Monday 19th July, The Shed

Singer Charlee Drew has now formed a band and tonight's gig was the UK launch of his single "SugarRush" and his tour to promote it.

The gig warmed up with a set from the fabulous Formal Warning. A substantial crowd had gathered for this show and soon were dancing to the floor filling songs of FW, who, as always, put on a great set, fizzing with performance and their memorable songs. Their big, bold, dancy songs of today indicate that this is a band that has moved on from where they started. It's the same act though, with lashings of vitality and star quality fronting from lead singer Ash.

Having set the audience alight, it was time for Charlee Drew to take to the Stage. Now with a top quality lineup of musicians behind him, the Leicester singer stood behind his electric piano and launched into a big, upbeat opening number with a captivating melody. His songs have a sparkle which he delivers with his finely sculpted voice and lashings of passion. His new work is stronger and rockier that his early solo sets and the audience clearly loved it, judging from the rapturous applause that followed.

Charlee's second song of the night - "Everything" - was a slower ballad, dripping with delicious melodic content. He is a star performer on stage, living the songs and clearly totally engaged in his music. His crystal clear voice articulates very word and the rhythms are catchy and engaging, an unmistakable Drew sound.

Drew has taken a long time to work on his material, especially since his departure from FreeFall Felix and launch of his solo career in January 2008. It's an investment of work that has paid off, because he has now written a set that he is confident will conquer the world. If tonight is anything to go by, he's likely to succeed.

"Sugar "rush" is the title of Charlee's new single, released on ITunes.

Saturday 17th July, The Musician

Scream is the brand name for a new set of nights in Leicester, organised by promoters Origin Music and they put on a night at the Musician and have plans to put on some big bands at bigger venues later in the year.

Scream is the a new event and from September it will be a monthly under 18s club night held at the 1000 capacity venue, the Auditorium. and they'll be bringing down some big chart topper, like Example, in October (details on our gigs listings.)

Tonight was a success and featured some up and coming local bands, one well established touring band and one of the best hard rock bands in the Midlands.

First on stage was new Leicester band Surrender The Coast. The six piece hard rock, screamo band had two vocalists and a pack of ear crunching sounds. They have an EP out which can be obtained from the band and a couple of tracks up on their MySpace. Lots of energy and grit backed by a tsunami of drums and guitars.

Without Fire are a five piece group from Leicester and Lincoln and most of the musicians have been in other bands, including Freefall Felix. Big hardcore sounds with lots of machine gun drumming and a vocalist whose voice was strong enough to carry over the voluminous backing. Angry punk-edged, growling songs and a virile stage presence they kept the gig moving, this was their first appearance at the musician and they went down well with the audience.

The hot summer evening saw a good crowd turn out for the show and Speaking in Italics also went down well with them. After a commanding opening, their first song launched into an expansive tune, strung with vibrating bass lines. Vocalist Kyle Brooks quickened the pace backed by staccato spikes from drummer Mitch Goodwin. Vibrant melodic lines were carried along well, supporting the complex rhythms and song dynamics. Akin to prog rock in style, the songs conveyed a darkly coloured moods and sultry atmospheres, spiked with angular riffs. Musically complex but delivered with passion.

No strangers to Leicester, North London electro-pop-punkers Exit Avenue always draw a following when they play here. Exciting songs, performed with lashings of character and presence by lead vocalist Neil, are what you get from this top notch band. They got the crowd moshing, jumping and clapping. They turn a set into a show and concert into a party. It is a testimony to their popularity that a chunk of the crowd joined in with their songs, like the iconic "sweet sixteen".

Arms of Atlas lead singer Tyler at the Musician

Even though Exit Avenue are a high caliber band that always goes down well when they come here to play, they were sandwiched between the post-harcore, metally first part of the evening and the colossal headline act of Arms of Atlas. The somewhat odd programming almost worked because the pop-rock dance set got everyone on the floor and excited, so the ambience was set for AOA. Sadly quite a few of the fans who came in for the first part of evening, were seen drifting off because they were only there for the bands they wanted to see.

I have seen AOA before and reviewed them for Artsin. They stand out from most other bands in their genre. Their performance tonight was pure exhilaration. They play heavy hard rock music which is loud, loaded with the most compulsive beats imaginable and delivered by musicians with rock star quality. Tyler's vocals are stunning. Ed and Jim's guitar work and backing vocals add a scintillating layer of sound to the songs, ably backed by Sam's bassing and Mike's drumming. And they ALL sing. Not just a front man and a bit of backing vocals from one guitarist. This is complete teamwork.

AOA do not tick all the boxes - they write the boxes. This is one of the most exciting and thrilling bands I have seen, not just in Leicester, but anywhere in the UK. Members were drawn from the ashes of FreeFallFelix, Sixpointfive and Centauri, so it's little wonder that is a group of some of the most talented musicians around here.

Their set pushed the limits of rock music to where you wanted it to go. The crowd was totally drawn into the music, moshing and jumping and arm waving and if you like your rock to be hard, loud and totally exhilarating, this is the best band you will find.

Magic. Pure magic!

Saturday 10th July, The Auditorium

Read our coverage of the "We are Leicester" festival

Wednesday 14th July, The Shed

Silver Bullet put on another heat of the current Winner Takes All competition. On the line-up were Broken Eyes (in first place with 31 votes), Free or Nearest Offer (in second place with 20 votes), Wicked-messengers (in third place with 19 votes). Aphtershock also played.

Reviews coming soon.

The semi-finals of the current series will be on August 4th, August 11th and August 24th at the Shed

Wednesday 7th July, The Shed

Silver Bullet's Winner Takes All competition was won by Panda Youth with 102 votes. UP came second with 45 votes and Azidify came third with 26 votes. Votes counted by staff from the Shed and included first and second votes cast by the audience.

A good crowd turned up at the Shed on a Wednesday night to support the lineup of local bands and a touring band from London. Now that's worth mentioning!

Young Leicester metallers Famous Last Words (previously known as Dead Union) opened the show. Their set of punky, grungy, metally songs included a couple of covers and went down well with the ample crowd. They had one or two technical issues but got on with it and clearly enjoyed being on stage playing to a packed house.

They bashed out some gripping sounds with a nice raw edge and at least three of the string players contributed to the vigorous vocals. Very good! They gave their performance a whack of wellie and ended with RATM's "Killing in the name of", a piece that has been popular with bands since Christmas.

The pace quickened when Leicester hard rockers Azidify took to the stage. Their own song Stop Praying (stop saying) is particularly tasty, with its iconic riffs and big statements. This young band has a good track record of small gigs behind it and taht shows in their confident playing and mad hatter antics on stage.

Our reviewer Kevin Gaughan writes:

It was a busy night in the Shed, each of the 5 bands had bought a few fans and Azidify had bought more than most which was nice to see. I'm not surprised they have such a loyal fan base as they are such a nice bunch of lads. Every time they see me at one of their gigs they always give me a warm welcome and enjoy telling me about their songs. I've known the band for a couple of years now and they always provide great entertainment.

As they were warming up, James burst into some Jimi Hendrix style riffs on his guitar which reminded me how much I enjoy hearing them warm up. Into the first song, it was very well performed but, as with their other songs, I kept wishing they'd got that new singer on board they keep telling me about. James is great with his guitar as are Dom and Chris, but I think they seem to fall apart a bit when James starts to sing. Always the showman, it didn't take long before James was break-dancing while playing his guitar-luckily there was a break in the vocals while he was doing it! Always very entertaining to watch.

They played one new song in which I enjoyed the melodies and the guitars worked well together. Carlton on his drums did a great job and I really enjoyed the track, it was quite grungie which was ok, but again James on vocals just doesn't work for me. All in all they did an entertaining set and I enjoyed most of the songs, always good to watch, but come on, lads, please get a singer, male, female or otherwise, just get a singer, so that Jim can focus on what he's good at. The crowd enjoyed the show and Azidify have all the makings of a good band, they can play very well considering their tender age.

The band called UP playing at the Shed

Touring band UP dropped into the Shed on their way back to their home town of London. Most of the band members used to be in Minus IQ, a really good band that I saw play in at the Fly in London and then they played at the Shed (10th August 2009). Now with a new lead singer and a new set of songs UP is every bit as good as Minus IQ was. Their set of engaging indie songs was produced with considerable vitality and was lapped up by the crowd, most of whom had come to support their local bands. They recognised a good band when they heard one and responded warmly.

Their set was full of bouncy and captivating melodies laced with catchy phrases and a large helping of mood and atmosphere. They had very good taste in modern music. A contemporary style of music presented with considerable stage presence by their lead singer Barnaby Race. Strong backing vocals from Michael Lane on lead guitar and stomping work from drummer Jake Schogger together with lots of sparky energy from all the band, made them a hit with the crowd and the other band members in the audience. It was gratifying to see an out of town band play to a Shed load of people who were clearly enjoying what they were hearing. Star quality.

Having reviewed Panda Youth recently I wont say too much more, other than they won the night's competition, picking up more votes than they had people who came down just to see them. It's surprising that they played Sumo on Monday and the Shed on Wednesday and still managed to pull out their following. A popular band with an appealing set of songs and a good presence from lead vocalist CJ Pandit makes them a band that people do want to turn out to hear. A really friendly bunch of lads too!

Crisis Confirmed at the Shed

The Night drew to a climactic close with Crisis Confirmed. I saw them play at the SoundHouse last Saturday but their performance tonight was miles better. They really rocked it tonight and it was hugely good stuff. The hardcore metallers pumped out walls of massively big sounds, sparking riffs and lots of nu rock phrases and passages. Pounding drum rolls from Jake, exhilarating vocals from Mike and lots of dynamism from the whole team. Drama, atmosphere and electricity, spine chilling passages and hair raising statements ... top notch!

Saturday 3rd July, 2010 The Looking Glass, Braunstone Gate

By Kevin Gaughan

I've seen a few bands in the basement of the Looking Glass. It isn't a big venue and it is often hard to get the sound right but the atmosphere can be quite intimate. Also, I've noticed, that sometimes the audience talk over the band, which is probably because the bar downstairs gets the overspill from upstairs.

This is the second time I'd seen a full Ashdowne gig - the first one was acoustic (see our gig notes page) - so I thought it would be interesting to see the contrast.

There was a decent sized crowd, which was nice to see, some of which looked like dedicated Ashdowne fans. They started their set with the same song that they start the album - Footsteps - the moment the first note was played, the crowd were put under the Ashdowne spell.

No-one spoke and everyones' full attention was on the band. It's not my favourite song, but in common with the others it provides a fantastic workout for Lee's vocal gymnastics.

Lee of Ashdowe playing at the looking glass

Between each song, after the applause you could hear a pin drop as the crowd were completely focussed on the performance. I certainly enjoyed the rockier side of Ashdowne as Andy played some amazing guitar with Pink Floyd-ish effects. Gripper, as always, timed to millisecond precision on the drums and Ben tied the whole sound together with his bass.

All the musicians had a chance to really shine thanks to the carefully crafted set list. Half way through, they lightened the mood with a couple of really good dance tracks, including the Girls Aloud cover - Can't Speak French. These got the crowd on their feet and gave the gig a real party atmosphere.

By this time a number of people had joined us from upstairs, not because of the overspill from the bar, but to have a dance and to see the band that was playing the music they were enjoying upstairs.

Time and time again, people kept saying how it was like seeing a big band on a small stage. I put this down to the sheer tightness and professionalism they all exhibit as well as the songs being so well put together. Gripper's Ashdowne drumkit also looks quite spectacular.

At the end of their set they put their instruments down, got a pint and mingled with the crowd. For me, what was special about this gig was Lee's voice, the emotion and skill with which they all played, and the catchy melodies that were going round in my head days later.

As with the acoustic set, I found myself totally absorbed with what was going on on the stage. These guys have got it all-the catchy songs, the skill to play them extremely well live, the stage presence and sex appeal (not my words!). They look and sound like a big band so it wont be long before they're supporting a really big band in Leicester's new 1500 seater O2 Academy when it opens. I very much look forward to seeing them again this weekend-thanks very much lads for a great night!

Ashdowne on Myspace

Wednesday 30th June, the Shed

Jericho playing at the Shed

Just three bands played at the Shed but three amazingly good bands are better than 5 or 6, most of which are mediochre. Tonight, we were given a treat, The Black Tears and their melodic pop rock sandwiched between two wonderful metal bands.

Jericho got the night off to a thunderous start. These brave brummy boys nearly brought the walls of the Shed down but their pumping volumes of intense and agressive sound were skillfully laced with some fizzing riffs and sparkling passages of guitar work. With kalashnikov drumming and magnificent vocals, the songs were raw and pounding but artful and tightly executed. This is a band that has presence, a band with a distinctive identity. Thrilling and compelling.

Rise again

So, the metal sandwich was headlined by Rise Again from Nottingham. The strong vocals of Phil Kurtenbach were backed by three solidly good string players and an ace drummer. Their delicious cocktail of metal edged with classic sounds and a dash of punk is probably what you would expect from a band whose influences include Metallica, Guns 'n' Roses, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, 3 Doors Down and Foo Fighters. Their set of vibrant, high octane songs were very ably delivered on stage. Great rolling waves of music and fiendishly clever guitar playing had most of the audience air guitaring. Highly enjoyable.

The Black Tears playing at the Shed

Sandwiched between these monsters of rock we had the sweetly refreshing sound of The Black Tears. With their glamorous lead singer ( Lischana Lane) this Nuneaton quartet is set for great things. A fairly new band, they have wowed audiences in Leicester and at the Glastonbudget Festival. Their set of bouncy, indie tunes has an edge which gives them a bit more bite than most in that flavour of rock and they are a visually appealing group. The two girls and two lads make them stand out from the rest and with a bit more work on the creative side, I can see them really going places. Their sweeping melodic songs are punctuated with some firey bursts but they need a couple of floor fillers to get them up the ladder. A band with a lot of promise.

The Winner Takes All competition was won by Rise Again with 46 votes. The Black Tears were second with 41 votes and in third place was Jericho with 23 votes (votes counted by Shed staff.)

Friday 26th June, the Y

A hot summers evening and the fans gather at the Y for an evening of live music. The Y is a nice theatre and an unusual setting for rock bands but one which bands and their followers enjoy. It is a pleasent change from the other venues and gives them the chance to feel like they are making it into the big time.

The theatre stage, the production lighting, the clean and relaxing environment, it all adds up to something different.The girls dress up for the occasion and everyone is excited as they stream into the auditorium.

It's a meeting of friends, both fans and musicians, a high point on their social calendar. First on to the stage is a young band called Six Lost Souls, brought on to the lineup by one of other bands. They were very fortunate to get a chance to play at the Y as they are all quite young and have not yet established themselves on the usual circuit.

The five piece ensemble played a series of well known rock covers and despite a wooden stage performance, played their instruments in a confident manner and had one lead singer but no backing vocals. The crowd egged them on and they sailed through their set reasonably well.

James, vocalist of White Fix, singing at the Y

The evening got going with White Fix the foursome who play rocky songs with a classic flavour. Driven along by a strong lead singer - James - and peppered with some skilful guitar riffs from Ciaran, they pounded through their set, despite a broken guitar string that took some time to fix. The drummer gave a display of his skills while Ciaran dissappeared in search of a working instrument.

Whilst their musical style is not modern enough to fill rooms, they have a rawness and an edge that carries them along and they are a serious band.

Joe Walker from White Ashes performing at the Y

White Ashes, by comparison, is a band that has got it nailed. With Joe Walker's verve and vocal skills, they deliver a convincing peformance and have a solid feel to their set that commands attention. They are four serious musicians in search of an identity; all the raw material is there but as yet it hasn't found a niche. Once they find a direction, they could well go far. For now, some of their material sounds dated and they could do with some time with a good producer. But they ooze confident and raw talent and always put on an enjoyable set.

Andy Cooper, lead singer of the Weekend Schemers

The next band to take to the stage, now has a track record and has clocked up enough playing hours to give the impression of a band with presence. They look and feel like a seasoned band. A few days ago they sailed through their Surface Unsigned round at the Custard Factory in Birmingham, coming second on the voting stakes. Weekend Schemers have built up an ardent following and have gigged vigorously since they launched on to the local scene a couple of years ago. Both at the Custard Factory and again tonight at the Y, they demonstrated that they are a band that knows what good modern music is about and they know how to do it on stage. They are heading in the right direction and are fired up to get there. Their songs have an energy that compels attention and the front line is manned by three good vocalists.

The night was headlined by Third Time Lucky. Another band who have written some engaging and enjoyable songs and have been busy getting themselves out there. Gradually growing and developing they feature some talented musicians and a star quality lead vocalist in the shape of Zack Wisehall. Here is a band with not just musicians but personalities. Its happy, jolly go for it music that pulls a crowd to the front.

A good night out in a nice venue and everyone had a good time.

Friday 21st May, the Music Cafe

A fine night on a scorcher of a weekend. The crowd gathers at the Music Cafe in Braunstone Gate, not far from Sumo, to see the show put on by Shadow Promotions. Amongst the fans is a fair smattering of rock royalty, as members of Leicester's bands come down to enjoy a night out, off stage. Several people tell me how much they like the Music Cafe and what a great venue it could be, if it really got going. Shadow Promotions has been working the venue, amongst others, with a growing list of successful nights since it opened.

Ash on stage with Formal Warning

Tonight Formal Warning opened the show! I'm not sure I have ever seen this band actually play first; they are a headline act and usually bring a show to a finale. But tonight the headline slot was reserved for the star attraction, out of town band Underground Heroes.

Even though the party had not yet got started, FW put on a professional act. Whenever they play, where ever and whatever their set position, this fine band always puts on a quality show. Invigorated by a new set and some recently completed songs, the Leicester's foremost power poppers got up and ticked all the boxes. A great performance from lead vocalist Ash Wright, some energetic jumps from Leon and Kyle and steady backing from Zoe on skins and Alun on guitar, it was and impressive set.

Formal Warning are appearing at the Glastonbudget festival on Saturday.

After their successive appearances at OBS, you would have thought that Raptor Captor might have wanted to take it easy for a while. But no, they took to the stage and gave the room a set of their alternative indie songs, described by one musician as "brilliant." Well, it was certainly a varied evening and it was a long jump from Formal Warning to Raptor Captor. Cool, talented and inventive, the quintet's set of classy songs was a concert of engaging musical treats. Very now, the electro-indie music of Raptor Captor is gaining ground on the Leicester scene.

Underground Heroes

A crowd of band members gathered at the front of the stage to welcome touring band from Kent, Underground Heroes. Not new to Leicester, the Medway fivesome are rising fast at the moment. Though unsigned, they do have management and are whizzing around the UK on what looks like an exhausting tour. The four piece played a sizzling set of high energy songs that wove together a cocktail of musical styles, driven relentlessly forward by the charismatic vocals of Aaron Dollimore. In fact all three front musicians supported the vocals. The mosh pit soon got going as the set heated up. It was curious to see a mosh pit made up almost entirely of Leicester's rock musicians. The pack was exclusively male - not a scene for the girlies, this one. You tend not to see ladies moshing round their handbags at a punk gig. But this is a band that has an enthusiastic following. It was high octane, loud and compelling, a set of raw adrenaline pumping post punk. Huge pounding beats are the order of the day. The guys put on a storming set, musical fireworks delivered with complete passion and megawatts of energy. It's earthy, in your face punky stuff, harking back to the Clash, the Jam and the Specials. Awesome stuff!

Saturday 15th May, OBS Grand Final

Raptor Captor on stage at the finals

There is something special about the OBS grand final. For six years now it has become an event of Leicester's music calendar. It's a chance for some of our local top bands to play together and for a large crowd of music fans to turn up and listen to them. It's the one night when the bands are guaranteed a full house at the Shed. It's often the point at which rising new bands get the exposure they need and sometimes it spells recognition for established bands.

Tonight the Shed was packed to the gunnels with people of all ages. Armies of fans were squashed in with musicians, judges, photographers, film crews, members of other bands, rock stars and music journalists to witness a night of quality music followed by a really great after-party.

It is however in the nature of competitions that there can be only one winner. To his great surprise James Lewis led his band members on to the stage to become the sixth winner of the Leicester OBS, taking his place in the hall of fame with the Heroes, M48 and the Chairmen.

This has been a good year for the OBS. The heats have been well attended, the bands have all been good, there have been a series of nail-biting, too close to call finishes. The judges have had their work cut out trying to decide between bands that are the best in Leicester.

In the end it appears they have gone for originality. The James Lewis Band stood out from the rest musically. The three piece group is fronted by a talented singer/songwriter with an image and a trade mark hat. This is not to say that The Booby traps or the Stiggz are not original - they have some of top rock songs of all Leicestershire in their set lists.

James Lewis is contemporary, almost flavour of the month. He can wow a crowd with his songs and is doing stuff that no one else is doing around here. His act has character and an individual style.

Some musicians in the audience thought that the music content tended to be a bit samey. It's creative but stays within its comfort zone. His performance at the OBS heat on 1st May was different from tonight - he used the intimate atmosphere of the Musician to show off his range of vocal techniques but tonight in the frenzy of the grand final he had to belt it out but that worked too. It was a scintillating performance full of vibrancy and passion and it won the judges over.

The Stiggz playing at the finals

Raptor Captor was in roughly the same stable as James Lewis, with The Stiggz and The Boobytraps coming from a stylistically different stable. So it was a clear choice between the contemporary and the more traditional forms of music. In the end they chose one from each.

Raptor Captor have been impressing the judges with their modern, alternative electro Indie rock. Noted for their originality and freshness, the band has produced energising and creative sets. Song after song had hair raising big intros, throbbing with exciting beats and making you think you're just about to get into a massive dance number. However, it's like the intro led into a totally different song which bore little resemblance or connection to the grand fanfare of music it started with.

People were standing intently concentrating on what they were hearing from this band. It was more your concert piece compared to the riotous dancing and hand waving ecstasy of the more more traditional sounding bands that played later,. The songs were full of intriguing and clever orchestrations and the three singers often came together in a rich harmony. With strong vocals from Garry and Danni, the band produced a good layer of vocal sound that blended well with the instrumentals. Garry's singing was good on strength but one lead singer claimed he sounded a bit flat at times. He's a good team vocalist but doesn't exude front-man charisma.

A clever and inventive band, that has established a reputation for new music and a flair for experiment. A confident and committed stage presence, it had all the boxes ticked to get it into the finals. But, you were left wondering if perhaps they were being a tad too clever for their own good and need to think more clearly about what they are doing musically and where they should be positioning themselves in the musical market place.

The Stiggz have a set of songs laden with melody and memorable riffs that have led people to think they are playing covers. Their canonical rock sounds like The Specials in bed with the Rolling Stones under a duvet of Mod. When they get on stage in front of a crowd of their many fans, it's a mini-rock festival and you could close your eyes and easily pretend you were in the presence of one of the iconic British rock monsters of the twentieth century, instead of just being at the Shed.

The same could be said of The Boobytraps; it's the kind of mainstream rock that appeals to people of all ages although I suspect the crowd might vere somewhat towards of higher end of the middle age band.

Both are rock show bands. They play easily recognisable popular rock - people's bands for the mainstream market. Musicians that know how to sing and play their instruments, songs that cause spontaneous clapping and arm waving from the audience and sets that leave the crowd calling for more at the end. It's what iconic rock is all about.

Both bands include some quite young musicians who have not been around for donkey's years and in front of them, star quality lead singers. They are solid bands who know what they are doing and who can write incredibly good songs. They put on a big show in which musical dynamics and moment are sustained throughout the set.

The crowd enjoying The Stiggz

So if the judges wanted a safe bet to counterfoil their choice of modern, experimental acts, it would need to be one of these bands. In the end it was The Stiggz but The Boobytraps put on a masterful performance.

The night concluded with a performance from last year's OBS winners, The Heroes. Band performances, at the top level, fall broadly into three categories: excellent, awesome and magical. Whilst all four competition bands were awesome, there was a magic about seeing the Heroes on the stage of their birthplace, showing us just how far they have come since their early days and what exciting new songs they are now producing. It was furious, frenzied and fanatical rock and standing in front of them is both exciting and exhausting. But they played magnificently and reminded us just what a special band they are.

The judges retired to consider their verdict whilst in the room, the party really got going to a series of floor filling tracks - the biggest rock hits from the past 20 years. After a lengthy break, OBS organiser Val McCoy took to the mic to announce the winners and to bring the sixth OBS to its close for another year.

Alex Totman performing with The Heroes

Friday 14th May, Sumo

I arrive at the patio outside Sumo. A crowd of band members are surrounding promoter Andy Wright. They are discussing entry conditions for tonight's show. Gig organisers Neon Sarcastic are insisting they were told it was a 14+ event. Andy explains to them that it is no longer possible to hold 14+ nights in Leicester on licensed premises, especially on a Friday night. A crowd of young teenagers waits outside the gates to see if they are going to be let in to see their favourite bands. Confusion and musicians with faces longer than a bass guitar stem abound as it becomes clear that only those with id proving they are 18+ will be let in.

White Ashes were due to go on first. To rub salt into the wound of their much reduced ticket sales, the drummer can't make it in time for the start because he's on a train coming back to Leicester. The three string players decide to perform without him. Despite the empty room, Joe Walker puts on an impressive display of his vocal skills, ably supported by Jake Brennan on guitar and Jack Franklin on bass. It was a kind of electro-acoustic jam session. But then White Ashes is such a talented band that even this was an enjoyable and rewarding experience in its own right. Drummers! Who needs them?!

Things finally got going when the room filled with fans of the Weekend Schemers. Last weekend they were supporting The Young Knives. Here is a band that has come a long way since they first took to the stage in Leicester, not so very long ago. The four teenagers look like rock stars, play like rock stars and write thumpingly good songs, like rock stars. In recent months their sound has developed, now being rockier, louder and punchier. Andy Cooper commands the lead mic with Conner Evans supporting the vocals from the guitar and Joe Doyle from the bass. Driving them along from the skins, Harry Radburn works some magic with his sticks. Their old iconicly melodic songs have been given an instrumental make over, beefed up with bigger, brassier riffs and a more forceful delivery. They sound like a rock band should sound.

Hill Valley High played the third slot. Read about their set on our Discovery page.

The headline act, Neon Sarcastic, were as good as ever. These guys have been entertaining crowds with their exhillarating brand of high octane pop-punk, since they formed in April 2007. There are certainly on form tonight. They unfurl a huge multi-coloured back drop and launch into their first song. Lead singer John pumps out strong clear vocals in his characteristic voice, jumping and dancing around the stage in his 'x-factor style'. Quality dance songs, energetic stage presence and tight production, an NS gig is always a show with a sense of occasion. They are keeping alive the tradition of popular rock. The evening has seen some remarkable performances and NS gives it a suitable finale.

You can see Neon Sarcastic at the Glastonbudget Festival next weekend where they will be playing on Saturday.

Saturday 8th May, The Music Cafe

The Weekend Schemers put on a good set supporting a night headlined by the Young Knives. The Schemers gave a polished performance of their delightful and edgy indie rock songs. As first band on the stage, they played to a thinly populated room. It filled up later but the Knives' fans gave the local support slots a miss. Which was a great shame for the Schemers and the Stiggz. Despite this the guys played well and it was good to see how much they have grown and developed since they first burst on to the scene, not so very long ago. Confident and amiable, they now have a set of top notch songs.

Touring with the Young Knives was Welsh band Race Horses. The experimental band with a dash of thrash played a set of likeable songs, starting with a stomping good opening number. Excellent lead vocals and music delivered with panache made it an engaging set, full of energy and melody. You could hear their somewhat retro influences in their work. Whilst not an electro band, the electronica they did use was skillfully blended into the instruments. Their act was delivered with passion and sense of fun. Clearly a band with a good fund of musical taste and talent.

Headliners The Young Knives took to the stage to play to a room that had now filled to capacity. It was good that promoters Shadow Promotions had been able to land a well known band of national prominence, put them on in one of our small local venues and provide a couple of our young bands to support them.

Formed in 1999, the group based in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, shot to prominence in 2002 with their album The Young Knives are ... Dead which received critical acclaim. In 2007 they were nominated for a Mercury Prize, which in that year was actually won by Klaxons. But it put the Knives on the telly.

Describing their appearance at the Music Cafe as part of their "intimate tour", they delighted their fans with a set of quirky and original songs. Their spiky tunes involve all three band members in the vocals. The stage was loaded with equipment: although not large, the stage was crammed with speakers, mixer units and production paraphernalia, the like of which one normally sees only at festivals. But the sound was wonderful.

However, intimate, fans had traveled far and wide to this gig. One guy I talked to had come down from York just to go to it.

Noted for their originality, it was obvious this was something different that doesn't get equalled often. They used the gig to launch a new song, claiming that soon the fans would "know if like the hand of your hand". The melody works and I can see what they mean.

Their track "Weekends and Bleak Days" certainly got the crowd moving. The appreciative fans clearly loved it. Their work occupies a territory somewhere between the cutting-edge experimental outlands and the mainstream. The quirkier stuff sits alongside floor-filling indie songs. To some they are an enigma but may be that is why so many people love them. They don't fit the usual molds; in many ways they stand out.

It was a night of solidly good music: from the local young bands through to those that have made it. Thank you Shadow Promotions.

Saturday 17th April, The Musician (OBS)

The callback round of the OBS gave six bands a playoff opportunity to gain two places in the semi-final rounds. All good bands in their own way, the variety of musical idioms appearing on the stage gave the judges something to think about.

Skinny Bones did a set of really appealing melodic pop rock songs, sung with passion by lead vocalist Harry Bushby, supported with backing from brother Tom and guitarist Josh Myhill. Laden with ear-pleasing harmonies and foot tapping rhythms, their set launched the evening extremely well. Well crafted songs, beautifully played with catchy dynamics and engaging melodic lines, they lived the music and gave the audience a quality musical experience. Skinny Bones ticks all the boxes for me.

Back on the Musician stage again, Raptor Captor put on a sophisticated and stylish set of modern indie songs. Redolent with dancy passages and funky beats, the well blended vocals were a treat and certainly got some of the band members in the audience entranced. The songs were pushed forward with a good deal of momentum and the band had presence and conviction on stage.

A relatively new young band, WhiteFix, put on their finest performance ever and really excelled themselves. They took to the stage and gave it everything they had and it was almost like seeing this band for the first time. Seeing them in a new light, a band that can really get up and dominate the room and own the stage. Spikey, raw edged songs, brimming with energy, pushed along by three strong vocalists, their set proved this is band that has something special that they can let out of the bag if they really put themselves out to do it.

The band that stood out musically tonight was Silent Resistance whose offering of awesomely powerful metal, contrasted with the indie menu of the rest of the lineup. Their brilliant set of hard rock/nu metal songs was exhilarating and even those for whom this is was not their chosen idiom musically, commented that they were impressed by the technical sharpness of this band and blaze of fireworks erupting from the stage.

A lot of enthusiasm was expressed about Tall Orders, especially from other band members. Their set of punchy songs, charismatically performed by Pete Shorrock, hit the right notes for several leading musicians in the room, as well as delighting the throng of fans that had come down to support them. A set of vibrant, gutsy songs, energetically delivered with shed loads of style, certainly went down well tonight.

The night came to a close with the Pennyhangers. These guys write amazingly good songs, an even if the band's performance tonight liked its usual zeal, it was just satisfyingly good to hear some of their established classics alongside some of the newer releases. Lead singer James gave a glowing performance, supported by bassist Paddy, Andy on keys and guitar and the brilliant Jonny on drums. A great climax to a really good night of music.

Friday 9th April, The Musician (OBS)

The 7th and final first round heat of the OBS was won on the judge's vote by Coalville band, The Stiggz. Another evening of top class bands playing to a packed hall, marks the success of this year's Original Bands Showcase.

The other Coalville band of the night, Third Time Lucky, also won a place in the semi-finals, based on flyersand a wildcard. A sizeable coach turned up in Clyde Street to disembark over 70 fans. Leicester bands Raptor Captor and Silent Resistence were given places in the call-back show, giving them another chance to gain a place the semi-finals.

The night started with Nuneaton band Polo Lounge. The five peice indie musicians draw their influences from a range of modern bands, including Snow Patrol, The Dykeenies, Biffy Clyro and The Cribbs (a rather diverse basket of roots but good flavours non the less.) Lead vocalist Jack Finch seemed a bit lost during the first song and the set went from bad to worse. Despite suffering a broken guitar string and a bust drum pedal, the plucky band completed its set and we got at least a couple of good songs out of them. Though new to Leicester, it was clear that the band had a number of enjoyable, upbeat songs, pushed along by funky rhythms, smoothly blended guitars and gutsy vocals from Jack. Hopefully they will come back to Leicester and get through a full set without mishap and that will be worth going to see.

Next up was the first Coalville band of the nigtht: Third Time Lucky.

They opened with a fast and vigorous song that got the tighly packed throng clapping. Keeping the spirit of Blink 182 alive, this band has talented songwriters who know what enjoyable, memorable songs are all about. Having set the party going, they keep it on the boil with 'Pinch, Punch' , a song with engaging tunes and an chorus that it easy to remember. The song is belted out by lead vocalist and guitarist Zack Wisehall partnered by Josh Barnett from the bass. Strong on stage craft and loving every moment of their performance, the young band members looked like seasoned rock stars. They know how to carry forward the momentum of a set, they throw themselves into the music and the crowd responds enthusiastically. Their songs are happy, energetic and compelling, laden with catchy riffs and iconic choruses. As one of their fans, Ed, told us before the show, "OBS is a wonderful opportunity for the youth to show off their talents to a room full of people". Third Time Lucky showed the judges and a crowd of rock fans, just how much they are bursting with musical talent.

Moving on from punk to indie, Raptor Captor's five musicians came on stage, armed with a laptop and a synth. Far from being anything like an electro band, the songs were only lightly decorated with samples and intelligently keyed backings. Their first song ' Something Sinister' began with a passage that sounded very familiar, though I couldn't place where I had hear it before (other than imagining it was similar to something from Kings of Leon or Hot Chip.) The band was strong on compulsive beats, tight dynamics and clever, well balanced vocals and the set had a goodly level of variety between the songs. They executed their performance with commitment and passion. Inventive and creative song writing with a contemporary sound, their music was technically sophisticated and clearly going down well with their supportive crowd. Incidentally, this is a band that has some very well recorded tracks on their Myspace and on their EP Peep, which brings their music alive. It was a magnificent peformance.

The evening buzzed; a great atmosphere and a lot of people of all ages enjoying the event. The second Coalville contingent, The Stiggz raised the already high bar. The audience was cheering and shouting and that was even before the band had played anything. A roar went up from the big crowd as the Stiggz played their first few notes. Front man Richard Elderton's performance was electrifying. Here is a singer who is a born entertainer, whose stage presence is rarely equalled in our local bands and who is in his element in front of crowd, like a duck in water. Comparable to Alex Totman of the Heroes, he is likewise supported by two excellent vocalists for most of the songs. Music envigorated with bounce and funk brought an enthusiastic response from the audience. Big rock sounds backed well rounded songs, some of which were mistaken to be covers. In fact they did play one cover, which they allowed under the OBS rules, The Courteener's 'Not Nineteen Forever', which they delivered masterfully and got everyone jumping on the spot. They also played a new song 'Disco Gold' featuring some blistering guitar work and utterly compelling rhythms. They kept the momentum going, hardly pausing between tunes, they carried the crowd along with a set of well crafted songs. A band with a huge dollop of rock and roll attitude, they lit up the night and stormed into the semi-finals.

Having been treated to four massively good bands, you thought 'it can't get any better' and then came Silent Resistance. A totally different style was added to to the night's banquet of indie, pop punk, electro dance and funk: hard rock with a generous serving of razor sharp metal. I have to say, I have always been a huge fan of this band because they take me back to my musicial roots when I first became enthralled by the nu-metal bands of the early noughties, such as Linkin Park, Boy Hits Car, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Incubus and System of a Down. I wasn't the only one, as several people came up to me afterwards to share their admiration for this band. Ryan's intense vocals delivered sustained screams and deep throated roars to the thumping backlines from Jai and Alex on guitars, red Dan on the bass and Danny on the drums. Massive sounds, head banging beats and great rolling walls of well pedelled guitars produced a set of electrifying metal songs, bringing an totally gratifying night of live music to an exhilarating finale. Any band that refers its influences to Papa Roach, Alter Bridge, Lost Prophets and Fightstar deserves my adulation.

Saturday 27th March, The Musician (OBS)

What a great night! A line up of first class bands, a capacity crowd and a room full of our local rock stars. A the bonus of being able to get a decent pint of ale for a change! This was Heat 5 of the OBS and it started with a spirited performance from James Lewis and his band. The hallmark of this young indie singer is his singing style; on a number of the songs he uses a soft almost whispering aspiration, a pretty difficult technique but he pulls it off well enough. Otherwise he's pumping out a vibrant melody with a richly toned voice accompanied by vivacious strumming on his guitar. He gave it his all, turning out a fine performance of his set of funky indie tunes. Some backing vocals would have highlighted certain passages and added a little additional colour but were noticeably absent. The audience responded with enthusiasm.

BKTB have not been around that long but since they started playing they have grown and developed at an astonishing rate. They launched into their set with a bouncy vibrant tune that soon pulled the audience into the action. They delivered a set with a great deal of passion and commitment, throwing themselves into the show with energy and zeal. Their modern rock songs were laden with infectious rhythms and appealing melodies and the three vocalists at the front worked well together under the lead of Elliott. Unusually for a rock band, they had decided to dress up for occasion; all the band members were in crisp white shirts, black ties and black waistcoats, not something rock bands commonly do but they looked fabulous and its always great to see a young band taking their image seriously. It was a very confident performance from an up and coming band and it drew considerable enthusiasm from the crowd. At times they had the audience jumping up and down and clapping, particularly during their rather fine rendition of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", their only cover of the night.

A band I really can't remember seeing before were on next. Several musicians had recommended Tall Orders to me earlier in the day. The four piece featured a lead vocalist with a large order of character, and some songs with some really engaging ska-like rhythms, though on the whole the set was stylistically varied. The lead singer had a strong presence, needed because I didn't see any backing vocals. The songs had a good deal of movement and dynamism and from time to time the lead singer sang into the mic through a megaphone. A skillfully executed set from a group of solidly good musicians: a band's band.

I have covered Skinny Bones before. I was impressed last time I saw them so I was looking forward to their appearance tonight. These guys have three solidly good front vocalists and the band produces a set of songs rich in colour and sparkle. My feeling is that Skinny Bones is a group with an awful lot going for it. Not only was their music technically magnificent but the singers had that rare X-factor tingle. I would certainly reiterate my previous comments about this band, and they drew an excited response from the audience. Here is a band that could quite possibly occupy a major plank in the local music scene.

Another band I had not seen before was Sunflower. The four piece included a female saxophonist and a set of captivating jazzy/blues rock songs played with considerable style and panache that conjured mood and cool in liberal quantities. They drew plaudits from several of the musicians in the audience, always a good sign. Many of Leicester's top band members had turned up for the show, so there were plenty of musicians to confer with about the acts. Stylistically quite different from the previous bands, they added a new layer of music to the night and that went down very well.

With a lineup this good, I was glad I was not judging because I would have been struggling to choose a winner; they were all good. Good in different ways and for different reasons. But choosing one to be the best would have been a monumentally difficult job. But in the end they decided to send The James Lewis Band through to the next round.

See our coverage of the 2010 Original Bands Showcase.

Friday 26th March 2010 The Y Theatre

A gig at the Y Theatre is always a good experience; its a fine venue, very different to all the rest. The sound is excellent and the stage lighting exceptional. Tonight two great bands pulled in a respectable size of audience. Minnaars were on first . They are steadily working their way into the big time and their current tour itinerary looks pretty healthy. Their brand of Progressive/Techno indie is tight and raw and big on presence and character. Their music is very now, with its sizzling shouty vocals, tightly integrated electro and strings, the incandescant drumming of Ben Joel Cropley and pounding, compulsive beats that makes Minnaars one of the most exciting bands in Leicester right now. Often compared to Foals and having a known connection to Forward Russia, they have carved out their own niche. Some fans hold them to be better than Foals. Tonight's set included a couple of new songs only recently completed. Some of the young musicians in the audience were impressed. Nathan Lord said "Technically Brilliant. Genius." Nik Sharma said they were "Totally astounding".

The Screening took to the stage and delighted the crowd with the vigorous vocals from the two Toms and, although their sound is markedly different from Minnaars, they kept the crowd on its feet. On the stage at the Y in the red floods, they looked the part, a band with presence, pushing out a big performance. They hailed their appearances on the stage of the Charlotte - good times of the past - but they looked and sounded so much better tonight, on a proper stage. Ah well, Kasabian was born in a Shed.

The Screening is a pop band; their sound stems from pop. You can hear phrases from some of the biggest acts of the past few years. Whilst their lyrics don't sell their songs ("she's the one that I want"), the melodies and the infectious rhythms give people want they want to hear. Diem is a hit song that has all the hall-marks of a chart buster, with nearly 35,000 plays on Myspace. Here is a band that can put on a big show and an image that can make them stand out. One of cluster of bands that is putting Leicester out front. Now that the The Screening have synths and keys, every young indie band climbing the Leicester tree wants the same.

The band has cultivated a loyal following locally, and its always the mark of a good band that for some songs, they can stop and let the audience carry on - that's always a good sign. Their set is wonderfully varied, ranging from a majestic ballad that sounds like it was written by Paul McCartney through to a punk-speed dance number that had the crowd jumping with their arms in the air. They are masters of great sweeping passages and vigorous chanty choruses. For me this was the best Screening gig ever. Their fans called them back for a deserved encore.

Saturday 20th March 2010

Saturday night: a big crowd turned up at the Music Cafe off Braunstone Gate, to hear three quality bands including the amazing Twisted Wheel.

Any band that can successfully blend together the best qualities of The Kinks, The Sex Pistols and Oasis has got to be worth seeing. Yes, Twisted Wheel was amazing. Based in Manchester and signed to Columbia records, A set of high energy songs, dripping with engaging tunes and catchy riffs, delivered by the star performance of front man Jonny Brown, it was a grippingly good experience. A big crowd turned out to see this magicly good band, that has supported Oasis, The Enemy, Ian Brown, The View, Pigeon Detectives, The Courteeners, Reverend & The Makers, Kasabian, The Rascals, The Coral and The Happy Mondays.

Supporting them were two of our finest Leicester bands: Kids in Cars and the Chairman, it added up to a top night of live music, so well done to promoters Shadow Promotions for putting on a great show.

Jonny Gavin and the Chairmen

It was a rare treat to hear Kids in Cars again. Musically, I think this is one of the most enthralling bands in Leicester. They have some really quality, memorable songs and it was just so good to see them live again. It's very sad that we don't see KIC playing in Leicester very often, because the music scene here would be all the better for having a band of this quality gracing our local stages.

The Chairmen, similarly have not played Leicester since their 'come back' gig at the Y Theatre on 5th September last year. A great band with a star vocalist - Jonny Gavin - they won the OBS in 2007 and were the national winners of Surface Unsigned in 2008. They relaunched last year with a new sound and a new set of songs, and also tonight came up with some new material as well as their hit song Twenty Twenty Vision. The Chairmen put on a sparkling performance and showed us that they are one of the top acts in our local rock scene.

I like the Music Cafe; it has had a make-over and the main room in the bar has been revamped. Rumours are spreading that this venue could become the replacement for the Charlotte. Certainly, new agents Shadow Promotions are doing good things, especially by bringing in some big name bands to headline, with support slots going to out best local bands.

Saturday 6th March 2010

OBS Heat 2 at the Shed

The night commenced with Drive By Disco. Their pulsating electro introduction from the laptop was accompanied by the three lads doing a sort of robotic dance as they came on stage. They are of course a band with a sense of humour and love clowning around. Well, good on them, I say, they have fun when they gig and that's ok. Dave, Poz and Ben pick up the sounds and burst into their tunes, infectious dance beats over laced with frenetic rock. They have come a long way since the days when they were For The Record and Dave especially as grown into a robust singer with a characteristic sound to his voice. The pinnacle of their success as FTR was the release of the iconic hit song "High School Royalty." Here is a band that has discovered what dance anthems are all about. Three guys with a sense of fun who can push out a set of engaging popular songs with a feel-good theme. Their "Break Up Song" has many of the hit characteristics of their earlier "High School Royalty" but lacks its iconic quality. With a good producer and studio, it could do really well and earn them a reputation.

Four young guys from Coalville came on next. Identity Parade are a new band but they have a lot of exciting elements: three solidly vocalists in Connor, Zack and Ryan and an accomplished drummer in the shape of James. They set off with a compelling, bouncy number laden with captivating rhythms and big, bold breaks. Their presence on the stage is not bad although they all look very young and haven't as yet grown into the maturity of rock stars - let's hope they have that to come. This is a band that should last; they have the musical ability and the song writing capacity to establish themselves. They need only to find themselves and decide where they want to go with it. For now they play a convincing set, passages fizzing with youthful energy, vigorous and full-bodied songs and four equally balanced band members who work tightly together.

From a band that has only just started, we went on to one of the established solid indie groups whose songs have become landmarks of the Leicester rock scene: The Pennyhangers. They have all the presence and stature that the young bands lack and they deliver deliciously memorable, tuneful songs that stay in your head on the way home. This is band that has mastered the art of writing big iconic ballads. With James in the lead, occasionally backed by Sean and Paddy, and driven by the master drumming of Johnny, The PHs is always enjoyable. Recently they have added a bit of discrete synthing into the sound but this does not detract from the mainstream approach to guitar music. Above all, they are a band that sounds like itself.

It was perhaps unfortunate that Ashdowne got rostered to play after the Pennyhangers. Ashdowne has been around for longer than most [formed 2004] but hasn't really made its mark on the local scene. Like me, lots of people know of Ashdowne but not so many have seen them play or know their songs. They play a set of powerful indie songs delivered with a restrained performance. Their songs have a modern sound, well constructed and expertly performed. The audience looked appreciative and absorbed but not excited; competent musicianship, tight playing and convincing vocals but none of the sparkle and pizzazz of the bands that preceded them.

See our coverage of the Original Bands Showcase 2010.

Thursday 18th February, The Charlotte

The last 14+ night at the Charlotte. Let's hope it's not the last one in Leicester. The police closed it down before the end because of trouble in the crowd.

But, hey ho, the night began with Leicester band Skinny Bones. Now, I had not seen this band before - probably because this was their first gig - but the young four piece had three excellent front vocalists and a set of kick-ass indie songs. Their spirited performance and vibrant sense of rhythm soon won the crowd over. And, ah yes, the lead guitarist was Josh from the old Just Norris band. He and the the lead vocalist were star quality. Great start to the night and this is a band that could really go far.

The audience included a large posse of musicians from other bands, down to support the line-up and enjoy the sense of occasion. Wow, I remember the time when the girls used to scream at the band members. Now they just scream at each other.

As the smoke machine filled the front of the room with a heavy white fog and long green fingers of laser light sparked out over the crowd, the five members of Formal Warning took to the stage. They are fast becoming the Famous Five and have recently returned from a tour of Belgium where they went down so well that they have been invited back in the summer. Ash picked up the mic and a forest of hands went up in the air. The band launches into one of their block-buster dance numbers. The floor in front of the stage is packed solid and the fans are in full voice during the choruses. Some of their fans should, me thinks, be on the stage with mics as a backing group. They know the songs well enough.

FW gave us two of their new songs - our little secret and cal and response . There is a lot of noise from the Brauny Army but Ash belts out the songs over the top of this. His voice has more kilowatts than the PA system. It's not just a set; its a complete show, from one of Leicester's top performance bands. They ended the night with an appropriate homage to Kasabian.

The Weekend Schemers had their set cut short when the police closed down the gig, as trouble maker after trouble maker got frogged march to the front door. Well it was snowing and bitterly cold outside and I expect the officers on duty there just wanted to get back to the station for a nice hot cuppa. The Schemers took to the stage with new vocalist Andy Cooper and got the party started with the packed throng in front of the stage. It was the right night for lound songs and fast beats. It takes a special kind of frenzy to engage a hundred or more 14+ teenagers. The Schemers had it nailed. They had their fingers on the pulse of modern songs and James Hazel, Andy and Connor Evans on backings made this band better than most.

Sadly, White Fix didn't get to play.

Saturday 13th February, The Queen of Bradgate

A new venue opened its doors tonight to the bands of Leicester. High Street pub, the Queen of Bradgate hosted a night organised by Silver Bullet Promotions. As first nights go, it was rather good. All the bands were well worth seeing and the pints were surprisingly cheap.

Seventh Empire launched the lineup, pumping out some strong riffs. Still relatively new, the lads are gaining in confidence and even though the lead singer had his arm in a sling, his voice was fit for the job, as he belted out some engaging songs. They covered You can be my hero baby, cranked up to a punky speed but they sizzled through it with a good dose of passion.

Another band with considerable presence and thrust is White Ashes and, despite not having played to this crowd before, they won them over with a set of artfully arranged and vibrant songs.

The headline band played third. Here In Leicester once more from Milton Keynes, Primal Device put on one of their block busting sets of high octane hard rock. This band is utterly amazing, led by three excellently good vocalists and guitar players and backed by a gold medal rhythm section, they bring the power and the glory of their genre to any gig they do. After their set, the accolades flowed in from fans and other band members alike. It's not only the technical wizzardry of their playing that thrills but the splendour of their music: great sweeping statements of sound that can suddenly plummet into tenderly quiet passages before thundering back into ear-cracking bursts of music. It reminds me of the music of Bruckner. Absolutely awesome. They will be back in Leicester soon.

Muse covers band Muse-ic ellicited a goodly helping of acclaim for their set. The crowd were purring with satisfaction at the skillful playing, smooth vocals and well selected Muse classics.

The night finally drew to a close with White Fix who gave everyone a pleasing set of their own songs, laden with foot tapping rythms and compelling melodic lines. A band we don't know well right now but who certainly will become increasingly in demand at local gigs, as their reputation gets round.

Saturday 30th January, The Shed

It's Overdrive again. The house is packed with kids. Lots of friends are meeting up again with handshakes and hugs. The girls have dressed themselves up. The lads are getting ready to dance. The noise level is earsplittingly high and the bands haven't even started to play yet. The Weekend Schemers arrive on stage and the crowd surges to the front. The band launches into a big song, laden with strong dancey beats, catchy phrases and expansive guitar solos. The crowd starts to dance and a forest of hands go up in the air. James Hazell excitedly works the crowd. After a thundering start to the set they launch into "Eight Balls" and the music takes it up a peg. Tame it is not. It's not music you can sit down to listen to. The four young guys play with the swagger of seasoned professionals. New vocalist Andy Cooper is introduced to the stage. The band's vibrant vocals are already solidly in place with James, Conor and Joe. Drummer Harry told me "I can't sing"; never mind Harry, I am sure you can shout and chant in tune, so no excuses dude. New guy Andy shows the crowd what he's made of and gives them an electrifying performance. It's good to see a band that can fire up a room even on the first slot. It's usually a chilly start but WS warmed things up straight away. The band breaks into "The Chase", a fast paced song with a stack of massive guitar riffs and the crowd are jumping like cats on a hot tin roof. I can see this band getting really big this year.

The 'Schemers having set the bar, it would have been nice if The Hordes could have jumped over it. Sadly one of their band members sustained an injury last year and they have been off the road, getting a bit rusty. They are confident of winning back their ratings with a set of new songs that they are working on now. But tonight's performance failed to get up a head of steam. Despite strong vocals from Alex Oxley, tight playing and good crowd interaction, the stage presence was rather flaccid and they sunk into a couple of rather slow paced songs that were good but not what tonight was about. This band has a good reputation and I have seen them do a lot better in the past; they know how to put together infectious tunes, driven by compulsive beats, and they have great taste in music. Contemporary in sound but not necessary all that original, their vocalisations fall a bit flat and they fail to really bond with their audience. Even so, the Hordes are a solidly good band with a tantalising talent and a lot of people are eager to hear their new stuff when it comes out.

The Heroes set is slightly delayed as the Shed deals with a police raid but eventually the four lads take to the stage and break into Blue Rave. You can see a video of this on Facebook or You Tube: it gives a flavour of the crazy excitement that crackles when this band plays; the audience erupts into a riot and you know you're on Planet Heroes. They stuck to their established set, despite being poised to release some new work soon and have given one or two of their old songs a makeover. This is what live rock is all about and in the intense hothouse of the Shed it doesn't get much more intense than this. Alex Totman also gave us a loving rendition of their iconic ballad Flowers in Golden Times. I've seen them so many times and written about them so often, I don't know that there is much left to be said, except that this could be their year. I hope it is - they are peaking now and it's time for them to be grabbed by a label. It seems we won't be seeing much of them around here later this year as they are off on tour. It's time for them to take to the road and show the world what they can do.

Even so, you can see the Heroes with The Towers of London on 4th March at the Music Cafe and at the last night of the Charlotte on 13th March.

Friday 29th January, Sumo

Reviewed by Claire Hudson

Silent Resistance

SUMO undoubtedly oozes charm and cool, and the basement of this place offers every aspiring rock band the perfect backdrop in which to unleash some seriously hard hitting sounds. Capturing the essence of “fresh” in every way - including the unmistakable scent of “newness”, it would be safe to say that if you didn’t get high from the musical offerings on display, the fresh paint fumes ought to have done it!

As the room filled up with eager faces and dedicated moshers, by the onset of the first band, a scan of the room confirmed that indeed, this audience seemed utterly befitting of the occasion – all long hair and young blood standing by to be royally entertained.

As it kicked off at 9 pm, the atmosphere, both onstage and off was electric. It appeared as though the bulk of the crowd were there to support Silent Resistance. These bright young up and comers proclaim 'belters' to be their game, but could they deliver?

Well, after managing to catch a word with Ryan Tailor, Lead vocal, the unadulterated passion and dedication he has for this music and this band was quite telling and seemed very promising. Silent Resistance took to the stage shortly after 9.30pm and under the scrutiny of the spotlight, began the task of instrument arrangement, body shuffling and mic checking.

As the boys donned their sticks and straps, a sense of anticipation filled the air until finally, out of the faint murmurs, with a slow paced drum roll and a steady glance to the crowd from Ryan, it was apparent that this band was more than ready to well and truly blow us all away – and delight in every moment! A sense of triumph descended upon these guys as the set got underway, and with an electrifying yelp of liberty from front man Ryan, who’s calm and unassuming demeanour offstage belies the extraordinary impact of his mighty sound - all consuming, all knowing and with the confidence of a veteran classic rocker; the audience truly came to life when these guys hit the stage.

A raucous delight ensued, with electrifying rifts and punchy melodies. Ryan - who kicked off his glasses less than 2 minutes into the intro, attested some amazing vocals with a seemingly limitless range wavering from soft, with an almost nurturing quality to ear-splitting boldness - all the while demonstrating succinct control. Immense precision and resolute passion flowed from drummer Danny Lodge. The two guitarists, Jai Flannery and Alex Roddis seemed at total ease and brought a laid back coolness to the performance, whilst Dan Slipper on Bass added effortless depth to the melodies.

Ryan told me that he never has a drink before a gig, preferring instead a clear and lucid experience, yet seemed utterly intoxicated by the buzz of performing, demonstrating sheer devotion to the music, and establishing a rapport with the ever excitable, perfectly hooked mob - a faultless front man who knows exactly how to work the crowd, but also how to share the limelight, Ryan appeared to be at total ease exactly where he was.

Some thoroughly delicious tunes filled the room, enveloping the senses and washing over the audience like a warm, steady wave. From soft and light to HARD, HARD, HARD, this continuous sound generated a euphoric sensation which could be felt deep within the soul - from top to toe. By the second song, each member seemed to be in their own private paradise and it was at this point where musical influences (who they list as Metallica, Lost Prophets, and Fightstar to name but a few) began to shine through.

Their third offering, the self titled Silent Resistance had more of an indie rift to begin with, but soon descended into a classic rock belter! The set ended with Retreat, a song which sounds unbelievable live – delicate yet strong, with profound lyrics that complemented the musical essence perfectly. Although there were moments where Ryan’s style of vocal coupled with sharp and jumpy melodies were slightly reminiscent of classic System of a Down - which is no mean feat, or hardship - what I loved about them is that there was nothing Americanised about these lot. Just pure, honest classic Brit rock.

There was such altruism to the way they played, and the energy they created was incredible. Hard to believe it was only their third ever gig, I would have paid good money to see this band, the only regret being they couldn’t play all night. This lot defiantly have fire in their bellies, and it would be surprising if they didn’t go the distance. With electric stage presence, constant build ups, and timely crescendos Silent Resistance gave a charismatic performance, full of force and passion which I’m sure will only increase from here on in!

You can see Silent Resistance at Walkabout on 2nd February and at the Crows Nest on 9th February.

Saturday 23rd January, The Shed

A young four piece band from Grantham launched a night of solidly good music. Kiss Corona featured two good front vocalists, Phil and Steve, and a singing drummer, Sam. Even Luke did a bit of chanting now and again. Good stage presentation with lots of movement and dancing was combined with tight playing and songs that had beat and persuasion. Rooted in pop punk traditions, they added a lot of interesting layers to make the sounds more modern and upbeat; even some pounding metal riffs came in there from time to time, giving their tunes a good deal of solidity and bite, but retaining the happy, dancy vibrancy of their roots. A really nice band. Watch out for them; they are bound to be back in Leicester soon.

I loved the big brassy sounds and infectious rhythms that back Matt, lead singer, of Last Edition. A band with an energetic stage presence, they brought the music alive and pulled the crowd into the action. Ska used to be popular in Leicester, reaching its hey day during the era of Freefall Felix, when there where large audiences for it and a lot of skanking down at the front. Although there are still a small number of excellent ska bands around, this particular genre has waned, particularly as the popularity of indie pop has increased. Not that we hear traditional ska; these bands borrow the catchy rhythms from ska without tributing it and aficionados of the style would not be too impressed. But Last Edition's stuff is nevertheless enjoyable, being full of dynamic beats and breaks and the whole band looked like they were have a really great time on the stage. Enjoyable and well presented, their set kept the night moving. LE will be launching their new EP on 26th February.

Ictus is a band that has been around for longer than most. Tonight they demonstrated that they are still the top notch band they always used to be. In fact, Ictus was the first band I ever played and they introduced me to live rock music in Leicester, several years ago, when they were a trio of lively teenage pop-punkers. Their music has developed and today's offering has a more modern, punchier sound, although you can still hear the intense rhythms of their roots. Ictus is a band that ticks all the boxes for me. Three superbly good front singers are backed up by Andy, another singing drummer, who they acquired from Glitch, that allowed their old drummer, Adam, to come to the front with his guitar to join lead singers Aaran and bassist Chris. Three good singers that blend well to form rich and fulsome vocals that add a considerable body of depth to the tunes. For me, Ictus is a benchmark band; they set the bar when it comes to popular rock music. They have written plenty of memorable songs, they have a magic presence on the stage, they are tight and well-oiled musicians and they have attracted a loyal following. They are a headline band. They complete a line up and tonight they rounded off two other well chosen acts. You don't need half a dozen bands for a night of good music; three good bands is enough.

Saturday 9th January, The Shed

Leicester is full of surprises and so is the Shed. Tonight's gig was an enjoyable party with a nice, happy crowd of people. They braved the winter chill to come down and support their bands. They stayed throughout the night, including most of the band members and musicians from several other bands came too, to enjoy the occasion. All good signs. So it was a good night at the Shed: a fair sized crowd, dancing, singing, cheering, chanting and drinking and enjoying meeting up with mates and getting to know some new bands.

What was really surprising was that all the bands excelled themselves and got into the spirit of the competition in a good natured way. It was the final of the current series of Winner Takes All, organised by Silver Bullet Promotions.

The Night opened with DubStep and Grimecore rappers Nemasis. The seven young men took to the stage, passing the mics round so that could take it in turns to deliver their raps, as producer Kane Johnson dealt out the sounds on the decks. The front of stage area soon filled with a phalanx of fans and band members, dancing and doing the movements. Even though it wasn't their style of music, the indie rockers got into the groove of the beats and rhythms. Afterwards they were commenting "brilliant", "really good" and this was cool - musicians appreciating music that they don't perform themselves and perhaps don't normally listen to. They got caught by the power of the beat and the rappers enjoyed having a pack in front of the stage to perform to, who were clearly appreciating an exciting performance. Nice one.

Swift Flasby playing at the Shed

Next on was Burton-on-Trent band Swift Flasby who started their set with one of their own songs, "The Mirror". This is a band that pumps out intoxicating, quality rock 'n roll songs delivered with passion and energy. Led by the voices of Andy Crowe and Dave Middlemiss, they delivered a cracking set of songs, all their own stuff. Other musicians commented on the quality of the guitar parts. What makes this band stand out is that they are four very able and experienced musicians who really enjoy getting up on a stage and entertaining a crowd. They have great taste in music and have a great set of well written original songs and it all works for them. They have a stage presence that sparkles and they live the music and that comes across so well.

A difficult act to follow but White Ashes took up the challenge, even though they were bereft of their drummer and so had to do an acoustic set, which is not what they are used to and it was clearly outside of their comfort zone. Making an electric band perform acoustically is said to be the test of good musicianship and Joe Walker, Jake Brennan and Jack Franklin pulled it off magnificently. They got the crowd dancing to some of the songs and included a number of much loved covers that people joined in with. So, they turned what could have been a disaster into a triumph.

The momentum of the night was sustained when Coalville band Beauty Killed the Beast came on; the new and not well known five piece really gave it their all and delivered their best set yet. With three band members getting into the vocals and lead singer Elliott performing with a barrel load of confidence, they kept the crowd going with a strong set of their own songs and a couple of covers. The band includes star bassist Josh, who is also in a couple of other bands, and drummer Jono, who drew some favourable comments from other drummers in the room. I am told there is a bit of a scene buzzing up in Coalville these days and it must be a good one if these guys are anything to go by.

Kicking habits with fans on stage at the Shed

There was no let up to the standard when Kicking Habits came on with their set of fast moving, infectious indie songs. Their energy kept the crowd at the front, dancing and crowd surfing, and, so excited were some of them that they climbed on to the stage to dance with the band and we ended with a stage invasion. Although a fairly new band, KH has been making its mark on the local scene and tonight they demonstrated why they have become popular and developed a following. With their good lead vocalist, Michael, and ace drummer Jake and all four musicians contributing to the vocals, they are one good team of players with a set of songs that people definitely want to listen to. They won the competition, not just with their own fans but having won votes from those who had not seen them before.

It was a long night of music and when the final band picked up their guitars, they had been waiting in the queue for over six hours. This Fallen Empire has enjoyed listening to the other bands but it was a long wait for them to do their stuff. You always feel for the last band on but they rose to the challenge and gave it their best.They now have a new bassist and have been playing for well over a year; having changed their name they are now determined to become a successful band. They have won this competition before and are not short of performance hours; these hard working and very genuine guys have developed a distinctive sound of their own for their memorable songs and very down to earth approach to music.

A really enjoyable night of live music; all the bands were good and the crowd got into it and made a gig into a party. Well done all the musicians who gave us a great night of live music and well done to all the fans who stuck around and created some real warmth on a very cold night.

Friday 8th January, The Shed

Dutch Courage, The Dobsons, Razmataz, Autohype

Four bands played at what Autohype announced as being one of their last Leicester gigs for a while, prior to them going out on tour. Despite the freezing conditions outside, a large crowd gathered to heat the Shed and have a great time listening to their favourite bands. First on was Dutch Courage, who managed to get through the county snow drifts from Market Bosworth to make a rare appearance in the centre of Leicester. The four indie kids faced a still shivering room full of fans, well half full at this stage, but delivered a set of well crafted songs, led by vocalist/bass player Phil and backed with some nicely decorated guitar parts. Infectiously good work from the strings of Tom and Ollie, was propelled along by compulsive rhythms and a confident, if lack-lustre, stage performance. Good though they were, the songs didn't seem to do much for the audience. Despite the tight playing and strong vocals, the set failed to take off.

Leicester band the Dobsons followed; the five piece similarly featured a strong lead vocalist - Callum - but again there was a distinct lack of backing vocals to add depth to the sound. By this time the crowd had increased and the room had warmed up a little more. Another limp stage performance failed to ignite the crowd, even though the music was good and the songs nicely crafted. It was all good stuff but it didn't get the party started.

It wasn't until Razmataz took to the stage that things started to get hot enough for a mosh pit to form. I have watched many young bands prompting the audience to clap along during a section of music. Razmataz didn't need to; the audience spontaneously put their hands in the air, caught up in the dynamics of the songs. The audience ignited at last and the hitherto frigid atmosphere melted into a party. This is a band with one of the more memorable sets of songs amongst all of our local bands. Playing for the last time under their current name and intending to come back revamped, updated and with a musical make-over, this was the last chance to sing along to the songs we have known and loved for the past three years.

Wo, wo, wo Good things don't last for ever.

Still a young band, they have the stage presence lacking in a lot of their peers and a well-oiled depth of experience to outshine even some of the older bands. Their set was punchier, rockier and more tuneful and Nathan and Chris worked well together to give the vocals a lot more clout (although bassist Dan appeared to have been let off mic duty tonight.)

Razmataz played at most of the biggest gigs of last year and launched the main stage at Summer Sundae, so it has been a good year for them. Rather than wanting to do more of the same, they are fully intent on moving forward, so we will be waiting for their return with anticipation, having seen what they have achieved over the past three years.

Autohype are Autohype! Like Razmataz, they don't sound like other bands; they have developed a sound that is unmistakably their own. The crowd, having been ignited by Razmataz, erupted into a riot when the five lords of the dance got underway. Here is a band that turns a gig into a show. A small tip about how to tell a top band from the rest: they don't have to look at their instruments to play them. The four instrumentalists could have done it blind-folded. Front-man Seb however needed plenty of light to see where he was going, as he set off into the crowd, up the steps into the control booth to sing to Andy the sound engineer and, after a couple of trips along the bar in his red ballet shoes, he's back into the crowd and heading to the stage.

"This is the year when we are going to make it"

Seb stands somewhere between Freddy Mercury and Robbie Williams when he's in front of a crowd. He doesn't just sing to them, he performs to them; he captures the audience, he commands it. Autohype are ready to go forth and take on the world. They have worked hard since they emerged like a butterfly from the chrysalis of their former name and line-up. As a band they have achieved a lot musically. Their devotion to excellence and their exemplary team-work have created a band that deserves to have a place at the top of the nation's musical tree. What was going on, I wondered, in the minds of some novice band members standing in front of the stage, looking up in wonder or the sternly critical faces of a peer band standing at the back of the hall? It's a nice thing about Leicester, that band members attend each other's gigs, partly to support, partly to be seen and party, one imagines, to learn.

A great night at the Shed.

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