Live Reviews
Shindigg Swansong?
The Adelphi flyer read “Sun 6th Brilliant drummer Beki is leaving us to go and see the world! Will the world ever be the same again? Good luck Beki: It has been a pleasure.”
When you realise that proprietor Paul Jackson hand writes the flyers himself then you realise this is high praise and warmth in equal measure.
Shindigg the band for who Beki plied her percussive trade have been around for seven maybe more years. I first saw them at the B.O.B. at Springhead pub in 2004. They were brilliant back then. As well as winning the competition they also won themselves a set of loyal friends and fans.
Seven years on and after performing with a number of lineups including, Rosey on drums for a while, Mad Mike – not Crazy Mike – on bass, or two beards as he came to be known . Tonight it is back to the original line up: Tommo on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Crazy Mike on bass, Beki on drums, Maggie on lead guitar.
The Adelphi is full of Shindigg fans, a hundred tickets went on sale and by Tuesday there were only ten left so I’d say it was a healthy Sunday night. The much loved band are supported tonight by La Bete Blooms featuring Daniel Mawer and Phil Wilson (MyOneManBand) and new band Wrong Room. I’m particularly impressed with Daniel Mawer’s vocal style he stares straight out at the crowd with a studied honest naivety, he looks quite frail and awkward but that’s all part of the band’s peculiar charm. Ones to watch out for.
Someone wins a fiver betting on Tommo going topless or not. He is topless much to the delight of the crowd. The gig was amazing; the energy, the warmth of feeling towards the band and the warmth of a hundred people all cheering on Shindigg. All the favourites were in their (aside from Best Friend) Draw Me In, Sustain, Don’t Even Bother all played with passion, potency and that very vital feeling that Shindigg bring to their live performance.
They always stood out for me; maybe because they dared to rock in a music scene filled with scenester bands; maybe because they had so damn complicated time signatures; maybe that the lyrics developed life and character of their own, the way the one line would crash headlong into another without pause for breath or cut out abruptly mid phrase.
Shindigg fine tuned their sound in a place affectionately known as “the yard”. They later rented out the yard now kitted out as a studio and practice room to upcoming bands. It has to be said the band didn’t put out enough material know of maybe two three or four track EPs being released in a whole band lifetime. (If there’s more I’ll stand corrected) That could be down to the complex nature of the material and the fact each new member had to overcome those considerable difficulties before they could record. It is also quite possible down to Shindigg’s approach to the band lifestyle they were equally adept at raising hell as they were rising chords.
I recall some good and some great Shindigg shows. I have documented a few for thisisull. One of the warmest gigs was one at Piper where friends of Shindigg… Le Shed, Khi and Franks shared the bill and made for a top night. That was the other thing about Shindigg shows, the people were always friendly, genuinely good eggs and welcoming to newbies. Shindigg had a mascot a black and white dog called Brindle. Brindle became synonymous with Shindigg (so much so that the band produced a range of t-shirts with Brindle’s face on and the word Shindogg) She used to sit on the stage as the band played to crowds in pubs people were always taken by Brindle trotting around after the band and gave her plenty of Shindogg love.
Tonight was billed as Shindigg’s final appearance as Becky leaves the band to explore strange new lands. But I’d like to wager they return once again maybe in a few years time, to do it all again. I expect I’m not the only one who thinks that way.
Shindigg Press
Shindigg Springbank Tavern Shindigg Queens Pub Shindigg Adelphi
Shindigg Piper Shindigg York Shindigg Adelphi Shindigg PR
Shindigg Springhead Shindigg Beverley www.myspace.com/shindiggband
Anymore that I’ve missed let us know.
Hulloween 2010
On the night before all Hallows Eve a ghastly group of ghoulies, spooks and zombies filed into the famous Hull venue for night of high spirited fun and fabulous live music. With cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, monsters on the door and vodka jelly shots being handed round like an ungodly communion, the extra witching hour would be welcomed in with wide bloodshot eyes.
On the bill were the hugely popular Gherkins unusually sporting orange faces, they appeared as the pumpkins for tonight’s show. Headlining Hulloween was the resurgent Holy Orders and probably the best band in Hull right now. After bringing in James Cooper on drums the band seem to have been filled with more passion and drive than ever before. Their recent live shows are testament to this fact. Splitting these two was Jody McKenna and the Zagros Band; acoustic folkiness with a Kurdish twist. This was a surprising choice but an inspired one, if the reaction from the crowd was anything to go by.
Amongst the usual array of Halloween costumes, sexy vampires, zombies, pussycats and the like were a few more unusual creations. One bloke was kitted out in a rubber bathmat and shower curtain, I was convinced it was an homage to Hitchcock’s Psycho, but in truth it was an Alan Partridge reference. Two blokes visiting from Manchester memorably turned up as the world famous Chilean miners, more orange faces, hardhats and t-shirts sporting the national flag.
The Gherkins wide reaching repertoire was made up of classroom favourites like Titanic (“It Was Sad When That Great Ship Went Down”) show tunes including a rendition of Ole Man River and some bluesy stuff and opera thrown in for good measure. Currently a five piece the band proceed to have the whole room in stitches with their on and off stage antics, bizarre stage routines and rousing numbers filled with curious caricatures. If you haven’t yet caught this wholly unusual yet nostalgic musical cabaret then do so, with haste, you will not be disappointed.
Jody McKenna has found a new musical family in the Zagros Band, one that not only suits his songs and playing style but allows him to explore and experiment with more new material than ever before. With a repertoire of songs as long as your arm Jody and co can oft be found in the trendy pubs and bars playing to the noisy crowds for over an hour or more.
Tonight they rushed to the front to dance to the numbers that had just months before been played on the main stage in the afternoon sunshine to the huge crowds at this years Freedom Festival. What is it about Jody that works so well and prompts people to listen… it’s the effortless unfussy guitar style to be sure and the well-crafted poetic lyrics, but more than that, it is the earnest candour in his voice as he plays. Look out for Jody’s new solo album The North Wind out now on Warren Records.
So to the main event and the chance to experience something that the Adelphi has become synonymous with; raw unbridled sound, dauntingly resolute from leftfield, music with energy, passion and pathos.
The Holy Orders as stated earlier are undergoing something of a renaissance. “Coop,” on drums has revitalised the band given them now focus and new dimensions to play within. Not that they have ever been found lacking far from it, previously they would still wipe the floor with the other bands on the gig circuit but things change members leave and new blood has to be found. In James (latterly of The Cliques) they found a young drummer who had as a schoolboy had a life-shaping visit from Matt Thompson’s previous band Edible Five Foot Smiths. This auspicious day sowed a passion for live music in the lad and now, years later, he is drumming for the Holy Orders driving them ever onwards. “For James so loved the Holy Orders he gave his only drum,” or something every time they play now whether it’s to crowds at kooky festivals or select gatherings in town pubs they deliver a smart, polished performance. One of the reasons why is clear in the performance the band have a genuine on stage connection. They are each working for the other pushing the other to produce the best damn show each and every time.
Tonight Matt was delivered to the stage under the cover of darkness, wearing prisoner overalls, by guitarist Chris Marsay clothed in a compelling executioners outfit. They played tracks from their latest E.P. including the increasingly popular and highly apt “To The Gallows”. Later on in a hellishly good set they played a fairly new one “Grievance” I think, which caused a good few to get up and dance manically at the front of the stage. With the Holy Orders it’s all about the shades, the degrees of dark and light soft and loud. It’s the almost uncontrollable anticipation of what is to come yet the journey is so worthwhile, before the hugely satisfying and torrential pay offs.
This years Hulloween event was a runaway success with over 150 souls all enjoying the Adelphi’s unique ambience. Organisers Martin Lewsley and Lloyd Dobbs are looking to develop the night more venues, more bands, more fun, and make it an annual party of live music and Halloween high jinks.
www.myspace.com/jodymckennafolk
Mammal Hum EP Launch
Just back from another lively night down at the Adelphi. Crowd in excess of sixty or seventy for a local band in the current cold climate both meteorologically and figuratively speaking is, I think, okay numbers. Mammal Hum are a band that have been on the Hull scene for four years or so albeit with slightly different line-up and approach. I recall a few cracking Mammal Hum gigs at Kick out the Jams at Zest on Newland Avenue last year.
Now with Simon, Leon, Nick and Sarah they have hit up a winning combo with an even better sound. “I am a car,” doesn’t appear on the new E.P. Man on Fire but that didn’t stop me from declaring to Messrs. Sarel and Howell the very same after hearing this odd punchy musical gem. Mammal Hum how do you describe the sound? No easy feat it’s a heady mix of late sixties psychadelic refrain and imagery, warped with folksome garage punky gubbins. What is important is that it works really well.
They’ve got the crowd baying for more I forget how many encores Mammal Hum did tonight each one better than the last so much so by the final number I’m so fired up I do a little dance (during which some little oik attempted to pilfer my Guinness) I take my numbered Mammal Hum EP clutched in little hands home. Maybe tomorrow I’ll play it really loud and rattle the icicles from the doorway including the one shaped like a left bingo wing.
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Sesh Bands Hit it out the park
Last night was tops, every act knocked it out the park here’s a little summary for those who weren’t there.
Scarecrows with ex Silence in the Streets frontman Sam
stand up beats and rhymes with a social conscience, as Mak said there’s something about Sam that is just special. Early start tonight so missed all but the last bit of Scarecrows but was thrilled to see Sam getting passed the mic once again during the next band’s set.
Thee Deadtime Philarmonic – out of towners from Derby via Strummerville
Wasn’t sure to begin with, first few numbers a bit confused perhaps didn’t have a firm grip of the rudder, but third or fourth song in I was there ducking and diving to their Indie Punk with political punch. That Kerry Ann has got some voice but Murdoch has to watch his up front militant stance doesn’t come over like indie boy posturing, and some of those lines man did we cringe. Badman, I think it was, had that anthemic feel a kind of unstoppable infectious energy that threatened to surge off the Sesh stage and out into the street. The one recalling the bad old days with Thatcher too, had a lot going for it…something about the bass line that was it, kind of eerie and stand out, surprise to find it there among all that riotous sound. Ones to look out for at this years’ festivals.
Windum Earl remain one of the best bands in the city and one of the few bands that have stayed the course, from those halcyon times for Hull music around the middle of the decade. I’m ashamed to say my first impression of Windum Earl back in 2004 was way of the mark…I just didn’t get it or them. Years later I’m often to be found drinking deeply from the soundscape pool.
Two demos Mak? That’s one more than me. Have to say the latest demo featuring new tracks and live recordings from BBC Raw Talent and a free sticker, is rather fine.
As I said last night, Windum manage to do epic without being grandiose. There’s such vitality and drive, a sense of urgency, yet their music is filled with repeated chord motifs that in any other form would seem like monotony; Windum make it work.
Rumours that the band were to split, caused alarm in many music fan’s hearts, including this one. Long may Nick, Stew and Pete, continue to challenge the norms and buck the trend of the three minute pop song.
So finally to Counting Coins. I remember this band played on my birthday last year or rather I don’t remember but apparently I sat on the stage staring up at them with a huge smile on my face. It could be said they are next in the Ska resurgence in Hull’s scene. Gone now are the Supatones (ex-members do pop up in other bands) the Talks – who play the Sesh next week incidentally as part of the BBC Introducing takeover- came along and got us all skanking again. Counting Coins took the ska punk route and mashed it up to create a bunch of lively king-stepping crowd pleasers. Oft to be found doing gigs with “issues” at their heart and heavily involved in LMHR they are always genuinely exciting to watch.
Next week Crucibles (BBC Introducing Maida Vale session band 2010), The Talks and Late Night Fiction.
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29th October Go-Go Kings Single Launch Adelphi
In a break away from the now commonplace song release model of putting a song out for download (much like putting a cow out to pasture) Hull band Go Go Kings have looked to their roots and gone vinyl with their latest single. The seven inch features the tracks Lost Out and Sick of You. Released on Kitsch n Sync Records the single comes with cover art, of a Russian burlesque vein, by local artist Darren Rogers. There’s also a CD version available for those who don’t have the technology.
Junior bluesman from James Dean Syndrome kicks things off with some classic psychedelic licks. It all gets a bit special when Fegz, recently back from Spain, and Alfie join in for I’m Waiting For the Man one for the Hull family scrapbook.
Looking around I note there are a lot of strange people out tonight.
I’d had high hopes for Snubnose 44 but the only thing that was eye-catching tonight were the outfits. The Arctic Monkeys cover was ill advised and hashing your way through one of the headliners’ songs well it’s just not on. I blame the vodka and half term. Perhaps this will serve as a wake up call to the young band. Before I start getting death threats and being cyber-bullied by their fans, for the record I wish them no ill.
Go-Go Kings come on stage and race through Lost out and Got Nothing and its high octane dirty rock n roll once more. Playing With Fire and Birthday boy Ash is lighting more than one in the hearts of the new fans, the new breed of hell raisers on the Hull scene. Four years ago it was me jumping up and down singing all the words, desperately trying to catch the musicians’ eye. Now I stand on the sideline. Is it ever over…when do you call it a day and turn your back on rock n roll, parties and gigs? Danny on guitar calls the tune and it’s Runaway. Energizing new tunes faster, slower, faster again with a neat tempo change; furious and fun with the Go-Go Kings.
Download the EP from iTUNES if you must but it’s not the same and you don’t the artwork.
