Its been a good year, a good new begining... - Motion City Soundtrack, Leeds Cockpit 23/03/2010

My Dinosaur Life is my album of the year so far. I love every song from the go and it even claimed its place in vinyl I’ve shipped in from the US. So a chance to see Motion City Soundtrack at The Cockpit, Leeds was something in which no way I would miss out on. Greatest thing about this wasn’t the only one who felt like this so I had someone to go with!

And luckily again...Mike and Jesse decided to tag along too so travel wasn’t a problem. I love our little road trips to gigs. The excitement, the music, the wondering if Jesse is gunna break down and leave us stranded. Fun times.
So Leeds bound we went. Found a place to park, passed the highest cash machine in the world and headed for the station to meet Dillon and grab a Subway. Standard. After in depth conversation about ways in which to kill hookers over a 6inch meatball Sub it was gig time.

First Cockpit gig if the year so I’ll say a few words about it. Its dark, it’s a bit dingy, it’s small; it’s more like a mini airplane hangar than a ‘cockpit’. It’s Corp but Leeds. First act on was Jenny Owen Youngs, a normally solo singer/songwriter that screamed ‘JUNO SOUNDTRACK!’ at you. This isn’t a bad thing. Mixing funny with sad and rude lyrics with nice guitar riffs and a quiet yet powerful voice sounded great. Yet a bit repetitive. The Good thing about all this was the fact she had a ‘band’ behind her, members of Motion City and her own bassist assisted her in making her quiet acoustic songs in lovely harmonious tales of rise and falls of love and life. She stated at one point that this was the first time they’d ever been played together, they were impressive. Listening to her previously I was a bit worried that she would be alone on stage, that would have been dull. Thankfully this wasn’t the case.

For Motion City Soundtrack however I had no doubts at all I would be fully entertained. Their music screams good times and from Justin’s blogs and twitter I knew they were gunna funny and fun.

They came on stage to start with the great opening track from My Dinosaur Life ‘Worker Bee’. Which in its self states ‘It’s been a good year, a good new beginning....’ And that for Motion City it had. I’d say I good 90% of the crowd knew every word to all the new albums songs. Presumably the other 10% had come from been a fan of the first couple of albums. Couple of songs in and they played the BIG one. ‘The Future Freaks Me Out’ mealy needed Justin to sing “I’m on fire...” for the entire crowd to sing every remaining word of the intro back to them as loud as humanly possible. Everyone was bouncing around and having a good time. This is what is was all about. The entire band go crazy when playing, the keyboardist literally rags his keys about to the extent at point I thought he was gunna drop em.
‘Pulp Fiction’ had a warm welcome into the set before kicking into ‘@!#?@!’ which swear induced lyrics had people starting a small pit as well as smiling as singing ‘you all need to go away you mother fuckers!’. The other new song that stood out for me in the main set was ‘Her Words Destroyed My Planet’. I didn’t realise until now how big a song this is. Especially live it seems to have this feeling you wanna just jump around with arms in the air. Great stuff. Some older songs they played included ‘My Favourite Accident’, ‘When Your Around’ and the great ‘LG Fraud’. All showed that what they have on the new album they always had to an extent.

For the encore they played my favourite song off the new album ‘Disappear’.... the way in which the song starts is simply mind blowing. This showed even more live. Such a great great way to start the end of the night. The actual end was in the form of the superb song off the album Commit This to Memory ‘Everything is Alright’. Great end to a great gig. With recent rumours/self confirmations of them playing Leeds Fest... I know I won’t be missing them.

Peace

X

We wasn't nineteen forever... - The Courteeners, Sheffield Academy 19/03/2010

Now if I’m honest I don't remember too much of this one. Nicky Jackson is a bad influence. I don't usually drink before gigs but been the 4th or 5th time we've seen this band together I thought it was only polite to do it properly. So a pint or two with tea... 4 pack of cider... then head to the venue for a couple more before the support band.... oh dear this was gunna be a headache.

With this gig been sold out before I had a chance to get tickets I have a friend to thank for this, guest list is a glorious thing. To make things worse on the alcohol front I had friends on the bars doing me good deals.... oh dear oh dear.

We got there and stood a little back to watch the support band.... The Whip (pic above)... last time i saw these was in 08 at 3volution Festival in Newcastle. They were shite then and not much better now if I’m honest. But neither the less their dancy indie pop got the crowd going (not to mention a distinct similarity to the dancier songs on The Courteeners latest album). Although it was nice to see all but one of the Courteeners (bet you can't guess which one thinks he's too big to hang around the public...) we're stood behind us and even had a chat with us. Good times.

Any who we moved into the crowd and waited for Liam & Co to come and show us a good time once again. We managed to get pretty close. By this time I was...tipsy to say the least. So I was ready to go for it. So were the other couple of thousand people in the venue. It got very squashed very quickly; I expected from this the gig to be pretty still one just very tight. I couldn’t of been more wrong.

They came on and instantly burst into ‘Cavorting’ to which every person in that sold out gig bounced to and sang every word. I’d never seen the academy this crazy. I’ve seen Bloc Party, Kasabian, Bowling For Soup, You Me At Six plus loads more in here. This was mental. Once finished with that they carried straight into the pre-first album hit ‘Acrylic’. To which I found myself arm round Nicky singing in an almost football chant way. I turned round and majority of the crowd were doing exactly the same.

After that I don’t really remember much apart from singing along a lot. But going by the set list I somehow acquired.... they played a lot of new songs divided up with the big hitters off the first album such as ‘Kings Of The New Road’, ‘Please Don’t’ and mine and Nicky’s anthem ‘Bide Your Time’... easily the song of the gig for me. I remember thinking ‘if it meant losing my voice by singing as loud as possible to this one... it was will be worth it’.

For the first encore only Fray stayed on stage to play ‘Rest of the World’ and a superb acoustic solo version of ‘No You Didn’t’.

Second Encore the entire band came on to play their current single off the new album ‘You over Did It Doll’ which had the crowd dancing rather than bouncing. This song didn’t really take my fancy at first but live... it defiantly won me over. The last two songs were a non brainer really. The biggest two songs (in the media eyes) off the first album. ‘Not Nineteen Forever’... which actually reminded me that I was 20 for first time seeing them... and ‘What Took You So Long?’ which had the crowd chanting ‘Wooohh ohh oooo woh oh oh ohhhhh’ all the way home (if you know the song you’ll know how that supposed to sound).

After the gig I got more battered on very cheap booze and somehow found my way back to Nicky’s where he was already asleep..... No idea. But it was fun.
Next one is Motion City Soundtrack. Granted they have the best album of the year so far in my eyes, it should be swwwveeeet.

Peace

X

I think I have an addiction.... I best talk to Frank :D - Frank Turner, Manchester and Leeds Academy 17,18/03/2010

Mainly because I'm lazy but also due to the fact that i would be repeating my self a lot.. I'm gunna do both Frank dates in one entry.

The opening support for both dates came from Crazy Arm. A punk band from the UK, both nights they were full of energy and impressed the crowd. Opening slot at an academy gig has gotta be hard with people arriving as your playing. But they managed and did a great job. Ending on a song with, the second support act, Chuck Ragan. Their singing voices been complete opposite, this could of been a mess yet it seemed to flow brilliantly. Good job, crowd warmed up for Chuck.

For many years Chuck Ragan was the front man of a great punk band called Hot Water Music. In a similar way to Frank Turners change in heart, Chuck also went from punk rock to folk. More specifically southern America folk. The rest of his 'band' didn't help this feeling. With a double bassist looking like simply a 'hick' and a violinist with a massive hair/beard mix, difficult to see where one starts and one ends mixed with the gruff 40 fags an hour voice of the Lost character look-a-like of Chuck... It felt like Texas had invaded our ear drums. Never the less, he was great. He was thankful to frank, he bid thanks to his wife, his friends Alkaline Trio and teased the crowd with news of a collaboration with Brain from The Gaslight Anthem. He was a stand up guy. Music wise for me at both gigs his performance of 'The Boat' was the highlight of his set. Mainly because its the one i know the best.

Ah..... Frank Turner. So many lyrics of yours help me through day to day problems. It helps me give advise. It helps me take advise. No matter what mood I am in... Frank Turner can be heard. So two days of Frank for me is two days of heaven.

This tour is a weird one... October saw the 'Poetry Of The Deed' tour (which was amazing) but this one was simply titled 'Always On Tour, Tour'.. so i didn't know what to expect set list wise. I wasn't disappointed. At both venues the crowd was warmed up with songs from Frightened Rabbit and Bob Dylan playing through the speaker system. For them the lights to drop. The FTHC logo projected onto the large white screen behind the drum kit and the indistinguishable sound of Franks guitar playing the first few chords of 'Photosynthesis'... stunning. Every single person in both venues sang every word. And he loved it. He went on then to play 'Try This At Home' followed by 'Once We Were Anarchists'. TTAH was a fantastic second song that had everyone dancing about. OWWA was perfect for the long term fans (being off the first album)and gave this sense of knowing and commitment, for him to recognise this was a fan favorite it showed he knew his roots. At both Manchester and Leeds he played the songs would expect. But been a 21 song set at both venues he swapped and changed the order and a couple of songs. In Manchester, to my utter shock, he played 'Hold Your Tongue', off the First 3 Years album (a gathering of rarities, b sides and alternative recordings) this was not expected. It was stunning. Him solo on stage preforming this truly separated the fans from the one album lovers. Following this with a beautiful version of 'Jet Lag'.... I was gobsmacked. In Leeds he played 'Dan's Song' but for a twist got a member of the public on stage to do the harmonica solo. Luckily the girl who went up knew the words to the song, had some sense of rhythm and had enough balls to get the crowd clapping and the lot. He followed this with 'Casanova Lament'. One of my favorite Frank songs. This was getting too much. A pinnacle moment in this song was just before the first chorus he looks up at the crowd and smiles. Heartwarming stuff. At both gigs he played all the fan favorites that rang the venues with passionate sing along such as 'The Real Damage', 'I Knew Prufrock', 'Take You Home' and of course 'Ballad Of Me & My Friends' which had the thousands of fans shouting "AND WE'RE DEFIANTLY GOING TO HELL!" ... as always (11Th and 12Th time for me) a stunning spectacle that fills me up to the point of tears. I love Frank Turner and this is the reason why. The reason thousands do.

The Manchester gig was on Paddy's day. Frank had already stated he doesn't like Guinness at the beginning of the gig but does enjoy a Jameson's. When he came back on for the encore he said 'What day are we celebrating today then? Wednesday?' ... I wasn't having that so i chucked my green paddy's day hat on stage (suitably decorated with the Frank Turner logo).... he picked it up!!! Someone else then threw one on stage. He looked at mine and laughed. Shouted Chuck on stage and simply said 'Which one do you want? I'll wear one if you do?'. I was praying chuck took the other one sop frank would wear mine! He did! but then to 'chuck' (excuse the pun) it into the crowd. Then snatching mine/franks and doing the same... ugh, knob. Aw well, frank had hold of it. Good times.

At the Manchester gig for the encore he came back on to play a duet with Chuck Ragen which he simply called 'Revival Song' which he told the tale of him and Chuck on the Revival tour in the US. At both venues he closed the show with 'St Christopher' and probably his biggest hit (in terms of lime light) 'The Road' which seemed a perfect end with the venues both ringing with 'I face the horizon everywhere I go,
I face the horizon the horizon is my home' as the band left the stage and the fans left with grins and smiles all around.

Moments of the gigs - Manchester was either Ballad or Hold Your Tongue. Leeds was Casanova Lament.. Amazing. (http://www.youtube.com/user/JimBobBTVS?feature=mhw4#p/a/u/0/6osylh2H2Hg)

I realised after the gig over all the times I've seen him there is only one song i haven't seen him play that i would want to. 'Thatcher Fucked The Kids'. Maybe one day.

HE HAD FAKE T SHIRTS FOR SALE OUTSIDE! Shockingly... he is that big. Following him from practically nothing, this was a nice sight if anything. Although i write this (very late) in the knowledge that he is also on the FIRST announcement for Leeds Fest... That's a massive deal.

Got some more of these things to write, but these gigs, this week... was mind blowing. Same again soon i hope.

Peace

x

Very Scared Hamster?..... Yeah I know... Lame.... - Frightened Rabbit , Leadmill 2, Sheffield 12/03/2010

Less excitable gig tonight. High expectations though.

Frightened Rabbit are a Scottish indie rock band. For any person who hasn't heard of them... LISTEN TO THEM. THEY ARE AMAZING! If your unsure and only listen to mainstream stuff i'll say this.... imagine Biffy Clyro mixed with Mumford & Sons... take that.... times 2000 in mind blowingness ... Wah la.. Frightened Rabbit.

I'll keep this short. Mainly due to the fact i haven't got much to say... i was drinking during the support band and was speechless for the main act.... but here i go trying.

Sold Out Leadmill - Steel Stage is always a fantastic sight and crowd to be in. Everyone in that room (with exception of partners, mates and random guest list spots) went speciffically for FR. Majority i imagine fell in love from first listen. They have that effect. They came on about 9ish (even though they themselves had just sound checked their equipment)to a great sound i haven't heard in a while. Cheers from a small enough crowd you can hear ever individual person. The band could too.

They kicked off the set with a song of the new album called 'Skip The Youth'. Great start. The crowd who had the album for a while seemed to know the words and the rest stood in silence and amazement. Well...all apart from one bald bloke... he was jumping about like a lunatic all the way through their entire set. After they finished the bald guy heckled something on the lines of 'That was awesome!' to what Scott (Lead singer) responded amusingly with 'Thank you kind sir. We will try to keep it up. We should take you to all our gigs'. I could tell instantly this band were a fun loving, respectful, honest band. A rarity these days.

Following this they played a stunning rendition of 'The Modern Leper', 'Old Old Fashioned', 'Loneliness & The Scream' and 'The Wrestle' all in my eyes were perfect to the last note, can't complain one bit.

Out of the entire first half of the set the most two stand out performances were the last two songs. 'Twist' and recent single 'Swim Until You Can't See Land' had people moving a bit and the bald guy going crazy. Scott full of energy, thrashed around the stage on the solo's and break downs.

Second half of the set was as good as if not better than the first with songs including 'Head Roll Off' and 'Good Arms vs Bad Arms'. Both passionately sang and getting Scott to the point of dripping with sweat. His broad Scottish accent live is a spectacle and a half in its own. You can't help but sing along in the same accent. To do it in a Yorkshire twang would be insulting to his work.

Encore time. And the best 15 mins of live music I've experienced in a long long time. This gig was a gig. Pure and simple. It wasn't a 'concert', It wasn't a 'show'. This was 5 music loving jocks playing for a crowd that quite simply was in awe of them. Kicking off with Scott alone on stage for a mesmerising solo acoustic performance of 'Poke' followed by a crowd hopping and pleasing 'Living In Colour' with finally ending on an emotional, energetic, ecstatic 'Keep Yourself Warm'. With Scott literally spitting as he sings from the bottom of his heart "But, you won't find love in a, Won't find love in a hole, It takes more than fucking someone,To keep yourself warm" with his eyes closed and bashing/strumming the guitar like a drum. The song climaxed in a mash up of solo's and skill. They went off to massive applause and great amount of respect to all that just witnessed.

Great great gig. Listen to them, see them live. You won't regret it.

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip next.. bit of a change in style. Should be fun.

Peace

x

Hip Hop.. Me? Nooooooo.... Really? - Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Sheffield Union 14/03/2010

Now I'm not normally the type to go to hip hop or dance gigs. The venues 'Tuesday club' is something that literally makes my stomach turn at the thought of. Yet Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip (or DLSvSP for the case of typing so much) aren't hip hop as it normally comes. Their comedic element and fact that they are very very white and very very un-stereotypical makes them a massive indie scene rap 'band'. Their first album 'Angles' came out in 2008 and again to my surprise. I adored! 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' being the big single back then, they had an effect on scene that no one else had touched. Spoken word poetry to a hip-hop beat (since done by many many a band)... pretty much the same as just rap.... there is a difference though. Promise.

Sound Of Rum and B Dolan provided the support. I'd seen Sound Of Rum play before (or at least the lead singer) doing poetry at Leeds Fest last year... I didn't then or now have any part of me aspiring to see her again. B Dolan on the other hand....



Coming onto stage with a John Kennedy mask he bursts into a fantastic rap. A large white man with this much rhythm and speed is a rare sight. He takes the mask off but continues with the rapping. After a couple of songs he stops to talk to the crowd and talks about how its his first time in the UK, his first ever gig in the UK at that. He says how the fact we're all British he expected us all to be really smart... naive American. One song he took out a lump of what looked like American dollars and through them into the crowd... they weren't real :( but it was good besides. Three quarters way into his set someone shouted 'GET YOUR TITS OUT' to which he stripped off to reveal a slightly shabby Evel Knievel costume. This was starting to get funnier and funnier. He then went on to do 'a daring stunt'. Making a Steward lay on the stage for him to pretend he's on a motorbike and jump over him.... silly but it warmed to crowd to him so can't complain. Good set all around. Audience well warmed up for the headliners.

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip time. This 'band' can only suit university venues in my eyes, dunno whether its the fact its 'poetry' or just the general nature of them but this venue seemed perfect. Opening with the obvious yet great 'Beat That My Heart Skipped' instantly had the entire crowd bouncing and singing along. The second album had only been released that day yet many people seemed to know the words to 'Sick Tonight' and 'The Beat'.... they have been previewing it on myspace for a week so yet something tells me it may of leaked early. The first album tracks were all great. With 'Look For The Woman' been a slower yet epic feeling atmosphere with Dan Le Sac singing his heart on while on the decks. 'Fixed' was a great performance too, the song that is inspired/spoofs Dizzee Rascal had the crowd bouncing their hands like it was a Jay-Z gig. New songs like 'Get Better' got a great response and gave me promise in the new album (to which I'd only listen through a couple of times prior the gig). Last 3 songs were the highlight for me though. First of all my song of the gig and probably their biggest song 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' filled up the room with a mass poetry reading. Only once ever have I seen so many people speak words in union (King Blues - What If Punk Rock Never Happened? at Corp...stunning). After this they went off only to come back to the encore that they previously announced... smooth. Last two songs consisted of the new song 'Great Britain' and fan favorite 'Letter From God To Man' which everyone sang along until Pip went off stage to rapturous applause. Dan stayed on stage to drop some 'heavy beats' for the 5 minutes of 'solo' he had to leave the crowd bouncing on the way home.

'Dan le Sac, Scroobius Pip, Singing hip-hop, as BEST we can' seemed to be a suitable lyric. Their best was great. I've only seem a handful of hip-hop artists but these wiped the floor with Dizzee and Lethal. I would advise anyone to go see these guys as they fit into so many mediums.

Next ... :D Frank Turner.... TWICE!! :D :D

I'm very very very very excited :D

Peace

x

You Me Hayley Jess Anna At About Half 7? Ok. - You Me At Six, Sheffield O2 Academy 11/03/2010

Ohh the first blog of a busy busy couple of weeks and I'm already late.... awwww well.

SO..a nice pop punk music night ahead of me. Lets start from the beginning. We got to the venue (O2 Academy) at about quarter past 7ish. MASSIVE QUEUE! It was no surprise. You Me At Six's fan base averages about 14 and female. This is where my recent trip to see Owl City came in handy. I found myself desensitised and not bothered by any of this. Stood near the front of the queue yet not in the queue i caught sight of a sign that read 'O2 Priority' .... I figured 'if you don't ask, you don't get'. So i asked... showed my phone and got in straight away :)

First band on, once we made our way into the crowd, was We The Kings. I am a big fan of the first album. Great pop songs in effect that i imagine would come across ina way taht All Time Low did recently on the Kerrang tour. I was wrong.... We The Kings out did all my expectations. Opening with 'She Takes Me High' the crowd (not surprisingly seen as they are a bigish pop punk band) joined in. Later they covered Jimmy Eat Worlds 'Middle'. The Cure's Robert Smith once said 'there are two types of covers, those which are note for note and those that have the artists own twist. Neither are bad. Neither are good.' ... This applied to the first. It was note for note with JEW. BUT not bad at all. Got the crowd going too. Although i felt old knowing every word. It was an 'old school' punk song to the majority of the crowd. Any who... WTK played couple more songs then ended on their big hit 'Check Yes Juliet' which had rapturous applause from all.

Next on were Forever The Sickest Kids. I had high hopes for these from friends experiences through to just the fact they are well known. They came on and i eagerly waited the first song. They only went and pulled out 'She's a Lady'... amazing.

Full of energy every member of the band (all 6 of them) went mental. With the lead singer and guitarist worryingly making explicit hand and tongue gestures towards the young girls in the crowd..... other wise.. amazing. From 'She's a lady' they went into 'Believe me I'm lying'. Another big hitter for fans and great sing along song. They continued to please the crowd with jumping and shouting until they finally played 'Whoa Oh'. The big one,every one was jumping up and down. To the point where i ended up at the front of the crowd..... great stuff :)

Now it was time for the headliners of this tour, You Me At Six. I wasn't that excited but i was eager to hear what they are like live. The crowd got tighter and i started to feel a little crushed watching the roadies sound check all the stuff. I didn't know whether it was because i was delirious from been squashed or if the one beer i drank went straight to my head but at one point i heard drums been sound checked yet no one was on the drum kit..... weird. The stage was also still surprisingly small, usually its only small for support bands.... weird again.


YM@6 came on to a piercing sound of screams and went straight into a song off their latest album 'Hold Me Down' called 'Safer To Hate Her'. The crowd knew every word and sang in unison with the lead singer Josh. Half way through the second song 'The Truth Is A Terrible Thing' i noticed a familiar face at the side of the stage. It was only Bring Me The Horizons lead singer and owner of the Sheffield based clothing company Drop Dead's Oli Sykes! Singing along too. Would of thought YM@6 was a bit timid for the hardcore singer. Friends perhaps? After a couple of more songs the band went off stage.... weird. The drum kit was taken away by roadies.... weirder. A minute or so later air raid sirens were blasted through the speaker system... 'ahh i see'. 'Consequence' was the next song to be played and when the drums kicked in, the curtain dropped to reveal a transparent platform in which the drum kit stood with ramps both sides for the rest of the band to play with. That explained the ghost drum kit i heard and the fact they had only about 20% of the available stage. To be honest the whole 'surprise' element could of gone a lot smoother. Felt slow and unnecessary to do it after 3 songs. If they opened with all this it would of been a lot more effective.

The rest of the set was a mix of new and old album. Nothing that exciting except a nice 'closer' in the form of 'Always Attract' attracting a massive sing along and arms/lighters in the air situation. The encore was where it got really fun. Coming back on, saying thanks then bursting into the intro for 'Save It For The Bedroom'... It was awesome! Been their biggest the song, every person in the crowd sang every word to their hearts content. Even i was jumping up and down with excitement. In the legendary 'bridge' of the song people screamed 'TOO LATE, SAVE IT FOR THE BEDROOM' at Josh making him smile every time he looked out at the crowd. For this and the memories of singing along to this at Corp... this was the song of the gig. After that energy drainer they played their final song. It was pretty obvious what it was going to be. 'Underdog' their most recent hit showed the devotion of the fans and sold out academy to this band. To top the set off i caught a drumstick :) good times.

As a whole the entire gig was very good. Unfortunately none of the 3 bands played my favorite songs - WTK didn't play 'August Is Over', FTSK didn't play 'Becky Starz' and YM@6 didn't play 'The Rumour'... besides this all three were great. Hats off especially to We The Kings and Forever The Sickest Kids for coming over and playing under a band of equal or perhaps even less status in the US. I felt they played to impress where the headliners played to satisfy.

After the gig we headed to the Leadmill for the after party where i met the majority of all three bands. Travis the lead singer of We The Kings was a genuinely nice guy and was very thankful for the support. At the bar i also had a good conversation with Caleb from FTSK. Discussing the fact that his $20 was worth about 3p over here and chatted about Brand New. Nice guys in a whole. YM@6's DJ set was great, pretty much Corp playlist but that's never a bad thing.

I was rough the next day....

Next gig I've already been too so it just means me typing it all up. Frightened Rabbit.

Peace

x

MEDIC!! - First Aid Kit, Bungalows & Bears. Sheffield 01/03/2010

Monday night Corp turned out to be quite the night last Monday. Went for a quiet drink with Mike and ended up coming across this little beauty of a gig.

Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, armed with a drummer, become the folk/country band known as First Aid Kit. Very much for fans of bands like Fleet Foxes, Mumford & Sons and Slow Club. We got into B&B, got a pint and stood at back watching the support act. A guy called Sam Airey, anti folk hero from Leeds. Bit Franky T esc. Wasn't shabby at all.

First Aid Kit came on and people seemed to crowd round the front right away. It was busy for a B&B gig. So we went round the back stairs to the side. (Hence the picture of the side of the band). With their debut album "The Big Black & The Blue" only recently released, it was expected they would play majority of it. I only knew 3 songs if honest, only having the album a few days before hand. But the whole set was great. Both sisters have amazing, powerful voices, equal to those like Laura Marling. One song, they even ditched the power and drums and played acoustic with no mic's. You could still hear every word. My best song of the gig is out of two - 'Hard Believer' which in its self was just stunning. Or the closing song 'I Met Up With A King' which had people singing along, swaying. It was such a great story/song to end the night on. Their speaking accents sounded more Canadian than Swedish. Either way when they asked 'So where's nice to see in Sheffield?' in which someone shouted somewhere random and insignificant, they responded amusingly with 'People always shout somewhere, everybody laughs and we have no idea.... stop that please'.

An enjoyable little folk gig. Very different from whats coming up next. Almost a shame really, it's made me in the mood for some more of similar style (Frightened Rabbit pretty soon should fill that void). I also really liked the poster. look at it :) >>>


Best of all. It was free.. Ta Bungalows.

Peace

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