LAST WEEK IN LONDON: Reunions and Tributes
- Posted on October 13, 2008 10:39 AM
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Last Week in London
Reunions and Tributes
By Peter Coulston
Having survived another week of gigs to die for, I am able to welcome you to the best of live music this week in this city. It’s all rather band oriented this time around, beginning with that home of the heavy, the Monto Water Rats in King’s Cross.
Josephine Oniyama
I unfortunately only caught the last song from this lady, despite having arrived at the gig before 8pm; this is an occupational hazard with this venue. Accompanied by drums, bass and her own polished guitar style, she sang the one upbeat number well and I shall make a point of catching her set when I get the chance.
Pack of Six
Sometimes known as Sam Sharp & his Pack of Six, this is a very tight and professional jazz/funk outfit, whatever you call them. Sam plays alto sax and has three stunning and talented female lead singers who can also harmony, along with great guitar, keys and rhythm. They have an album already, and are working on a second, from which some of the material came. They are good at soul ballads, as well as rock stuff like “Play for You” and the jazzy “Change My Ways”, all of which is on MySpace. This band is a pleasure to see and hear, so be sure that you do, very soon.
Will Rendle & the People
I last saw this guy about a year ago under the name of rendle Will, and was impressed by the quality of the material and its commercial appeal. Nothing’s changed there; Will is still working with his excellent band, which provides keys and electrics, solid rhythms and backing vocals, and doing catchy but clever stuff like “Sometimes”. There is ska, Balkan and just plain, good quality pop in there, and “Addicted” is about as good as it gets, and the condition his fans will be in when the penny drops about this guy. Watch this space.
David Jones/Matt Carey
I also saw David Jones about a year ago at this venue when he was fronting Northampton based indie band, The Departed, and enjoyed the set overall. He now works with Matt and a lady on violin called Reef (apologises if I have misspelt). The band songs were commercial, but this stuff is pure Britpop of the highest quality. Ever since Cliff did “Move It”, the Hollies did “Bus Stop” and Suede and Britpop came and went, there has been a very British way of making good, accessible pop. Mr Jones has sussed this out, with his great melodies and hooks, slightly urban but sound vocals and great songs like “We Used to be Lovers” and “All We Got’s the Music”. Another one to look out for, believe me.
JD Smith
I was back at the 12 Bar Club on Denmark Street on Tuesday to see some bands that I had liked in the past but not seen for a while. The evening was also to continue with the launch of “How to Make It in Music”, a publication that gives useful information on venues and promoters, festivals, managers, lawyers, recording and publishing among other things, and in which JD Smith is a major contributor. As for his opening set, what can I say? Nobody that I have seen recently does this stuff like JD; this stuff being blues/rockabilly. The pace is relentless as he rocks his way through one after another powerful rockabilly gem, pausing this time only for the slightly more sedate “Doghouse Blues”. His guitar style is a mixture of slide and chord and his vocals earthy and wild. An experience not to be missed.
The Whybirds
These country rockers from Bedford graced this very establishment nearly a year ago and I have been trying to catch up with them ever since. They take their influences from the likes of Tom Petty, The Eagles and Lynnard Skynnard, and they certainly look a lot more like those good old boys from Jacksonville, Florida than they did last November. Sound wise, they have just got tighter, with great harmonies, four lead singers and two lead guitarists. This set was pretty acoustic, but had some good, upbeat numbers like “Blow Out the Candle” and “Girls on Fire” along with more Eagles style easy country. A very enjoyable set, and I will try not to wait another year to see them again.
Jonny Gone Home
I must begin by apologising for misspelling the name of this band when I reviewed them last December, although, apparently everyone else does as well. However, we pride ourselves at getting things right here on Seatwave, so this is them, an Alternative/Blues band with a strong tight sound. I first heard them at the Electroacoustic Club, where guitarist/bass player Joe Kelpie is the sound man, and remarked at that time that the singer sounded a bit like Robert Plant. On this occasion, Matt Bellamy sprung to mind a couple of times, but, either way, vocalist and harp player Lee Squire can certainly sing. The songs are good, varied and even included a bit of Balkan beat among the strong blues influences, and there were some nice guitar breaks. “Show Your Faces”, “Alex’s Kid” and “Dead Man’s Walk” were good examples and can be heard on MySpace.
Smoke Feathers
This classy sit down band perform Latin influenced alternative soul very well and move easily between folk rock and dark south American ballads with the odd tune to dance to, and JD Smith and his girlfriend did. Using guitar, keys and solid rhythm to support the strong vocals, “South America” and “Liberation Theology” were very good and are on My Space.
Matthew Jay Further Than Tomorrow Tribute Concert
On Friday, at the Shepherds Bush Empire, I had the privilege to be among the audience at the tribute concert by a number of amazing artists to remember another amazing artist, Matthew Jay, who died tragically five years ago on the threshold of a brilliant career which was never fulfilled. This day, 10 October 2008, would have been his 30th birthday. His memory lives on with the release of the album “Further than Tomorrow” last June by the Matthew Jay Band and by this concert, the proceeds of which go to the charitable causes that he supported, Amnesty International and UNICEF.
The show was hosted by Tony Moore, a master MC and musician well known as a former member of Cutting Crew and his association with establishments such as the Kashmir Club and, currently, the Bedford in Balham.
Helen Boulding
Helen had the task of breaking the ice on this momentous occasion and rose to the challenge from the outset. Aided by Tom Pie on bass, Matt Chandler on Guitar and Andy Nice on cello, good songs like the rocky “What a Fool” and the more country “Way to Go” set the pace and mood for the evening. “Let Your Shoulder Fall” was her tribute to Matthew Jay and a great addition to a great set.
Dlugokecki
Ben Dlugokecki was one of the organisers of this event and the front man of this Southampton based acoustic rock group that has a solid country rock sound. Ben’s vocals are complemented by harmonies and cello from Marie Kitchen and similar support from Andy Wild on keys. “Howitzer” and “Too Many Borders” were good examples of the strong material that held the interest of the ever increasing audience at this time of the evening. I hope they visit London again soon.
Kathryn Williams and Neill MacColl
What looked like it was going to be a standard folk set turned out to be far more with the clever use of loop on the vocals. These two work so well together and the songs are exceptional and quite folksy most of the time, but not all of the time. “Raining Down” and “Grey Was In Me” stood out and made me determined to catch these guys again.
Matthew Jay Band
This set was one of the highlights of the evening as it featured songs from the new album and some great artists, including Eddie Jay on keys and accordion, Vasco on guitar and vocals, Henrik Jorgensen on bass and vocals and Maitreya Jani on lead guitar among others. “There Were No Complication” was a good example of what to expect from the album, and James Walsh joined them for Matthew’s “What Would Love Do Now”. Their version of “Chaos” pretty well said it all.
Passenger
This Brighton based band had a lot of fans in the audience and did a strong set which opened with “Walk You Home”. Their alternate folk is acoustic led with some well placed keyboards and vocals that border on urban. Songs like “Table for One” and “Do What You Like” are pretty commercial and explain their wide appeal. A good, solid band that you should check out.
James Walsh
The Starsailor front man showed his strength as a solo acoustic performer with many of his band hits, a Matthew Jay cover, and a nice rendition of Lennon’s “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”. “Tell Me It’s Not Over”, “Silence Is Easy” and “Good Souls” reinforced the fact that he is a brilliant singer, songwriter and performer and possibly rather under rated in the great scheme of things. Think again, this is rock music at its best.
Chris Difford
No surprises here from the old Squeeze front man, providing you ignore the full size concert harp that was wheeled on stage on a trolley, and Julia Thornton, who was playing it. I found it difficult to ignore either. The set opened with “Up the Junction” and was followed by great stuff like “Fat as a Fiddle” and the brilliant “Battersea Boys”, all aided and abetted by guitarist and vocalist, Matt Deyton. Matt took the lead on the gentle “Kids Steal Feelings” and equally soft “Songs that People Love”, part written with Linda Thompson. “Cowboys are My Weakness” and “Cool For Cats” finished off a very good set that would have been even better if the people at the bar had stopped talking. Show some respect guys.
Tony Moore
A final mention for the ultimate host on such occasions, who closed us down with “That’s Why Rock Stars Don’t Retire”. Now that all the banks have gone broke, I guess the rest of us won’t either. Not to worry, there’s always the music, so stay safe and well until next week.
www.myspace.com/josephineoniyama
www.myspace.com/packofsix
www.myspace.com/rendlewill
www.myspace.com/davidjonesmattcarey
www.myspace.com/stuartjamesdurdensmith
www.myspace.com/thewhybirds
www.myspace.com/jonnygonehome
www.myspace.com/smokefeathers
www.myspace.com/helenboulding
www.myspace.com/dlugokecki
www.myspace.com/matthewjaytribute
www.myspace.com/passengerofficial
www.myspace.com/kathrynwilliams
www.myspace.com/starsailor
www.myspace.com/cdifford
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