Posts Tagged: Music

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30
Apr 12

Jack White debuts solo show in Camden

If Edward Scissorhands had got himself a successful hand transplant and swapped his outrageous snipping skills for guitar picking, I think he would bear more than a slight resemblance to Jack White.

It’s Monday the 23rd of April, and Jack White is marking the release date of his new album ‘Blunderbuss’, by playing his first ever UK gig as a solo artist.

White is touring with two bands. One all male, and one all female. He enters the stage tonight surrounded by women and promptly explodes into the White Stripes classic Dead Leaves On The Dirty Ground. The band encircling the wiry-haired dervish consists of a piano, a violin, a backing vocalist, a pedal steel, a double bass and a particularly fantastic drummer.

The gig plays like a Jack White retrospective. Songs from the new album are juxtaposed with old classics from The White Stripes and The Racontours as well as his work with Dangermouse.

Highlights included a face-melting rendition of the solo heavy Ball and a Biscuit, immediately followed by the two and a half minute storm in an eggcup that is Sixteen Saltines. By the time the inevitable Seven Nation Army rolled around the entire audience was singing along with the riff like a crowd of plaid clad football hooligans.

A more comprehensive tour of the UK is scheduled for the summer. Get a ticket. Or get two and see him play with the boys as well.

Words: Dickon Drury

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24
Jan 12

The Maccabees: Given to the Wild

You’d have to be living down a very dark hole not to have heard that The Maccabees have a new album out this month.  Their third offering, ‘Given to the Wild’ has attracted huge attention in the music press, with mixed reactions.

Some have hailed it a ‘renaissance’ album within which the band has found its artistic groove, while others worry that their marked change in sound might be an attempt to please bigwigs looking to cash in on the fail-safe mass appeal of the likes of predictable crowd pleasers, Coldplay.

Whatever your opinion, there’s no denying the fact that it is a finely crafted and musically accomplished record, with a number of stand-out tracks that keep you listening right to the end, including Feel to Follow and Pelicans.

We imagine these could sound rather spectacular in a live setting, and we’ve not long to wait to find out as the band will be playing Camden’s Koko tonight, at MTV’s Brand New for 2012 show.

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9
Jan 12

Bear Driver at the Wheelbarrow 5/1/12

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I make no secret and offer no excuses in relation to my absolute adoration of Bear Driver, having first seen them at a Best of Myspace gig at The Bull & Gate about a year ago. Since then they’ve slimmed down by one member (losing Cassie to her solo work), played to great critical reviews at both SXSW and the Camden Crawl, and supported The Joy Formidable at Koko.

Their back catalogue is still impressive beyond belief, the debut album is imminent and tonight, despite my aching familiarity with this band and its music, I am blown away by their ability to write and perform what I can only describe as inspirationally bloody good songs.

Guitarist and sometime-singer Harry Dean finds more ways to fall off stages, disconnect cables, break guitars and cause ear-shattering feedback than anyone I’ve seen. Tonight however, he’s restrained; he doesn’t fall off-stage. Since last summer’s back-breaking crash at Dingwalls, Harry has sworn never to repeat this particular trick. Tonight he succeeds, just… but only just. Sharing guitar and vocal duties, Oli Deakin has the sort of voice that both melts concrete and then woos the driver of the concrete mixer into bed. He’s the perfect calm to Harry’s destructive enthusiasm and it works brilliantly.

While I still think that Enemy was the song of 2011… well, I’ve nothing left to say about it – it may yet become my song of 2012 too. It’s a perfect piece of pop and just the right antidote to ensure that tonight’s frozen bones are frozen no more (repeated airtime on BBC 6 Music means you don’t just have to take my word for it).

The wonderful attraction and explanation to Bear Driver is that you love them but can’t find the words for why. You listen to them but can’t explain the reason for it. You smile, but only because laughing seems out of place. They are a mind-filling, brain-freezing, spectacular way to bring in the New Year and now, more than ever, they deserve the critical acclaim that will surely flood their way this year. Prove me right. Their time is now.

Words and pictures: Dan Aitch

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15
Dec 11

Dexters play Camden’s Koko

A couple of weeks ago I found myself at Camden’s indie den, KOKO. There was a slight murmur from the few people sporadically dotted about, but nothing to write home about.

I was waiting for Dexters, a five-piece guitar band born and raised in North London, that are causing quite a stir on the current live music scene.

Within the past week they had been chosen as one of NME’s “On Repeat” artists and Q magazine’s track of the day with the ridiculously catchy ‘Start To Run’, so you could say that I was curious, bordering on excited, to see the lads in action.

Whilst the support acts bashed their way through some mediocre sets, and Dexters’ explosion on to the stage came ever closer, the room rapidly began to fill to capacity, and the slight murmur from the audience transformed into a hive of anticipation…

As the curtain rose and the band blasted into their first song the crowd’s reaction was incredible. The band clearly already had a large following, and based on the guitar-fused melodies that followed, I sensed I could soon be joining them.

Dexters’ lab has cooked up a genius mix of lyrically perfect songs with clear influences from musical heavyweights such as Oasis and The Clash. I reckon they have a perfect storm brewing around them, so watch out – Dexters are coming.

Dexters – Start To Run (Demo) by dextersband

Words: Ceri Dixon.

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4
Dec 11

#Camden Christmas: Slow Club

Are we allowed to get excited for Christmas yet? Yes? Good, because the festive spirit is alive and kicking in Camden and we’re forging ahead with the curation of our perfect Christmas Day playlist.

Top of the bill for us always has to be Slow Club. No strangers to a good Christmas cover, this delightful duo host a seasonal show every December over in Islington’s Union Chapel, and in 2009 even released an EP dedicated to this oh-so-special time of year called ‘Christmas Thanks For Nothing’. It’s best known for their gorgeous original track Christmas TV, but we’re bucking the trend and placing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) in poll position instead – it’s guaranteed to get you up off the sofa and singing your heart out into a mulled wine bottle.

Slow Club will be paying Camden a visit during the festive season with a slot at the Wheelbarrow’s big NYE party over at HMV Forum. Superb.

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