Last Week In London
- Posted on September 24, 2007 10:06 AM
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LAST WEEK IN LONDON
Water Rats & California Cats
By Peter Coulston
I started out the week on Monday night at one of my favourite venues, the Water Rats Theatre in King’s Cross, not realising that I would be back there later in the week. I had seen an advertisement on Gumtree that looked interesting so I went along to hear the band that posted the ad. plus two others. Good decision. The evening opened with Rendle, will, who is a person with a band made up of his friends. Very talented friends they were too, as is Mr Rendle himself. Working in roots music/reggae style with strong lyrics and melodies it was a very pleasing set. He performed, among other things, “Sometimes”, “Stranger” and “If U Want My Girl”, which can all be heard on his myspace. Very tight band with good vocals. Velofax had a single due out on Monday but it has been delayed. They performed “Let’s Talk It Over” anyway along with “Jack’s Emporium” which is on their myspace, and “Critical” which is not. They dressed for the occasion (to match the picture on the single cover), which included a false moustache on the keyboard man and the bass player in drag. I understand that they do not do this all the time. Even if they do, no adverse effect on the music, as they were tight and very prog as their myspace informs. Keep an eye out for them.
The band that placed the advertisement, Blue Condition, is a rock, blues outfit with strong leanings toward Hendrix and Cream. A three piece in the style of the aforementioned, they performed a set of rock and blues numbers (surprise!) very competently and again, tight was the buzzword. Check them out if, like me, you are partial to this style; they have a myspace. Unfortunately, last time I looked, there was no music to listen to on it.
I planned originally on going to the Troubadour at Earl’s Court on Tuesday only to have a drink upstairs with Miranda Barber to celebrate her winning the Slice of the Pie Songwriting Contest. I did not intend to go to the club until, during the day; I checked out the other artists on the bill and discovered Ryan Scott. He is a superb singer/songwriter in the style of Springsteen and Ryan (not Bryan) Adams, who opened the show and gave us some great stuff. Accompanied by saxophone maestro, Stax, we enjoyed “Adelaide” and “Games” among others, all of which can be heard on his myspace. I was glad I caught his set, but there was more to come. Miranda Barber followed with a nice new song and favourites such as “Paprika Haze”. “Working Woman” sounded as good as last time and her partnership with Sian Latimer is developing well.
I know very little about the next act except that they are Australian and work in the early sixties style with suits to match. They are called The Basics or The Three Basics, and are a great band vocally and musically. Mostly they sound like early Beatles but I could find nothing about them on the net. Information, please.
(Here you go Peter... The Basics' myspace - Ed.)
Elwiin does soul, experimental and rock on keyboards with bass and drums to assist. Great voice and songs such as “Half Century King” and “In Colour” pleased us all and you can hear him on myspace. Check him out, he is opening for Jack Penate on his October dates. Big Linda are a rock band; but what a band. I hear lots of them, but these guys are something else. If you imagine Led Zeppelin meets Lynnard Skynnard and then some you are somewhere close. They are Rob Alder on vocals, Vezco Bacci on bass, Geoff Holroyde on drums and Patrick Murdoch on guitar. Believe me, these guys are just awesome and must be seen (they look good, too) and heard at the earliest opportunity. Classic rock, tight as a drum.
Wednesday night and I am back at the Water Rats to cover The Dykeenies, an indie band from Scotland. The show opened with Kevin Pearce, an alternative folk rocker with an excellent voice and guitar style. The songs are intense but well crafted and easy on the ear. “Freezing” and “Play Out” were good and can be heard on his myspace. I am now on his mailing list, so that I can catch him again. You should too. Jack Savoretti had lots of supporters in the audience and rightly so. His acoustic folk pop songs were well written and performed. Another good singer songwriter who has an album out called “Between The Minds” on De Angelis Records. You can hear “Black Rain” and “Dr. Frankenstein” on his myspace, and I also enjoyed “Dreaming” and “Chemical Courage”. Great set; I recommend a listen. The Dykeenies are the Brian, Alan and Andrew Henderson, who take care of vocals/synth, guitar and bass respectively. Yes, they are brothers, and they are ably supported by Stephen Ramsey on guitar and John Kerr on drums. Lots of good songs, tightly performed including a cracking version of Bowie’s “Rebel, Rebel”. “Stitches” and “Clean Up Your Eyes” were also good and can be heard on myspace or on their album “Nothing Means Everything”, which was released on September 17 on Lavotare Records. Give them a listen, they rock.
After a night off, I find myself on Friday in the pleasant surroundings of Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush. Located on Uxbridge Road, the nearest tube is Shepherds Bush on the Hammersmith and City Line. The other tube station of the same name (Central Line) is the other side of the green next to the bus garage. Inside, Bush Hall is not your typical rock venue, as it is used more for acoustic sets and music lessons. The white walls are decorated in ornate carvings and there are delicate tables and chairs all around the outside, leaving the centre clear for dancing. Excellent venue for a wedding.
On Friday, nobody was exchanging vows, but there was lots of love generated between the band and the audience. ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra) are a California based rock/pop/jazz quartet, oozing with West Coast cool and blowing us away with their songs and solos. They are Zach Gill on vocals, keys and ukulele, Dan Lebowitz on guitars and vocals, Steve Adams on bass and vocals and Dave Brogan on vocals and drums. I am reviewing their album “Roses & Clover”, which is out on Brushfire Records, simultaneously, so I will not cover their material in depth in this review. Suffice to say, I could hear the Band, Allman Brothers and Steely Dan influencing their work but never defining it. Great vocals from Zach Gill and David Brogan and awesome guitar solos from Dan Lebowitz. “Maria”, “Lady Loop” and “Water Song” can be heard on myspace and the album and we even got a version of “Purple Rain”. Brilliant songs and a great performance. Check out my album review and then buy it on Amazon.
So, the end of yet another great week; and I must say that I feel privileged to have heard so many great musicians and singers again in this fine city. Why not join me some time? Forget about Eastenders and Emmerdale, not to mention Big Brother. The London live music scene is real, it’s vibrant and it’s accessible. So what are you waiting for?
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