The Vaulted Skies were on good form. Their brand of retro goth is actually quite refreshing amongst the sea of standard indie fair. So I don’t find it a chore watching them. Tonight they played a new song, Nights and I thought was pretty good.

Lisa Romson was up next. I’d class her as a performer rather than a singer. She tells a story through her performance. I can’t say I completely enjoyed her music but I did enjoy the overall performance and I’d quite like to see her again

Reeves Gabrels closed the show. Clearly a good guitarist. But his music was pretty bland. His guitar solos very good. But I didn’t feel any emotion from them. One of the blues songs he played went on for an age and had less emotion that two bit blues hacks I’ve seen in Austin bars. For me blues isn’t about proficiency, but about emotion. Both from the tone of the guitar and voice. Unfortunately, for me, vocally, he wasn’t strong. So sorry, sadly he didn’t impress me.

Puzzle Muteson – Falsetto heavy haunting folk music in the vein of James Vincent McMorrow and a great cover of New Order’s ‘True Faith’.

As the lead singer of Sterolab, Laetitia Sadier drew a big crowd. With a understated set with her simplying sitting strumming an electric guitar and at times singing in French. She was very good.

Closing the show were the Downsmen, a barbershop choir. They wouldn’t have been my normal choice of saturday afternoon musical distraction. But singing accessible cover versions, they were surprisingly entertaining.

I’d seen Peace at SXSW, just before the started to be successful and playing the bigger London venues. Having not seen them since this time, I was surprised to find they had a very big teenage girl audience. They hadn’t come across as a band that would appeal to that demographic. But fair play to them. They seemed relaxed with the adoration from certain members of the audience with a nice line of self deprecating banter.

Playing a mixture of new and old. Their 40 minute set was a set of simplicity. They’re clearly a band comfortable with performing. I didn’t feel like they were trying too hard to play and it all seemed rather effortless and relaxed. The new material, while not outstanding, was good and well received. I’ll have to keep closer tabs on them and not leave it another two years before catching them again.

After Peace, I jumped on a bus to Dalston. Thurston Moore was playing a benefit gig for Resonance FM. The performance was billed as ‘improvised’. Having seen Thurston improvise with Sonic and his solo projects, I thought this would be a great evening. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.

Resonance FM is an Internet radio station specialising in the avant grade type music you hear on late night Radio 3. You know the type (or maybe you dont). Composers using items that weren’t intended for music to make sounds that really don’t sound like music and therefore the music ‘challenges’ the listener. Short hand for ‘if you don’t think it’s music, it’s your fault not ours’. But invariably, much of the stuff isn’t art, it’s just shit. (I’m saying this as somebody who goes to ‘contemporary classical’ music evenings at the Proms, so I’m not completely biased against such music). Maybe I should have had an inkling that tonight wasn’t for me.

First up was the Langham Research Centre who were using old Radiophonic Workshop equipment such as oscillators, tape machines and the like. However, they weren’t the Radiophonic Workshop. The piece they played wasn’t music. Just a whole bunch of phrases played from a tape that anyone with GarageBand could knock out with a little effort. Yes, it’s quiet clever and interesting watch these guys use this old equipment, but there still has to be some substance. That’s why the Radiophonic Workshop’s held in so high regard. They did create some interesting music as well using these experimental electronic sounds. However, maybe I’m being unfair on these guys. I’m sure they’ve got other interesting pieces. Unfortunately for me, tonight’s set wasn’t.

Next up was Jennifer Walshe, another contemporary composer. Her piece consisted of her strumming an instrument occasionally. Pretending to be strangled to death. Making the sound of wind (for far too long) and saying lots of phrases as if you were tuning a radio. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t interesting at times. There was definitely some interesting ideas. But they didn’t add up to music. So sorry, just because I’ve been told something is music, does not make it music.

Okay, so scene set. Thurston to save the evening? Sadly no. I hate writing this as I’m a big fan of his. Unfortunately tonight’s piece didn’t have the trademark Thurston sound. Instead it was a more a case of Thurston creating a wall of ‘guitar white noise’ over a drummer who really was central stage. As I’m not a big fan of drum solos, it wasn’t for me. At a few points melody crept in and I thought it was going to head in a more ‘accessible’ direction. But unfortunately not. The first encore was a little better. I think there might have been a second encore, but I’d had to head home to catch my train.

So a bit of an ‘up and down’ evening. Oh well. You can’t win them all.

Crayola Lectern

Frankly and the Jacks

Frankly and the Jacks

Frankly and the Jacks

Flux

Flux

Flux

Flux

‘The Blanks’ played the University last year and the reception was very good so I thought I’d give it a go. To be honest, I didn’t think they were that good. The comedy aspect was ‘student review’ level and lacked any real sophistication and although the singing was good, the choice and arrangement of some of the songs I didn’t feel was too strong. That’s not to say they were bad. I suppose inoffensive is probably the best description. I also didn’t find the prolonged ‘buy our album’ sketch to be appropriate. I believe they’re touring Students’ Unions and this is really where their UK market is. Our students seemed to enjoy the performance and there were long queues to meet the guys.