LAST WEEK IN LONDON :American Stars and East End Bars
- Posted on June 2, 2008 10:59 AM
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Last week in London.
By Peter Coulston
Hello and welcome to the week after the most disastrous Bank Holiday weekend that I can recall in many a long time. Lousy weather, and fuel prices so high that we couldn’t afford to drive anywhere even if the weather was good. Anyway, it’s Tuesday and here I am at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen on Hoxton Square (near Old Street tube) for an album launch. It’s a pretty big place on a square that has lots of similar establishments and I do have bad memories of this area. Suffice to say, do not park anywhere near here unless you want your car towed away. The venue itself is separate from the main bars, which have high ceilings, modern open plan electrics and wooden furniture. There is a patio area at the front overlooking the square and the atmosphere is busy but friendly.
The show opened at 8.30 with indie/pop/alternative band Thomas Tantrum. Fronted by Miss Megan Thomas on guitar and vocals, this outfit from Goatee Beach?, UK did a good set of sort of punk that was sort of Patti Smith (but less uncompromising) with some hints of jazz and nice bits of feedback. I enjoyed it a lot and the audience did too, which is always good. Find them on www.myspace.com/thomastantrum. The album launch was a labour of love, as the band is from my second hometown, Toronto. Yes, three good Canadian boys doing what Canadian boys do best, playing good music and drinking beer. Now when I was last in Toronto everyone was playing basic country rock and a good small gig was a post Band Rick Danko, totally wasted, playing the El Mocombo on Jarvis Street. Well, I tell you, these boys have certainly moved on from that. Born Ruffians are a three piece who occasionally use loop station, but, basically, make great innovative music. The vocals and percussion stand out, with strong songs and rhythm patterns that touch on ska and native American. There’s some country and jazz in there and surely some influence from the Band in their Northern Lights, Southern Cross period. I could also hear Buddy Holly circa Peggy Sue and Not Fade Away. Having said all that, you just cannot pin these guys down at the end of the day. The album is “Red, Yellow and Blue”, there are singles available (“Hummingbird” and “I Need A Life”) on Warp Records, and all you need to know is on www.myspace.com/bornruffians.
Continuing in a North American vein, I happily attended the 12 Bar Club on Denmark Street to be greeted by my friend and host, Andy Lowe, and listen to three ladies from across the pond. I arrived at eight o’clock to find that Victoria Vox had already finished her set, which was a disappointment; however, the lady that I came to see was due to begin. You may recall that, some time ago, I went to review Rachael Sage at this very venue only to find that the poor lady was so ill that she could not even speak, let alone sing. I wished her well, reviewed a demo of her album, “Chandelier”, and vowed to catch her on her next visit. And here she was, with voice intact and joined by some great trumpet and percussion. She has been compared by some to Joni Mitchell, but her jazzy style, while sounding a bit Joni in her later, jazzier period, reminds me more of the edgy city sounds of Carole King. Rachael is from New York City also, and her between song banter leaves us in no doubt about that. She played many of the songs from “Chandelier” as well as some older material. Her song about John Lee Hooker was dark and melodic with some great chords and all of the numbers were rounded off by the understated but brilliant trumpet work. It was great to see her live at last and I am not sure when she will return to these shores, so in the meantime, the next best thing is www.myspace.com/rachaelsage. To ensure that the Stars and Stripes continued to fly in Denmark Street, we welcomed next the very charming and talented Anais Mitchell, all the way from Montpelier, Vermont. This lady does acoustic alternative very well indeed and sound a bit like Neil Young, although, unlike old Neil, never hits a bum note. Her songs are intense and sometimes dark with lyrics that you can’t ignore. “Do You Blame Me” was a fine example of the finely constructed songs that she delivers. Much of her set featured material from a musical that she is involved with called “Hades Town”, which is based on “Orpheus and the Underworld”. It sounds like a great project judging by the songs that we heard, one of which was a duet with one of her co-writers. An excellent singer songwriter who can be found on www.myspace.com/anaismitchell.
The next thing I know it’s Friday and I am back at Old Street, this time at Mother 333, a popular late night dance club that, on Fridays, features live bands presented by Smoky Carrott Sessions before the DJ starts at 11pm. The venue itself has something of a fairground atmosphere, with the sort of flock wallpaper that you used to find in Indian restaurants and the saloon bars of dodgy pubs. The furniture consists of a couple of old black leather sofas and a turquoise chaise longue with uneven legs that looks a bit like a psychedelic stretcher. There are numerous old lamps and plants around, and one wall is full of paintings that bear no relationship to each other on an artistic or any other level. The music area, which is sort of petitioned off, is similar in décor and is dominated by a large image of Marilyn Monroe. Just my kind of place, who says I don’t have any taste? So, to the music. This gig was a sort of extension of the Indy Awards in that the winners of the Best New Wave/Progressive Award opened the show for the guys who presented them with the award. How cool is that? Well, it’s pretty good, right, and it was an excellent excuse to see and hear Molloy again after their well deserved success. I say see them because this is not just about the music, great though it may be. These guys (a guy and a girl actually) look the business; with matching Fenders, hair colour, eye make up and nails they take over the stage and cannot be ignored. They have his and hers keys/synthesisers which they put to very good use on the driving material that is obviously influenced by Bowie and Roxy, but is much grittier. As they moved effortlessly between the Fenders and the synths, the melodies and riffs took no prisoners, while the rhythm section was so good that you didn’t even notice they were there, and that’s a compliment They were let down on the vocals by the sound system, but I know that they can excel in that area also, having originally heard them at the Barfly last August. They are now embarking on a tour of the UK and France, so try to catch one of their gigs. If not, there is always www.myspace.com/thisisf**kingbrilliant. It is too. This great performance was followed by an equally enjoyable but short set by Bishi, a folk/glam/power pop girl who, on this occasion, concentrated on music from her Indian roots. She did a couple of songs supported by backing track and a sitar customised for gigging. They were good mix of cultural influences, with her new single, “On My Own Again” being very commercial with the possibility of breaking in more than one market. She does folky stuff too, so have a look and listen on www.myspace.com/bushimusic. The aforementioned award presenters were, in fact, The Wolfmen; or, to be more precise, Marco Pirroni and Chris Constantinou of Souxsie and the Banshees and Adam and the Ants among others. Yes, this was punk, loud as you like but with some strong melodies and lots of feedback from the guy on lead guitar. They did “Better Days” and “Jackie” as well as a dedication to Lou Reed with Bishi. The vocals again suffered from the sound system, but it was great stuff cut a little short by the boys having to give way to the DJ before the clubbers stormed the place. All in all, a great way to end the week, or was it?
I didn’t make it to the party on the Circle Line on Saturday; however, I think I did my fair share of those in the past; and anyway, on Saturday night I was booked to attend my daughter’s birthday party somewhere in Mayfair. It was a sit down dinner, followed by music until 2.30am, which, from past experience, I expected to be house. I was, apparently, in for a pleasant surprise when we arrived at The Dover Street Restaurant and Jazz Bar just off Piccadilly on the left across from the Ritz. On arrival, there was a laid back jazz trio playing some very cool stuff to eat your dinner to. After that, the fun really started with Soul Train, a seven piece soul band fronted by Reuben Richards, a man with a soul history as long as your arm. He has fronted numerous soul and blues bands over the last ten years or more including a project devoted to the music of Otis Redding. Along with Mr Richards’ impeccable vocals we enjoyed one of the best horn sections around along with great guitar, soulful organ and solid rhythm. A few guests popped in to help with the classics of Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, James Brown and, of course, Otis Redding. Two great endings in one week is just too much for this reviewer, especially with the River Rat Pack Tour tomorrow. Will I survive? Probably; anyway, some good stuff coming up next week, so hang on in, stay safe and well and keep it live.
Realated Links
The River Rat Pack Tour
Buy Born Ruffians tickets
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