These little reviews/reflections are coming so so so long after the actual gigs that there is really very little point in writing and posting them. However, I kinda like this tradition ive started where I write a bit on how all the gigs I go to have been because its far too easy to forget the momentary brilliance or complete lack thereof of certain bands. I really dont want to start feeling like im not appreciating all the live music because it just truly does rock my word and I don’t know what I’d do with myself (or that student grant coming in from the danish governement!) if it wasn’t there. And also, it really doesn’t seem fair to leave out these guys simply because the date they played clashed with the horror they force upon 4th years at edinburgh uni (that would be the dreaded dissertation...). So here we go:
The long blondes, liquid room, 14 february 2007.
This whole gig was really just for fun... I needed a break from the dissertation and with aaaaaall my friends having plans for valentines day and making homemade cards for their boyfriends I was thinking: GIG!!! Yep, I may be single, but I can still enjoy live music. And im ok with that :P
I met up with a mate from work and her flatmate and we made it to liquid room assuming we had plenty of time to get a drink before the band went on. But that plan was rudely interrupted by the fact that the entire ground floor was made the underage bit and everyone had to push their way to the tiny bar on the 1st floor to get a drink. With the first song of the set starting, we abandoned the alcohol plan and headed downstairs to mingle with the under-18s near the stage.
A few things struck me at this gig. 1) the music is simplistic and light-hearted in nature, 2) kate jackson sounds frighteningly like Karen O, and 3) somewhere, there’s a fabric shop running out of leopard print.
It was a cool gig overall, the band conveyed a decent amount of attitude without losing touch with the happy side. There is little doubt that this band is carried by the lead singer who completely draws in the crowd and proves that girls in bands are supercool. I guess in the end it really just felt to me like they are trying to be bigger than they are with regards to their lyrics, and having seen Karen O I just
didn’t quite buy Kate Jackson. But an awesome way to spend Valentines Day it definitely was.
Forward Russia / Men, Women and Children, liquid room, 21 february 2007.
At some point, over the past, year I have gotten forward Russia and british sea power completely and utterly mixed up sound-wise. How exactly, I don’t know since I don’t have any british sea power tracks on my itunes yet have several forward Russia tracks. So there I was at liquid room thinking this would be
a nice little chilled out gig with some quiet music that would lull me into a nice state of happiness that would make me feel all warm inside upon returning to the computer lab to work on that dissertation due 5 days later. I was slightly off in my recollection of forward Russia and if not the comments from a mate of mine who knows the band, then at least the opening act tipped me off.
Men, women and children were as energetic as any state-side-native opening act wanting to break Europe. their sound was electronic without become overly flashy or desperately artsy and combined with a wicked energy, they definitely have potential. The flashing mic stands were fab (and oh so very Rave) but the overall package was just abit off – the lead singer’s jacket was horrendous (I know I know, commenting on bands’ looks is superficial and shallow and blah blah blah but it just annoys me majorly when bands wear their coats on stage. Its as if they cant wait to finish and then run off the stage and away from the venue as fast as possible and I just want them to CHILL OUT and not stress and not be super uptight…. Lol im totally reading far too much into the coat-wearing thing), 6 men in band is a really odd number, and that hint of American showmanship that kept showing through was a bit off-putting.
They weren’t bad though, it must be said, and I was pumped waiting for
Forward Russia to grace the stage.
And where do I start with this band?
I goddamn fucking loved them! 2nd row was pretty damn awesome. Their sound was amazing live (and when I listen to them back on itunes now, i have that similar feeling to how I feel about the dead 60s where I just long for that live set where the music just came to life on an absolutely unreal level). Tom woodhead is also possibly the most fascinating frontman and lead singer ever. Not only is his voice incredible, he also gets so into the music you kinda feel like you are witness to something incredibly honest and real. It may just be fantastic theatrical showmanship but I don’t really care if it is because it doesn’t come across that way and it completely draws you in.
Forward Russia kicked serious musical ass and not since the cooper temple clause at that very same venue back in October have I left a gig on such a high.
