Gig Review: The Amorettes @ Our Black Heart, London

The Amorettes- Our Black Heart, Camden, London 24/05/16

Its not very often I take a real liking to a band as quickly as I have with The Amorettes. Last night was the third time I've seen them since December, and each time I've come away beaming having thoroughly enjoyed myself. Admittedly they may not be a household name as of yet, but believe me, they are one of the freshest and most exciting new bands around at the moment. 

L-R Gill, Heather, Hannah

The band consists of Gill on vocals/lead guitar, Heather on Bass and Hannah on drums. 2016 has been a busy year for the girls so far.  They've been finishing off work on their new album, release on June 27th, as well as a full UK tour supporting fellow British rockers The Treatment.  They have also been lucky enough to bag support slots in the past with the likes of Europe, Black Star Riders, Thunder and Ash. I actually went to their recent show in Portsmouth and personally I thought they played The Treatment off the stage. But that's not the gig I'm writing about...

Album cover for White Hot Heat

Their new album 'White Hot Heat' follows on from their independently released 2010 debut 'Haulin' Ass' and the 2015 follow up 'Game On'. The new album, fan funded through Pledge Music, has so far been a success where they are currently sitting at 280% of their original target. Produced by Luke Morley (lead guitarist for British rock legends Thunder) the album also has writing input from Black Star Riders front man Ricky Warwick.

Last night's show in Camden, was one of two shows on offer to Pledge campaigners to go along and be among some of the first to hear the new songs played live. Having seen them before I knew what to expect, but even so they were superb. They play simple, straight forward, no nonsense rock and roll and they play it very, very well.

Sprinkling the set with old favourites such as 'Son of a Gun', 'Fire at Will' and 'Bull by the Horns', the bulk of the set was made up songs from the new album. The new songs went down really well, including 'Let the Neighbours Call the Cops' which is due to be the lead single. They haven't deviated far from the formula but they really have no need to. They're a rock and roll band and that's exactly what you get. Some of the riffs sounded heavier in comparison to 'Game On' but thats far from a criticism. If anything, it enhanced their sound even more. They have a tight sound and the songs are very well put together.

Playing other new songs such as 'Come 'n' Get It', 'White Russian Roulette' and 'Eyes on the Prize' they finished the set with the thumping 'Stealing Thunder' before ending with the popular 'Hot and Heavy'. They then came back on stage for what seemed an unplanned encore of 'Daddy's Got Money' and 'Shoot From the Hip' before thanking the fans and leaving the stage.

What seemed like nerves for the first few songs soon disapperated and once they got into their stride there was no stopping them. The venue could only hold a maximum of 100 people and each and every person left having had a fantastic nights entertainment.

They are busy with festivals this summer, including the mighty Download festival at Castle Donington where they are due to play on the Friday. There is still time to contribute to their Pledge campaign too, which I strongly suggest you have a look at. They are a superb band, they deserve it and you won't regret it.

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/theamorettes/exclusives

Gig Review: Foxes @ Concorde 2, Brighton

Foxes- Concorde 2, Brighton 11/5/16

Sometimes I like to break from the norm and go and see an artist that is totally different from the rock or indie gigs that I tend to frequent. So was the case when I saw that Foxes had a date in my neck of the woods.

 It was a bit of a spontaneous decision to go, I hadn't planned on going until about a fortnight before; lucky, as the original tour had been postponed due to illness. As it turned out, I had made the right decision to go.

Promoting her second album 'All I Need', which was released earlier this year, Foxes, real name Louisa Rose Allen, brought her exciting brand of "experimental pop" to a packed Concorde 2 in Brighton. The setlist included singles 'Body Talk' and 'Better Love' as well as favourites off her debut including the title track 'Glorious' and the phenomenal 'Youth'. She also wasn't afraid to show her vulnerable side with tracks such as 'If You Leave Me Now' before finishing the set with the wonderful 'Let Got For Tonight'.

As a performer she is fantastic. She has a great vocal range, demonstrated when she held some impressive long notes, and dances around the stage with bounds of energy. At the same time however she was very humble, taking time to stress how grateful she was that everybody had come out to support her and her music. A special mention should also go to her backing band, a very talented group of musicians who take a back seat but provide the backbone for Foxes to do her thing.

All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. From 'lighters in the air' moments to having the whole room bouncing she held the audience and they responded accordingly. She arrived on the back of huge criticial acclaim and from where I was standing I can see exactly what the fuss is about.  Definitely an artist to check out during the summer festival season.

Gig Review: We Are Scientists @ Concorde 2, Brighton

We Are Scientists- Concorde 2, Brighton

We Are Scientists might not be one of the household names when you think of indie bands from the 2000s, but dismiss them at your peril.  On the road promoting their latest album 'Helter Seltzer', they finished the tour in style on the south coast. The Californian trio, fronted by guitarist and singer Keith Murray and bassist Chris Cain, bought their electrifying brand of indie rock to a packed out Concorde 2 and left the place buzzing.

It was my first time seeing them live. I was due to see them at a festival last summer, but due to the dreaded timing clash at festivals, I wasn't able to catch them. I rectified that though when I saw the date in Brighton come up. I'm glad I did, they were fantastic.

With five albums behind them, they have a strong pool of songs to choose from and playing hits such as 'Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt', 'Rules Don't Stop' and 'The Great Escape' they didn't disappoint. There was a great atmosphere with people up on shoulders and huge sing alongs, especially to their biggest hit 'After Hours'. Even the new songs such as 'Buckle' and 'In My Head' went down well with the crowd. 

They may have been part of the Indie scene that gained popularity in the mid-00s, but they still sound fresh and current. Their stage show is lively and they offer a good interaction with the crowd. This was typified with Keith Murray ending the night in the crowd during the encore. All in all, it was brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable evening. If you get a chance to see them at a festival this summer, it will be a good way to spend your time.

New Music: Best of 2016 so far

Well, I haven't done one of these for a while. Ages infact. So I do apologise if I'm a bit rusty, but I thought I'd get back in the saddle after an extended break and give this blogging malarky another go.

What better way to get back into things than a round up of the year so far. As its May (already! where's the year gone?) thought it was a good excuse to have a look at what 2016 has thrown up so far. As usual its a mix of old and new artists with a mix of genres and styles thrown into the mix as well.

If nothing else, you may find your new favourite song.

Birdy- Keeping Your Head Up: The success that Birdy has achieved at a young age shows that age is no barrier if the talent is there. Still only 19 years old, she released her third studio album 'Beautiful Lies' in March of this year. 'Keeping Your Head Up' is the lead single from the album, managing to show off her wonderful voice whilst being of a more upbeat style than some of her previous work. There are similarities to Florence and the Machine sound wise, which isn't a bad thing, but her signature sound is still the backbone of the album. She is a major talent and one that is only going to get stronger. If you don't believe me, all you have to do is watch her performing her hit single 'Wings' live.

Biffy Clyro- Wolves of Winter: Scottish rock titans Biffy Clyro made their return this year with the fabulous single 'Wolves of Winter'. It is the first single off their seventh studio album 'Ellipsis'. Not due for release until July, 'Wolves of Winter' is some appetiser, consisting of the signature heavy Biffy sound. If the rest of the album is like this, it is going to be a good one. They are one band I have yet had the privilege to see live, but that is going to change on their next UK tour.

Black Stone Cherry- Wembley Arena, London 2014

Black Stone Cherry- The Way of the Future: Southern State Hard rockers Black Stone Cherry made their return this year their mighty new album 'Kentucky'. Named after their home town, and where they recorded it, the band wanted to hark back to a heavier sound more in keeping with their early albums. Its safe to say that they have succeeded. I'm a big fan of Black Stone Cherry and even though they have always had a heavy sound, its nice to hear the 'radio friendly' side have a slightly harder edge. 'Kentucky' is the band's fifth album and they appear to be going from strength to strength.

Blossoms- Brighton 2016

Blossoms- At Most a Kiss: A new band on the scene for 2016, so new they don't have a debut album yet, but that hasn't stopped Stockport indie band Blossoms making significant waves. They finished fourth on the BBC's Sound of 2016 and listening to Blossoms' brand of Indie pop, its easy to see why they are so highly rated. 'At Most a Kiss' is a synthy number with 80's influences laced into it giving it a modern, youthful edge. In a recent interview with NME, front man Tom Ogden proclaimed "We don’t wanna be underground. We wanna become a big band.” Time will tell whether this comes true, but they've made a very good start.

Brian Fallon- Wonderful Life: I was gutted last year when, after seeing them for the third time, The Gaslight Anthem announced they were going on a indefinite hiatus. There had been rumours of a split, so the news of a break was a bit worrying. Gaslight fans needn't worry though as the band's front man, Brian Fallon, has come up with a fantastic album. It's not his first project away from his day job, but it is his first 'solo' effort and its a cracker. It treads a more mellow path than the Gaslight Anthem but the DNA is still there that fans will recognise. 'Wonderful Life' is the lead single from the album and shows that there is life beyond Gaslight Anthem.

Catfish and the Bottlemen- Brighton 2016

Catfish and the Bottlemen- Soundcheck: What a couple of years its been for Catfish and the Bottlemen. I saw them around 18 months ago, not long after the release of their debut album, at Concorde 2 in Brighton and they were superb. A band with a lot of youthful energy but with the material and stage craft to back it up. Roll forward to 2016, and after picking up the Best British Breakthrough Act award at the Brits, they have album number two on the way. 'Soundcheck' is one of the first singles off the album and its business as usual. Its very catchy, very accomplished indie rock. There is a maturity to their sound which translates into their superb live show. If they carry on the trajectory they are on, they could well be the next British indie superstars.

Elle King- America's Sweetheart: 'America's Sweetheart' is the latest single by L.A. born singer songwriter Elle King. Its the third single from her album 'Love Stuff' and is the follow up to the wonderful 'Ex's and Oh's' released last year. It showcases her strong and distinctive vocals, something that helps her stand out against her contemporaries. She is a very talented singer and definitely one to keep an eye out for.

James- Nothing But Love: 'Nothing But Love' is the latest single by Manchester veterans James from their latest album 'Girl at the End of the World'. It gained publicity after it came within a whisker of knocking Adele's '25' off the top of the UK charts after being ahead at the midweek count, but ulitmately had to settle for the number two spot. With total career albums sales of well over 25 million world wide though its hardly surprising. Their enduring popularity is based around quality song writing and a loyal fanbase, showcased by another sell out tour. It's good to see them still going strong and in Tim Booth they have one of the British music's best and underrated front men.

James Bay- Best Fake Smile: 2015 was a huge year for Herfordshire born singer songwriter James Bay. Not only did it see the release of his debut album 'Chaos and the Calm', the album that had already spawned the platinum selling hit single 'Hold Back the River', he played the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, had a sold out UK tour and recieved multiple nominations for both the Brits and Grammy Awards. Onto 2016 then, and it's more of the same. In the same way that 'Hold Back the River' and Bay's other hit single 'If You Ever Want to be in Love' dominated the airwaves, 'Best Fake Smile' is following in their footsteps. It's not hard to see why, its upbeat and catchy and showcases why 'Chaos and the Calm' was so critically acclaimed.

Jake Bugg- On My One: 'On My One' is the lead single by Jake Bugg off his latest album by the same name. This is Bugg's third album following on from 2013's Shangri La. Not bad for someone who is still only 22. His debut in 2012 though proved that age doesn't matter, and this maturity shines through on his latest single. Not only is there an 'old head on young shoulders' aura to the lyrics, the same can be applied the delvery. Very simple, stripped back and highlights Bugg's distinctive vocals.If the rest of the album is anything like this then we're in for a treat.

Ladyhawke- Sweet Fascination: Another pleasant surprise this year has been the return of New Zealand born synth-pop singer Ladyhawke. Best known for her 2008 hit single 'My Delerium', surprisingly her new album 'Wild Things' is only her third. Good things come to those who wait however and its business as usual. I really enjoy her sound and her brand of synth-laden indie rock is extremely catchy. She has stated the reason for the large gap between albums was due to the fact she didn't want to release something she wasn't proud of. Well she can most definitely be proud of this and I'm very much looking forward to seeing her on tour in June.

Lissie- Don't You Give Up On Me: One of the most underrated female singer/songwriters around has come back with new music this year, with Lissie releasing her third album 'My Wild West'. The folk rock singer is one of my favourite artists, not just because of her music, but the genuine, down the earth aurora she has. This comes across in her music with her distinctive husky vocals giving her a Stevie Nicks-esque qualities. She has a strong back catalogue from her previous two albums and this carries on with 'Don't You Give Up On Me', the lead single from the new album. Its an upbeat, singalong song and showcases what an underrated talent she is.

Royal Blood- Portsmouth 2015

Royal Blood- Where Are You Now?: It's really good to hear Royal Blood back. Their self titled debut went straight to number one in 2014 and they finished touring late last year taking some much deserved time off before work on album number two was to begin. Written for use in the hit US show 'Vinyl', 'Where Are You Now' offers an insight into what the album may sound like. The signs are good, the worry always was 'how do they follow up their debut without making a carbon copy?' Well they've managed it here by making subtle changes. Nothing radical, more refining what was already there. Second album syndrome can strike down any artist after a successful debut, but judging by this, Royal Blood have already cracked it.

Sick Puppies: Stick to your Guns: It's strange how much things can change in 5 years. 2011 saw the international release of 'Tri Polar' the third album by Aussie band Sick Puppies. It's one of my top 10 favourite albums, its superb and I was lucky enough to see them when they toured the UK for their 2013 follow up 'Connect'. Roll forward to 2016 however, singer Shimon Moore is gone and has been replaced by Bryan Scott. New singer and a slightly new style. They always had a hard edge to some of their songs, but 'Stick to Your Guns' is a lot heavier and more aggressive and I have to say, I really like it. The band has moved on, changed direction and I'm really looking forward to hearing the rest of the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=takYoBexOpY

Sixx AM- You Have Come to the Right Place: 2015 saw the end of one of rock's most infamous bands as Motley Crue concluded their 'All Bad Things Must Come to an End' tour and 'retired'. As the saying goes though, as one door closes another one opens and the end of the Crue means bassist Nikki Sixx can concentrate on his other project Sixx AM with, now ex-GnR, guitarist DJ Ashba and singer/producer James Michaels. 2016 sees the release of an ambitious double album 'Prayers of the Damned' with part one released at the end of April. It will actually be albums 4 & 5 from the band but the first as a 'full time band'. 'You Have Come to the Right Place' is one of the lead singles and showcases the band's hard hitting style. Comparisons to Motley Crue would be unjustified, this is a totally different project; modern hard rock from a band who can now concentrate wholly on themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Nl1NieCYU

Stereophonics- White Lies: 'White Lies' is the fourth single taken from the 2015 album 'Keep the Village Alive' by Welsh indie rock veterans Stereophonics. Kelly Jones and co have always had the knack of writing fantastic songs, from the early 'Local Boy in the Photograph' to the mighty 'Dakota' to 'C'est la Vie' they have always stuck to their guns and done their own thing. Now almost 20 years on from their debut album, this latest single shows a band at the top of their game. It may not have the punchy lead guitar of older material, but it shows a depth and quality of song writing by a band happy doing their own thing. With a raft of big shows this summer, including a headline slot at the Isle of Wight festival and playing Cardiff City Stadium, 2016 is set to be another big year. 

The Coral- Miss Fortune: The words "The Coral" and "new music" in the same sentence came as a bit of a surprise when I heard the announcement of their new single on the radio. Penning hits such as 'Dreaming of You' and 'In the Morning' which were staples of the indie surge of the early to mid 2000s, this new album is their second since the return off hiatus. 'Miss Fortune' is the second single from the album and fans of psychedelic indie rock will be very happy. Defintely shows that after 8 albums, there is much more to the band than the radio hits.

Volbeat- The Devil's Bleeding Crown: My day was made the other week when Danish metal/hard rock outfit Volbeat gave a teaser for their new album 'Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie'. 'The Devil's Bleeding Crown' is the lead single off the new album, due for release in June, and it shows a band pretty much continuing from where their previous album left off. They have always had a distinctive sound, mixing Johnny Cash and Elvis Pressley influences together with hard rock and thrash metal, but this new single maintains an added 'mainstream' edge that became apparent in their last album. I like it, if it means that Volbeat expand their audience that can only be a good thing. I'm a big fan of Volbeat, they have some fantastic songs and this is another one that can be added to the list..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlWke6jK4rI

Weezer- Brixton, London 2016

Weezer- Do You Wanna Get High?: It's been 22 years since Weezer released their eponymous debut, aka the Blue album. Roll forward to this year and they are back with another eponymous record, their third, this one known as the White album. I like Weezer, they have a fun and distinctive sound and they don't pretend to be something they are not. The White album catches this in a nutshell and it is quite possibly one of the strongest records they have put out in recent years. Rivers Cuomos described it as a 'beach album' and that description is 100% accurate; it is a perfect summer album. 'Do You Wanna Get High?' is classic Weezer, catchy light hearted rock at its finest.

White- Brighton 2016

White- Living Fiction: You could be forgiven for not having heard of this band prior to reading this. Partly due to this being one of their first singles, and partly down to the fact their inception was kept closely under wraps. Named simply White, a symbolic break from the band members' past projects, White are an exciting new addition to the indie music scene. I first heard them through MTV Rocks and immediately loved the catchy indie vibes that it gave off. So much so when I saw they had a date in Brighton I snapped up some tickets and went along. They didn't disappoint. It was a tiny venue with a cramped stage but they gave a very energetic performance and already have a strong collection of songs. There is a sprinkling of Franz Ferdinand in their sound, but they are not a copy, they are very much their own band and one I highly recommend you keep an eye on.

You can also listen to the list in full here via my Spotify playlist

https://play.spotify.com/user/1168442153/playlist/0faMYdASpBH7ce9030vTxj


Well there you have it, 20 of the best songs so far this year. I hope you've enjoyed reading it, any feedback will be gladly welcomed. Share it freely as you wish.

Thanks for reading, until next time :)

p.s. all photos that appear in this post were taken by yours truly at concerts I attended which may account for the poor quality.