging on thrash metal sounds immediately grabbed me by the proverbial's and had instant appeal. The guitar work by Rich Kenwrick was astonishing. Putting out some complex guitar riffs, at a pace that was nothing less than blisteringly fast and owning the stage at times made a really entertaining show. They had the professionalism and showmanship of a band that had been on the circuit for decades. Incredible to think they've only been around for a couple of years. Every song was nothing short of impressive and instantly likable.They oozed stage appeal and made a damned good sound and left me buzzing.

Next up, and with the unenviable task of following on from Signify were Unforgettable Fire, a U2 tribute act, which I was looking forward to because if they were any good then it would be like seeing U2 at the Shed! - or at least that was my train of thought.
Unforgettable Fire are from New York and have been around since 1995, they've toured absolutely everywhere, so they're an established band in their own right. They certainly looked the part and, my god, they sounded good, very good. I was right, it WAS like seeing U2 on the small stage of the Shed, well, if you closed your eyes, anyway! They churned out all the classics, reached all the notes, had all the enthusiasm you'd expect from a professional outfit and sounded spot on. A great show.

Next up, Ashes to Angels, who took over forty minutes to set up which didn't go down well with the crowd as it was already getting late. However, when this three piece from Bristol did finally explode onto the stage, they made some fine sounds. Again, like Signify, very fast, high octane rock/thrash metal. Crilly on vocals had an interesting 'eye makeup' look and wasn't short of a tattoo or two. They had tons of energy, quite good sounds but lacked the finesse and quality of Signify. To their credit, though, they did stay around for the last band of the night even though one of them was going to be driving to Scotland after the gig! It was now getting very late for a Sunday night and Ashdowne were having problems with the Shed's ageing equipment which delayed the proceedings even further.

People told me that Ashdowne are arguably one of the best bands to have come out of Leicester. I have to admit, out of all the times I've seen them, they have never been less than spectacular, well, maybe once, but that was when they were using someone else's drum kit! When Ashdowne started, the crowd were immediately transfixed as Lee's voice shone through the guitars of Andy and Ben to provide an amazing vocal and semi acoustic experience.

I was totally absorbed by the music and Lee's vocal gymnastics, they never put a note out of place and their professionalism shows on stage. This was a totally absorbing experience that left me with a stupid grin on my face and wanting more. Can't wait to see them at the Oxjam festival in Braunstone gate, Leicester on the 23rd Oct. I'm pleased to say that they made it through to Glastonbudget 2011. Again, another fantastic Sunday night out at the Shed and well worth the fiver it cost to get in.

Sunday 10th October, Humberstone Gate

The great Billy Bragg made a live appearance today on the One Leicester Stage in Humberstone Gate. Taking part in a festival of unity to celebrate the city's cultural diversity, following the invasion yesterday by the EDL, the veteran folk singer performed a set of songs containing uncompromising messages about the struggle against political extremism and racism.

A large crowd gathered and gave the singer a warm welcome as he recounted the background to the events of yesterday when 1000 followers of the English Defence League came to Leicester from all over the UK to 'protest', in what turned out to be an epic failure to impress the people of Leicester with their racist views. The police and the Council kept their rowdy presence well under control and separated them from the opposing Unit Against Fascism grouping.

Billy Bragg in Humberstone Gate being interviewed by TV journalists

The singer is well known for his support of causes such as the Miner's Strike and Rock Against Racism and today he certainly didn't mince his words, with a set of songs cogently expressing his opposition to racial disharmony and his strenuous support of multi-cultural cohesion.

With lyrics and melodies that were accessible to all, he caught the mood of the extensive crowd and echoed the sentiments of the political leaders who opened the event.

As the singer said "... you can't change the world just by singing about politics" but as he, and rest of the day's festival demonstrated, art and music play a vital role in rallying the spirits of people behind unit and the message of Keeping the Faith.

See our news coverage of the One Leicester event.

Sunday 3rd October, The Shed

The Glastonbudget judges gathered for another Sunday evening to select the bands they want to invite to play at Glastonbudget 2011. A fairly good sized crowd of people had turned out for what turned out to be a crackin' night of live rock.

Metallica Tribute band Mentallica put on a set of songs to celebrate one of the great metal bands of all time.

Leicester pop rock band Formal Warning put on a polished set of songs, many of them newly written and now with a rather different sound than they had in the old days. Another fine performance from lead singer Ash Wright with lot of action on the stage from the other band members, made this a very enjoyable set.

Despite the lead singer having a heavy cold, Meatloaf Tribute band Maetloaf gave a beltin' performance of the great singer's top songs, including the hit "I'd do anything for love ... but I won't do that". Very enjoyable!

Wednesday 15th September, The SoundHouse

A metal night at the SoundHouse featured Aurora, Azidify and Ashes to the Fall. Aurora saw a good performance from vocalist Danny with the rest of the band some resounding bass riffs and machine gun drumming. A kick-ass set of atmospheric, melodic nu-metal songs laced with slick guitar work. Big sounds in their original songs but with a Sting cover thrown in the middle of the set for some reason. A newly formed band, they don't have any recordings up yet.

Young metallers Azidify put on a good set full of scale and gravity and stunning guitar flourishes with lead singer Saran Burrows. Carlton Parr did some amazing work on the skins. They caught what heavy metal's is all about, infused it with some punk riffs and turned out a set of well crafted songs. The band plans to take some time off to work on new material.

Five piece band Ashes to the Fall filled the room with their energy and lead singer Eddie put in a committed performance, supported by guitarist Danny. Strong on attack and with a cocktail of vocal sounds, Joe came off the drums and took the mic half was through, which was novel. Lack of stage presence was compensated for by their obvious enthusiasm.

Friday 10th September, Barley Mow

Kevin Gaughan reports

First up tonight at the Barley Mow's Friday rock night was a four piece from Alveston in Derby, Davee Mach. There was a reasonable number of people who had turned out to see them, bearing in mind the size of the 'Mow upstairs, where it's only really big enough to accommodate the bands with a few other curious punters.

The sound was actually very good and Daniel Irving, the lead singer, was very confident with good stage presence and a nice bit of chatter. The band's sound included a good smattering of distorted guitar played well and rapidly with catchy and memorable undertones.

The band showed their diversity by playing a couple of slower tracks which I really appreciated. They made good use of the drummer on backing vocals, which was nice to hear, although his microphone might have been a little to high in the mix. Daniel also played some amazing guitar solos, unfortunately, however, I don't think his guitar was loud enough to really make an impact.

It was nice to see they didn't take their music too seriously with some quite humerous lyrics. All in all, a good band that I enjoyed, but look forward to seeing them do a proper Glastonbudget qualifying set at the Shed on Dec 12th.

Next up, a four piece from Nottingham called Satnam's Tash. They didn't have the distorted guitar or rock sound of Davee Mach. This band were more light weight, more what I would call, and I know it's an all-encompassing word, Indie but with slight overtones of punk and possibly the Pogues thrown in there too.

Still medium paced and making good use a more acoustically sounding guitar, the vocals quite often sounding like Iggy Pop. They certainly have their own unique sound and stood out because of this, in a good way.

I enjoyed watching the band and have a feeling they'll grow on me the more I see them, I'll be looking out for them doing a gig in a bigger venue.

Friday 3rd September, Sumo

Forgotten Sun

Forgotten Sun - heavy rock from Leicester

Wednesday 11th August, the Shed

It's easy to dismiss newbie teenage bands. Any group of kids can buy a set of guitars and think they can form a band. But, just once in a while a group comes along that looks like they have real talent and potential. Tonight's two bands were just this.

The new quartet from Leicester called Aphtershock put on an enjoyable set. Their lead singer (Joshua Bonser, 16) and two good backing vocalists produced some delightful, hard edged, nu-rock inspired songs with engaging rap-style lyrics. Joshua put on a delightfully strong performance. The other looked relaxed and confident. Stomping beats and raw edged delivery was backed by some vibrant string work from the lead guitars (Joshua and Ryan Smalley). As a new band they have not yet formed much in the way of a team stage presence but hopefully that will emerge as they get some flying hours under their belts. Their songs were pleasantly creative with plenty of mood and colour and they drew an appreciative response from the audience.

Their set was varied and far from the usual drab output of the sort of stuff teenage bands usually come out with. They have caught the spirit of progressive rock rather well and the vocals certainly had a drive and energy that is unusual in young bands. Like a great many other bands playing this idiom, they ended with Killing in the name of by RATM. I have heard some frightful renditions of this song but I have to say Aphtershock got the instrumentals off to tee. Obviously the lead singer couldn't get anywhere near doing justice to the vocals but then he did better than most other attempts from teenagers that I have heard. What he lacked in character, he made up for in energy and commitment. It was a sterling attempt to master this great classic but I do hope they drop it from their set when they get more of their own, rather good, songs to play.

Aphtershock on Myspace.

Four more teenagers took to the stage. Living Mystery are a pop-punk quartet from the Barwell/Shilton area, that has been playing for just over a year. Drawing their influences from Blink 182, Greenday and McFly, they started with their own song and then played a cover, one of Blink 182's top hits, which they carried off quite well. Their own songs worked equally well and their set was warmly received.

Good team vocals and shed loads of vitality, they delivered a really enjoyable set. The bassist (Owen Moore) was really impressive, but the two lead guitarists were uninspiring. It would help a lot if the guitarists would learn to play their instruments without having to look at them all the time. With a bit more attention to their stage craft they could become a popular band with a bright future. Even so, their music had an engaging and likeable quality and they the guts to play with strength and vitality but visually they lacked star quality.

Living Mystery on MySpace

Monday 9th August, the Shed

Common Side Effects played at the Shed. A young band, their set was raw, rough, full of vitality and lived the spirit of punk. I enjoyed it, not because it was technically perfect, not because it was musically sophisticated (it wasn't) but just because it rocked!

Friday 6th August, The Phoenix

A band I had not seen for some a long time but remember well, popped up at the launch of the Summer Sundae Fringe festival at the Phoenix. Silent Devices, played a set of chilled and attractive songs. Synthy electro backed songs with their drummer on a snare gave it a acoustic feel but it was a great performance that went down well with the audience. I think I last saw them in January 2008 when I wrote a review of thier set. Well they have moved on a lot since their early days. Still exciting and making good music.

Friday 6th August 2010, The Barley Mow

Kevin Gaughan reports

The second band of the night was Amifuba from the Notts/Derby area - they bought their brand of funky rock into the mix. The lead singer was very personable and encouraged the crowd to get down the front have a dance. Unfortunately, upstairs at the Mow it isn't really big enough for a band and dancing audience simultaneously so no-one took him up on his offer.

The style was similar to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and was well executed with plenty of enthusiasm. The vocals were strong, confident and an asset to the band. There was a good emphasis on the guitar and the lead guitarist played some very impressive guitar solos at warp speed which were great. The drummer was also given a chance to flex his muscles with a drum solo which I also enjoyed.

Increasing the tempo further came Leicester band Beauty Killed the Beast (BKTB). Unfortunately, as so often happens at smaller gigs, when the previous band finishes they go and take their fans with them, so as the evening progresses there's less and less people in the audience. However, there were still a few people left for BKTB's set.

They burst into their songs with total and utter enthusiasm. Elliott O'Brart's vocals shining through the guitars, they looked like a good band having real fun on the stage while turning out some professionally sounding songs with really memorable melodies faultlessly played. Considering the audience were so sparse they still put on a thoroughly enjoyable set and put their heart and souls into their performance which shows true professionalism.

Elliot encouraged the audience to sing along to a couple of the tracks by explaining what to sing. All in all they put on a very good set with their array of very catchy and memorable songs and a few covers added to the mix. Unfortunately, due to the smaller crowd, the atmosphere wasn't quite as good as it could have been.

I very much look forward to their Glastonbudget qualifying gig at the Shed on 22nd Aug.

Monday 2nd August, the Independant Arts Centre

Leicester band The Working Projects played a delightful set of their appealing blues rock songs. The four singing musicians, worked well together, displaying solid teamwork and tight playing, it was the perfect antidote to last night's frenzy at the Shed. A really nice band; their music is chilled and beautifully played. A quality band.

Leicester beat boxer Harry Thornber gave a display of his highly unusual vocal talents. Using his voice has a non-vocal percussion instrument, he put on an amazing display of what can be done to make music with just a pair of lips and a microphone. It worked! He has a very strong sense of rhythm and has been practising this art form for over eight years and so now is very good at it.

Tuesday 27th July, Walkabout

I have been to a few band debuts in my time. Some of them have been disappointing. Tonight's launch of Leicester band Us Wolves will stand out in my memory as being one of the most exciting discoveries of recent times.

Us Wolves are James Ferraby, Chris (Ceej) Harpham, Lawrence Bywater and Elliot Jenkins. James has been in bands before and Ceej was a member of ska band Mango Mafia. In fact in a previous band, James has played support slots with the likes of the Happy Mondays, Mystery Jets and Snow Patrol!

Ceej tipped me off about the band - I checked out their songs, was impressed and turned up tonight to see if they were as good live as they were in the recording studio.

They were!

Drawing on influences as diverse as RadioHead, Muse, Sigur Rós, Incubus and a few others I didn't recognise, the guys convinced me that they know their music. This was their first gig as Us Wolves! They self-produced their current tracks and have their own rehearsal rooms, they told me.

So I watched with eager anticipation as they took to the Walkabout stage. They launched into their first song Mirrors and then James came in on the vocals. Wow! What an amazing voice! He easily carried his vocals over the pounding back line. An unusually large crowd had gathered to see the maiden voyage of this band. By the end of the first song, everyone was caught.

Their second song Sleep continued with the punchy beats and engaging riffs layering swathes of music over Jame's booming voice that caught every word with sparkling articulation. Their sense of attack and commitment to the songs was inspiring.

It was an exhilarating experience. Despite the lack of backing vocals (which they are working on), Jame's voice makes this an exceptional band and they proved that they know a thing or two about song craft. Solid melodic lines and well balanced instrumentation, a few razor-edged breaks and a strong sense of rhythm carried the whole thing forward. Their big sound was also laced with moods and colours so what we got was not just ear-bashing but ear-pleasing. They captured their audience.

All their own songs, no covers and a last song that rose to a thrilling climax just confirmed to me that this was a band with a strong potential and a great addition to the local music scene.

Next time they play, I'll be down there to see them again! Magic.

Friday 23rd July, The Kasbah

Leicester's Ashdowne played a great set at Coventry's Kasbah night club. Also on the lineup were Russian Gun Dogs and The Sharks. A really good venue; nothing like it in Leicester.

Thursday 22nd July, the Lamb in Ashby-de-la-Zouch

Kevin Gaughan reports:

I've seen BKTB a few times now, notably in the campsite marquee at this year's Glastonbudget where they were very impressive - they sounded good, even though they were in a big tent and they keep you entertained with their on stage enthusiasm. Although they did look a bit dishevelled, but that was only because they'd been getting into the festival spirit!

Nearly a couple of months had passed and I was looking forward to seeing them again at the Lamb in Ashby.

The Lamb is a nice pub in the middle of town, certainly quite sizable and full of character. On entering  the pub, as is usual when I'm within sight of BKTB someone shouted KKKEEEVVV! - ah yes, that'll be Jon on drums! Even though they were setting up the lads still took the time to come over and have a chat.

They did spend a while setting up but only because BKTB and their sound engineer, Chris Jones, take so much pride in getting the sound just right, this showed through their performance.They looked much better coordinated, visually, than I had seen them before, unfortunately this was a small stage, so with five of them, they looked a little cramped.

The band started off enthusiastically, which is difficult to do when there's only a handful of people watching you, it only took a couple of songs, though, for passers-by to come in and see what all the fuss was about.

The band played  a number of covers plus a few of their own songs which was a good move as they were playing to a pub crowd who didn't know them. They played the covers really well, especially Lady Ga Ga's Poker Face, really getting into it and more than capturing the essence of the original but with the BKTB sound and their three guitars.

For me, though, this band really excelled when playing their own material. Written mostly by Elliot (vocals) and sometimes by Dale (guitar). Some of their own songs have ludicrously catchy melodies such as Chance and Coalville Pill and are very well executed. Elliot on vocals complimented the mix very well. He has a very good voice, although not particuiarly unique, it is nice to listen to and seemed to be hit all the right notes in the right places. I can't help thinking I would like to see them do an acoustic set so that we can really hear Elliots voice as I think he has so much to offer.

BKTB normally excel at stage presence with Josh putting everything into his performance while playing his bass guitar. At the lamb, however, the stage was tiny and Josh was tucked away at the back but you could see he was suppressed and just bursting to let rip with his usual on-stage antics!

Between songs Elliot provided some humerous chat and even enjoyed poking fun at himself, he's quite charismatic when on the stage and added to the evenings entertainment.

All in all it was a very enjoyable evening. Nice bunch of lads, wonderful sounds, with a an entertaining front man. The only down side would be the size of the stage, but the band couldn't do anything about that and coped well although did look a bit cramped.

Unfortunately, Elliott and Dale are off to university soon, so their gigs will be limited to uni holidays and the odd weekend, so I'll have to make the most of them when I can. I'm looking forward to seeing them at their Glastonbudget qualifying warm-up gig in the Barley Mow on August 6th and at the Glastonbudget qualifying gig at the Shed on August 22nd.

Beauty Killed the Beast

Friday 9th July, The Barley Mow

Few people are aware that city centre boozer The Barley Mow puts on bands on a Friday night. Even though this is not the first place people think of if they want to head out for some live music, I did find two exceptionally good bands playing there tonight, both of them from Birmingham as it happens.

Shiva playing at the Barley Mow

Playing their first live gig, Shiva gave us a really cool and pleasurable taste of the great things that are sure to come when this band really gets going. The five piece was fronted by a really top notch female vocalist whose fabulous voice carried over the atmospheric, ambient electronica. Moody, full of subtle and beguiling colours and imagery, this chance discovery was a real find. Slow, sultry and velvet-toned, it was just the kind of chilled sound you want on a hot June evening.

Cunningly orchestrated with echoes of Massive Attack and even the Afro-Celtic Sound System, they conjured uplifting, sweeping landscapes of musical visions that clearly captivated the small but highly appreciate audience. I loved it!

Birmingham band Awaiting Approval playing in Leicester

The band I had actually gone to see was the wonderful Awaiting Approval. In my view one of the best mainstream rock bands in the Midlands, they tick all the boxes. Fresh from their appearance at the Glastonbudget festival and returning to Leicester, this is a band that has never failed to be exciting. The fine vocals of front man Stewart Jackson bring out the lyrics, with backing from three gifted musicians, Phil Chater, Dave Blackburn and John Albrighton. Strong compulsive dynamics, fullsome backing vocals and a vibrant stage presence make this band an absolute joy to see and hear. Driving the songs along with engrossing riffs and beautifully balanced team work, this band ticks all the boxes for me. So even though they were playing in a tiny venue with a crap sound system, the irrepressible musicianship and performance of this great rock band was a real joy. Magic. Pure magic!

Monday 5th July, Sumo

A selection of young bands gather for a bash in Braunstone Gate. The 'Habits did an acoustic set without their drummer and that was pretty interesting. The three singing string players put on an entertaining set of mainly their own songs plus a bit of "Wonderwall" to pass the time. It's always good to hear an electric band play acoustically - it's reputed to be a good test of musical ability and I am pleased to say these three guys passed. Songs you normally hear belted out with ear blasting amps turned full up, take on a whole new meaning played acoustically. Michael showed off his vocal skills, ably supported by Adam and Briggsy and they worked well together. Raw talent.

Panda Youth have some delicious songs with convincing rhythms and melodies and a strong singer in the shape of CJ Pandit. The five piece from the Groby area has a strong following and are turning out new songs on a regular basis. A confident performance by all the band indicates they have loads of potential. Still playing covers, they plan to work on their own material and if they keep at it you can see them becoming something big in a couple of years time. Very enjoyable.

This Fallen Empire playing at Sumo with new bassist and drummer

The star act of the lineup was undoubtedly This Fallen Empire. I have been following them almost since they started in the Autumn of 2008 and was there when they won the Battle of the Bands in 2009. They have taken time out recently to re-work their material and tonight was a revelation. Armed with a new drummer (Adam Tozer) and bassist (Jake) they have come up with some ripping new material which is laden with raw and punchy sounds. They cut a stirling presence on the stage and can pump out some really pounding phrases to counterbalance their atmospheric, melodic passages. The old songs have been powered up and they demonstrated how a band can grow and develop if they take time to think through what they are doing and figure where they can go with their talent. Now they can produce some huge riffs and razor sharp breaks and master big sweeping statements. A stunning transformation.

Friday 2nd July, at the Barley Mow

When young bands pick up guitars, the results can be less than exhilarating. Seventh Empire, however, are the exception to the rule. They are actually quite good at making listenable music. Their brand of lite metal is both well executed and engaging and whether playing their own songs or the odd cover, they never fail to please. Since they formed in October 2008, they have played a few gigs and have grown into their niche. Backed by some superb drumming from Sam Gent and dexterous finger work from Ashley Wheat they put out some half decent music. Well worth going to see.

Seventh Empire

Thursday 24th June, at The Old Horse, London Road

By Kevin Gaughan

The first time I saw these guys was a few weeks earlier opening Glastonbudget 2010 on the main stage. They played at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and still managed to pull a reasonable crowd, bearing in mind it was so early on. Ashdowne looked like they belong on the main stage and seemed fairly relaxed.

The Old Horse, however, was a completely different kettle of fish.

They were about to play an acoustic set in a decent size room in a nice, friendly pub. Having introduced myself to the band and chatted with them for a bit it became clear how passionate they are about their music and how professional they are. They're also a really nice, down to earth, bunch of lads.

I had heard the album a few times prior to the gig and so was curious to see what the songs would sound like acoustically.

I was NOT disappointed.

After a few adjustments from the pub's sound man, the catchy riffs and melodies of the guitars, Andy and Ben, started to shine through.

Ashdowne at the Old Horse

The sound man had done a good job. All the instruments were mixed just right and Lee's vocals twisted and turned between the guitars with absolute precision and nerve-tingling emotion. I have never been drawn into a voice quite so much - Lee was feeling the emotion in the songs and I could feel it too. It was all-absorbing, we could have had an earth quake and I wouldn't have noticed!

Although the Old Horse is a lovely pub just looking at the band and hearing how tight they were, they felt like a big band that wouldn't look out of place on the big stage in De Montfort Hall. My personal favourite Holy Ground, absolute classic, is about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and shows their sensitivity and interest in local affairs in their birthplace here in Leicester.All in all, seeing Ashdowne was an amazing experience and an unforgettable evening. Really can't wait to see them at the Looking Glass on Sat 3rd July in Braunstone Gate

Check out Ashdowne on Myspace

Friday 18th June, The Shed

A band that is establishing itself on the local music scene is The Black Tears. With their vivacious lead singer, Lischana Lane, the band has enthralled audiences at local venues and at the Glastonbudget festival. Their musical style is indie rock but often with a harder edge and more robust sound than many of the bands that perform in the same genre. Always scintillating, this is a band that puts on a superb performance every time they play and has a star quality that makes them stand out from the rest.

You can see The Black Tears at the Shed on Wednesday 30th June.

Saturday 29th May, at the Shed

Autohype put on their big gig at the Shed and despite the rain and the fact that loads of people where away in Wymeswold, it went well and a lot of people turned out for it. Autohype told us "Billboard Beauties played very well, Deadwax were amazing." The new songs went down well, so it sounds like it was a massive event. Autohype just keeps going from strength to strength.

Saturday afternoon, 22nd May at the Shed

On the hottest day for eight months, I don my post-Gulf shorts and hat, find a t-shirt from my favourite band and put on my extra strength dark glasses. After the blazing sunshine of Yeoman Street, I wander into the Shed - all is complete blackness. Like a moth, I head towards the lights of the bar, blundering blindly into fans on the way. Without any words being uttered a glass of lager appears in front of me and I fumble in my purse for some coins.

I have come to see Panda Youth. I discovered them by accident a few weeks ago and was wow 'd into coming back a second time, by way of confirming that the first time wasn't just a fluke [see 24th April below.] On stage live, they are exhilarating. Lead vocalist CJ Pandit sings strongly and has a ear-pleasing voice. He is backed by two talented guitarists: Joe Phelan and Dan Balment, whose instrumentation is way above average. Live they are amazing. But please don't listen to their Myspace tracks - they have two songs up there that are badly recorded and make the band sound complete rubbish. Which they certainly aren't. I have joined the fan list for this band because they have real talent and are doing something original and different. Their large and enthusiastic following will hopefully carry them into some good gigs over the coming months. Hopefully they will be ready for next years OBS and perhaps even a stab at Summer Sundae. Artistically, no reason to think they will not be ready in time. Once they get their exams out of the way, they will hopefully spend the summer getting some much needed playing hours under their belts. That song with the celtic riffs - much more of that please! It's unusual and could well become a brand that will sell well.

Panda Youth is playing at Sumo on 5th July.

Thursday 20th May, the Shed

Leicester has a large contingent of young bands; some manage to stand out from the rest and one of these is Groby groovers Kicking Habits. Tonight the group was on top form with lead vocalist Michael Vickers in full swing and Jake Sterland doing dazzling things on the skins. Pouring out plentiful volumes of rock the vibrant foursome gave us a rip-roaring set of their vigorous indie songs, packed with lashings of panache. These guys have superb taste in music and they demonstrate that in the way they make up their songs. These guys have worked hard to polish their playing. They are very modest and when you talk to them, they are in denial about being one of the most talented bands in their age group. If you want to know how good these guys really are, just listen to them play.

Thursday 13th May, The Squares

Go Primitive appears to come from all over the place; at least one member comes from Leicester. This quintet of musicians certainly knows how to rock and put on a storming set of their hard-edged songs. Vocalist Jay Merry pushed things along with a strong clear voice and they opened their set with a commanding, thumping number that stopped everyone in their tracks. With backing vocals and interesting richly blended sounds, their musical style was difficult to place and seemed laced with a varity of influences. Big bold statements, virbant and sweeping phrases, they were punchy and spikey at times and cunningly atmospheric at others. The band is heading off on a European tour, pulling in Switzerland and Belgium and touring with progressive rockers Pure Soundart. My summary: yummy! I'll be looking out for them at the Glastonbudget festival later this month. That will be a must see on my list.

Thursday 29th April, O Bar

Playing at a Melting Pot night at Braunstone Gate's O Bar, Midlands band The Late Eighties put on a set of their vigorous and highly enjoyable indie songs. Featuring David Hammersley (who was lead vocalist for the late, lamented band The Waits), the band gave us a set of well-crafted, modern and enjoyable songs, backed with some beautifully blended guitar and keyboard sounds. Brilliant, we say.

Sunday 25th April, The Shed

The Dobsons gave a fine performance of their upbeat songs at the last of the Glastonbudget festival auditions, for 2010. Lead singer Callum Breen put on a super performance, pushing forward the set of strong and energetic songs. A top band for performance and music, the Leicester fivesome made an excellent start to the night.

You can see the Dobsons again at the GlastonBudget Festival in a couple of weeks time.

Sunday 25th April, The Squares

Combine Skavester

This eight member Ska band from Market Harborough presented a very enjoyable set of songs at the Squares Bar in Market Street, Leicester on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday 24th April, The Musician

In an intensely competitive night of the OBS callback, bands competed for a second chance to win a place in the two semi-finals. Third Time Lucky pulled out all the stops and gave the judges and the crowd, the best performance of their career. Even though they didn't get through, the Coalville band pulled off a magnificent performance. They really showed every one what they could do. They demonstrated their ability to get up on a stage and really rock, with total commitment. It was very impressive.

One of the two bans that did get through to the next round was the Boobytraps, with a storming set of their own songs and a top class performance. The other band that went through was Raptor Captor who impressed the judges with their contemporary set of original songs, very ably sung and performed with a bucket load of style and panache.

Saturday 24th April The Shed, Evening

Weekend Schemers were on the bill in the evening, with their selection of established and new songs. Speeding through set up, they rushed into their first song with Conor requesting Joe to 'take it away'. The crowd awkwardly surged closer to the front as the intro to the first song 10 more steps built up into the phenomenal song with catchy lyrics and quality guitar solos. The band continued with their set going into 8 ball and other songs before doing a cover of The Killers' Mr Brightside. The crowd loved every minute of it! They did another one of their own songs, Place to Stay, a chill emotional song with a chorus stronger than a mutated spartan! Then throwing in another cover, being Kings Of Leon's Sex On Fire, another loved song by the loyal crowd! With the covers out the way, they decided to slam into a new one, getting straight into the energetic melodic music, with a hugely powerful chorus, they could have performed the new song better, but after Joe saying they'd only rehearsed it four times, we were surprised and proud. Great performance by a top band. The Schemers have come a long way since they started and are growing all the time.

Formal Warning headlined the show with their exhilarating showmanship and set of solid pop rock songs, to which they have added some new material. Another band that has worked consistently to make a name for themselves and who have a loyal following, FW have toured in Europe and played several shows outside of Leicester. They always put on a first class performance and band members give it one hundred percent - always.

Saturday 24th April The Shed, Afternoon

Leicester's young bands took to the stage of the Shed this afternoon for a matinee and showed that there is no let up in the supply of new young bands.

First on was Dead Union a four piece thrash, grunge metal band. This tight and energetic quartet were only on their third gig and were clearly not satisfied with a lot of what they were doing. Which is good but they gave it their best and proved that they know how to pump out some big gutsy numbers. Probably now at the level of Azidify when they first started to play, if they can keep going then they are capable of catching them up. They threw out some good pounding riffs and show what can be done if you study Nirvana enough. A raw and fiery performance, indicating that more good stuff is on the way.

Second band on was the amazing The Black Tears. Usually a four piece, they were bereft of their bassist but the plucky trio of band members got up there and gave it their all. The band's lead singer, 17 year old Teeks is what makes this band stand out. Her outstanding talent for stage performance wow 'd the crowd and her fulsome voice carried over the vigorous backing of drummer Barney (15) and guitarist Rob (19). Their poppy songs were big on vitality and drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd, even though the room was dominated by fans of another band. Rich with commanding rhythms and engaging melodic content, they delivered a solid performance. Hailing from Swadlincote and Atherstone, they have already clocked up six gigs in their two months of being on the road. People in audience commented favourably on how confident these young musicians were and clearly enjoyed what they were doing. The Black tears are playing at the Glastonbudget festival in May and are appearing again at the Shed on 7th May and 30th June. Well worth booking.

The big draw of the afternoon was Panda Youth; I loved their opening song with its almost celtic-esq guitar lines. The five piece group was strong on creative songs and original orchestration. The vocals of CJ Pandit were impressive and backed by some excellent guitar work from lead guitarist Joe Phelan. They worked up some engaging atmosphere with their set of contemporary sounding songs. A band with a lot of talent, whilst they are as yet rather wet behind the ears, one can see them developing into one of the top bands locally in a short space of time. They have a style and character that will appeal to a wide audience and are set on breaking the mould. Great on attack and inventiveness, they took a Shakira hit and made it their own. Good stuff. A band to watch.

Sunday 18th April

The Glastonbudget auditions at the Shed and Leicester band The Hordes put on a fine set for the festival judges. Opening with a strong bouncy song laden with infectious beats and shouty vocals, the band got stuck into the set with passion and energy. Alex Oxley gave us some stomping vocals with backing from bassist Tom Mee. Punchy vigorous performances from all the band members, they drove the songs forward with zeal and fire. Taught instrumentation and contemporary sounds, balanced with an atmospheric slow number full of sweeping, balladic passages. A fine band at the top of its class.

Saturday 10th April

Sons of Beaches are from Birmingham but they have played in Leicester several times before. Tonight they arrived at the Shed in their tour bus - the one with their band name in lights on the front of the bus - always an inspiring sight. This is one awesomely strong rock band. Their set was over an hour long and we enjoyed every minute of it. SOBs playing in Leicester is always an occasion, out of the ordinary.

Their music attracts an all ages audience, from the very young to older people who also like to rock. They play their own songs and a couple of well known covers but what makes it such a great night is this band's extraordinary performance; they are a show. Its one superb package of live music - great vocals, magnificent musicianship and a set of songs that will please most people. they create mood and atmosphere, excitement and exhilaration and bring rock music alive. From the majestic monumental ballad, to the slow gripping song, they can do it all. One solidly good night.

Meanwhile ...

Kicking Habits played at a birthday party in the downstairs bar.

Another good live music experience. A band and its fans having fun and making a party out of rock and dancing. They played a great set - even in the cramped conditions of the downstairs bar with less than wonderful PA - they brought the music alive and that's what matters.

Friday 26th March

Overdrive IX, the club night organised by the Heroes, took place at Sumo with The Heroes, The Aromattics and The Hordes on the line-up. A good night with a strong 18+ turn out. "The Arommatics were brilliant" and "The Hordes were impressive", we were told.

IzIggy at the 'Mow by Thomas Spinks

On the 26th March IzIggy and some Weird Sinners, the Iggy pop tribute band, played The Barley Mow, a pub with a gallery-style performance area. Even though few gigs are played in the small venue this doesn't mean it can't hold a good show. The headliners, IzIggy were sublime. They played all the classic Iggy Pop songs, 'The Passenger', 'I wanna be your dog' and many others. The lead singer, Brian, was exceptionally brilliant and made every lyric sound like Iggy was actually rocking personally in the Barley Mow. If you are a fan of Punk, especially if you're a fan of Iggy Pop, then this is a must see band.

The opening band White Fix is a young Leicester band. At the moment they don't seem to hold much or have anything special in the set list they played. If I was made to describe their music I would have to say they are an average generic college band. Sadly in their set list they butchered a classic reggae song, Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry. I can't tell if it was the band or just their genre doesn't suit the cover but some people left for this one song they played. If you are a fan of college rock then check them out.

IzIggy and Some Weird Sinners are our band of the month.

White Fix are appearing at several Leicester gigs - check out their Myspace.

Thursday 25th March, Birmingham

Leicester band The Weekend Schemers won a place in the next round of the national band's competition Surface Unsigned. This means that the young indie band will play at the Custard Factory in Birmingham in June. Other Leicester bands that have already gone through the initial heats in Birmingham include Free Control, Silent Resistance, and Formal Warning. For more coverage of the festival, see our Surface Unsigned page.

Saturday 20th March, The Music Cafe

The Chairmen got into a bit of trouble when lead singer Jonny Gavin floored a member of the audience with a martial arts style drop kick. This led to the band's set being cut short by security guards. Gig Promoters Shadow Promotions told us: "As far as I know, a member of the public spilt a drink over Jonny and he retaliated with the kick ... everything was taken too far by everyone involved. We have spoken with The Chairmen and have had an apology."

Members of the audience commented to us about the sound quality during the Twisted Wheel set. The band's Agent, we are told, has not lodged any complaint with the venue about the sound and went on to say that the band and their stage crew gave good feedback about the show.

Our review of the gig is on the gig reviews page.

Wednesday 24th February, the Shed

A Silver Bullet night run along the lines of a competition with voting by the audience.

These were the bands that played

The Cuts The Arommatics Raptor Captor Silent Resistence The guest, headline band was IzIggy, the IggyPop tribute band.

The night was won by Silent Resistence, who polled 25 votes (as counted by Shed staff). The Aromattics came second (17 votes) and Raptor Captor secured 9 votes.

Thursday 21st January, the Shed

Shelly Soljaz

Headlining a good night at the Shed was Loughborough's hip hop/rap group Shelly Soljaz. I saw them first on 4th December when they played in a pub. It was great fun and I really enjoyed what they did. Now, seeing them again on a full sound stage at the Shed, I was amazed at how good this act is; they are now a top class group with an awesome set of songs and a top class stage performance. As they played through their set I thought 'this could be something big big - these guys are good enough to really get somewhere.'

Even though hip hop is not my first love, musically, I have to say I enjoyed what they did big time. I got that feeling that I was in the presence of a seriously worthy group of artists who feel like a professional act.

The night was this week's grand final of the Winner Takes All on-going band competition. It was actually won by Leicester band Wicked Messengers, who put on a stormingly good set of their own songs, led by intensly fine vocals of Mojo Robey. Here is a band that has forged ahead, created a fresh sound for itself and fizzingly good set that they performed with an admirable level of skill and commmitment. Having seen them a few times now, I have to say, these guys really rock.

I was so glad I didn't have to judge this night because I really would have struggled. The opening set by Nemasis - ultra fast rapping - shows what newbie acts can achieve in a relatively short space of time. Even the indie dudes were saying how much they liked it. Grimecore rap is an acquired taste but Nemasis have proved they have mastered the genre.

I also liked The Variables with their class act lead vocalist Bob Jones and their set of attractive and likeable Blink 182 Sum 41 happy dancy pop punk songs. Tightly played and exhuberantly performed, it was a well good set from the trio.

Saturday 3rd January, the Shed

Leicester's youngest band - My Kid Bother- kicked the show off to a great start with their amazing set of nu-punk songs.

Rising stars of the young indie scene, Kicking Habits played a tightly constructed set of their own songs and a couple of covers

This Fallen Empire pulled out the stops for a set of their melodic rock songs

The evening was brought to a resounding finale with Drive By Disco's set of infectious dance songs.

Other pages you might like

Reviews of singers and solo artists

Reviews of singers and bands appearing at the Artsin showcase gigs

Our main gig reviews page

Reviews of young bands