Bands I liked

Adrian Crowley, Mary and the Pigeons, Radie Peat, Idles, Sofasonic. Saint Leonard’s Horses, Ed Dowie, Guildhall Saxophone Ensemble, Gill Sandell, Alev Lenz, Angèle David-Guillou, Enderby’s Room, She Drew a Gun, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Mammoth Penguins, Milky Wimpshake, September Girls, The Proper Ornaments, Tigercats, Chorusgirl, Spook School, Joanna Gruesome, Martha, Freak, Black Honey, British Sea Power

Bands that were okay

Brigid Mae Power, Dinges, Krammers, John Hassall, Kite Base, Circa Waves, Jess Bryant, Pete Astor, Piney Gir, Samantha Whites, Michael J Sheehy, Anna Pancaldi, Bahboon, No Cars, The Tomboys, Natalie McCool, Healyum, Marvin Powell, Bearsuit, Evans the Death, USA Nails, Dairy Classics

Bands I won’t be going out of my way to see again

Martin Dubna, Sonic Kimono, Hope

Best Gig

March was a sad month as it saw the closure of Fortuna Pop!. The gigs celebrating Fortuna Pop! were excellent. But the gig of the month has to be a new band, Idles. They’re easily the most exciting band I’ve seen for a few years.

Best new band

Idles

Albums of the Month

• Volcano – Temples
• Brutalism – Idles
• A Pink Sunset for No One – Noveller
• Flying Microtonal Banana – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
• Condition – Spectres
• The Navigator – Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Let the Dancers Inherit the Party – British Sea Power

Best photo

Saturday

I arrived late, but (un)luckily they were running late. So I only missed the first band. The first band up were Peaness with a great line of jangly, indie pop.

The Cross Makers were up next. They were billed at the Holy Motors but they informed us that they’ve decide to change their name. They didn’t do much for me. They looked like two different bands pushed together.

When Whitebait setup I thought I wouldn’t like them. A three piece with the singer behind a keyboard could easily be quite bland. But they were saved because I liked the singer’s voice.

Wolf Girl

T-Shirt Weather

Seconds

Two White Cranes performance was a bit messy. It looks like the band had just been put together for a tour. So there was a lot of ‘how does this one go’ conversations between the drummer and guitarist. But it didn’t detract from the performance.

Try the Pie had flown over from the US for a mini UK tour with Two White Cranes. Playing solo. I really enjoyed this performance. Great voice that suited the music

T.O.Y.S

Unfortunately, the late start meant that I the bands were running late and I had to get off for my train home. So I missed a few bands

Sunday

Again I arrived late and missed the first band and the second band, Camp Sky were just finishing up their set.

Next up was Oh Peas. This was a bit of an odd one. What I heard was pleasant enough but the singer was suffering really badly from nerves. On the one hand I want to be sympathetic. I couldn’t stand up on stage on my own. But on the other hand, this didn’t feel like an isolated case. I think she’s regularly suffers from nerves. I just wonder why you wouldn’t take shelter in a band and in all honesty, her music would be improved with a band around her as I think some base and drums would give her music a better dynamic.

Good Grief did very little for me until they brought up a guest singer at which point I thought they had much more energy and a better dynamic which then seemed to keep going until the end of their set.

The next band were the surprise highlight of the weekend. Otoboke Beaver are a Japanese four piece girl band who have so much energy. They play that kind of garage punk pop that’s popular with Japanese bands. As they were singing in Japanese, I just held on and enjoyed the ride. They were so good, I caught them again later in the week.

Dirtygirl had the unenviable task of following Otoboke Beaver. But she did a great job.

Next up was the extremely talented Haiku Salut. I did think that their instrumental led music might not work in the Shacklewell. But surprisingly it did.

Due to the day running late again. Chorusgirl closed my second day. But this was perfect. This was the band that caused me to buy the tickets. I’d seen them earlier in the year and really enjoyed their sound and energy and tonight’s performance was no different.

Just before I left, I managed to catch on song of Soda Fountain Rag. I quite liked the singer’s voice but the music didn’t do much for me. But then I had an eye on my watch. So maybe I wasn’t really paying attention.

I’d taken a punt on Chorusgirl’s album. Rough Trade had sent me one of their singles as part of a subscription and the single grew on me. The album was similar. Initially I felt the album was over produced but after a few listens really enjoyed it. Tonight was my first time seeing Chorusgirl live. Because of the album I was expecting a bigger ‘slicker’ band. Instead what I got was a much more stripped back sound and it was all the better for it. They really were pretty damn good and my highlight of the evening.

Next up were Flowers. I have to admit I find them an acquired taste and it very much depends on what mood I’m in to whether I enjoy them or not. I find the lead singer’s voice a little wearing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s lovely. But for some reason, I find it quiet tiring listening to it. She sings in quiet a high register and it means there’s not much dynamics to her range. It’s all very dream pop but I have to be in the mood for it. Tonight, I enjoyed the first four songs before I started to get the feeling that I wanted something with a bit more punch. It’s a pity really that they don’t work for me live, they really do have some nice music and I can listen to their albums without getting the same feeling.

Closing the evening were Tigercats. I’ve seen them a few times and they usually put on a good show. Tonight was no exception. Great songs. Great live. What’s more to ask for and a great way to round off a pretty decent night’s music.