GIG REVIEWS 2008

The Harringtons and The Penny Hangers, The Charlotte, Monday 22nd December 2008

When Nottingham ska band The Harringtons played the Charlotte for the first time they gave the crowd a set of enjoyable songs and they brought their own crowd with them. The Charlotte on a very cold winters night is not a magnet for rock fans, so if bands want to play to an audience they have to bring one with them and this is what the young Nottingham band did.

Their set of ska and powerpop songs warmed up the shivering fans and the five member band certainly showed us what musical entertainment is all about. Vocalists Ollie Slade and Chris Parkinson shared the songs, with passages on the trumpet from Simon Mensley, giving a generous helping of bouncy, foot tapping tunes.

Their lively rhythmic set was balanced by strong melodic lines to which the two singers gave some good vocal depth. Pleasing and watchable, the Harringtons set was well worth braving the darkness of a winters night for.

The addition of the brass section gave their sound an extra brightness with occasional emphasis from drummer Phakey on the cowbells. So full marks for clever orchestration and a convincing commitment to catchy, compelling rhythms. The Harringtons is a likeable and enjoyable band with a generous set of of engaging songs.

Given the popularity for Ska in Leicester, The Harringtons is a band that will go down well with some of our established Ska bands. I certainly would look forwarding to seeing them again.

Leicester indie band the Pennyhangers is rapidly establishing itself as one of the leading indie bands in Leicester. The band's very solid set of modern indie songs is ably delivered by the fine vocals of front man James Percy and features the award winning drumming of Jonny Wells.

Sparkling guitar passages from Andy Waterhouse and solid bassing from Paddy Steel mark the Pennyhangers out as an accomplished band that is drawing respect and admiration from other musicians in the local scene.

But what makes Pennyhangers so exciting is their ability to write superbly good songs. Songs that have the iconic melodies and lyrics of classic hits. Catchy vocal phrases, magical riffs, finely crafted song writing, its a formula that is winning this band a solid reputation.

My prediction is that Pennyhangers is one of the Leicester bands most likely to be signed to a decent label in 2009.

The Harringtons | The Pennyhangers

The Holloways, The Charlotte, Sunday 7th December 2008

Reviewed by Dan Holyoak of Razmataz

The Holloways finished their UK tour by taking to the stage of the Charlotte and what a performance it was! After their roadies had tuned their instruments and assembled the drum kit on stage for them, they opened with a song from their new e.p. called "P.S.B", which immediately got heads bobbing and feet tapping and a few fans at the front were dancing. They then moved onto the songs off the previous album 'so this is great britain?', parading the stage with such classics as 'Dancefloor' , 'Two left feet' and 'Great Britain' which were clearly familiar to a few fans at the front as they were chanting along to the lyrics. The band ended the set with their catchiest and most known number 'Generator', which was a great way to end a tight and energetic set from the london four piece.

The Holloways

The Jacaranda Chaos Band, Sumo, 4th December 2008

Review by Jason Westall of the Utopians

Quaternary Limit? Forget it. The JCB are faster and more adrenaline fuelled than before. A front man that would give Jagger a run for his money explodes into chaos as ears fixate on "my father is dead". Fierce backing vocals from Tom Haywood paint a picture of the post punk era, as drums remain battered in a sex pistol fashion. Pumping riffs and outlandish dance moves make this fiery band a must see.

The JCB

The Chairmen, The NEC, Birmingham, Saturday 8th November 2008

Chairmen's drummer Luke Walker tells us about the band's gigs at the NEC, as part of the Music Live event.

Luke: The Stage and PA were brilliant. We were on at 11 am so we were all a bit tired but once we were warmed up we got more into it. We played about a 35 minute set which included the new song 'Headaches and Heartbreaks' which went down really well. People were gradually filtering in as we played so at the start of the gig it was a bit sparse but by the third song in had filled up nicely. Probably around 200 people.

Trevor: So how did the crowd react to the Chairmen's songs?

Luke: Although the crowd were never going to be dancing and jumping around at that time in the morning there were a few people having a jig and we got a good reception between songs.

Trevor: How did the second set go?

Luke: Had an about an hour and half between coming off and the second gig which gave us time to have a look round. Second gig was much smaller but it was good to see some people who came to watch the first time come back again. Had to use an electric drum kit which was a bit strange and the stage was only tiny but it was quite intimate and people who were walking past were stopping to have a listen which was good.

Trevor: So, what else did the band do?

Luke: After we'd played we went and spent some of the money we'd won from the surface final which was enjoyable as well!

The Chairmen

Her Last Confession, The Shed, 22nd November 2008

Her Last Confession is a new five piece band formed in Sept 08. They are writing and playing their own songs, mainly alt/indie rock with a punky edge. Influences come from Blink 182, Snow Patrol, The Fray and also Free Fall Felix (hey guys, you'r so big now your an influence!!.) Some of the band members come from Beauchamp College, the same stable as the wonderful Noctural and The Utopians. At the moment their set list includes covers - actually a good way for a young band to start - "how to save a life" by the Fray, "Run" by Snow Patrol, "Wonderwall" by Oasis, Greenday's "Holiday" and "Seven Nation Army" from Whitestripe's "Elephant". Not bad eh?

The guys are planning to spend time in the studio laying down some of their original songs and hope to have an EP out by April. So far they have played the Shed, Charlotte, and Sumo Their great ambition is to play a support slot with Foo Fighters (why not? - anything can happen in the world of live music and there's no harm in having something to aim for). In the meantime they will happily play with Free Fall Felix and Naked Gravy. They also like Linchpin.

The band benefits from the strong vocals of lead singer Enrique and some nifty guitar work from Ben and Luke. The band has already attracted a sizeable army of fans. The band has a good stage presence and can work the crowd, although there is some room for improvement in this department. They should go to a Backline gig and see how its done !! But hey, their fans love them and that's a really good start for a young band. HLC has a solid set of enjoyable songs and if their original works are anything like the quality of their covers, this is a band that is well worth watching.

Charnwood band Shortly After Sunrise also played at this gig. The Alt/punk trio includes a singing drummer (a brownie point with us !), and they have been playing for about two years, during which time they have supported The Displacements (pre-Stiff Records one would assume). Quite a reasonable set of songs but rather dull on stage, they nevertheless show potential and have one good track up.

Her Last Confession | Shortly After Sunrise

The Displacements at Abbey Park, Saturday 1st November 2008

By Dan of Razmataz

The Displacements started the second half of their set after the fireworks had finished. They opened with an instrumental (which dragged on, to be honest) and then they played more of their new songs, which seemed to be a lot softer and had quite a warm sound, with very impressive vocals. The best new ones that they played were 'listen to me', which has a catchy chorus and 'bruises'.

They had very good harmonies from the drummer (Bone) and the bassist (Nick). They played a song called 'always' which Andy (lead vocals) put his guitar down for and danced around in quite a groovey sorta fashion, to warm up the audience and get people moving ... by the end of the set it was wet and cold and horrible and everyone had gone home, except for the 20 or so people who braved the foul weather for a while. Andy showed his appreciation to those who stuck around despite the wind and cold. Overall it was a good performance and had it been a fine night, it would have been a really good experience.

The Displacements.

Kids in Cars, The Fly, New Oxford Street, London, 27th October 2008

Rising stars of the Leicester indie scene, Kids in Cars, went down to the Barfly and headlined at a packed show. Here is a band with a distinctive style and a cracking good set of songs. They opened with the oddly named "Pyongyang with love", which is the first track on their Myspace. Sung by lead vocalist James Stafford, a singer with a great voice and distinctive vocal style, it's a compelling and memorable song with some catchy stuff coming off the guitars.

Having acknowledged an enthusiastic response from the audience they launched into "So it goes", which took off with a stomping introduction before breaking into a series of catchy riffs. A song with some lilting melodies and a good feel to it, it was delivered tightly and again went down a treat with the London audience. Four songs later, Kids in Cars were getting a very enthusiastic closing applause from the crowd at the end of a long night.

Gliding back up the M1, those tuneful KIC melodies were still swirling round my head; had there been a CD of their songs I would have happily listened to them all the way back to Leicester. Glad to say the Kids are heading into the studios soon to lay down some more of their very enjoyable tracks.

Kids in Cars is a band likely to rise swiftly to the top over the year ahead; hit quality songs, played and sung deliciously well and totally modern in style. I can see great things ahead for this band.

Just to mention, KICs were supported by Mesh-29, a Peterborough band that has played Leicester several times; one of my favourite melodic indie bands, they have of the most memorable songs of any band of their type and put on a hugely good show. So well done to Adam and the guys and hope to see the guys back in Leicester soon.

Kids in Cars | Mesh-29

Backline at the Shed, 16th October 2008

Three years ago I walked into the Shed a found a new, young band playing. I was so impressed I wrote them a glowing review. Backline has now matured into a superbly good band. It's the total package: massively good stage presence from the whole band, an X-Factor rock star lead vocalist, a band that can fill a venue with its fans, a set of iconic rock songs. Backline's show at the Shed was an unforgettable experience: a line up of excellent support acts, a full-house crowd and a performance by Backline which out-stripped most other bands that have graced the Shed's stage.

Supporting Backline there was Nottingham Band 13th Hour. Five band members with two powerful vocalists who shared the task of delivering a contrapuntal melodic vocal line, David and Tim put on an impressive demonstration of their vocal skills. Vigorous, captivating music flowed from the stage, laced with engaging phrases and riffs, driven by exhilarating beats from Matt on the skins.

The band's intense and thrilling songs jumped from soft melodic passages to a crescendo of thunderous walls of sound. They pumped out colourful fireworks of guitar playing with James and Tom displaying some dexterous finger work on the strings. A brilliant band that played some stunning rock music.

Glitch gave us a contrasting set of bouncy indie songs, delivered by accomplished song writer Kris, a fine singer and another front man with star quality, ably backed by lead guitarist Jimmy. A strong, solid band, Glitch has been giving Leicester audiences great songs. I noticed the bassist from defunct band With a Story playing with them. Stomping rhythms, catchy songs and ear gripping melodies, this is not a band to veer towards the cheesy end of the indie market; Glitch have a vibrancy and a song like "Dry My Eyes" will get a crowd dancing but still pay tribute to the classic riffs and beats of mainstream rock.

Backline took to the stage, and clearly the magic has not diminished over the past three years. It has increased because now they are a seasoned band with a track record of top class shows behind them. A venue-packing band with one of the best stage shows you will ever see, this is an outstanding band. Their distinctive brand of heavy rock bears a lot in common with metal but this is no metal band; Backline occupy the mainstream of rock tradition but their show would put most metal bands in the shade.

Backline is a band that sizzles with energy and throws out thrilling songs, backed by massive guitar work and olympic levels of drumming, like a great engine blasting out megawatts of high-octane rock. The backline song as much as Chris's vocals have an immediately recognisable and distinctive sound. Whilst a lot of other bands always sound like some other bands, here is a band that sounds like itself. Spectacular solos from Joe, and and one of the most exhilarating front man performances from Chris, made this a night to remember. A Backline gig is a magical experience and I don't care what their critics say about them, for me Backline is at the top of Leicester's premier league of bands. They are legends.

The night was rounded off by London band Linchpin. A well established pop rock band with a set of quality songs, they boast a glowing review from Kerrang and have supported Fightstar and Good Charlotte, whilst Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters thinks very highly of them. Their set had a well practiced and professional sound, with songs that packed a punchy beat to back the excellent vocals. Cunningly balanced guitar work and a very modern set of songs with solid melodic lines made them an immediate hit.

Backline | 13th Hour | Glitch | Linchpin

Autohype and Starko at the Charlotte, 14th October 2008

Having got their two new band members in place, Autohype returned to the gigs circuit with a superb set of their excellent indie songs. Some new arrangements of established classics, some totally new songs and some new features to their stage show made this a set to remember. Autohype puts on a show - great songs to whistle on the way home and a performance that is good to watch, puts this band ahead of many others. New band member Nicci Robertson plays synths and has her own percussion section which she uses to do some vigorous drum bashing; she's also a very pretty blond girl. The band has some new recordings up which they laid down at top London studio Animal Farm. So the 'Hype are back on their upward spiral, better than before and definitely targeted on stardom. Lead singer Seb was in good form but not quite as hyperactive as before and drummer Ed got naked and did some hot stuff on the skins. Thanks to Stayfree for putting on two great bands.

Starko have been rather quiet since their appearance at the 2008 OBS. But singer Johnny B belted out a fine set of power ballads, with great synthing from Jonny P, which clearly got the audience fired up. Some would say that Starko are a tad better in recording than live, but their set proved that they can set a room alight. They rely on stomping beats, to drive along some engaging melodies. Convicing and passionate, Starko showed themselves to be a band with presence.

Autohype | Starko

The Screening, The Heroes and Razmataz at the Charlotte, Saturday 12th October

The Charlote was absolutely packed for a line up of some of Leicester's best indie bands. Razmataz opening the show started with their really fast, punchy intro song before kicking in with 'The Situation.' Fans went mad when the band played their moshable, rocky song, 'Betty Swollocks.' But the craziest audience reaction was ignoted when they realised Razmataz were playing their favourites such as 'Good Things' and 'Catfight.' Good things was the main hit it and had everyone jumping up and down. The band ended on their drum and bass song 'Caught in the Glaze' with fans shouting Razmataz, Razmataz at the end of the set..

The Screening | The Heroes | Ramataz

Worst Off at the Pavilion, Saturday 11th October

It's not often that bands from the USA play at a small venue in Leicester, so we looked forward to Seattle band Worst Off with interest and anticipation. The Washington State band played one amazing set of punchy songs, capturing that distinctive sound of US rock - fast rythms, suberb and powerful vocals from lead singer Drew and classy, dexterous string work from guitarist Jimmy, who showed off his guitar skills in a series of amazing solos. The headline slot can be a graveyard, and certainly the audience had dwindled by the time they came on but those who heard them loved this great American band. Their songs were full of passion, vibrance and energy, weaving together a cocktail of punk, metal and rock into a heady and totally enjoyable set. Visting Leicester on their 'Creation Through Destruction Tour', Worst Off topped a great evening of bands.

Abduction of Margaret, the geordie grunge band, brought us their ideosyncratic songs, which would have gone down well at a Dirty Backbeats gig.The three Newcastle rockers have played Leicester before and now they have been joined by sound effects guy Tawsy. AOM are a fun band with a unique style of performance which bounces along with bursts of energy and a wry sense of humour.

Earlier in the evening the house enjoyed a riot with newbie band Formal Warning, Leicester's answer to Exit Avenue. Mosh pits and dancing were much in evidence as the band pumped out some phenominal songs including their own rendition of the Ataris classic 'The Boys of Summer' and Bryan Adam's 'Summer of 69', alongside the band's original songs.

By way of sheer contrast, we also heard the wonderful music of Sunflower, the Leicester funk/jazz/rock band. Tom Hackwell's vocals were tightly backed by the Sax and Flute of Kate Fowkes and the drum and bass of Mark and Ben. A solidly good performance and an enchantingly different style of rock, conjouring up influences of Courtney Pine and Fleetwood Mac, with shades of 'El Pussycat'

Worcester band The Zanders gave us their set of class rock songs, laced with delightful lashings of funk and jazz sounds. Some clever fingerwork from the guitarist and quality vocals from the lead singer and bassist were backed by with some vitality from the drummer. A nicely balanced set of songs with some good vocals made this an enjoyable set from a band we hope to see again soon.

Worst Off brought the evening to a climax; more of a party than a gig, the eclectic lineup of styles kept the enjoyment going and gave the audience a series of musical treats. Some say that the Pavilion is a bit off the beaten track; but many of its gigs have placed it well in the centre of Leicester's rock scene, offering its stage to new bands, touring bands and the best of our local talent. The Pavilion has seen some of the best gigs of all the local venues.

Worst Off | Abduction of Margaret | Formal Warning | Sunflower | The Zanders

Razmataz, The Musician, Monday 29th September

Razmataz sang three songs at the Musician and wow what a great band with a set of songs that put a lot of older and more experienced bands to shame. These four young teenagers kicked off their set with "Good Things ", Nathan Lord taking the lead on vocals, they gave us a song with a classic indie sound. Chris Merriman (lead guitar) adding some nice backing vocals to the happy, catchy melody and Dan Holyoak put in some spirited bass beats. A well constructed song that flowed off the stage and showed off how tight this band is and how masterly they are at writing memorable songs.

Next came "Cold Shoulder", a song with an immediate appeal, that will stick in your head for ages afterwards. Not many bands can achieve that. Nathan Lord once again showed off his glowing vocals, with clear crisp articulation of the lyrics and a passionate commitment to the song. The whole group put on a confident and relaxed performance but one that deserved admiration and respect - these kids work like seasoned musicians.

They finished their set with "I'm only a friend", Nathan Lord's song, marking him out to be a singer with style and panache. At 16 Nathan has a bright future ahead of him, if this song is anything to go by. Ably backed by Chris with occasional highlighting from bassist Dan, Razmataz clearly delighted the audience, on a lineup which included some veteran singers and highly gifted acoustic artists.

Razmataz stand out as not only one of the best young bands in Leicester but in the first division of all our local indie groups.

Razmataz

The Steptoos, The Pavilion, Saturday 6th September 2008

In a city where indie bands are thick on the ground, one or two really stand out and the Steptoos is one of them. A top class band with a crackingly good set of songs and some sparkingly good sounds, this is a band that really gets a gig to take off.

The Hinckley five peice were preceeded by three solidly good bands - the newly formed Jacaranda Chaos Band, Birmingham's The Return and Neon Sarcastic - and just when the audience thought 'it cant get any better' - the Steptoos took to the stage and the audience got up to dance.

This is a band with a set of amazingly good songs - 'Out Tonight' is a geezer rock classic, with a catchy ska beat sprinkled into the chorus.

A band with a set of star musicians, they know how to blend instruments to make captivating sounds. Vocalist Ollie also puts on some marvellous solo appearances and when playing with the band wips out a harmonica in between playing the guitar and singing.

The Steptoos are a band with a very modern set of songs, and you can hear influences ranging from Oasis through to the Pigeon Detectives. Crisp, clear vocals where you can hear all the words are intoned with a vaguely northern rock accent. Listen to 'Girl You Amaze Me' - you'll see what I mean and checkout the soaring backing sound. With a good producer and a decent studio, these guys could hit the charts.

The Steptoos

Taste the Chase's "last gig", The Charlotte, Thursday 29th August 2008

Billed as an EP launch night, Taste the Chase headlined a ska show and told their fans that this was their last gig and that the band intends to split up. Well they certainly went out with a bang, launching their terminal set with a rocked up version of Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca". Off to a flying start, this was the first show with their new trumpet player as well as the launch pad for the songs they have been working on over the summer.

During their short career, the band developed a distinctive sound and style, a gave birth to some really good songs, like " Push Ya'self " and "Perfect day". The band's strength was lead singer Tom Marsden, a front man with real charisma, a distinctive voice and some talent for songwriting. TTC songs were laced with the alto sax of Alex Hawkes - tonight ably assisted by the new trumpet player.

They launched into a "Perfect day" a song with star quality, with its lyrics having a quote from the Arctic Monkeys "I bet you look good on the dance floor", a cracker of a song with a catchy chorus. It would be great if another band could cover these songs, if TTC are not going to perform them any more. "Stop look and listen" is one of the new songs and has the stamp of a band reaching maturity in song writing.

They bowed out with a stormingly good set, full of passion and conviction, and a superb performance from lead singer Tom.

Taste The Chase

Southsmith in Leicester, Saturday 23rd August 2008

Soulsmith are a rock band from Swindon and have played Leicester before. Tonight they played a gig at the Pavilion and then went down to the Queen Victoria to play another set. On Sunday they played at the Shed. Pretty much a tour de force. This three member band plays mainstream rock - extraordinarily well - with lead vocals from Mike Anstey, bass from Paul Yallop and Ant Henderson on the drums. They have a great set of songs: Roflcopter - the first song at the Pavo set - which is on their Myspace - gives an impression of how they sound - crisply clear vocals from Mike, who also churns out some distored riffs on guitar. They cleverly swap from fast beats with lots of energy, to slower passages where they get into mood and atmosphere.

So from the name you would think they were into Soul and Blues - not at all! Their Myspace says " Grunge / Alternative / Funk" - couldn't agree with this - some funky sounds in there yes, but no way is it gunge (not in my books) and am also not convinced about the alternative bit - it's mainstream to my ears. Powerful songs, exhilarating beats and artful use of high and low structures in the music - it's quality melodic rock all through the set.

Their songs drive forward with enerrgy and passion, with some stormingly good vocals and tight backings - when they get going, it's just electrifying. A large sound, pumped out by three top class musicians, having an anthemic feel to the songs. Sadly only two of their large set list are on the myspace tracks. These guys have a massive stage presence and can set a room on fire, just as they did at the Queen Vic. Switching from moody, evokative passages to blistering, soaring anthems, makes Soulsmith one of the most exciting bands to have blessed Leicester audiences with a top class live music experience.

The band is back in Leicester on 15th and 16th November.

Southsmith

Freefall Felix at the Shed, 18th August 2008

Other bands were texting me to come down to their show tonight; but no, I had to be at the Shed, for the 'final" show of FreeFall Felix, one of Leicester's legendary bands. I was at the last FreeFall Felix show at the Shed: the only time I have ever seen people queuing outside the Shed to get in.

This was an historic gig: one that will stay in the memories of many fans and band members for a long time. A totally awesome night of live music, played by some of the best bands in the UK..

It was a riot. A night when the audience performed as well as the bands! Support from Exit Avenue - one of the best performance bands in the UK. They played their own much loved songs, plus their own interpretation of DJ Mystic - Castles in the Sky - which went down a bomb. And of course they rocked it up. Exit Avenue have played Leicester several times before and have built up a local following. One of the UK's leading pop/rock performance bands, Exit have including more club/dance sounds into their set - and the crowd loved it.

So many times I have stood in the shed and watched bands playing to half a dozen people. Tonight we got the other end of the stick: a room packed with a totally enthusiastic crowd, moshing and crowd surfing to the bands they love.

This was an un-missable gig. I walked round meeting band members: The Heroes,Taste the Chase, Razmataz, Smoking the Profit ... those who know the Leicester music scene, knew that they had to be at the Shed for the FFF end of tour gig.

Exit Avenue worked the crowd into a frenzy of dancing kids and a forest of waving arms. One of the UK's most exciting stage bands, Exit are what live music is all about.

Its always a good sign when the audience can sing along to a band's songs; especially when the vocalists stop and let the audience complete the rest of the chorus.

FreeFall Felix is an incredibly popular band who know how to put on a totally thrilling show.

But a key factor in the band's success has been the front man Charlie Drew - one of the finest voices in Leicester and an awe inspiring performer. FFF have vowed to carry on without him - as well they should. Read our story on Charlie Drew's future.

Hopefully the other five band members will carry on - because FFF is a band that is too good to loose.

Freefall Felix

The Other Half, The Shed, 17th August 2008.

Southern rockers The Other Half came up from Bournemouth (respect!) to play in Leicester. Wow, what a good band. They stormed through a set of amazingly strong songs, fronted by 'x-factor' rock star Dan Hammond-Smith who also pumped out some thrilling virtuoso riffs on the guitar. The band rocked the Shed! Bassist Sean Hines dealt out some incredibly deft finger work on the strings and Phil Hodgetts kept up an Olympic level of work on the drums. Quality vocals and compulsive songs left the audience cheering and calling for more. The Other Half are a thoroughly enjoyable band who know how to play top notch rock music and we hope they will appear again in Leicester very soon.

The Other Half

The Chairmen, Summer Sundae Festival, 9th August 2008

The sunshine that blessed the first day of the festival was replaced with rain on Saturday. Despite the wet weather, the main stage arena filled with fans determined to hear one of Leicester's formost bands. Even the band were surpised at the size of the crowd that gathered under their umbrellas.

The Chairmen | full review in our Summer Sundae feature |

Depths of Winter, The Pavilion, 9th August 2008

North East band Depths of Winter came down to Leicester and played a storming set at the Pavilion. Despite the poor turnout (probably because everyone had gone across the Park to Summer Sundae), the band put a powerhouse of energy into their set. They sang a thumping good load of songs, danced, jumped and ran around the room, delighting those who were there and winning lots of congratulatory comments from members of other bands.

The Teeside five peice - TJ, Darran, Alex, Dan and Patty - put on a top class show, with fine vocals from TJ and Darran, pounding drums from Patty and solid bassing from Dan. A band with a lot of passion and energy for their music, they are working on a new EP, to be released soon. They are just the kind of band that will set a gig on fire, we wish we could have seen them on a festival size stage with a big crowd in front of them - they would be totally awesome. Depths of Winter - great band - big future ahead of them!

Depths of Winter

The Heroes, Summer Sundae Festival, 8th August 2008

Leicester band The Heroes opened the main stage at the Summer Sundae Festival, held at the De Montfort Hall and Gardens over three days. The young Leicester indie band took to the huge main stage, at 1 p.m. on a sunny friday afternoon and played to a crowd of over 1000. Lead singers Alex and Rooster quickly got into this first song and a crowd started to form at the pit barriers.

The band performed their set of catchy indie songs very confidently. In fact, if you did not know this band you would be forgiven for thinking that they were a big band who had been played large festival stages for years.

The Heroes | full review in our Summer Sundae feature |

More reviews of local bands at Summer Sundae

A Man Down, The Shed, 27th July, 2008

I am a great believer in performance; when a band plays, they should put on a show, not just play music. Brighton pop-punkers A Man Down, excelled my expectations. I have seen them play live in Leicester before but now, as a signed band, they have developed a storming stage presence. Their shed gig was an exciting tour-de-force of energy, beltin songs and in your face antics with the crowd. Stunning!

Pounding drums, totally infectious rythms and lots of catchy riffs, the band not only drew the crowd down to the front but got them dancing. No mean feat for a Shed audience!

These guys are are professionals, no matter how many times they play or where, they put on one amazing show. Great fun, massively exiciting, A Man Down is about making live music an unfortgettable experience.

A Man Down

Toxin, The Shed, 24th July 2008

Sometimes when I am listening to a band I try to find one word which sums up my experience of their music. When Toxin played at the Shed tonight, finding that one expression was easy: "exhilarating". Toxin are a band of young musicians who show wagon loads of potential. Leicester seems like a Queen Bee of rock bands; endlessly spawning new bands.

When Glastonbudget auditioned school bands earlier this year, Toxin, Oblivion and Hazardous Materials burst into the local rock scene like incendiary devices. They were eagerly snapped up by the local venues, hungry for new blood, like musical vampires.

Toxin are a band that offer an exiting cocktail of Metal blended with lashings of punk and classic rock. It is now only July and this band started playing only "earlier this year" and yet I have heard bands twice their age do half as well at making music. The band has two ace guitarists, Ben and Mark, who put many a string player in the shade with their fingering fireworks. When they were up on the stage at the Shed you sensed a group of young guys who were genuinely enjoying what they were doing.

So after after only a few months of playing these brilliant young guitarists look set to soar upwards to lofty heights. Fast moving songs with lots of sparkling riffs and complex passages of sound, Toxin sprinted through their tracks, showering the audience with rocket trails of brightly coloured guitar passages, backed by Chris's frenetic drumming and cunning bass lines from Matt.

Toxin is a band with that "world is our oyster" vision of what they can achieve. They found themselves on the main stage at the Glastonbudget Festival earlier this year, shortly after having played their audition gig, with festival organisers cooing over their youthful talent. Their dream is to support Iron Maiden. Hopelessly naive? In the world of rock, anything can happen. I think if Bruce Dickinson or Steve Harris were in the audience tonight they would be saying to their manager: "get these kids on with us". They would have loved them.

Massive potential aside, their inexperience showed through at times, in the un-meshed instrumentation and floppy endings to one or two songs. Limp interaction with the crowd was as evident but hey all that comes with experience.

But if they keep going at their present rate, in a couple of years they could become one of Leicester's top bands.

Toxin

The Displacements and M48, 9th July, at Sumo

So after a year on the road touring the UK and Europe, The Displacements came home and played at Sumo. Lad rockers who came from Blaby, played at the local venues and then went national. They have made it to the top in only a year. There are plenty of young bands in Leicester that want to do the same thing. They came together in the summer of 2002. They attended the same college as Kasabian (Countesthorpe). Since their meteoric rise, they have played to a crowd of 6,000 at the Ricoh stadium in Coventry and have played to large crowds in Europe.

They started playing in Leicester's local venues - being put on with thrash metal bands and being thrown out for being underage. Only a year ago they got signed to Stiff Records and started selling singles by the cartload. Crowds of people attended their gigs in Leicester, with over 400 people turning up to the Charlotte for their EP launch !! It was only on August 1st last year that the Displacements appeared in the Leicester Mercury. The story headlined their signing to Stiff Records and being played by Zane Lowe on Radio 1. Later that month, they played at the Summer Sundae festival. They were featured in NME.

In 2006, at the Original Bands Showcase held at the Shed, the Displacements came second (it was won by Proud To Have Met You !!!). Four ordinary guys, genuine and not produced by a band factory, they just got together, taught themselves to play and quickly became one of the top bands in Leicester, just being being four endearingly nice but highly talented lads.

Lauded by comments such as " ... the future of rock n roll" and "one of the most promising new bands in the UK" - they certainly have some fanatical admirers. Their admirers don't see them as just another indie band. They clearly have had to work very hard but their mad-cap sense of humour has carried them through hard times and good. Apparently they sit in their local pub and play songs on their guitars for the regulars. Wow. Who's up for a drink in Blaby then.

Funny, charming lads - according to their fans - they make their own original music and are absolutely nothing like Kasabian. They played an impromptu gig at the Virgin Megastore. The band has toured with the Courteeners, The Twang and The Enemy. They played at the Camden Crawl in 2007.

Now they have their own page on the NME web site and a feature on the BBC web site and can also be found in Wikkipedia. They have a professionally shot video of their single "Down and Out" which can be seen on You Tube. There are in fact several videos of The Displacements on You Tube.

An inspirational band. So many other young bands would love to be where they are now. Several members of local bands were in the audience, maybe secretly admiring what the Displacements have achieved and itching to get to where they are now but realising that with a lot of hard work and generous helping of luck, it can be done.

Last night SUMO was actually full. Quite a rare experience these days. They made an entrance to a darkened stage and played to a packed house. Bouncy indie songs played with fervour. Lead singer Andrew Stone (20) pushed the pace along with some solid support from bassist Nick Eversfield (20) - their live songs sounded so different to their recordings. Much much better live. They sounded much rockier and the crowd were clearly loving it. Not having seen them play for a whole year, some of their devoted fans were so pleased to see them back home again and playing in front of them. The packed throng at the front threw up a forrest of raised arms and a blow up doll, which ended up on the stage.

They still look much the same as they did when they were playing the local haunts - four fresh faced boys from Blaby who reminded me of the bands from the 60's, like the Beatles, who lived and breathed music and were a great bunch of fun loving people.

A band that has written a massively attractive set of songs. Their vivacious indie melodies capture the essence of what enjoyable songs are all about. Catchy tunes backed by jolly guitar riffs. Breezy melodies that are easy to remember. Lazy Bones comes alive on the stage in way it doesn't as a recording. Originally a song recorded by Gary Crosby and Louis Armstrong in 1956. The Displacements version of it was produced by Owen Morris (Oasis, The Verve). Frontline Hearts was a real hit and Lazy Bones now has a strong following.

Their homecoming was marked by passion from both the band and the audience. A band with a pack of fans who love them. A quality set, exciting and convincing. A great live performance band. Sweating in the heat of a packed house, they sang to the sea of waving arms. Having spent many, many nights of listening to dull bands playing to almost empty halls, this was a really rewarding experience.

M48

The only band I have heard that open their set with acapello vocals sung by three members of the band in close and well matched harmony. That is just one of the features of a band that plays quality music. Good vocalists backed by tight punchy rythms and strong intense beats, their songs have wide appeal. It's very enjoyable music. A set of songs that puts them out in front. M48's songs stand out - it's the way the whole thing blends together and the distinctive tone of the singers. They just pour out totally enjoyable music.

This is one of Leicester's strongest bands: from a city that is richer in talented bands than most. To those who say that Leicester has a lot of crap bands I say this: spend a day listening to bands from the rest of the UK!! You'll know what I mean. I agree with the Displacements when they commented: "The scene in Leicester is picking up a buzz right now, but it just doesn't get the recognition it deserves from the industry types ".

Three well matched voices that blend together in a finely crafted harmony, M48 know how to write a good song. It's the strength of their vocal talent combined with the energy of their rythms and the compelling melodies worked into well structured songs that puts M48 at the top of the tree.

The Displacements | M48

The Return and Just Norris, 6th July, at the Shed.

Four young lads from Birmingham, The Return put on a strong performance at the Shed. Frontman Joel's energetic performance was ably supported by impressive vocals from Lead Guitarist Dave and Bassist Davo. The band has taken over where Sum 41 left off and have developed their classic punk/rock sound, pushing infectious beats and rhymths into their well contructed songs laden with compulsive dynamics. Their set is what kids get up and dance to and yes there was a lot of skanking and moshing going on in the crowd. They drew the autience in to the show, getting their fans to come down to the front, clap in the rights places and sing along to the choruses. They showed themselves to be masters of the art of pop punk, high jumps on the stage and a lot of hard work being put into making it all happen. A stirling performance. A bright band, full of bounce and ethusiasm. A thoroughly enjoyable set.

You can see The Return again at the Pavilion on Saturday 6th September.

Just Norris appeared in the semi-finals of the OBS and it was a shame they were so overshadowed by M48, because they put on a massively good show that night. The band has two excellent front men: Raz who does the rap vocals and Josh who has a natural talent as a band singer. Their styles are contrastingly different. Raz performs a hip hop style rap and Josh is like Bon Jovi reborn. It is this blend of contrasting vocal styles, worked together in to a counterpoint, that gives Just Norris its distinctive and original sound. The high pitched lead guitar flies over the backing rhythms, supported by Jamie's very able bassing. Just Norris is a band with an impressive reserve of talent and musical sophistication. They put out a rich and compelling sound. A deliciously creative cocktail of rap, reggae and ska, rockified into a very listenable and danceable set of songs.

The Return | Just Norris

The Mile, 4th July 2008, at Sumo

The Mile have come a long way. The new line up (drummer Chris and lead guitarist Mikey) have helped them to forge a new set of songs. Anchored by the powerul vocals of frontman Nick Wallis, the new set list includes a selection of newly penned songs with a classic edge. A mature and mainstream band, The Mile has set off to a flying re-launch by getting into the finals of the Global Icon competition, which could land them a UK tour, a record contract, as well as an appearance on Sky TV. They played their set at Sumo with conviction and gave a solid performance. The songs set out to create a large, anthemic feel, calling up the Editors and U2.

The Mile

Sworn Amongst and Scarset, 3rd July, Aggression Download at The Shed

Thank you, thank you, Ragebreed for bringing us these two outstanding bands. Sworn Amongst represent the finest purveyors of rock music: a metal band with a real sense of rhythm, power and entertainment. Attending one of their sets is a sheer delight. Here is a band that really knows what rock music is all about. They draw on many great bands and reference the finest set of spiky, cutting riffs. Acutely structured songs, combined with awesome stage craft, generate one great night of music. Sworn Amongst have played in Leicester several times before and their impact has never waned. Every time these Humberside rockers grace us with their presence, Leicester bows to their total magnificence. Here we have a band that matches up to the quality of their idols: Pantera, Metalica, Machine Head and Megadeath. Lead vocalist Liam "Frank" Liddell is ably supported by the amazing finger work of Harvey Fox on lead guitar, the relentlessly tight, throbbing drumming of Jonny Harper and the solid bassing of Rob Ellwood.

A band that can generate massive rhythms and reach deep inside our heads with their totally engaging songs, Sworn Amongst stand above the rest as one great British band. Sworn Amongst is endorsed by Arts in Leicestershire!! One massively good band.

Lights started to go out in the City of Leicester, power supply blocks start to darken, as Scarset begin their set, draining the city of electricity and thrusting it into the Shed. Who would have thought that the nondescript, pie-baking market town of Melton Mowbray could be home to one of Leicestershire's finest metal bands! They draw on Slipknot, Tool, Sikth and Pissing Razors - so that makes them stand out for starters. What an amazing crew of musicians! The band's songs are dark, foreboding and dripping with aggression and testosterone. Fuck viagre; go to a Scarset gig! Here is a band with a set of razor-sharp songs, a huge sound and a massive commitment to all that is dark and primeval.

As much as I enjoyed Scarset's music, and loved very minute of their set, I felt a bit jaded by the repetition of the same set of musical ideas. Come on dudes, let go a little. Don't be afraid to experiment. Push the boat out a bit more. You 'r an ace band, you have the authority and the creative capacity to move beyond your boundaries and to try something new. Give it a bit more and develop your style.

Sworn Amongst | Scarset

Muted, Sunday 29th June 2008, The Shed

Muted are an impressive metal band from London and they played at the Shed. Those who heard them were impressed. Tight and technically amazing, they played at a furious tempo, a storming set that included some of the best virtuoso guitar work to be seen at the Shed. Lead singer and guitarist Stuart Layne's deft finger work brought us some stringed fireworks, pushed relentlessly forward by the drumming of Steve Brill. Ben McCann's soaring rythm guitar and Kyle Procter's bass were all woven together in one tightly knit ensemble. Stuart's vocals are clean and melodic. Uncompromising dedication to quality marks this band out both musically and personally. They are four guys who have a burning desire to succeed. The drumming shot through the guitar riffs like a high powered machine gun. Lots of lead guitar solos and long instrumental passages overshadowed the vocals; even though Muted are proud of their lyrics.

The bands draws it influences from Megadeath, the later Mettalica, Pantera, and Iron Maiden and and you can see Slayer in there too ... But they are not by any means a tribute band. They have carefully crafted a set of their own songs which stand comparison to the giants of metal. Well I say metal; for me I found a lot classic rock riffs and their belting speed metal tempos had a punky feel to them. They have worked hard to forge their own sound from the tradition from which they draw their inspiration. It's a high powered, sparkling and fizzing sound. It might be thrash but its got a glistening, vibrant feel to it. Muted are brilliant! Wizards of high metal.

Muted

Waring Green, Monday 23rd June 2008, The Shed

Prounounced "wearing green", the band derives it name from a village near Huddersfield in Yorkshire. An unusual and very creative band, they uncompromisingly pursue their own sound and are resolutely determined to become a unique band. They played a quality set, with all four band members joining in the vocals - a rarity amongst four piece bands. Fronted by lead singer Jon Kulczycki , they put on a fine performance. Soft acoustic intros led into a powerful but controlled melody. They strive to produce a large sound without exactly being hard or heavy. More anthemic than aggressive, their songs are emotional without being sentimental. Thier "Hear Angels Cry" is a finely crafted song, of which they justifiably proud. Guitar riffs soar over the backing, creating an intense atmosphere which moves towards an exhuberant climax. You can hear echoes of Alter Bridge and even Pink Floyd. There is a classic rock feel to some of their instrumentation but they have worked hard to create their own sound. Balladic passages are counterbalanced by some infectious rythms and expansive colours from the guitars.

A very fine band with a set of enaging, quality songs from four guys who are working hard to create their own brand of sound. Great voices, accomplished singers and talented musicians, Waring Green is a band that will go far. Top class music from Yorkshire!

Waring Green

M48 and The Codes win the OBS Showcase 2008, The Shed, 21st June 2008

M48 were the overall winners of the Original Bands Showcase 2008, with The Codes being the runners up. Happily both bands will go to play at the Summer Sundae festival. It must have been very difficult to decide between these two superbly good bands. Both performed very strong sets and are clearly popular bands who have had a good year for gigs and performances. M48 played a set of afro-beat songs, reflecting ska and reggae rhythms. Their three lead vocalists blended together well and lead singer Jordan Birtles is a natural performer. Deftly pulling the excited crowd together, the band stormed through its set of entertaining and enjoyable songs.

The Codes is a rock band that writes quality songs which lead vocalist Will performs with flair and conviction. Their set of modern, indie songs clearly went down well with the mainly young audience but you could see the older people, standing at the back of the room, also captivated by the music and the strong show on the stage. It's this confluence of good songs and star performance which gives these two fine bands their "x-factor" quality.

I also enjoyed Starko's set of powerpop, electro songs, again well performed. A band with originality and and a firm commitment to making engaging songs, with melody and excitement, Starko clearly deserved to be in the finals of the competition.

The Tall Orders is an indie band that is making an impression on the Leicester music scene and determined to carve out a niche for itself in the musical landscape. They played a strong and convincing set, with flair and enthusiasm. They are a stylish band with a sense of humour and strong dose of real talent.

The show was headlined by last year's OBS winners, The Chairmen, who introduced a wildly enthusiastic audience to some delicious new songs. Everyone said it was a thrilling end to one memorable show. Seeing them on the stage and the excitement of the crowd, it is easy to see how The Chairmen has come to establish itself as one of Leicester's foremost bands.

M48 | The Codes | The Chairmen | Starko | Tall Orders

The Dirty Backbeats and Tired Irie at the Pavilion, Friday 13th June 2008

What an awesome night at the Pavilion! Not only was the Pavilion packed to the rafters with fans but they had the same sound system as was used for the main new bands stage at Glastonbudget! First on was Leicester band Death of London; pumping out shovel loads of sound, their distinctive, short songs served up some delightful cocktails of punk, metal and progressive sounds. Like the bands that followed them, Death of London have devoted themselves to breaking with conventions. Heavy staccato beats, overlaid with shouts and yells, underpinned by pounding drums and lots of yearning, distorted bass riffs, it was a set in its own class.

Sinister opening riffs followed by tightly pinched rhythms. Lots of stops, fragment the songs into wedges of sound. At one point the backline stopped and the band members did a spot of accappello chanting. Their songs evoke something primal, even tribal.

Tired Irie is another Leicester band that has a growing reputation outside of Leicester. The first song made me think of Foals and Kings of Leon with a flavouring of Hot Chip. So many young bands play five song sets where each song is just a variation on a single set of musical ideas. Not so with Tired Irie: their set ranged across a spread of musical material. Their songs are very modern and "Sumerian" could well become a chart topping success - it has all the right ingredients.

The Dirty Backbeats is more installation than band. Their set reminded me of the Monty Python phrase " ... and now for something completely different." The Backbeats have carved out their own niche both musically and in terms of the maniacal, amazing performance of their lead signer, Grant. A band with a kick-ass originality, The Backbeat's songs are not created to be populist but they have attracted a good deal of enthusiasm both from their large following and from top Radio DJs. Songs with driving keyboards, edgy and jagged rhythms and an eccentric delivery - it's not going to appeal to those who are wedded to conventionality.

The Backbeats are one of Leicester's most successful unsigned bands. Tired Irie are one of Leicester's least successful signed bands (sad to say because they deserve to be up their with the likes of Foals and Kings of Leon.) The Pavilion gig was one amazing night of music and even included a set by a magician (Magic Mr Tim entertained the crowd to some tricks, between the bands.)

The Dirty Backbeats | Tired Irie | Death of London

Haich and Team 12 am at the Pavilion, Saturday 17th May 2008

Haich are slowly emerging as one of the finest bands in Leicester. Stunning vocals from Howard Rose backed by superb guitar playing from Daryl Smith, Joe Cartwright and Will Hay and quality drumming from David Plumb, Haich's set attracted much praise from other band members and from the audience.

Since their revival earlier this year, Haich have been concentrating on recording a set of new songs and on putting in place a revamp of the band that started about two years ago. The highlight of their year so far was their appearance at the Big Night Out gig where they attracted not only the biggest crowd of the night but also fervent acclaim from everyone.

Haich's style of music marks them out as one of more musically sophisticated of our local bands. Songs charged with passion and melody can sweep from tender and poignant passages to explosive bursts of sound. At some points Haich's songs sound like hard rock but they are by no means a typical hard rock band. The band refers to their style as 'progressive' and in some ways they sit somewhere between rock and pop but there are elements which have the quality of jazz. This only illustrates one point, that Haich write songs that are in a class of their own. The band includes some of the most talented guitarists in Leicester and you can hear this from the instrumentation and orchestration. But what makes a Haich song so spectacular is the singing of Howard Rose: massive bolts of lightening and fireworks, counterpointed with tense and emotional passages, moment of blissful sweetness and crystal clear articulation.

This is a band that is taking rock to the next level, with a set of anthemic songs into which is poured enough energy to power a whole festival. This is a band that is naturally the headliner for any show. See them next at the Glastonbudget festival, where they are sure to make a considerable impact.

Team 12 am rounded off the night with a selection of garage rock songs. I can do no better than quote from the band's Myspace: "Chris is the angriest member of the band who hates everyone and everything which can lead to some pretty heavy drum beats. Theo is the dreamweaver of the band who adds a sprinkle of magic to the songs with his ever so slightly over catchy riffs. Dave backs up the songs with rich bass sounds which give him his name...the "ace of bass". Ben adds a layer of melodic singing and guitar to the driving rhythms and melodies that are heading straight towards your ears. " A band that never fails to please an audience and whose gigs are something to look forward to. Songs you can remember the next morning!

Haich | Team 12 am.

The Guthlaxton Soul Band, The Pavilion, Monday 12th May 2008

16 young musicians and singers crowded on to the stage for the Glastonbudget school bands audition and well we were all both astonished and amazed at how good this band were. They walked into a slot at the Glastonbudget Festival main stage with their set list of Motown classics. The Guthlaxtones gave a polished and professional concert of much loved songs including "Reach out, I'll be there", "Knock on wood", "When a man loves a woman" and "Everybody needs someone to love", among others.

The Guthlaxtones perform soul and classic Motown songs. They formed in 2006 and have clocked up a long list of local concerts. Their lead singer is Will Hutchins of the celebrated rock band The Codes. Three backing vocalists, two guitarists and a bass player, a drummer and two keyboards and a big brass section make this is a very substantial band. Their set was a pleasure to listen to and they the whole ensemble gave it an enthusiastic and vibrant delivery. The Guthlaxtones are a great asset to the Leicester live music scene.

The Guthlaxtones

Abduction of Margaret and Twisted Whistle at the Vic Bikers Pub, Coalville, Sunday 11th May 2008

What makes a good rock band? Virtuoso guitar playing? Beautifully crafted vocals? How about a total dedication to enjoying the set and putting one ace show for the fans? These two bands offered the total experience of rock. Down from Newcastle on Tyne, Abduction of Margaret arrived at the Vic in their big red tour bus, ready to get the party started. They arrived in Coalville via Manchester and Leeds where they had been met with a rapturous reception. These three young rockers are totally dedicated to their band, their songs and being on the road, prepared to travel anywhere in the country to put on their show. Now with an illuminated backdrop from a massive projector and a smoke machine, they throw everything they have at the crowd. What you seen, when Abduction play, are three musicians who thoroughly enjoy what they are doing. What stands out about AOM is that, for them, playing rock music is about having fun.

Twisted Whistle, a metal band from Melton, share in common (with Abduction) the complete dedication to performance. For them, a set is about performing their music, not just about playing it. TW is about massive throbbing beats, the electrifying riffs and pounding chords of heavy, metallic rock and putting a huge amount of energy into its delivery on the stage. Great leaps from the musicians on the stage and equally great leaps from the songs, it's all about making music truly live and absolutely enjoyable.

Abduction of Margaret | Twisted Whistle | The Vic Bikers Pub

Hotel Zulu at the Pavilion, Friday 9th May 2008

Not having heard Hotel Zulu before, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was really surprised when this hither too unknown band performed an excellent set of songs. Well crafted playing and vocals, a vibrant and engaging bevy of songs immediately won my attention. Describing themselves as 'alternative/progressive' , they have clearly worked hard to craft some exhilarating music. The band formed out of the ashes of Tippit - a band I admired a lot at the time they were playing.

Quality is the hall mark of this new line up: the clear vocals of Dominic Rye stand out, backed by the skillful guitar work of Aaron Carrington and Matthew Prior. Tightly aided by the bass and synths of Luke Garratt and the drumming of Aiden Randle, Hotel Zulu is a mint experience to listen to.

Band members reflect personal influences from Queen, Deep Purple, The Who, Muse, Guns 'n Roses, Radiohead and even Slipknot. A band clearly steeped in the mainstream traditions of rock, yet able to bring some fresh and exciting ideas to the musical feast.

Hotel Zulu

Tankus The Henge at the Shed, Monday 29th April 2008

I walk down to the Shed, a cold wind biting my face out of a slate gray sky. I have to go there only to deliver a listing for a forthcoming gig. I arrive, intending to deliver my list and head back home and am persuaded to stay to see a band from London with a strange name. Reluctantly I squeeze into the hot, crowded room. Life begins to turn around. Tankus the Henge "Street urchin purveyors of bohemian rags, ballads and polkas", the band that introduced the Waltz to the Shed, begin to play. The four members of the band proceed to fire up the Shed, get the whole audience on its feet and dancing and invent a new genre of live music. So, at the top of its Myspace page the band should write: "let's-get-everyone-up-and-dancing-like-mental" genre. The party bursts into being. The audience get up and dance like nobs. None of that typical Leicester let's-stand-here-like-mannequins-and-look-cool crap. The Tankus audience are up for a good time. Soon the floor is crowded with bobbing heads and waving arms. Even case hardened punks from downstairs joined in.

The great thing about the Shed is that, when ever you go there, you never know what the expect. On stage are a group of individualist musicians and an upright piano that occasionally belches out vast clouds of smoke. On to the stage come a sax, a trombone, an accordion and a variety of other instruments. They play a set that mixes rag, jazz, the waltz, folk, funk and songs I will be left signing all week. This is the performance band par excellence. This the band that makes an audience dance. This is the band that makes the party. Song follows song and the audience fail to tire. This is one whole show; more than the sum of its parts, Tankus turns a gig into a show.

The Tankus engine disappears only to be replaced by another music phenomenon: Egészségedre. Leicester's answer to the Henge. The eight man band with the name few people can pronounce and a bevy of lovable, bohemian sounding songs, laced with sax and violin, keeps the concert going. Changing tempos, lilting Hungarian rock riffs, hip hop and rap vocals blended with lyrical gypsy violins, parodying ska ... a cross-over between Western and Eastern European musical styles. But still rock though not as "we" know it. Its not for those who are trammelled into convention or comfortable traditions. This is exciting stuff for musical explorers.

I walk back from the Shed, happy, energised, feeling like I have a good night out, eager for the next bout of music. One good night at the Shed, dude. "Smiling makes the day go quicker". Dancing brings the night to a good close.

Tankus the Henge | Egészségedre

The Heroes, The Midbeats and the Chairman at the Y Theatre, Saturday 26th April 2008

Reviewed by Jenna Bowman

The All Sparks Disco Party returned for the first time this year to showcase three important local bands, The Chairmen, with their support The Midbeats and The Heroes. A pleasantly surprising evening ensued.

The Heroes’ frontman Alex Totman looks like Paul Weller after he went paddling in the fountain of youth, and developed a bit more spunk. Their dance-floor-worthy tunes, such as ‘The Rave’, paraded their tight chords and irresistible speed (very Arctic Monkeys, not a bad thing) to a hopeful audience.

Awfully impressive for such a young band, whose egos don’t seem to have taken over just yet. A dramatically brilliant finale meant they definitely secured themselves some new fans. Probably a lot of female admirers too. [The Heroes went to to win the OBS heat at the Shed the next day - Ed]

The Midbeats are a completely different type of band, and admittedly had a hard act to follow. Their Liverpudlian influences were very obvious and therefore they were at risk of seeming slightly dated in comparison. But they managed to hold the attention of the crowd by providing them with the classic equation of good powerful vocals and poppy 60s melodies which were hard not to enjoy, as the crowd proved by bopping along with them.

So on came The Chairmen, with a theatrical entrance worthy of Queen. They sound like a grown-up version of The Heroes, who look up at them from the crowd like cute little puppies in awe, singing along in unison. The Chairmen certainly look the part, and have the correct insatiable energy to make them an unmissable indie band. Lead singer Jonny Gavin swaggers about barefoot like a true mental rock star with a good, solid Kasabian-esque voice that asserts his authority very well.

Their MySpace page provides fans with a few of their songs, but also provides a spiel, justifying their claim that they are “turbo-folk pioneers”. This resonates badly, like they’re clinging to something to distinguish themselves from the average indie band, the genre apparently being the next nu-rave. I find this slightly unnecessary, as its very obvious that they can actually stand their ground without having to create a genre that doesn’t always seem to really fit (at first mention of ‘turbo-folk’ one imagines Joni Mitchell accidentally being played at 78 rpm with hilarious chipmunk consequences; and on further investigation, the genre turbo-folk was originally a 1990s Balkan pop movement. NB: neither of these images reflects the gig I saw last night). But maybe I’m just nit picking.

Full marks during the performance for use of percussion and tambourine, constantly punctuated by screaming girls (and boys) and the odd wolf-whistle. During ‘Fat Tom’, Jonny dons a pair of unflattering retro sunglasses and a promotional badge, and in response to the wills of the crowd takes a handful of his bandmates sweat and flicks it on to the audience, as they practically lick it off the ground.

The penultimate tune of the night is the Pigeon Detectives-sounding single ‘A Week Long Romance’, which was the perfect vehicle to exhibit the true extent of their Mick Jagger-ness, tambourine skills and fancy footwork to boot. This song is so good live that half the audience are so busy dancing they’ve actually stopped watching the band.

The song quickly speeds up to a climax, in a long-awaited ‘turbo-folking’ manner that leaves you feeling slightly out of breath, a feeling that cannot be replicated upon first listen to the record, but once heard live it’s another story.

They saved their best song till last, however, with the brand new ‘20/20 Vision’. An upbeat, emotional, sometimes epic song that proved that, however sceptical I was at first, The Chairmen have me at their mercy now. Their Futureheads-inspired vocals and their authority over the room mean that when they hug it out at the end, we all know they have really proved their rightful place as one of the most exciting new local bands of the year. And maybe they aren’t ‘cool as folk, turbo-folk’, they’re just cool. What’s so bad about that?

The Chairmen + The Midbeats + The Heroes

Set in Stone at the Pavilion Venue, Saturday 26th April 2008

I am a fan of Set In Stone, I have to say. The guys played at the Pavilion as the headline band - it was very late and we had all been waiting around for hours for the chance to see this great band perform. They are not a band with a huge gigs list, so getting a chance to see them live was well worth waiting for.

What makes this band stand out is both the vocals and the backing. Lead singer Steve Faulkener is one of the best singers in Leicestershire, if not further afield. He sings with the full band but also has a solo career as a singer/songwriter. Set in Stone is at the harder, heavier end of the rock spectrum. Whilst other bands engage in screamo/roaro stuff, this band has an ace vocalist who well out strips most other bands for pure vocal strength and clarity. Steve can sing the nuts off most other bands.

This is not a band that is into attitude and posturing. They are into music and the best quality music they can achieve. Their work is mainstream within its genre. Four really sound and nice guys, they are overly modest about what they do. For me, it's a band whose performance makes the hairs stand up on the back of my kneck. A good alternative to wanting to stick my fingers in my ears. Their influences stem from Tool and Black Sabbath. To be honest I'd rather listen to songs by Set in Stone; it's a band that could really go a long way. Three very skilled and tight musicians add expansive and brilliant backings. What a band!

Set In Stone

The first heat of the OBS at the Shed, Friday 25th April 2008

The heat was won by THE RADIO COLLECTIVE from Leicester. The band's Myspace says: " Our music is hard to describe but our influences range from N.E.R.D to Oasis to Mr Hudson and the Library. In our opinion we are a innovative mix of house, indie, dance and jazz. The tracks on the page were recorded at THE CONVOLUTION ROOMS in Earl Shilton in Leicestershire. (Speaking of which you should check that place out!)". The band was supported by a huge throng of fans who cheered on their band.

Leicester band FOR THE RECORD played a strong set, including their hit song "High School Royalty". FTR also played a couple of their new songs. Some favourites were included in the set like "Desert Island" from their 2nd EP.

27 BRIGADE, a three member band coming from Loughborough, Leicester and Nottingham played a set of their indie/garage songs, delivered by their two vocalists John Alexander and Andy Billington

Leicester band WITH A STORY put on an exciting show with impressive vocals from Ross "The Boss" Wimperis. The band's songs hark back to the anthemic ballads of Bruce Springstien and John Bon Jovi. Probably the most entertaining set of the night, WAS always puts on a strong performance but tonight was probably their very best ever.

JUST NORRIS acoustic, hip hop band from Leicester played their catchy, rappy set of songs and some convincing performances from vocalists Raz and Josh. The band have created songs that are modern and distinctively different from the mainstream indie sounds of some many young bands.

A well attended night with a crowd who were presented with five contrasting styles of music. It's good to see a full Shed and an audience who stuck around till the end of the show.

Aikon at the Charlotte, Tuesday 22nd April 2008

I see dozens of bands per week. Forgive me if I get a little hard to please about bands. Once in a while however I see a band that never fails to excite me, a band that always makes me dance and whose gigs I go to as a real fan rather than just as band whore.

Aikon have never let me down. After half a dozen times of standing in front of these gods of rock and loving every minute of it, I am still eagerly awaiting their next appearance on the Leicester rock stages. Their latest songs have got a little harder, developed a little more of that cutting edge that the earlier, dance-club verging on pop songs lacked. But hey - these guys know how to make progress. They are not, like some bands, stuck in a rut of their own making. They know how to keep up with the times.

You go to an Aikon show, not just to listen to them, but to watch them. This is one performance band, par excellence. Five guys perform rock music. They don't just stand there and play their instruments. From the amazing virtuoso guitar gymnastics of Jack Jordan through to the stick twirling fireworks of drummer Jamie Bennett, Aikon are a visual exhibition of what rock bands should look like on stage.

Dale Taylor, lead vocalist, has made his own unique image:at each show he looks like he's just walked out of a very boring posh do at the Grand Hotel and has come on stage to sing, cool, fired by the music and always with that undone black bow tie that is his hallmark. Backed by vocalist James Dillon, between songs they do a double act with the audience.

Clearly, I love Aikon. They make a gig into a party. What ever position they play in a lineup, they are always the headline band. Join me at the front of the crowd for their next gig - you so won't be disappointed.

Aikon

The Utopians at the Firebug, Monday 10th March 2008

One Leicester band is surging upwards at a strong pace: The Utopians. A constant supply of new songs, strong live performances, publicity and promotion which really works, makes this a band which is clearly on the way up.

The Utopians fired up the Firebig with a set of catchy songs that hit a bullseye with the audience. Much loved songs like "There's a train" and "Pissed up in Prague" were interspersed with new songs such as "Boys in Black and Gold" and "Sort your rates out". This is a band that stands out for their ability to write stunningly good tunes and edgy, challenging lyrics.

Lead singer Jason Westall's vocal style marks him out as future star and his performances get stronger each time he appears on stage.

The Utopians are to support The Futureheads at Leicester University's The Venue on May 11th.

The Heroes and Naked Gravy at the Shed, Saturday 9th February 2008

Mention has already been made (see below, 17th January) of Leicester's extraordinary young bands. The "Brat Pack" bands are a collection of talented kids - aged mostly between 16 and 19 - who regularly play the local venues and pull in huge crowds of their mates to their shows.

Differentiating between them is no easy matter; as for ranking them, I would not dare to judge. The central core of bands bear an almost clone-like similarity, as tonight's gig at the Shed ably demonstrated.

Leader singer and rythm guitarist Alex Totman works alongside lead guitarist Alex "rooster" Van Roose to weave the vocals of the Heroes, with a stuccato style, almost speaking rather than singing the lyrics. The band lists amongst their numerous influences, The Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, The Fratellis, the Cribs and so on. So, here is a four member band with two lead singers, making catchy dance songs and busily touring the local gig haunts, after only a few months of being on the road. The Heroes ooze with stroppy talent and meticulous hairstyles but with a few more playing hours under their belt they will undoubtedly head for the big time.

Tonight's Heroic set began with their newly released song, as yet unchristened, which set off at a brisk canter, vocal interludes being interspersed with long instrumental passages. Not the most herioc performance tonight but bands can have their off-days (mainly after a long on-night).

Most of the audience was at the Charlotte yesterday, going crazy with the Revenue and the Dandilions; they must have exhausted themselves because tonight they stood turgedly like a set of mannequins. Ok, towards the end of the Elite set, there was a bit of half hearted moshing and crowd surfing but nothing like last nights rugby scrum at the Charlie. Several august looking parents stood at he back of the room anxiously watching the tightly packed crowd of teenagers lift up a lad towards the spinning fan which was wobbling precariously under the ceiling.

Naked Gravy. So, here is another band with two lead singers and matching set of indie style sounds. Brat Pack bands tend to stick to what they have (so far) learned to do well and avoid being overtly experimental. NG bills itself as a "Tango Ska" band and yes you can hear that in the relentlessly catchy rythms. Clearly these guys enjoy what they do on stage; it might lack the charisma and sex appeal of more mature bands, but it has a clean enthusiasm and devotion to fun that carries over to the audience. NG though are the more musically adventurous of the Brat Pack bands. They have a wry sense of humour in their songs and an appealing tongue in cheek attitude to their arrangements.

Despite a lack of originality in their material, we shouldn't be too critical of what the Brat Pack have achieved; after all, there can't be many towns that have given birth to such a large number of musically excellent offspring.

The serious bands of the night closed with the Elite - an even younger looking bunch of kids than those who had been on before. Suddenly the audience sparked into action. Young bands don't spend time meticulously sound checking; they just switch on their amps and go for it. Hence, their vocals are frequently lost in the boom of the backing and these are not singers with massively loud throats. The two lead voices blended well together, with more duo than most of the others. The Elite were a band playing to a crowd of their mates. Playing at the Shed is, after all, little different to jamming in a school hall or youth club. Would one of these bands put up a respectable act in a massive theatre in front of a crowd of 1,500 people? Well one of them has that experience in front of them.

The Heroes, Naked Gravy, The Elite

Haich and Lux Mundi at the Sun Bar, Wednesday 6th February 2008

Sometimes you go to gigs in Leicester and think "why did I bother?". Then, a gig comes along that really works: great bands, great crowd, a night to remember. Two of the best rock bands in Leicester played to a packed house, with support from two new but admirable acts. The Sun Rock got off to a cracking start with Melton Bands Haich and Lux Mundi showing us all why our local live music scene is just so rich.

Progressive rockers Haich delivered a set of powerful and passionate songs, bristling with energy and exhuberance. Dramatically driven by lead singer Howard Rose, who gave it one hundred percent, the songs jumped and danced from sweeping vistas of classic riffs to sweet, reflective passages of feely melody. A band with a vivid style of performance, they demonstrated their mastery of song writing, in a style that is best described as epic, almost symphonic.

One amazing vocalist and two outstandingly gifted guitarists, supported by tight drums and bass, Haich is a band clearly at the top of its league in this neck of the woods. A modest band that is not widely kown and not given to promoting itself, Haich has been on and off the road since its inception but is now (hopefully) set to make a long awaited come back and certain to climb up the ladder swiftly, if tonight's show is anything to go by.

Indie gurus Lux Mundi similarly showed what vocals are all about. George Simpson's distinctive voice, easily soared over the backing. The mercurial melodies attest to just how musically sophisticated this band is. Lux Mundi inhabits a world that ignores the boundaries between pop and rock, one in which musical creativity can flourish. Despite their mastery of composition, this is another band that is not banging its own drum. Whilst lesser bands are trumpeting how good they are, these two promotionally reticent bands have avoided spin in favour of letting their musical excellence speak for itself. But they can't hide their light beneath their respective bushals for long. Let's hope this band will start lighting up the music world very soon.

Support: Indie grunge Team 12am and blues rock band Smoke Stacks

Haich, Lux Mundi

Fire Fall Down and With A Story, The Musician, Tuesday 5th February 2008.

Put two excellent bands together for a double bill at one of Leicester's finest venues and you get one great evening of live music. Fire Fall Down returned to Leicester from London to once again enthrall rock enthusiasts with their inspirational talent for making sounds that thrill. The London trio played their Leicester debut on 3rd of November last year and received acclaim from gig goers and band members alike.

Unlike many bands, FFD offer a delightfully varied set of songs, ranging from fast, stomping anthems through to poignant lyrical ballads. No two songs are the same but the whole set works like a carefully construed plan. It is amazing what a huge and strong sound three people can produce. Yet, they can drop down to a soulful ballad before pounding back up to great arch of triumphant rhythms.

Many of their songs have stomping beats and intricate string passages which reflect the sounds of much bigger classic bands. They are not however just another throwback to the golden era of classic rock; FFD have brought an entirely fresh and original approach to mainstream rock, something which is new and very exciting.

With A Story have one great asset: a lead singer who stands out as one of the most characteristic voices you will hear on the Leicester scene. Ross "The Boss" Wimperis is Leicester's answer to Bruce Springsteen; that deeply colourful, gravelly-toned voice is unforgettable.

A powerful singer, backed by accomplished musicians, with songs that have that magic quality, is what makes WAS stand out from a crowd of impressive young Leicester bands. This a band that can make hit songs: "Memories" has all the hall marks of a classic anthem: lyrics that speak to the heart and a melody that you can sing on the way home.

The band's new EP offers a richly enjoyable package of songs that will have wide appeal. A compelling beat, expressive solo passages and some ear catching phrases, "Fistful of Sky" is yet another WAS hit which will add much to their already growing reputation. A band with a maturity of sound beyond their years and an ability to combine classic songwriting with bluesy, evocative arrangements - this band will go a very long way.

Fire Fall Down, With A Story

AutoHype at the Maze, Sunday 3rd February 2008.

Leicester indie band Autohype put on a beltin'ly good show at the Maze in Nottingham. Playing a heat in the Mindvox Battle of the Bands, the indie kids played their latest songs, including their dance anthem "Any Chance" and recently recorded "Stronger than Anyone".

Sparkling stage performance, well blended guitar riffs and synth sounds, created a characteristic sound which will mark out the 'Hypes as being one of the leading proponents of the art of indie.

Throwing themselves into the challenge, the five lads mopped the floor with the other bands. Only a few days earlier, AutoHype played Yates in Nottingham and clearly outshone all the other bands for originality and x-factor star quality. Watch their MySpace for new releases as a string of new songs will be coming out over the next few weeks.

AutoHype

Martyr de Mona at the Shed, Saturday 19th January 2008.

Have you ever been to one of those tedious gigs where bands seem to have been selected at random to play in a line up? You know the ones I mean: a punk band followed by an emo band followed by a death metal band followed by some ska, followed by a dreadful headache ... a senseless jumble of musical idioms and large variations in quality of musicianship.

The hard rock line up at the Shed, headlined by Dudley band Martyr De Mona demonstrated what a good show is all about - five well chosen, musically balanced bands all of whom were excellent at what they were doing - playing great rock music. With hardly one cover all night, we were treated to some amazingly good songwriting.

Martyr De Mona made their debut in Leicester last year, drawing an enthusiastic response from the audience. They came back last night and showed everyone just what a superb set of artists they are. MDM have some songs which are clearly hits, just waiting for a chart. They have a strong stage presence and their music is well rounded and professional quality stuff. But setting aside all the well earned plaudits about their technical finesse, we can just say this is one hugely enjoyable band. If you go to a show to hear good rock music, well played and well performed, this is a band to look out for.

The lineup worked: the evening began with a bang - Deceptikon's set of metal songs brought cheers from the audience who clearly appreciated the local band's roaring base riffs, skillful guitar work and engine-like drumming.

Negative Brody - also from the Dudley area - offered a fine selection of rock songs ably performed by front man Dean Stevens.

Set in Stone from Leicester gave us the awesome vocals of Steve Faulkner backed by a powerful group of well talented rockers.

The night ended in great style. Leicester's ace disco rock band Aikon, pulling people on to the dance floor with their set of almost manically catchy tunes, with strong vocals and performance from lead singer Dale Taylor. If you want to party, this is the band to see.

Five top bands of equal quality, a well balanced selection of complimentary musical styles (enough variation to be enjoyable) and a crowd who stayed together throughout the night - why can't all gigs be like this.

Bands in order of play: Deceptikon, Negative Brody, Martyr de Mona, Set in Stone, Aikon.

Silent Devices, The Shed, Thursday 17th January 2008

Leicester seems unique amongst English cities in having more rock bands per head of population than anywhere else. Not only that, it is also continuously producing new bands, some of which are very good indeed.

There is a clutch of young Leicester bands who often play together: Naked Gravy, Taste the Chase, Forty More Autumns, M48, For the Record, The Heroes, The Elite and so on. All about the same age (17-19), all about the same ability (good) and playing fine original songs.

I met the Silent Devices guys before they went on and they said "look don't take too much notice of our set tonight because we're playing a new drummer for the first time ..." and went on to explain that this was not an opportunity to see the band its at best. Well, their stage performance was a bit of a shambles to be honest.

But if this set was Silent Devices not at its best, what are they going to be like when they are at their best? I would say, truly amazing! Catchy tunes, expert playing, excellent vocal work from lead singer Josh and tighly executed arrangements. This is clearly a band that has bright future, one of the most promising young bands in Leicester and a really enjoyable set of well written songs. They are soon to embark on a tour of the Czech Republic! We will be watching this band with considerable interest.

Silent Devices

Steve Faulkner: "More than love you"

Ok, so this review isn't actually about a gig but is about a song written by Steve Faulkner, one of the most talented singer songwriters in Leicester/shire and lead singer for the rock band Set In Stone.

Steve's new song can be heard on his MySpace page (link below.)

"More than love you" is an evocative and moving ballad, with a subtle and catchy guitar backing. Sung with passion and conviction, it's a song that will appeal to a wide audience.

Well recorded, it's one of those love songs that brings a tear to the eye and lump to the throat, but that is what great music is all about - songs that we can all relate to, songs which move us.

A touching but powerful ballad that has words which mean something, solid, poignant lyrics which bear many replays.

Songs we might send to someone we love when we want to say something that our own voices cannot express.

Steve is one of those talented vocalists who can perform equally well in an intimate setting with just himself and a guitar as well as being one of the most tuneful and powerful rock singers in the mammoth rock band Set In Stone.

Steve Faulkner

Pressure, The Shed, Sunday 6th January 2008

Derby band Pressure played at the Shed and put on a strong, energetic performance to bring out their set of catchy, idiomatic songs.

Pressure gives us a very characteristic sound, the lead guitar having been replaced by an Saxophone, expertly played by band member Rebbecca Liverman.

A band that has been playing for over 9 years, Pressure's polished live act has been dubbed as "Sax Rock", and in the hands of this band, this really works.

Weaving Sax in and out of songs, with attractive melodies and clear, crisp vocals, the driving, crunchy guitar work pushes ahead with a pounding rythm.

A rounded mainstream rock sound with a punky edge and the red and black colour scheme of the band members, make this a visually and musically exiciting band.

Passion and vigour in copious quantities, Pressure brought a great set to the Shed and left the audience wanting them to come back again soon.

Pressure

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Gig Reviews 2007