Viva Viva World Music Bar
- Posted on May 25, 2007 12:23 PM
- 0 comments
Viva Viva World Music Bar, Hornsey Wednesday 23rd May
While browsing Gumtree recently, I picked up on an ad in the Gigs and Events section for an Artist & Management Networking Evening at Viva Viva. As I am involved in a promotion project for a songwriter and producer, I thought that this would be a chance to meet some people in the business and maybe hear some good music. I did not meet anyone remotely involved in artist management, but I did hear some good music, so it was not a complete waste of time. Viva Viva is a very pleasant, if rather small, restaurant/bar on Hornsey High Street that offers live music as an added attraction. There is parking on the street and it can be reached by public transport using Turnpike Lane on the Piccadilly Line tube followed by a 144 bus going to Muswell Hill.
The evening was very acoustic, and opened with Karla, who gave us three very pleasant acoustic numbers. Liam Cottrell followed with some classy songs and guitar playing that kept our attention. “Supernatural” and “When She Smiles” were good and you can find him on myspace. Black Suede Shoes are a guitar and vocal duo from Norfolk who treated us to some good folky songs enhanced by strong vocals and innovative guitar playing. “On The Bus” used DADGAD tuning, which, for the uninitiated (like me), is a well known folk guitar tuning where the letters refer to the tuning of the strings (but you guessed that didn’t you). “Smoke” was played in open C, and, before you start thinking that this band is gimmicky and pretentious, stop right there. The songs are down to earth, excellently performed and well worth a listen. Check out their website and you can hear for yourselves.
Theresa only performed one number, but it was a good one. “Favourite Director” was folk in the accepted tradition with good lyrics and a nice clean vocal performance. She is very versatile and I have a single CD of hers that is very different and equally impressive. She has an album out soon which I will review. Jon Curtis is a very polished singer/songwriter with a sound that is commercial and accessible. He opened with the upbeat” Closer”, followed by “Without Prejudice”, a well crafted ballad. “Summertime Legs” stared off gently and picked up while “Strike Me Down” was very catchy. Watch out or this guy, he has his finger on what is going on right now. Hear him on joncurtismusic.com. Chris Jamison is from Virginia, USA and rocked a little more than the others. Nice stateside feel about it (as you might expect); the songs were well structured and performed and included “The Morning”, a folk ballad, and the darker “Dangerous”. He has a website and a CD that is worth a listen.
Raisonneurs are four girls on vocals supported by guitar, bass and synth. After an operatic intro, they did the funky “With No Lights” and the up tempo “Crash” with some fine guitar and well blended vocals throughout. Nice line up and sound that would benefit from a bigger venue, which they most certainly will have, as they are opening the XFM Wireless Festival on the main stage. Check them out there and find them on myspace. Well, this was not the evening that I originally intended, but, it just goes to show that you can not get away from good music in this city.
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