Gig Review: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls @ Portsmouth Guildhall

Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls @ Portsmouth Guildhall 13/2

I may have been a bit late to the party in terms of becoming a Frank Turner fan (I only got into him after his appearance at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics), but having listened to his albums he has someone I have wanted to see live for a while. Fair to say he didn’t disappoint.

 

This was show number 1,528 and although this was my first, it lived up to all expectations. This was his first arena tour and although there were reservations about him playing bigger venues, from my point of view, his music works perfectly on a grander scale. Especially with thousands of people singing the works back at him. “I didn’t really write these songs to be played in a room this size and shape. “I wrote them to play in bedrooms and bars. But we’re here because this many people wanted to see the band. It’s not about the room. It’s about us,” Turner explained.

 

In fact Turner had played the O2 Arena, London the night before to 20,000 people, so the capacity 2,500 Portsmouth crowd certainly had something to live up to. Fair to say I think we did ourselves proud. The fact that Guildhall was the first venue to sell out for the tour was a good sign. It was also the last night of the tour, although a solo homecoming show in Winchester had been organised for the following night, so Turner wanted to go out on a high.

Beans on Toast

Before Frank took to the stage though, there was support from Beans on Toast and Flogging Molly. Having never heard of Beans on Toast before, it didn’t take long for him to make an impression. With songs about serious subjects such as fracking, chickens and blow jobs, his humorous yet punkish lyrics related very well to the crowd. He also gave the crowd options with the setlist he played as well, giving them to choice to vote between two songs as to which got played. Overall he was very entertaining. Well worth checking out.

FM, Pyramids Centre 2011

Having seen Flogging Molly before when they played the Pyramids Centre in Portsmouth a few years back, I knew exactly what we were in for. They were fantastic when I saw them before and nothing has changed since. They had the had the crowd in the palm of their hand within the first thirty seconds or so of their opening song ‘Drunken Lullabies’, and after playing a short set consisting of favourites such as ‘Float’, ‘Devil’s Dance Floor’ and ‘What’s Left of the Flag’ they had the place well set for the headline act.

The man we had all come to see was next, and throughout the 2 hour and 24 song set, people were clapping, dancing and singing along. Songs such as ‘Photosynthesis’,’ The Road’, ‘If I Ever Stray’ and ‘Wessex Boy’ were all such examples of mass participation. And ‘Eulogy’. And ‘The Way I Tend to Be’. And ‘Losing Days’. I think you get the picture. It wasn’t just an impressive performance audibly though. Visually it was striking with effective use of the lighting making it an impressive spectacle.

With the ‘Best Crowd of the Tour’ award still up for grabs as well, we had to out-do Manchester, Nottingham and London during ‘Recovery’ by combining singing, jumping and clapping in one routine. To aid in our effort, Turner’s road crew joined the stage dressed in animal costumes to lead proceedings. Naturally we beat our rivals, of course.

He finished his set with two of my personal favourite songs of his, ‘I Still Believe’ and ‘Four Simple Words’. I love them because I can relate to them on so many levels. They encapsulate perfectly how I feel going to live music and about rock music in general, so to sing along to them live was something special.

It was a fantastic end to a brilliant night. His songs take on an extra dimension live, with added energy and the impressive Sleeping Souls playing with him, it made it a great night. It was well worth the late night and getting only 3 hours sleep before work the next day. A lot of people said “Frank who?” when I said I was seeing him live. It’s their fault they haven’t heard of him, as they are missing out on a real talent.

 

 

Gig Review: Gaz Brookfield @ The Latest Music Bar, Brighton

Gaz Brookfield @ The Latest Music Bar, Brighton 9/2

If I'm honest I hadn't planned on doing a review of this show. The main reason being I had never heard of Gaz Brookfield before and had no idea what to expect. All I had to go on was the insistence from my friend that he was brilliant. He didn't disappoint and I'm so glad I went along.

Having opened/toured with the likes of Frank Turner, Newton Faulkner and The Levellers, he plays an upbeat acoustic folk style, full of delicious hooks and fantastic story telling. It's this combination that holds your attention. He is a man who clearly enjoys performing his own songs and played with a smile on his face throughout.

His songs are based on everyday man's tales including growing up and surviving as a musician.  Songs such as 'Land Pirates Life', 'Towns' and 'The Busker Song', all off his latest album 'In the Company of Thieves', are perfect examples of these. Lyrically they are all fantastic. It may sound like an exaggeration, but are all that good. That's before you get to material from his other albums, such as 'Be the Bigger Man', a song about bullying at school, which also features Frank Turner in the video.

All in all it was a fantastic gig in a great little venue hidden away in Brighton. I love these kind of gigs as much as an arena/stadium. Perhaps even more so as there is a greater connection with the audience. Gaz was very humble and thankful that a roomful of people had come out to see him on a Sunday night. Not a bad first gig of the year at all.

Next up for me is Mr Turner himself in Portsmouth on Thursday which I will be reviewing at the end of the week.

Chill Out Songs

No matter what sort of music you are into, everyone likes music they can chill out. There are plenty of compilation albums out there, but I decided to do a round up of 20 of my favourite songs to relax to. It's the usual mix of stuff most people will recognise and some songs you may not know. So sit back, relax and enjoy :)

Bran Van 3000- Drinking in LA: A personal favourite of mine, this song is the first single released by Canadian group Bran Van 3000. A mixture of electronica and hip-hop, this is a great chill out song. It achieved mixed chart success, peaking at number 3 in the UK charts. It was also covered by UK indie band The Twang, and surprisingly does the song justice.

Bruce Springsteen- Streets of Philadelphia: One of my personal favourite Springsteen songs, The Boss wrote it especially for the 1993 Tom Hanks film 'Philadelphia'. The song proved to be a massive hit, hitting number on in 8 countries and making well into the top 10 elsewhere it charted. With it's distinctive synthesizer and drums, the oozes a calm and peaceful vibe. This is helped by the not having the usual gruff vocals that are Springsteen's hallmark. A fantastic song.

Charlotte Hatherley- Be Thankful: This is a fantastically relaxing song from ex-Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley. After leaving Ash, Hatherley embarked on a solo career, with this song off her second album ‘The Deep Blue’. It’s a totally different sound to Ash, but it’s a really peaceful song. Definitely one that will grow on you.

College and Electric Youth- A Real Hero: The film ‘Drive’ was recommended to me by a friend and I’m glad I watched it as it includes this absolute gem of a song that sounds like it should have been released in 1981. If you like 80s/New Wave music you have to listen to this, as it’s a little piece of the 1980s made in the 21st century and its absolutely brilliant. Give it a listen and I dare you not to love it.

Gorillaz- On Melancholy Hill: Think of Gorillaz and songs such as 'Dare' and 'Clint Eastwood' immediately spring to mind. However, in 2010, they relased this little gem from their 'Plastic Beach' album. It's a much gentler song than some of their previous work. With a distinctive hook and entertaining video, its a good song to sit back and relax to.

HAERTS- Wings: You may not be familiar with the name, but New York indie band HAERTS struck gold with this gem from their debut EP 'Hemiplegia'. It has a great hook which, coupled with soothing vocals, makes it a joy to listen to. It has an 80s vibe to it, with the vocals not unlike that of Delores O'Riorden from The Cranberries. A song that definitely deserves more exposure.  

Hurts- Wonderful Life: Synthpop duo Hurts made a big introduction with their 2010 debut album 'Happiness'. 'Wonderful Life' was the second single and cemented and cemented their place as one of the breakthrough artists of the year. With their Pet Shop Boy-esque sound, the song does transport you back to the 80s. Saying that it sounds modern, fresh and different to other acts in the charts. 

Jake Bugg- Broken: ‘Broken’ is a re-recording of a song that appears on the album, but this time features Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums and was recorded with veteran producer Rick Rubin. The result is a beautiful acoustic number that emphasizes Bugg’s talent as both a singer and song writer. It’s a slower song than say ‘Two Fingers’ or ‘Seen It All’, but it shows he can mix it up a bit.

Jose Gonzalez- Heartbeats: This is one of those songs as soon as it comes on I have to turn the volume up. Originally by The Knife, the song appears on Gonzalez’s 2003 album ‘Veneer’. It wasn’t until 2006 that it was released as a single however, and hit the number 9 spot in the UK. The gentleness of the guitar and vocals is soothing if nothing else, which makes it a great song to chill out to. 

Lana Del Rey- Video Games: The song that essentially introduced her to the world, 'Video Games' is the hit single by American singer Lana Del Rey. It charted in the top 3 in 15 countries around the world, achieving platinum status in four countries and was nominated for a whole string of awards. It's a beautiful ballad which emphasize Del Rey's unique and distinctive vocals. It's a classic and I am very much looking forward to her follow up album.

Lighthouse Family- High: How can you not like the Lighthouse Family? It is exactly the sort of music you put on after a hard day at the office and this classic is a perfect example. With Tunde Baiyewu's distinctive vocals, the Lighthouse Family gained massive popularity in the late 90s/early 00s. It's not hard to see why with songs like this. 

M People- Search for the Hero: Another classic from the 90s, it's another song that everybody knows and likes no matter what music they are into. It is an all embracing tune and was the groups signature song. Fronted by Heather Small, she gave the group a distinctive sound with her powerful vocal delivery. 'Search for the Hero' is a perfect example of this and remains one of their most popular hits.

M83- Midnight City: Not a song you may recognise by name, but give it a listen and I'm pretty sure you will have heard it before. Released as the first single from French electronic band M83's sixth album in 2011, the song achieved worldwide success. It's not hard to see why. It has a brilliant hook while the saxophone at the end give it an added 80s feel. A modern classic.

Moby- Porcelain: Another track that everyone knows. Released as the sixth single from Moby's mammoth 1999 album 'Play', 'Porcelain' soon became one of the biggest singles off the album, reaching number 5 in the UK charts. After allowing it to be used in commercials and films, Moby described it as the 'most signature song on the album', something the critics agreed with. It's ambience and subtlety makes it a perfect song to chill out to. 

Solange- Losing You: The name Solange may not mean much to some people, but add the surname Knowles and you may take a bit of notice. Yes, this is Beyonce's younger sister and she is starting to make her own name in the music world. With two studio albums and an EP to her name, from which this is taken, she deserves all the plaudits she gets. 'Losing You' is a peaceful song which mixes elements of RnB and electronica to create an ambient and gentle tone. A fantastic song all round.

Temper Trap- Sweet Disposition: Another huge song that received lots of radio play, Temper Trap's 'Sweet Disposition' is the nxt song on the list. It was the lead single from the band's debut album and peaked at number 6 in the UK charts. It has also been used in TV commercials for Chrysler and Diet Coke. It has a gentle with the distinctive vocals from frontman Dougy Mandagi before building into a big chorus. One of those songs that you have to turn up when it comes on the radio.

The Beloved- Sweet Harmony: Now this is a classic song; the 1992 hit for electronica band The Beloved. It reached number 8 in the UK charts and is widely regarded as the groups signature song. The song is famous for it's controversial video, consisting of a totally cast, including TV presenter Tess Daly. However that detract from the fact that this is a fantastic song and sounds just as good now as it did 20 years ago.

The Dandy Warhols- Sleep: This song is taken from one of my favourite albums of all time; 'Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia' by American indie band The Dandy Warhols. Known for their hit single 'Bohemian Like You', the album changes genre practically every song; one of it's strengths is its versatility. The title of the track I've chosen here, 'Sleep', gives some indication as to the sort of song this is. Slow, gentle and calming, its an underrated song from an underrated band.

The xx- VCR: One of the biggest British bands of recent times, 'VCR' was the fourth single from the self titled debut album from The xx. Gentle, brooding and atmospheric the song has a perfect bass line hook. There is something quite minimalist about the song that adds to it's appeal.

Uncle Kracker- Follow Me: Another modern classic, this time from Country Rock star Uncle Kracker. This 2001 hit from his album 'Double Wide' reached the top spot in six countries including Australia, USA and Ireland and is his highest charting single to date. It's a fantastic song with easy, sing-along lyrics and catchy acoustic hook. It also has a good beat to it which makes it perfect to relax to. 

Well there you have it, hope you enjoyed that list. I'm sure you have your own favourites but you may now have some new songs to add to your playlists.

My next blog will be a review of Frank Turner's gig in Portsmouth next week supported by the fantastic Flogging Molly.

Until then, thanks for reading :)