NA Music launch new music TV channel on YouTube – First video interview with Mike Simms here!
Posted: May 18, 2012 Filed under: Interview, News | Tags: Mike Simms, NA Music, NaMusicTV on YouTube Leave a comment »NA Music have decided to launch a new music TV channel on YouTube to help promote musicians. Check out the first video interview and acoustic performance from Mike Simms here!
Soulchart and Septic Fatality @ The Dove and Rainbow, Sheffield, 17.5.12
Posted: May 18, 2012 Filed under: Metal, hardcore, Alternative, Screamo, Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal | Tags: soulchart, screamo, thrash metal, Septic Fatality, Old School Metal, The Dove and Rainbow Sheffield, Ones to watch 2012 Leave a comment »This Is Ark Editor Nat Wilson tells us how Soulchart and Septic Fatality ensured a good night was had by all at the Dove and Rainbow in Sheffield...
‘Soulchart are definitely ones to watch for 2012.’
The Dove and Rainbow rock bar is known for being the number one place to go to get your fix of Sheffield’s heaviest rock and metal acts, and tonight was no disappointment in that area.
Septic Fatality @ The Dove and Rainbow, Sheffield
The night kicked off with some from head banging from Sheffield’s 5 piece speed metal outfit Septic Fatality. The band are heavily influenced by classic thrash metal legends including Megadeth, Testament and Municipal Waste, which is evident in their old school metal music style. They are seasoned performers, having performed up and down the North of England with bands such as Hellrazor, Steel Season and more, and their comfort and enjoyment of the limelight is evident. They gave 110% effort despite the less than appealing turn out, and given a larger venue with a better atmosphere, I think they could really get show their potential and get an audience going.
Septic Fatality @ The Dove and Rainbow Sheffield
The band has been making music since 2008, when they were conceived by original member Naill Roberts and then drummer Ian Taylor. Since then they have seen members come and go, including the depart of Ian who is now replaced by Soulchart drummer Nick Robinson, and the additions of Phill Newton on vocals, Neil Charlesworth on bass and Luke Rodgers on guitar. They have now announced their debut EP, ‘Reanimation Imminenet’, and their tracks ‘Toxic Politics’ and ‘Power of the Warrior’ are available to listen to below.
Soulchart @ The Dove and Rainbow, Sheffield
The headline act for the night was Soulchart, Sheffield’s answer to some decent screamo metal. The band bring to their work an array of influences including the likes of Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Trivium, and it shows in their unique and captivating sound. Again, the venue was far from ideal and the audience numbers were less than grand, but the band still managed to create an atmosphere with their performance. The screamo version of ‘Happy Birthday’ for a friend in the audience got a huge cheer and seemed to lift the mood among the previously somewhat unresponsive crowd. By the end of their set there was not a still head in sight, and the cheer they received seemed to confirm a good night was had by all.
Soulchart @ The Dove and Rainbow Sheffield
The band are relatively new to the metal scene, having only formed in 2011, but have already taken audiences in venues up and down the UK by storm with their powerful stage presence and emotion driven music, and now with the recent addition of a second guitarist, are looking to record their debut EP. With the already impressive repertoire under their belts, Soulchart are definitely ones to watch for 2012.
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Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets @ O2 Academy, Sheffield
Posted: May 17, 2012 Filed under: Signed, Alternative, Classic, Review, Indie, easy listening, Pop, Chart, Pop-Punk | Tags: O2 academy sheffield, Happy Mondays, Shaun Ryder, Inspiral Carpets Leave a comment »This Is Ark Features Manager Liam Farrelly tells us how Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets brought back the baggy era one last time…
Shaun Ryder
‘Not every comeback is a success, but this certainly is.’
Those who worry that nostalgia isn’t what it used to be were in for a treat at the O2 Academy, Sheffield.
Two bands from Manchester’s celebrated baggy era somehow manage to be just as good, if not better, than they were at the supposed peak of their powers.
What could have been an embarrassing dad-rock trip down Memory Lane somehow becomes a credible reminder that there was once a time when Manchester was the capital of cool.
Manchester’s finest diva Rowetta
First up it’s the Inspiral Carpets, fronted intriguingly by their original, pre-Tom Hingley, singer, Stephen Holt, who quit just before they hit the big time back in the late 80s.
No disrespect to Hingley, but Holt has settled in nicely to the role, showing none of the nerves one might expect of a middle aged bloke who suddenly finds himself playing big gigs.
The Inspirals‘ punkish pop, driven on a wedge of Clint Boon-created turbocharged organ music, has aged well too.
They open with ‘Joe’ and go on to deliver a selection of their greatest hits, including ‘Directing Traffic’ and the moment of Madchester melancholy that is ‘This Is How It Feels’.
Bez gets is maracas out…
‘Cries of Boon Army’ – the keyboard player’s signature call sign – confirm the affection in which the Inspirals are still held.
They even dare to play a well-received new song, which carries a Buzzcocks feel, before bowing out to ‘Saturn Five’.
It falls to Bez – now a granddad with dodgy knees and sufficient bounce for only a few songs worth of half-hearted freaky dancing – to herald the Happy Mondays arrival on stage.
And perhaps the biggest surprise is how well jungle runner-up Shaun Ryder has weathered his years of hard living.
Where once was a rambling scally, who relied on lyric sheets on stage, is now a kindly and charming host, intent on making sure everybody is comfortable and providing a running commentary between songs should anyone be ignorant of the significance of tonight’s proceedings.
He can actually sing in tune too – a sign that abstinence really can make the art grow stronger perhaps.
Gaz Whelan and Shaun Ryder
Later he’ll twice introduce the band – back together in their original incarnation for the first time in 19 years – and attempt to cajole “Our Kid” Paul “big arm” Ryder into conversation.
And to think, they weren’t even on speaking terms until last year.
“‘Ello you lot,” Shaun beams, coolly attired in a black leather jacket and sunglasses.
Two decades on, the Happy Mondays are still a twisted powerhouse live – Gaz Whelan’s drums conspiring with Big Arm’s bass and Paul Davis‘ keyboards to spin a delicious funk-inspired platform for Ryder’s warped poetry.
The set-list spans their back catalogue, from the spine-tingling rave era anthem of ‘Hallelujah‘, to the hypnotic highlight that is ‘Wrote For Luck’.
The early favourite ’24 Hour Party People’ also gets an airing.
Shaun Ryder
The fiendishly talented Rowetta remains the perfect foil to Ryder’s nasal barrage – truly one of the most powerful diva’s Manchester has ever known.
Mad Cyril is a fun excerpt from the album Bummed, and even Bez dusts off his maracas for ‘Step On’.
Not every comeback is a success, but this certainly is.
It’s rumoured that the band have no plans for new material. On the strength of this show, they should seriously consider it.
Photography courtesy of Liam Farrelly Photography
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Live at Leeds 2012, 4th – 7th May
Posted: May 9, 2012 Filed under: Signed, Alternative, Rock, Review, Indie, Unsigned, easy listening, Chart, Rock 'n' Roll, Festival | Tags: LAT2012, Live at Leeds 2012, The Subways, The Enemy, Sound of Guns, Marina and The Diamonds, Los Campesinos, Jessie Ware, Josh Kumra Leave a comment »This Is Ark writer Hannah Bulmer tells us how the Live at Leeds 2012 line up proved to be the best yet…
Live at Leeds 2012
When Live at Leeds 2012 approached it’s an understatement to say I was a little excited. With top class acts such as ‘The Enemy’, ‘Marina & the Diamonds’ and ‘Los Campesinos!’ featuring on the line-up as well as the prospect of discovering a few new ones, it would be hard not to. This feeling however was later replaced with that of confusing and a little stress when realising that I had failed to remember the problem which accompanies any good festival – a serious case of clashing acts. Don’t get me wrong; as a serial festival goer I love the great choices that are always on offer, but this time it just got a bit silly; especially those after 9pm when I’d never wished more for the ability to teleport. Somehow though I got through the day with minimal disappointment for the acts I was unfortunate to miss.
Jessie Ware
Conceding to the inevitable fact that our feet may hurt a little by the end of the day from briskly trekking between each venue to avoid missing our faves, we started the day at the Leeds 02 Academy with Jessie Ware. Knowing her only from her involvement in ‘SBTRKT’ tracks I was glad to find that she was as good solo as she is in her collaborations. Obviously humbled by the great level of fans she received the performance demonstrated a promising future for the singer especially the single ‘110%’ which is my personal favourite.
Sound of Guns
Another highlight of my day was discovering ‘Sound of Guns’ at The Wardrobe , where the Liverpudlian group surely couldn’t have wished for a better crowd, creating an atmosphere which could be described as nothing less but enthusiastically rowdy. Definitely a band which is creeping up in popularity and from the look at their extensive list of live and festival dates booked for the summer we’ll be seeing a lot more of them!
The Subways
After catching the beautiful Josh Kumra in an extremely intimate yet stunning set in Cockpit 3; I was lucky enough to get to the main room at the venue in time to see the end of ‘The Subways’. From the countless crowd surfing to stage invasions hour set left the crowd in the palm of their hands. Possibly my favourite thing about them was how they refrained from the generic fake ending, lead singer Billy Lunn telling us that he ‘couldn’t be bothered and instead dived straight into ‘It’s a Party’. Amazing.
So despite the considerably sore feet and head I woke up with the next day, Live at Leeds 2012 couldn’t have gone better. Here’s to next year
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Conor Maynard @ O2 Academy, Sheffield
Posted: May 4, 2012 Filed under: Signed, Review, easy listening, Pop, Chart | Tags: conor maynard live, contrast albm, cant say no single 2 Comments »This Is Ark writer Leah Wilson tells us how Brit pop sensation Conor Maynard charmed the socks off the audience at his Sheffield appearance…
Conor Maynard live
Conor Maynard the Brighton-born 19-year-old would rather be not known as “the British Justin Bieber“. As far as they’re concerned, he’s the British Justin Timberlake – a white suburbanite with enough unexpected R&B nous to have already won the respect of genre heavyweight Pharell Williams, who has helped out on his forthcoming debut album. Unfortunately for the image-makers, Maynard‘s fans – the (what else?) Mayniacs – emit such screams when he bustles on to Academy 2s’ tiny stage that the Bieber comparison isn’t going to go away.
Baseball-capped and sweet-faced, Maynard spends this show establishing that he sings pretty well, but has a long way to go before he reaches either of the Justins’ level of stage presence. Sandwiched between four band members, he busts a few tentative moves and uses the same phrase before three different songs: “Mayniacs, are you ready to paaarty?” If it weren’t for his voice, which glides from insinuating carnality on the Usherlike grinder Vegas Girl to baby-smooth yearning on a medley of Drake hits, he could have been plucked from an X-Factor audition queue.
But at this stage, awkwardness is inevitable. Last year, he was in his bedroom, uploading videos of himself singing cover versions; today he’s No 2 in the charts with the cute urban-pop single Can’t Say No and being pushed as the hope of a nation that has yet to produce a 21st-century male pop star able to win over little girls and their older brothers alike. It must be an odd balancing act for a singer who obviously craves the respect of the over-25s – there are more here than you would expect – but needs to keep the younger fans onside. To the latter end, he gives his baseball cap to a girl in the front row, generating more of the squeals that seem destined to accompany him for the foreseeable future.
Want to hear more about Conor Maynard? Check out Leah’s interview the cheeky Brighton chap.
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Interview with pop sensation Conor Maynard
Posted: May 4, 2012 Filed under: Signed, Interview, easy listening, Pop, Chart | Tags: conor maynard, debut single cant say no, debut album contrast, conor maynard interview 1 Comment »New young pop sensation Conor Maynard has been likened to a ‘British Justin Beiber’ and more recently Justin Timberlake. And with his boyish charm and cheeky debut single ‘Can’t Say No’ [iTunes], he has the Brit girls falling at his feet. Lucky This Is Ark writer Leah Wilson snapped up the chance to get up close and personal for a chat with the 19 year old…
Cheeky Chappy Conor Maynard
So Conor, when you uploaded your first track onto Youtube in 2008, age 15, did you ever think you would have the success you are experiencing now, or was it just a bit of fun?
Conor: At school when my friends found out that I could sing, they were forever asking me to sing. I decided to upload songs to Youtube so I could send the links to my friends, so they could listen, instead of asking. I did keep thinking ‘Imagine if… Imagine if…!’But it was only a hobby as I was focused on school at the time.
Conor’s Debut Album due out in July
Your debut album, “Contrast” [iTunes preview] is due to be released in July. What are you expecting from it?
Conor: I just hope it reaches the best it possibly can. It has the whole spectrum of music on it. From the more upbeat tracks that my fans have to associate with me, to the more stripped back tracks, like when I used to do covers, to try and capture as many people as possible to listen to my music.
Who do you think is likely to buy your album?
Conor:- There are songs on there that I hope would appeal to the older market, and songs for young, fresh kids, to try and reach as big a range of people as possible.
Conor Maynard
Coming from Brighton, not really known as a music orientated town, what made you clamber onto the music industry treadmill?
Conor: I don’t know what is happening in Brighton, but Rizzle Kicks and Fat Boy Slim hail from there, but when I was younger my dad listened to Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, which got me into music, but at that time acting was my main focus. I attended acting school part time. Then my voice broke and people realised I could sing.
With success hurtling towards you at a very great pace, how are you coping with all the attention you are getting, not only from the media, but from the fans?
Conor: Well, it seems kind of crazy, but I must say, it seems for me it has been a long time coming. After all like you said I started at fifteen. For me it is a case of what’s coming next? Who else will like that song? And it’s exciting, especially as the shows are getting bigger and bigger.
It has been said that you are being pushed as the hope of a nation that has yet to produce a 21st century male pop star able to win over little girls and their older brothers. What is your reaction to that statement?
Conor: (Laughs) I think with me I have been inspired by a lot of hip hop and rap. I think that shows in my songs. Although they have a hard beat they kind of have a soft melody. So I think young people like it because of the beat. Also it’s the kind of beat that can be played in a club and would appeal to older people. But yes it would be cool if that did happen. Obviously people will have their own opinion, but as long as people are enjoying it, it is all good.
Conor’s debut single ‘Can’t Say No’
Dare I mention, you have been likened to Justin Beiber, but more recently to Justin Timberlake. Do you feel honoured? Which would you prefer to likened to? Eventually, would you want to be likened to Conor Maynard, and only Conor Maynard?
Conor: For me, I think comparisons come early on in your career. But yes, being compared to Justin Beiber, so early on, especially as I hadn’t released any material, but I think the only comparison is that we are both young, and progressed through Youtube. The material we are producing is different. Also I am British, and have British influences. But as people listen more and more they say maybe it is a Justin Timberlake sound. My new album sounds like neither of them. I am just waiting for that moment, when people are being compared to me and I am just me.
In my opinion, it may be the case in the near future, that you may be asked to tour, as support, for a very big act.Who would you most like to tour with?
Conor: Mmmm……… Maybe Drake. Or Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, although they are not massive over here, they are in America.
You won MTV’s brand new for 2012 award this year, competing alongside Delilah, Lana Del Rey, Michael Kiwanuka, Liane La Havas. How did you react to that? Did you think you would actually win?
Conor: Growing up watching MTV I remember thinking In my head, ‘Imagine, Imagine, just to be part of that list’, then sure enough I was on that list. So for me it was a massive honour just to be on that list. When I saw Lana [Del Ray] on the list, I thought, ‘OK second place’, but when I got 45% of the vote, it was amazing. I couldn’t thank the fans enough. Also it gave me a lot more confidence in myself. I felt it was the first step of getting to where I want to be.
Conor with In:Demand’s Romeo
Have you any plans to try to attract a different type of fan?
Conor: I think sometimes you have to step back and accept the kind of writer you are, even if I don’t listen to what my fans are listening to, it doesn’t really matter. I am trying to put myself out there and whoever listens to it, listens to it, I just have to accept that. I did a show in Brighton, it was a 16+ show. I was a bit worried in case no one would shown up, but it was a sell out, with a lot of older people like mums there! It was amazing to see that and it made me feel kind of like that’s what I wanted. I wanted older people to listen to me, and realise that I am not this kind of processed pop act, someone to just look at. It made me feel I can actually sing.
You covered a variety of artists, including, Chris Brown, Taio Cruz, Jessie J and Katy Perry, with your rapper friend Anth. Do you have any thoughts on doing this again, and maybe releasing some material off the back of it?
Conor:- Yeah, it was always the plan in our heads for him to be on the first album. That idea is still there, I would love for that to happen eventually. I feel that some of the fans have been there from the beginning, seeing me with Anth, obviously they want to hear it. It would definitely be a cool thing to do when things slow down, but I am completely focused on what I want to do.
It is at these times you have to be selfish. Right now I need to get where I want to be, and if that means I can’t do that right now, then everyone has to understand that if I don’t keep my eye on the ball for me, then someone else will take it. There are a thousand other people who want to be where I am right now. So when I get to where I call the shots, then I can say this is what I am doing next, this is what I want to do. That will be when Anth and I may collaborate again.
Conor performing live
This has been a short tour, six shows, what is next as far as live shows go?
Conor: Nothing planned as yet. I know I have been confirmed for T4 on the Beach, a lot of big shows coming up. The In Demand show. For me, we will see how the next single goes, but I can’t wait to do more live shows and go to places where I haven’t been before. I get a lot of tweets for places like Manchester, Liverpool, asking why I haven’t been there, and Wales and Scotland too. So there are a lot of places I have to go to. And of course I’ll come back to Sheffield.
So Mr Maynard is a busy chap at the moment! If you didn’t catch his recent show at the Sheffield O2 Academy you can read the This Is Ark review of it to see what you missed, and visit Conor’s website for more details on his upcoming appearances and new releases!
All The Young – ‘Welcome Home’ Album Review
Posted: May 2, 2012 Filed under: easy listening, Indie, Review, Rock, Rock 'n' Roll, Signed | Tags: All the young, all the young album, all the young welcome home, new album, welcome home album Leave a comment »This Is Ark writer Callum Zaks tells us how All The Young may signal the return British rock ‘n’ roll…
I have followed this band from the days when they were New Education – a band which was playing to under a hundred people in small, grotty venues in and around Stoke.
To now, All The Young – a band who have released their debut album ‘Welcome Home’ on a major label, and appear to be promising the nation that they have ”the brains, brawn and balls to take 2012 and smash it into a brave new frontier of indie rock n’ roll.”
So I would like to congratulate the lads on how far they have come, on what in my opinion is a quality album.
Welcome Home
For me, this album is a cracking piece of work by the lads. Right from track one ; ‘Another Miracle’ to track ten; ‘Welcome Home’ the album is littered with anthemic tunes. Songs which you feel were built for the audience to chant back the lyrics to.
The highlight of the album in my opinion is the ballad, and title track ‘Welcome Home.’
I feel that this song epitomises everything that All The Young are trying to be. Likewise to the band I am a young lad from Stoke who is away from home, and for me this song has that homely feel to it. I feel as though it forces you to remember your roots, and to never forget where you came from. With a lengthy outro, you almost get lost within the song. My favourite on the album by far. Definitely like to see this track live.
However, for all the plus sides of this album; I can’t help but feel as though this album is maybe TOO polished. I feel that some of the tracks, such as; ‘The First Time’ lose their rawness about them. And this is something that All The Young heavily base themselves on.
Having seen the band perform as New Education, I must say I am not the biggest fan of their new image. Once again, I can’t help but the feel that the forever present suits and shades, are all just a bit, well, OTT.You can’t help but feel the sudden makeover is something that the corporates at their record label have instructed them to do, and All The Young have bowed down to their requests.
In previous years when the band were dressed head to toe in Luke 1977 gear I felt that this was more them. And it certainly relates more to the culture of ‘lad rock’ which the band are aspiring to appeal to.
Nonetheless, take nothing away from the lads, as i feel they have produce a decent album. Not an album which will instantly see them rocket to the peak of indie-guitar music. But still an album, which makes me proud to say I’m from Stoke.
Nice one lads.
Over and out.
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Interview with Sheffield Rock ‘n’ Rollers Goldsoul: ‘Our album will be mint’
Posted: May 1, 2012 Filed under: Alternative, easy listening, Indie, Interview, Rock, Unsigned | Tags: Goldsoul, Kill All Love Songs Leave a comment »This Is Ark writer Kathleen Finn popped down to Practice Sheffield to see what Sheffield rock ‘n’ roll outfit Goldsoul are up to…
‘Our album will be mint’ Dave Mapson – Goldsoul, lead singer
Goldsoul @ Practice Sheffield
With Leeds and Reading festivals on the horizon and a new album in the works Goldsoul are Sheffield’s next contribution to the world of rock and roll! I joined them one rainy afternoon to see what they’d been up to and what they’ve got planned for the future.
The boys from Sheffield have taken influences from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Primal Scream and Black Angels to create a mix of heavy guitar chords, drums, bass and sound vocals thoroughly exposed in their debut single ‘Blood Red’. Despite the clear influences from the above bands, Goldsoul have been compared to bands such as the Arctic Monkeys and Alice in Chains, which they haven’t taken lightly.
However Goldsoul have got it in them to shake things up a bit as they talked about an acoustic set they played back in November of 2011 at Manchester. The boys enjoyed playing the set so much it lead them to create a limited edition EP of 5 acoustic songs previously performed by the band. Mapson says the album has had big influences from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s 2005 album ‘Howl’, and the band hope to have the album ready by next month.
April 21st saw a record breaking, Record Store Day with sales up 50% over last year, and Goldsoul’s limited edition release of a 7” vinyl of their new single (not due to hit stores until July 23rd) Kill All Love Songs, was a complete hit selling all 100 copies putting them straight onto the best sellers list. The vinyl also included a B-side which Mapson effusively stated will only be heard by those who own the EP as a thank-you for the support they showed Goldsoul on the day, claiming that “they have something special”.
Although the band has big plans for their future, they’re willing to work their way to the top, their next gig taking them to Dublin Castle, London, on the 5th of May. There are talks for the band to play this year’s Leeds and Reading festivals which would be a big achievement for the band, who are excited to take the opportunities in their stride and hope that this could one day lead them to knebworth; however for now they will settle with their own headlining tour.
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Feeder @ Leadmill, Sheffield, 23.04.12
Posted: April 28, 2012 Filed under: Chart, easy listening, Indie, Pop, Review, Rock, Signed | Tags: Feeder, Generation Freakshow, Leadmill, Sheffield Leave a comment »This Is Ark Features Manager Liam Farrelly tells us how veteran indie-rockers Feeder make an impact on their comeback tour at Sheffield’s Leadmill…
Feeder @ Leadmill, Sheffield
I don’t think I ever seen Leadmill fill up as quick as it did on Monday. One minute a few fans were up at the front, the next you could hardly squeeze in at the back.
Is it loyalty of the fans, or Grant’s excellent strategy that Feeder can virtually fill a set with new songs and still have an audience that is totally captivated?
To coincide with the release of their eighth album ‘Generation Freakshow‘, the Feeder hardcore filled a venue that once saw this band supported by Muse.
Grant, Feeder @ Leadmill, Sheffield
“We’ve got some amazing memories of this place,” Grant confirmed as he and fellow original Taka Hirose showcased the first new Feeder tracks since their Renegades departure.
That era’s harder edge is displayed in songs such as Tiny Minds and the title track but there’s familiarity to these unfamiliar songs; Feeder have not so much echoed but referenced past glories and so have many of these stadium shaking to lighter-waving anthems in such a close environment adds to the thrill.
Louder upbeat tracks such as Idaho got the fans jumping while the not so upbeat Sunrise had the audience standing still in awe. Grant showed us all why he is still so passionate, with an absolutely brilliant acoustic version of Children Of The Sun, the next single here tendered as a calm before the storm encore; Buck Rogers an obvious favourite followed to ensure this not so predictable show headed towards a predictable finish.
Feeder @ Leadmill, Sheffield
With classic hits Feeling A Moment and Just The Way I’m Feeling snuggly fitting in the set, it is evident Feeder are still here and may even entice a whole new generation as their album title might suggest.
They are in my opinion back to their very best, concentrating on what they do best. Producing songs that are really good to listen to (and watch being performed).. And, it seems, there is still so much more to come from Feeder yet!
Photography courtesy of Liam Farrelly Photography
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Bastille supported by Lion Works @ The Harley, Sheffield, 24.4.12
Posted: April 27, 2012 Filed under: Alternative, easy listening, Pop, Review, Synthpop 1 Comment »This is Ark writer Sean Bruce tells us how YouTube sensation and synthpop delight Bastille showed they are deserving of a breakthrough into the mainstream scene….
Bastille @ The Harley
High flying Londoner Dan Smith, under the guise of his alter ego Bastille, opens his Overjoyed national tour at The Harley. A venue whose stage many great acts have graced, not least Arctic Monkeys and the XX, with Dan perhaps leaning more towards the latter, though his lyric writing is something young Mr Turner would be proud to call his own.
Dan plays all the instruments on his recorded work, much of which is done in his bedroom studio but his live band boasts a great rhythm section of Chris and Will with Kyle mainly on keys.
Rising to the national spotlight through his youtube video of Flaws which grabbed 300K views and lots of plaudits, Bastille’s next single Overjoyed has a release date of 30th April and has the backing of major label of Virgin via their Parlaphone subsiduary.
First things first, apologies to Puzzles who were on early doors, before I arrived. I took the opportunity to listen to their music via facebook and subsequently wished I’d arrived at 8.00 to catch them, Butterflies is a particularly good track so I’ll watch out for their next gig.
Tonight a very healthy sized crowd are in from the off to catch Lion Works before the main event. Having been a fan of the youngsters early work I was keen to see how they had progressed 12 months and a few personnel changes later.
Its immediately obvious they have lost their quirky edge and play a more polished and smoother set, though I was pleased to see they have kept some of their older material and with it some of their edgier sound.
Sadly much of their 30 minutes was blighted by technical problems which spoilt several tracks but Too Far particularly pressed all the right buttons with some atmospheric guitar licks from Jake and Michael and Billy’s vocals at times reminiscent of Ian Curtis.
Despite the setbacks an enthusiastic crowd enjoyed their set, though for most its best to judge them on another day.
Bastille take the stage and open with the excellent Icarus and Mr Smiths voice is immediately bang on the money. A sad tale of alcohol abuse and the dangers it brings via wonderful lyrics like ‘Icarus is flying too close to the sun….Icarus is flying towards an early grave’
Synth pop at its best, often telling dark tales but with such soaring vocals it’s far from depressing. Amid the electronic rhythms we are treated to three part harmonies though Dan is very much the focus, an understated yet very charismatic figure.
Overjoyed is an epic track, which bodes well for chart success and can be backed up by a top quality live performance, which can’t always be said for other chart bothering performers.
Funniest sight of the night was Dan climbing atop one of the big speakers then admitting he couldn’t get down before the band assisted with his decent.
Pompeii follows and goes down a storm with the audience who are lapping it up, but the biggest cheer is predictably for Flaws which gets a sing along. This was to have closed the set but the audience were having none of it and demanded more, being were treated to Of The Night before the house lights came to mark the end of a memorable set.
When Dan Smith gets the inevitable breakthrough into the major league those here tonight will be able to tell their disbelieving friends they saw Bastille at The Harley.
Photography courtesy of Kerry Forrest
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