Well what can I say? This certainly dusted away the post gig
blues I’ve had since Hard Rock Calling back in June. Funnily enough, I saw
Miles Kane live that day, and enjoyed myself so much, I got myself a ticket for
his Pompey show the following morning. He was brilliant at the Olympic Park as
support for Kasabian, and he kicked off his UK tour in the same fashion.
The Family Rain
First up though was support act The Family Rain, three
brothers from Bath. You tend to take pot luck whether support acts are going to
be any good or not, but these guys had my attention pretty much from the start.
Considering I had never heard of them before I was really impressed. Any band
that makes me look them up when I get home deserves a thumbs up. The song that
stuck with me most was ‘Pushing It’, although that may be because it reminds of
‘Joker and the Thief’ by Wolfmother. Either way I will definitely be purchasing
a copy of their EP.
Next up was the man the sold out Pyramids Centre had all
come to see. There was a real mixture of people in the crowd, with a fair
amount of Mods sporting smart polo shirts and impressive haircuts. Cutting
short the Oasis track that was playing, Kane burst into ‘Taking Over’, the
first song on his latest album. The crowd loved it and by the fourth song, ‘Rearrange’,
they were taking over bits of the chorus, led by Miles himself.Latest single ‘Better Than That’ went down a
storm as did ‘What Condition Am I In’ while ‘Darkness In Our Hearts’ had the
whole venue singing along.
He rattled through a mixture of other songs from his two
studio albums, before diving into ‘Give Up’. Personally, it’s one of my
favourite songs of his and it sounds even better live. It’s a proper sing along
guitar anthem (although to be fair that’s the description of pretty much all
his songs). What made this version even better though was the surprise that was
waiting for us halfway through. He managed to seamlessly slip in a very good
cover of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ before reverting back to
his own song.
‘Inhaler’, an old favourite, was very well received before he
closed the set with ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’. Not only is the song
ferociously catchy, but it was also the cue for further mass crowd
participation with “La La La, La La La La La La” still being sung for a while
after he had departed the stage. This was replaced with a chant of “Miles,
Miles, Miles…”. As he returned to the stage with just himself and an acoustic
guitar the crowd chanted “Miles, Miles give us a wave”. He duly did which received
a huge cheer.
He then played ‘Colour of the Trap’ before his band mates
returned to the stage themselves for the final song of the night, ‘Come Closer’.
It’s a real crowd favourite and he had the whole place singing along. He is a
great showman and knows exactly how to get the most out of the crowd. In fact “Ahhh,
Woahhh” could still be heard as people were filing out the doors. “I couldn’t have wished for a better start to the tour,”
Miles commented during the gig. Pretty much says it all.
It’s me again. Well it’s been a
while since one of these and there has been plenty of music released now that
Festival season is coming to an end. Thought then it would be a good time to
have a round-up of some of the best new releases. Plenty to choose so I had to
whittle it down, but I hope you enjoy J
Bastille- Things We lost In the Fire: 2013 has been quite a year
for London based band Bastille. After a steady rise in popularity with the
release of various singles from their debut album, the band started to build a
fan base. I first became aware of them upon the release of single number three,
‘Flaws’, which received quite a bit of airplay on the music channels. Then in
February, the song everybody has heard, ‘Pompeii’ was released and immediately
went to number 2 in the charts followed quickly by their debut album debuting
at number one and a support slot with Muse on their UK tour (although not the
day I saw them). ‘Things We Lost In The Fire’ is the latest single from the
album and a song I’ve really warmed to. I didn’t think a great deal of it at first;
not that I didn’t like it, I just didn’t take much notice. It has grown on me
massively however and is one of my most listened to songs currently. They look
like a band who are going to go on and achieve big things.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros- Home: Ok so this isn’t a new
song as such, given that it was originally released in 2010. However it has
re-entered the charts recently due to its inclusion in a TV commercial for
Peugeot and is so good that people need to know about it. I’m certainly glad
it’s getting some extra airplay as I completely missed it first time round, but
have now totally fallen in love with it. It sits very much in the Indie
Folk/Rock category that is popular at the moment. My first reaction was to
liken it to Icelandic contemporaries Of Monsters and Men but with more of an
American Country feel given their Californian roots. One listen and you will be
hooked; you’ll find it hard to shift it out of your head. I can see why it was
picked for an advert. It has a great hook, a simple catchy chorus and you’ll
soon find yourself singing and whistling along to it in no time. Definitely one
of my favourite songs of the year.
Ellie Goulding- Burn: It has been three years since Ellie Goulding
exploded onto the scene with her debut album ‘Lights’ which proved to be
immensely popular, debuting at number one. The singles proved to be a success
with ‘Lights’ giving her a number one in America and the cover of Elton John’s
‘Your Song’ reaching number 2 in the UK. However it’s taken her till August
2013 to achieve her first UK number one, but she finally achieved that feat
with ‘Burn’, which is the lead single off the reissue of her second album
‘Halcyon Days’. It managed to stay there for 3 weeks, before being knocked off
top spot by Katy Perry.It’s a very
catchy song and very much has that distinctive Ellie Goulding DNA running
through it. It may have taken a surprisingly long time to get there, because of
her popularity, but she fully deserves to get a UK number one.
Frank Turner- Four Simple Words: If you’re scratching your head
thinking, “this isn’t a single off the album”, you’re right it isn’t.It was released as a free download at
the backend of last year, but that was it. This might not be a single, but it
is a song off Frank Turner’s latest album ‘Tape Deck Heart’, and it is a song I
am very fond of, so I thought I’d throw it in here. It is also a song I have
had stuck in my head permanently for the last fortnight or so which has meant
I’ve had to listen to it with the volume right up a lot recently. It’s a very
well structured song with the quiet beginning before it really kicks in with a
punkish attitude. The “I wanna dance…” chorus is catchy, but it is a bit in the
middle that really grabs me:
“Somebody told me that music with
guitars,
Was going out of fashion and I
had to laugh,
This shit wasn’t fashionable when
I fell in love,
If the hipsters move on why
should I give a fuck?”
This is a person who is speaking
my language right there and I can’t bloody wait to see him live on his UK tour
next year. Something tells me it’s going to be a good one.
Franz Ferdinand- Right Action: It is hard to believe, but it is
almost ten years since Franz Ferdinand burst into the public consciousness with
their own brand of guitar led indie catchiness.With songs such as ‘Take Me Out’, ‘Dark of the Matinee’ and ‘This Fire’
they gained a legion of fans, me included, and help lead the charge of a new
era of indie bands. Well with their latest effort, their fourth studio album
and first since 2009, the Glasgow quartet are back stronger than ever. With
this, the first single off the album, the band appear to have returned to a
sound that is similar to that of their debut. It has that definite Franz
Ferdinand sound which makes it immediately identifiable. It’s also incredibly
catchy, as with all their songs, and is one you’ll find yourself listening to
on repeat. Tickets for their 2014 UK tour go on sale soon, and I think I will
bag myself a ticket.
Haim- The Wire: Latest single from the LA sisters and from the
sound of it, they are onto another winner. Having topped the BBC’s Sound of
2013 poll, big things were expected from the sisters Haim, and they aren’t
disappointing. I think it says something about how popular they are that they
entertained a slot on Live… Later with Jools Holland and have appeared at
Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds Festivals this summer amongst others to critical
acclaim, all before their debut album has been released.In fact they only finished the album (‘Days
Are Gone’) in June with it due for release at the end of this month. ‘The Wire’
is their latest single and is typical of the sound that we’ve come accustomed
to from the band. There’s a great groove, harmony and beat to it which makes it
instantly likable. My favourite song of theirs so far has been ‘Don’t Save Me’
from one of their EPs, but I that might have just changed. A band that are well
on the way to big things.
Icona Pop- I Love It: By rights I shouldn’t like this song. It sits
in a genre of music I usually ignore, not that I can get away from it due to
its, let’s say generous, radio airplay. I first heard it actually not on the
radio, but after reading a news article about it saying how it was due to
dominate the UK charts, a year after its original release in native Sweden.
It’s been a hit round the world so I decided to check it out of curiosity to
see what the fuss was about. One listen and I was immediately taken by it. Its
brilliance lies in its simplicity. That thumping beat hits you like a train
right from the off and coupled with the angry, angsty lyrics almost shouted at
you it’s a song you cannot ignore once you’ve heard it. It has received very
high reviews pretty much everywhere it’s been played, and I can totally see
why. It is pop music at its best.
Imagine Dragons- It’s Time: Another song that has been knocking
around for a year but was finally released a single in the UK this summer.
Better known for their mammoth single ‘Radioactive’, Las Vegas indie rockers
Imagine Dragons, in my opinion, really hit gold with this song. It is
fantastic. It is a real festival anthem, one that is meant to be belted out at
the top of your voice with your hands in the air. Failing that, just turn it up
loud whilst in the car. Either way, it’s a great song and one of my favourites
of the year so far.
Kings of Leon- Supersoaker: ‘Supersoaker’, the lead single of Kings
of Leon’s sixth album, sees the Nashville boys return in fine form. The band
has received criticism from some quarters after their last two albums,
something I didn’t buy into. However there does seem to be something different
about this latest effort. It’s a song that just oozes class and is one that you
will like from the start. It’s not the huge arena/festival sing along anthem of
say a ‘Sex on Fire’ or ‘Use Somebody’, it’s much more understated than that. And
that’s where the song’s charm lies. It’s just a great song from start to
finish. It has a catchy riff, Caleb Followill’s distinctive vocals and an
uplifting chorus. It’s the sound of a band enjoying themselves and further
cements Kings of Leon’s place as one of the biggest bands around at the moment.
Lissie- Further Away: I’ve been looking forward to some new
material from American Singer/Songwriter Lissie for a while, ever since she
tempted us with her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Go Your Own Way’. I was a big fan
of her debut ‘Catching a Tiger’ and, if anything, she sounds even better on
this record. That rawness is still there, which I’m glad about as it made her
sound genuine and real whilst managing to enhance her overall sound. It would
be fair to say ‘Further Away’ has a bigger sound to her debut album and crosses
over into Rock rather than just Blues. It’s a song that should get the radios
attention, as she is a talent deserves to be recognised by a wider audience.
Spector- Decade of Decay: ‘Decade of Decay’ see London four piece
Spector return after a successful debut that spawned singles such as ‘Never
Fade Away’ and ‘Chevy Thunder’. Very much an indie band, Spector wear their
influences on their sleeve, and their 80s New Wave sound is evident in this new
song. I for one am not complaining, even if the song is a little short, coming
in at just over two minutes.It may be
short and sweet, but I’m looking forward to hearing it at their Brighton show
next month. Keep a look out for the gig review in the coming weeks.
Tears for Fears- Ready to Start: 80s New Wave legends cover
Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire, and I have to say its bloody brilliant.
Having caught it on the radio at work, I noted it down and had a proper listen
to it when I got home. I was pleasantly surprised just how good it sounded.
It’s different from the original, as you’d expect. It’s much softer and has
more of a 80s feel. In fact if you didn’t know it was an Arcade Fire song, you
wouldn’t guess it was a cover at all. It might not be a song that will break
records in the charts, but it is certainly worth checking out. It also seems to
have introduced a new set of fans to Arcade Fire, which isn’t a bad thing.
The Answer- Spectaular: Northern Irish rockers The Answer return
with the lead single off their fourth album, ‘New Horizon’. If you aren’t
familiar with their music, imagine Led Zeppelin, but with a modern twist.
Cormac Neeson is a great front man, brilliant voice and full of charisma while
Paul Mahon is a vastly underrated axeman. I have enjoyed their last three
albums, and am very much looking forward to their latest album, which if this
is anything to go by, is going to be a riot. I am also looking forward to
seeing them live again in Brighton at the end of October, so keep a look out
for a gig review in the upcoming weeks.
The Fratellis- Seven Days Seven Nights: After two brilliant albums,
a hiatus, solo projects and the Codeine Velvet Club side project, The Fratellis
are back and grace us with the first single off their new album. The good news
is the time away seems to have done the band good as they as good as ever. They
always had that fun element to them, and ‘Seven Days Seven Nights’ is no
different. Something tells me this will be an absolute riot live as it’s a song
that really gets your foot tapping and its hard to stay still when you’re
listening to it. It’s a song that puts a smile on your face and shows the world
that The Fratellis aren’t just another indie band from the mid 00s.
The Naked and Famous- Hearts Like Ours: There is always a pressure
on an artist after a success and popular debut when it comes to following it up
with their second album. The Naked and Famous however needn’t have worried.
Their 2010 debut ‘Passive Me, Aggressive You’ received wide ranging popular
acclaim with songs such as ‘Young Blood’, ‘Punching in a Dream’ and ‘Girls Like
You’ proving to be particular crowd favourites. They were even a very assured
live act, something I enjoyed myself at their Portsmouth show in 2011. Well if
it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and they haven’t strayed too far from the sound of
their debut. I don’t mind that for one second. They have their own distinctive
sound and this allows them to develop that rather than taking a radical change
in direction. If you liked their debut, you are definitely going to be a fan of
this.
Youngblood Hawke- We Come Running: Fans of the latest FIFA Football
game (well Fifa 13) will immediately be familiar with this song due to its
inclusion on the games soundtrack. Back then it was part of Youngblood Hawke’s
latest EP. Now it’s the first single off their debut album “Wake Up” and it’s a
good excuse to dig it out and listen to it again. Not a bad idea really given
that it’s a perfect song for the summer. It was a song that I immediately fell
in love with when I heard it on the game and a bit despondent with its lack of
attention, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the video on MTV Rocks.
It’s a very catchy song, but that’s not surprising given that two of the
members were in the band Iglu & Hartly (remember ‘In This City’?). Anyway Youngblood
Hawke offer a dose of catchy indie rock that was a perfect anthem for the
summer months.
Well there you have it, thanks for reading. Hope you
enjoyed.
Been filling up my calander with various gigs between now
and the end of the year so keep a look out for gig reviews for Miles Kane, The
Answer, KT Tunstall and Spector amongst others in the next few months.
He rattled through a mixture of other songs from his two
studio albums, before diving into ‘Give Up’. Personally, it’s one of my
favourite songs of his and it sounds even better live. It’s a proper sing along
guitar anthem (although to be fair that’s the description of pretty much all
his songs). What made this version even better though was the surprise that was
waiting for us halfway through. He managed to seamlessly slip in a very good
cover of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ before reverting back to
his own song. 
He then played ‘Colour of the Trap’ before his band mates
returned to the stage themselves for the final song of the night, ‘Come Closer’.
It’s a real crowd favourite and he had the whole place singing along. He is a
great showman and knows exactly how to get the most out of the crowd. In fact “Ahhh,
Woahhh” could still be heard as people were filing out the doors. 