Gig Review: Brandon Flowers @ Brixton Academy, London 22/5

Brandon Flowers- O2 Brixton Academy, 22nd May 2015

Right I’m going to be honest about this from the start, I’m writing this review as a fan so there may be more than a hint of bias. The Killers are by far and away my favourite band (2 years since Wembley! Where’s the time gone?) so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see Brandon without his regular band mates.

Having seen The Killers three times previously I knew he was good. He is a brilliant frontman; singer, performer and stage craft are all top notch. But that was with The Killers, would he be as good performing his own material? The answer was an emphatic yes… and some.

I had been in possession of his new album The Desired Effect got a week before the show and fell in love with it on the first listen. It is brilliant from start to finish and with the drip feed of singles leading up to its release you got the idea there was going to be a strong pool of songs to choose from. Each of the singles that were played were instant fan favourites and crowd pleasers.

Flowers kicked the show off with ‘Untangled Love’ which unsurprisingly is an 80s enthused party anthem. The slow build up leading up to the big sing along chorus made it a perfect opener. He followed it up with ‘Can’t Deny My Love’ which sounds awesome live; it sounds a much mightier beast in a live environment. Released as the lead single here in the UK it was the best known of the ‘new’ songs and definitely went down well with the crowd.

He then went back to his previous solo effort ‘Flamingo’ playing the wonderful ‘Crossfire’, the ‘Mr Brightside’ of his debut. It’s his most famous solo hit and had every single person inside Brixton singing along. He followed it up with ‘Magdalena’ another song from Flamingo, a song that very much channels ‘Spaceman’ vibes, keeping up the high energy start.

So far so good.

He then slowed it down by going back to some old Killers material and playing a wonderful yet completely different version of ‘Jenny Was a Friend of Mine’. Usually it is a huge high energy sing/dance along anthem, but this is was a more laid back affair. It wasn’t in a lounge style as such, but it shows the versatility and class of the music. Definitely went down well with the crowd as it is a popular fan favourite. Flowers bookended the song by asking the crowd whether they thought the subject in song was guilty or not (he is). He followed that up with ‘Lonely Town’, another one of the pre-release singles. This was in fact better than the album version as it didn’t have that little auto tune interlude in the middle.

My night was then made when he played ‘Digging Up the Heart’, my personal favourite off the new album. Having been looking at recent setlists and noticing its omission I had no idea it was going to be played.  I’ve heard it described as the ‘Walk of Life’ of the album, but in a way it’s similar to From Here on Out from Battleborn. It’s an upbeat song that you cannot stand still to. The second surprise of the night then followed when Killers fan favourite Human started and for 4 minutes we were all at a Killers concert. Even better it wasn’t played in a different style; it was played as heard on the original. It was a great and unexpected addition to the setlist.

He then slowed it down again before ending the set with one of my favourites off Flamingo ‘Only the Young’ and then the Jacques Lu Cont remix version of ‘Mr Brightside’… which again had the whole of Brixton academy singing as one. It might not have been the original but that didn’t matter, the chance to sing along to ‘Mr Brightside’ in a live environment is a special moment, especially when you have 4/5000 other Killers fans in the room with you.

As ‘Mr Brightside’ drew to a close Flowers trooped off stage with his band, with the crowd not letting up till his return. As on the previous night, he had a special guest accompany him for the encore and we were lucky enough to have the brilliant Chrissie Hynde join Brandon on stage. They performed a cover of The Pretenders classic ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’ before duetting  on ‘Between Me and You’. He then finished off a fantastic evening with ‘I Can Change’, which sounds even better live than it does on the album before rounding it off with the brilliant ‘Still Want You’ complete with crowd participation.

It was a fantastic evening and has given me the bug for seeing The Killers again, something that had been lying dormant for the last two years. The music may be different, as are the musicians who join him on stage, but the songs of the same superb quality of any Killers material. The only disappointment was that they didn’t play a cover of ‘Read My Mind’, my all-time favourite Killers song as they had done the previous night, but you can’t have everything. An inclusion of ‘Jilted Lovers and Broken Hearts’ would have been nice too.

All in all it was a fantastic evening and lived up to and surpassed expectations.

Just have to wait for the next Killers tour now….


Setlist

Untangled Love
Can't Deny My Love
Crossfire
Magdalena
Hard Enough
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
Lonely Town
Diggin' Up the Heart
Human
Swallow It
The Way It's Always Been (Acoustic)
Only the Young
Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)

Encore

Don't Get Me Wrong feat. Chrissie Hynde
Between Me and You feat. Chrissie Hynde
I Can Change
Still Want You

Best of 2014

Well I have neglected this massively over the last few months, but as 2014 has drawn to a close its seems appropriate to have a round up of some of the best music that graced the last 12 months.

As ever, it is the usual eclectic mix of genres with returning veterans and explosive debuts.

This is in alphabetical order, so not ranking them in order of what is best. Its also all my personal preference. There is a lot of music and big songs not included, but you can't include them all.

So sit back and have a look back at some of the best songs from the past year, although some do deviate from that timeline.

AC/DC- Play Ball: The hard rock icons are back with their first album since 2008’s Black Ice. It’s AC/DC so you already know what it’s going to sound like. I’m just looking forward to July 2015 when I will be seeing them at Wembley Stadium.

Anastacia- Stupid Little Things: That’s right, from AC/DC to Anastacia. The lead single from her sixth studio album, ‘Stupid Little Things’ shows a classy return from one of the most distinctive voices in pop. It’s a very catchy song and it was good to hear her back in the charts.

Augustines- Cruel City: They may have shortened their name from We Are Augustines, but there has been not cutting of quality with the bands second album. ‘Cruel City’ is a perfect example of the Brooklyn band’s catchy yet moodful indie tones. A band well worth persevering with.

Band of Skulls- Hoochie Coochie: The Southampton trio returned this year with their third album ‘Himalyan.’ After much hype I decided to get tickets to see them at Brighton and they blew me away. I had really liked this single beforehand, but live it is something else. A very talented band that is doing very well for itself given a distinct lack of coverage from the mainstream media.

Beans on Toast- A Whole Lot of Loving: I had never heard of Beans on Toast until this year, when this bearded man with a guitar stepped out on stage as the opening act for on Frank Turner’s tour back in February. He only played a handful of songs but he won me over completely, enough for me to see him at his own stand-alone show in Brighton last month. With his songs mostly about sex, drugs or politics, he is very down to earth and has a wonderful ability to tell a story through his songs. Well worth giving a listen because you will find yourself a gem.

Bipolar Sunshine- Where Did the Love Go?: After two Eps in 2013 Adio Marchant aka, Bipolar Sunshine, returned in 2014 with a third EP entitled ‘Where Did the Love Go’. The title track is an absolute stunner; it is quite incredible that this didn’t get the airplay or recognition it deserves as it has all the attributes to be a flyaway mainstream success. Take a listen and spread the word.

Black Stone Cherry- Never Surrender: The Kentucky rockers returned triumphantly with their fourth album culminating in them headlining the mighty Wembley Arena in November. The only disappointment was that this song didn’t make the set-list. It’s an absolute monster which would have sounded fantastic live.

Black Keys- Gotta Get Away: When I first heard this on the radio I thought it was an old 1970s classic rock track, so I was quite surprised when I discovered it was the blues rock duo. It’s a cracking song with proper old school rock vibes. One that is going to sound great on their 2015 UK tour, which unfortunately I am not attending.

Bruno Mars- Uptown Funk: Ok so this is Mark Ronson feat Bruno Mars but I'm too lazy to move it on the list. A very late addition to this list as it has only just hit the charts over here, but it definitely deserves its place. It went straight to number one, is getting lots of radio play and it isn’t hard to see why. It is simply and fantastic song. When I first heard it I thought it was a 1970s funk song, something from Nile Rogers maybe, but then I twigged.

Canterbury- Expensive Imitation: One of the most pleasant surprises of the year was my discovery of British rock band Canterbury. ‘Expensive Imitation’ is a fantastic song. However it appears I have discovered them a few months too late as the band has since announced they will not be recording anymore music. It’s a real shame as we’ll be missing out on more music like this.

Catfish & the Bottlemen- Fallout: One of the best live acts I saw all year, Catfish and the Bottlemen have had an extraordinary 2014. Their rise has been quite phenomenal, and with tracks like Fallout, their live show is an absolute riot. Make sure to catch them in 2015, because if it’s anything like their Brighton show this month, you will love it.

Chrissie Hynde- Dark Sunglasses: Former Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde returned this year with her first solo album and after the debut single it was clear she was onto a winner. With her distinctive voice and style, ‘Dark Sunglasses’ had a habit of embedding itself into your conscience after its fair share of radio play. A triumphant return from a talented lady.

Ed Sheeran- Sing: How do you follow up a massively successful debut album? By writing an even better follow up, smashing America and selling out three nights at Wembley Stadium. That’s how. Fair to say, 2014 has been pretty good for Ed Sheeran. Looks like 2015 will be going the same way.

ELO- Long Black Road: Ok so not strictly released this year, but I still think it’s worthy of a place on this list. ‘Long Black Road’ featured in the film ‘American Hustle’, one of the most anticipated films of the year. In fact after seeing the premier, BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show host Chris Evans played this song twice in a row the following morning. I can understand why and I’m glad he did. It’s a proper, old school classic rock track which would have slipped under the radar.

Family of the Year- Hero: Wait… this song is from 2012. Well that might be true, but I discovered the song this year through airplay on Absolute Radio and it is too good not to include here. Give it a listen and you will understand why.

Foo Fighters- Something From Nothing: One of the most eagerly anticipated albums of the year was definitely Foo Fighters latest LP. ‘Something From Nothing’, the first single, shows the band in top form. Bit of a slow burner, but well worth the wait, it is typical Foos. Even includes the riff of the Dio classic ‘Holy Diver’. Looking forward to hearing it at their Wembley show in the summer.

Gaslight Anthem- Rollin’ and Tumblin’: What people may not know is that New Jersey band Gaslight Anthem came perilously close to calling it a day after Brian Fallon had become disillusioned with life in the band. Thankfully they pulled themselves back from the brink and went back to the studio. The result was their fifth studio album ‘Get Hurt’, and although it doesn’t stray too far from the sound of previous albums, it is still top class. They are a very talented band who make top class music, and this is no exception.

George Ezra- Listen to the Man: Sorry for sounding like a hipster (excuse me while I swallow some bile), but I saw George Ezra on his prealbum release tour. I went on the strength of ‘Budapest’ and ‘Casey O’’ and I made a prediction afterwards that he would be massive. Low and behold 3 months later his album is at number one. This is my favourite song off the album, made even better by a fantastic video with special guest Sir Ian McKellen.

Grant Nicholas- Joan of Arc: Known as the frontman of British rock institute Feeder, Grant Nicholas decided to take a break from the band  after their last UK tour in 2012 and pursue a solo album. Being a big Feeder fan I was really looking forward to it. It didn’t disappoint. Created with the help of fans via Pledge Music (I got a signed copy of the album via the site), Nicholas’ solo album has a very different sound to the rock and indie of Feeder. It’s a very mellow and laid back acoustic sound and shows his strength as a songwriter. The album reached number 29 in the UK charts, an impressive feat given that it had very little mainstream attention.

HAIM- If I Could Change Your Mind: There isn’t much I can say about Haim that I haven’t said before. I am a massive fan and was fortunate to see them last year. They are even better live than on record, somewhere this song really stands out. The fifth single from their enormous debut album ‘Days Are Gone’, ‘If I Could Change Your Mind’ showcases the sister’s ability to mix catchy rock pop with their distinctive harmonies. Very much looking forward to their next album.

Hozier- Take Me to Church: Actually released as a single from his first EP in 2013, ‘Take Me To Church’ has since gained a lot of airplay after the worldwide release of Hozier’s debut album. Selling over a million copies in the US alone, it isn't difficult to understand why it is such a hit. 

Imelda May- Tribal: Imelda May has grown to be one of my favourite artists. Not only does she appear twice on this list, but I saw her twice live this year and blew me away both times. Her band and she are incredibly talented musicians, something you really appreciate in a live environment. The title track from their latest album is a great place to start if you are in the mood for some rockabilly.

Jacqui Abbot and Paul Heaton- DIY: Two members of 90s indie pop band Beautiful South reunited this year with big success for a brilliant collaborative album. ‘DIY’ is a fantastic song, very catchy and you couldn’t get away from it on the radio.

James Bay- Hold Back the River: There has been some hype surrounding the name James Bay, with comparisons being made to Ben Howard. Judging by this song, he is someone to sit up and take notice of. The second single from his debut album, ‘Hold Back the River’ is a wonderful indie folk song; very upbeat and cheerful. The song charted at number 18 in the UK charts upon release.

Jamie T- Zombie: I have radio station XFM to thank for introducing me to this song. Thanks to them endlessly playing it while I was work, it didn’t take long for this song to grow on me. It is one of the best indie songs of the year, a real sing along anthem. Instantly catchy and with a great video, it has been one of my favourite songs of recent weeks.

Jungle- Busy Earnin’: Another song I have XFM to thank for, ‘Busy Earnin’’ is the third single from London based indie soul outfit Jungle. Releasing their debut album this year, the band have slowly been making a name for themselves, appearing at Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds festivals here in the UK. With the song also on the soundtracks for both the FIFA 15 and Forza Horizon 2 video games, their music is going to be exposed to a wide audience throughout the coming year.

Kacey Musgraves- Follow Your Arrow: A brilliant track from American Country singer Kacey Musgraves. ‘Follow Your Arrow’ is a very bouncy, liberal song with a very modern feel.  It’s very catchy and will soon have you singing along.

Kaiser Chiefs- Coming Home: Fifth studio album from Yorkshire indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs shows a band with a more mature and grown up sound. I don’t mean that in a negative way, it’s just their sound has evolved a lot since their debut, and they are all the better for it. They still remain a brilliant live act and I am very much looking forward to seeing them on their UK tour next month.

Kongos- Come With Me Now: Funny how songs sometimes take time to get noticed. Originally released in 2011, it has taken three years for KONGOS’ ‘Come with Me Now’ to have an effect on the charts. Good things come to those who wait though, and the song has been picked up and is now a runaway success. Have to say, it took a while for it to grow on me, but now I love it.

Lenny Kravitz- The Chamber: The lead single from his tenth studio album, ‘The Chamber’ is an instant Kravitz classic. Whether it’s the hook, the bassline or the sing along chorus, it’s up there with some of his best work.

Levellers feat Imelda May- Beautiful Day: I saw the Levellers for the first time this year at OnBlackheath festival in London. They were brilliant, and they even brought a special guest on stage with them. Imelda May was on the same bill and joined the band to perform ‘Beautiful Day’, a re-recording of their classic for their upcoming ‘Greatest Hits’ album. I fell in love with it on first listen, and in my opinion it sounds much better than the original. But then I’m a big fan of Imelda May, so may be a bit biased.

Manic Street Preachers- Futurology: The evergreen Manic Street Preachers released their 12th studio album in 2014 to critical acclaim, with many citing it as a band returning to top form. I’d certainly go along with that. The title track ‘Futurology’ showcases the band’s trademark sound with James Dean Bradfield’s distinctive vocals. Good to see the Welsh icons back.

Milky Chance- Down by the River: Another acoustic singer song writing duo who have established themselves this year are German born Milky Chance. Even though there is a lot of choice in this particular genre at the moment, these guys have managed to create their own style and with the massive popularity of their music, it’s safe to say that is has worked for them.

Molly- Children of the Universe: Now this is a very rare occurrence, a Eurovision song that I actually like. And it was little old Britain’s entry as well. We still lost, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that this is a cracking song. Singer Molly Smitten Downes has a very distinctive voice and this pop anthem really showcases her talent. Hopefully it can be used as a springboard to future success.

Nerina Pallot- Happy Day: 12 months, 12 Eps. Quite a challenge but one that has been a success. The new songs sound good with a varied sound. Choosing just one for here was difficult. Nerina is still one of my favourite live artists. I saw her for the second time Brighton and not only is she incredibly talented, she is funny and very entertaining. A criminally underrated artist who you would do well to go and see.

Nick Mulvey- Cucurucu: Another singer songwriter who has had a breakthrough year in 2014 is British singer Nick Mulvey.  Releasing his debut album ‘First Mind’ to critical acclaim, ‘Cucurucu’ is a perfect introduction to his brand of acoustic folk rock. It has a wonderfully slow build up to the chorus, where the title is used a perfect hook. A very catchy and bouncy song that is perfect for the summer months.

Noel Gallagher-In the Heat of the Moment: The preceding single to the ex-Oasis guitarist’s second solo album, ‘In the Heat of the Moment’ is a classic Noel Gallagher song. It has his signature sound stamped all over it and is as good as anything from his debut High Flying Birds effort.  With the album due for release in March, we can only hope the rest of the album is as good as this.

Paolo Nutini-Scream (Funk My Life Up): Back in 2009, after the success of his second album ‘Sunny Side Up’, Paolo Nutini was one of the hottest artists in British music. Fast forward five quiet years later and I was starting to wonder if we were due another album. Low and behold, in late 2013, it was announced a new album had been recorded and a month later this was released as the first single. A cocktail of soul, funk and folk mixed with his distinctive vocals makes it a perfect, upbeat way to open the album. A sure fire Nutini classic.

Paloma Faith- Only Love Can Hurt Like This: British soul sensation returned to the charts this year with her third album, with this song the second single off the album. It’s a brilliant song, something reaffirmed by it becoming Faith’s highest charting single to date, peaking at number 6 in the UK charts.

Pure Love- Hurricane: Fronted by ex-Gallows frontman Frank Carter, Pure Love are a really fun band and an absolute riot in a live environment. I had the pleasure of seeing them on tour last year at a tiny club in Brighton and they were fantastic. Sadly they are now on an ‘indefinite hiatus’, but they did give us fans three more songs before their departure. ‘Hurricane’ is taken from their ‘Bunny EP’ and wouldn’t have been out of place on their debut album ‘Anthems’. It is a big, foot stomping anthem in itself and shows that rock doesn't have to be serious.

Queen-Let Me in Your Heart Again: Taken from their recent compilation album ‘Queen Forever’, ‘Let Me In Your Heart Again’ is the first Queen single to include Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon since 1995. The song was originally recorded in 1983, but failed to make the final track listing on ‘The Works’. It finally gets an airing in time for Queen’s January UK tour with US singer Adam Lambert.

Radkey- Romace Dawn: A band to watch out for in 2015 is American band Rakey. Consisting of three brothers, I first came across them at Calling Festival in London back in the summer where they were supporting Aerosmith. I was impressed with their sound and energy and immediately checked them out when I got home and downloaded their EP. ‘Romance Dawn’ is a big sing along anthem, which should be getting more radio play. These guys have the potential to make it big, so here’s hoping they have a big 2015.

Rodriguez- I Wonder: Another song not from 2014. This one is actually from the 1970s, by a little known singer called Sixto Rodriguez. I say little known, that is not strictly true, but things could have been a lot different. To give you an idea of what you have been missing out on, listen to this. It has one of the best bass lines you will ever hear.  If you are unfamiliar with his story, you need to watch the documentary ‘Searching for Sugarman’. It really is a fantastic story.

Royal Blood- Figure it Out: Who says rock is dead? Royal Blood, the duo from Brighton (actually two towns close to me, near Brighton on the South Coast), have had a remarkable year.  They’ve opened for the Arctic Monkeys, had packed out tents at every festival appearance and then their album went straight to number one. To top it off, they will open for the mighty Foo Fighters at Wembley Stadium next summer, something  I am really looking forward to.

Saint Motel- My Type: One of my favourite finds of the year has been LA band Saint Motel. One of the main reasons, apart from making really good music, is the fact that the more I listen to them, the more I can’t pigeon hole them. They seem to be genre free. They just make really fun, easy to listen to music. At a push they could be classed as indie, and they will certainly be a massive success at festivals this coming year. I saw them live in Brighton in November and they were fantastic. 2015 is going to be a big year for them.

Sam Smith- Stay With Me: Quite a year for the British singer songwriter. One million album sales in both the UK and US charts has seen Smith storm into the public consciousness. With his gentle piano ballads, he is got the perfect recipe to be universally popular and is reaping the rewards.

Slash- 30 Years to Life: I have to admit I am a big fan of Slash, so when I heard he was doing a new album with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, I was really excited. I wasn’t disappointed. The title track ‘World on Fire’ was good, but this is one of my personal favourites from the album. It’s a real sing along and head banger at the same time, the album’s ‘Paradise City’ as it were. It really stands out in a live environment so if you get the chance to go, do it.

Southern- Shout It: Belfast brother and sister duo Thom and Lucy Southern are one of the best kept musical secrets of 2014. I heard their song ‘Shout It’ on MTV Rocks and was instantly hooked. What I really liked was their style of blues mixed with the perfect compliments of their voices. I liked them enough to see them live in Brighton and they were fantastic. Met them afterwards and they were very down to earth and genuine. They are going to go far.

The Pretty Reckless- Follow Me Down: Taylor Momsen and her band The Pretty Reckless made a triumphant return this year with the difficult second album. Titled ‘Going to Hell’, a couple of singles, the title track and ‘Heaven Knows’ were released at the back end of last year. However it’s this, the opening track that is my favourite. Opening with an, intimate, sound effect the song bursts into a heavy riff that is just as dirty as the intro.  With less than ambiguous lyrics and Momsen’s attitude filled delivery, it is a fitting way to start the album.

The Pierces- Kings: If what you are looking for in music is brilliant songs with a wonderful harmony, then look no further than Catherine and Allison Pierce, more commonly known as The Pierces. Their harmony on record is brilliant, but stunning to listen to live. There is a definite vibe between the two of them that is magnified in a live environment. ‘Kings’ was the first single from their latest album ‘Creation’, and show cases the sister’s talents perfectly.

 So there you have it, a selection of 50 of the best songs from 2014.

Thanks for reading

Happy New Year to you all, hope 2015 treats you well.

Happy