LAST WEEK IN LONDON
- Posted on October 22, 2007 12:46 PM
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Chapels, Loos and Electric News
By Peter Coulston
My musical week began on Tuesday in the beautiful Union Chapel in Highbury. Located on Compton Terrace, just across the road from the Highbury and Islington tube stop served by the Victoria Line, it is everything that you expect a chapel to be including very hard wooden pews to sit on. However, the magnificent surroundings and fine music soon make you forget that your bum is completely numb. The stage is where the alter usually is and the acoustics are excellent. There is a bar upstairs that is reasonably priced and asks nothing more than that you refrain from taking alcohol into the chapel. The show opened with Jon Allen, a good singer/songwriter from Devon who I have not seen for awhile, probably because he’s been on tour. He opened with “Lay Your Burden Down”, a delicate folk ballad using guitar and harmonica to good effect. “Happy Now” was darker while “New Years Eve” and “Friends” were very early Dylan. Great use of harmonica throughout, and nice lyrics on the later. He ended upbeat (tempo-wise , that is) with “Dead Mans Suit”. Nice set Jon, good to see you back.
Kate Walsh was the headliner and a great account she gave of herself. Her highly personal lyrics, usually concerning past loves both good and bad, really get to you and give her a vulnerability which is emphasised by the delicacy of her voice. She was comfortable solo with her guitar or accompanied by combinations of guitar, violin and cello. So many good songs including the four that you can hear on myspace; and “Tonight” is out as a single in December on Blueberry Pie Records. Other highlights included the bluesy “Is This It” with some nice slide guitar, “Betty”, “Talk Of The Town”, which was a little bit country, and the heartrending encore, “As He Pleases”. I went away exhilarated by her music and emotionally drained by her words, while at the same time determined to experience it all again soon.
Wednesday found me in a public toilet on the corner of Shepherds Bush Green, or rather a former public toilet that has been converted very tastefully into a club called Ginglik. On Wednesdays, this establishment plays host to The Big Secret, an established singer/songwriter showcase which thankfully is not a secret at all. It’s just across the road from Shepherds Bush Central Line Station but is a members only club, so you need to be on the guest list of the artist you are going to see, or join for free on the night. On this occasion I was Miranda Barber’s guest. The show opened with Daniel Mulhern, a very competent singer/songwriter with a good voice and fine lyrics. “With The Times” and “Curious” can both be heard on his myspace so give him a listen, as he has an album out called “Pidgeon Coup” on NAIM Records. Sue Verran has a great way with an audience and equally good songs. She has a distinctive voice (which means I liked it), and opened with one of a whole set of great numbers, “Come Dress Down”, which is on her myspace. So is “Bringing It Home”, which was also brilliant, although the jazzy “Nasty Truths” unfortunately is not (on myspace, that is). Check out her songs and her live shows; her on stage banter is as confusing as my review of her.
Miranda Barber came on next with her excellent musical partner, Sian Latimer to entertain us with a bright new song, “Sweetheart’s Embrace”. This partnership is going from strength to strength with the harmonies becoming ever more complex and intriguing. “Working Women”, “Blues Day” and “Paprika Haze” were as good as ever, and the girls are off to Ireland next month to sing the later in a song contest. I wish them all the very best, and that’s a fact. Paul Liddell is a very talented guy from Sunderland who writes great songs, uses all kinds of different guitar tunings, and employs special effects which enable him to repeat what he just did and build it all up to sound like loads of people. Very effective, even if I don’t understand how he does it, but the important thing is that he is a great singer/songwriter. Listen to the upbeat “Brighter Lights” and the heavier “Hurricanes” on his myspace, which also has lots of other songs. The excellent “Dialling Tone” and “Runaway” are unfortunately not there. He visits London often, so check him out. Niamh McNally took us in a whole different direction with her soulful songs and great keyboards. Originally from Belfast, Niamh has some fine soul and r&b material on her myspace, and we enjoyed “I Won’t” and “Show Me Some Love” last night. “You Can Do It Baby” was so laid back at the end of a very polished performance. Nice one. The show closed with Javier, a well rounded, guitar led singer/songwriter from Connecticut with roots in r&b and country. “Loving You” and “Crazy” had Stevie Wonder influences and “Hope You Understand”, recorded in Nashville, was a country heartbreaker. The Spanish guitar intro to “Song For Your Tears” was impressive and the vocals were exceptional. He will be back in Europe early next year, look out for him.
I finished the week on a very upbeat note on Thursday listening to two new bands at the top of their trade. I was at Monto Water Rats on Grays Inn Road over at King’s Cross, as was the rest of London I imagine as the pace was heaving. Located near Kings Cross St Pancras tube, which is on most tube lines worth their salt, the venue is your classic rock hangout, dark and without seats. The show opened with Clocks, a power rock four piece from Epsom/Ewell. Comprising Tom Hewitt and Ed Hilliam on vocals and guitars, John Ricketts on bass and Rich Fooris on Drums and vocals, this band is very much what is being played by the radio stations right now. A bit Fratellis, but without the Northern accents and with more defined melodies, this band gets it right. They did “All I Can”, “That Much Better”, “Old Valve Radio” and “In My Arms”, all of which can be heard on MySpace, and there’s not a bad song among them. Check them out; they have a single coming out on Universal/Island soon and you can get a preview on the website. Great stuff. Much the same can be said for The Departed, another four piece from Northampton who are more straight Indie. Having said that, again, they have very defined melodies and some great block chords from the guitarist which makes you think very sophisticated punk, if that makes sense. They did “Seven Years”, which is their new single, and “Chemicals”, which can all be heard on myspace, as well as “Be My Enemy” and the only rock ballad, “Pieces”. A great night and a perfect way to end the week, except that I am going to the launch of Jack Johnson’s new album on Friday, which you will read about soon. See you next week, keep gigging.
Tags
clocks, Daniel Mulhern, gigs, indie, Jon Allen, Kate Walsh, london, miranda barber, monto, music, peter coulston, scene, the clocks, the departed, union chapel, water rats
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