LAST WEEK IN LONDON : Not The Ken & Boris Show
- Posted on May 2, 2008 4:02 PM
- 0 comments
By Peter Coulston
Hello and welcome to another week of good live music from some of the finest venues in the capital, none of which won the best venue category in the INDY’s this time around. However, that is now history and we must look to the future and enjoy all the fine entertainment that these venues have to offer with an eye to ensuring that they receive due recognition next year. My first port of call this week was the Electroacoustic Club at the Slaughtered Lamb pub at Barbican, where some excellent acoustic music was up for grabs.
To open, we had Benjamin Thomas, an acoustic folk singer/songwriter with a strong attachment to Bob Dylan circa 1965. This guy is a good songwriter, but I fear that the boy doth protest too much, so much so, in fact, that it was difficult to know where all the anger was directed. Things these days are a lot more complicated than they were in 1965, and you have to be sure exactly what you are protesting about. As I said, there is a good songwriter in there, just calm down a bit and check what’s happening the other side of the barricades; maybe there are other ways to change it. See what you think, he’s at www.myspace.com/benjaminthomas1.
I have mentioned recently how artists can grow on you after a second listen, and it’s happened again with Jono McCleery, a singer/songwriter in the folk/jazz style who I reviewed at this very venue last October. He had an excellent cello player called Rosie with him this time and I don’t know if that made a difference, but I really enjoyed his set. Last time I found his material a little heavy and inaccessible, this time I loved the way his gentle songs took on a jazz edge without losing the original concept. “Soldier In The Sound” was an excellent example of this and “String” and “Inhale” just added to my complete enjoyment of the whole set. He is on www.myspace.com/jonomcleery, so go there soon.
The Sound Of The Ladies is, in fact, one guy called Martin Austwick, who performs folk/rock on a Stratocaster style electric. He is a good singer, but his material just did not seem to embrace the audience, or me for that matter. Something was missing, maybe he needs some musicians or maybe the songs need to be more interesting. Check www.myspace.com/thesoundsoftheladies and see what you think.
To finish, we were treated to some good old country music from Harrisburg Family Band, a folk country line up with a good front man, a couple of very competent guitarists and a girl who sings backing vocals and plays a mean harmonica. They even have Benjamin Thomas on drums. Lots of good songs, including “The Circle Ain’t Broken”, “White Wheat” and “This Town Of Mine”, which was about Bridgend, their hometown that appears to have a bit of a suicide problem at the moment, according to the press anyway. “Evangeline” was great, but they got a little too political at the end, especially this close to local elections. Good stuff though, and they are on www.myspace.com/harrisburgsongs.
I decided to stay close to home on Wednesday, venturing no further than the Bedford in Balham for more acoustic delights. Unfortunately, the main bar was playing host to two large televisions and lots of soccer fans watching a crucial European Cup semi final. Fortunately, they only became loud when someone scored a goal (or came close to doing so), so all of us in the adjoining Shakespeare Globe were praying for 0:0 and a generally boring match. I gather that did not happen, but we did managed to enjoy a good show with a minimum of interruption anyway. For openers, we had Josh Osho, an acoustic singer/songwriter in the Roy Harper/Jeff Buckley style. His songs were well crafted with good lyrics and his fluid guitar style and understated vocals did them justice. He was a little nervous, but this will pass and he will, I believe, blossom into a very successful performer. See if you agree on www.myspace.com/joshuaoshomusic. Hannah Beighton from Leicester was next, and, from the outset, I could not get to grips with her voice. To me, it lacked depth and texture and sometimes just failed to perform. The songs were Ok with “Missing You” standing out. Her guitar player was a real pro who never missed a note. Another acoustic set followed from Mark Thompson, a country style picker and singer in the Newton Faulkner or Martin Harley vein. He did some rockers like “Clumsy Ballerina” and “Halo”, which was darker along with a country blues which sounded a bit Doobie Brothers, and a rock ballad called “Luckiest Guy”. Brilliant stuff, well performed with good support from a bass player who I have seen in at least one other band. He’s on www.myspace.com/mjthompsonmusic. Things got a little heavier when Hils Granger hit the stage, although they seemed to be having sound problems from the outset. This five piece has two good singers up front and solid musicians behind; they are a good band but it didn’t quite work. Good songs like the dark, folky “No One Knows” and the more jazzy “My Everything” were well written and I am determined to watch this band as I just know they can do better. Maybe they do on www.myspace.com/hilsgranger. Check it out.
Well, Thursday night was party night on Denmark Street this week as Zaid Joseph’s Zarathustras Night took over the 12 Bar. All the usual suspects were there, including me of course, and the evening kicked off with Charley Lankester playing some boogie woogie and jazz on the piano. Charley is the resident keyboard man and sometime host of these monthly events, and plays between acts switching between jazz, rock ‘n roll and some of his own material. I have an album which is available on his myspace, and I will review it this weekend. The first act was Tom Reed, a country/blues guitarist and singer with some good songs that he performs well. Equally at home with finger style or flatpicking, it was a good way to start. He did a cover that nobody knew and some flamenco style stuff at the end; all very good to get us going. The party then moved up a notch with Harry Glass, who I saw here last February. He’s certainly gained stage craft and confidence since then as well as some fine musicians. This set was a cross between Elvis Costello and Hey Negritta, with all the songs enjoying catchy repetitive lyrics and infectious hooks. A high energy act, and the audience loved it. I last saw Orlando Seale at the Troubadour, and prior to that, at this venue, both of which were superb performances. He had a few new songs and the addition of electric guitar this time, but it was still brilliant. “I Have Forgotten-“ and “Beautiful Moron” were there (but Lady Atatonica wasn’t) and there is an album in the pipeline. Watch this space for more information about this innovative and original performer. Just when I thought that I would be denied my fix of heavy rock for the week, along came Running Riots. These London lads have attitude and ability, from the vocals and guitar up front to the solid rhythm section that never goes away, these boys kick; hard. They do mostly rock, with a dash of punk and ska, all tightly but excitingly presented. Well realised songs like “Trenches” and “Thin Blue Line” make these lads a band to watch. ‘Av a butchers on www.myspace.com/wearerunningriots. So, another week over in this great City, and, maybe a new face in City Hall. Who knows, do we care? Well, just a bit. But what’s that got to do with music? Not a lot. See you next week, stay safe and well.
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