Having tickets to both nights of Avril Lavigne’s Black Star tour’s stop at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo it added a little to the variety that the support acts on the two nights where different – but not that different – on the Wednesday, the male four piece guitar base rock group that is Lawson provided the warm up for Avril – which turned out to be prolonged and any effect it might have had, would have off by the time Avril made it on stage (the delay wasn’t her fault…). Having said that I don’t think the audience needed any warming up – it was a hot summer evening and they where all very much up for the evening… Putting a couple of cover into their short set ensure audience vocal cords could be exercised.
Filling the role of “special guests” on the Thursday were Twenty Twenty - this time a three piece male guitar based rock group… They could have done with covering a couple of well know anthems to.
Given the predominately female audience the choice of two “boy bands” was probably a good one – both band certainly had fans in the crowd and filled the venue with music to get the people moving…
Unfortunately on the Wednesday night just about the time the audience were expecting the lights to dim, over the PA it was announced that Avril had experienced a “mechanical problem” – alluding to a broken down car or similar – and would be 45 minutes late in starting her set. It turned out there had been some sort of breach of security – and it had been touch and go if Avril was going to be able to perform.. Avril’s shows appears to be plagued by security failures…
Something else also stood out - the complete lack of of photographers in the normal location between the stage and audience – it turned out they’d been relegated to the sound desk – yet another artist who’s live image would be predominately documented by shaky camera phones. Maybe her management team should put a little focus more on security rather than controlling photographers who only have providing Avril with the best possible publicity in mind.
Thursday night was much less eventful – and comparing the two evenings it was clear how shaken Avril had been by the pre-show events on the first night. She’s denied that the loss of her voice towards the end of the set that force her to allow the audience to complete one song for her – which they were more than happy to do, was related to the earlier events – but they couldn’t have helped…
Wednesday performance was more than enough to please the sold out audience that night – but the rather less full Thursday night audience got a different level of Avril – highlights of the evening included a cover of Coldplay’s Fix You. Performing without the support of backing vocalists to fill the gaps demonstrate the range and power of Avril’s vocal abilities – and the lack of dancers when completely unnoticed.
There may be others tilting for Avril’s title of princess of the teenage angst anthem – but even at 26 she is still representing Canada in that class.
This was my first gig in Dublin Castle, Camden – and Bug Bear had lined up four acts for the evening…
The opening act from Australia, via LA, was Katie Cole. Given her recent Radio 2 air time with tracks from her current EP Lost Inside A Moment and upcoming appearance on Aled Jones Sunday morning show I’d have expected her to be headlining the show!
As the open act Katie was given the time for a full set – with a lesson to learn – in a dark venue, under gig lighting don’t right your set list with a pencil…
There is something about the female Australian vocals that seams just right for upbeat pop – with Kylie currently holding my personal “queen of pop” position, I’ll add Katie as another member of the next generation of Australian female singer/songwriters that might via for that title in the future…
Replacement of Katie’s acoustic guitar with the electric ones belonging to the next act, Stumble, seamed a better fit or the venue – and they soon filled the venue with guitar based rock – some of the songs made me think of Coldplay.
The evening continued in a similar vein with We All Play Synth*
*None of them play synths…
With a mixture of genres, sometimes within the same song they added grunge and metal to a base of guitar based rock – all with great enthusiasm and a great way of ordering drinks from the audience – wallet thrown into them and pin added to the lyrics…
Closing the night were Vedanta, and again there was a similarity to Coldplay – the most polished of the three “rock” acts. Magic Is Within the Present is their current album.
It is a shame the audience wasn’t bigger – as I left I was a little surprised that the front of the venue was fairly full of people apparently oblivious to the live music yards away they could have been listening.
There is a lot of competition in space of male bands with 2 or three guitars and a drummer – standing out from that crowd is hard – tonight We All Play Synth stood out because of their enthusiasm and Vedanta because of their polish.
By the end of the evening having Katie as the opening act made complete sense – her pop sound was an “upper” before the louder and sometime melancholy sounds of Stumble, We All Play Synth and Vedanta. I’m looking forward to hearing Katie Backstage at the Spice of Life – a lighter venue, a little more friendly to an artist playing solo without a band to help fill a darker space.
Having had two great evenings of live music promoted by TV Nights, I headed for Notting Hill Arts – a new venue for the TV Nights and me – but if that means we get more TV Nights events per month that can only be a good thing!
Arriving at the venue it couldn’t have been more of a contrast to the history and plushness of Ronnie’s Bar, Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s – but I’ve learnt not to judge things by their looks – it was the music that I was here to enjoy not the decor – it would have been nice if the venue hadn’t considered three projections of the TV Nights logo and a pair of 100 watt bulbs – one covered with a red “filter” – to be stage lighting – but I coped with that – tonight's shots would mainly be black and white….
Kyan opened the evening with multiple songs from his recently release album Conversations - his self described "intelligent pop" had elements of soul and R'n'B - it boardered on Jazz and wouldn't have been out of place downstairs at TV Nights other regular venue...
The tone of Kyan’s voice belies his young age – a semi-finalist on Sky’s “Must be the Music” – a show with a significantly more musical credibility than most of the crop of TV music talent shows, he has a good chance to out last most their contestants. I'm not sure the grungy club atmosphere of Notting Hill Arts Club was a 100% match...
Resplendent in a pink jacket Seye Adelekan was next to perform – but only my flash allowed the colour to show – under the standard light it was a dirty shade of orange… Coming to the front of the stage rather than being the backing vocalist or guitarist he continued the soul/R’n’B theme – I’ve almost certainly seen him on stage with one of more acts in the last few years… You could hear some of the influences of the people he’s played with in his music – in particular Paloma Faith.
Without any sign of the nerves she’d shown at the beginning of her set supporting the Boxettes at the Jazz CafeEmma Topoloski continued in the form she’d ended her set at that much larger venue with.
Two of the highlights of the set were Sax and Guitar solos from members of her talented band. Emma’s bright sounds filled the room and the smaller audience gave them room to move to the music in contrast to the standing room only events at Ronnie’s bar and Jazz Cafe…
The night was labelled as the launch of Halflight’s first EP – Shine On - had I been the band I might have picked a venue with more visual appeal for such an event…
Following Emma’s upbeat set the more melodic songs struggled to keep the atmosphere up and couldn’t over come the basement club surroundings…
I’ve heard rumours London audiences for live music can be hard and even rude, but not experienced it until tonight - introduced as the headliners, Lazy Heart Parade, encountered it – taking time to build up to the point where the talking in the adjoining bar are was quietened.
There was a subtly to the folk of Lazy Heart Parade which jarred a little with the concrete, wood slating and exposed services… But it didn’t take long for the atmosphere to change and for them to have the audience swinging.
I debated wether to catch the last tube or stay for the last live act of the night – Supa3 – I’m glad the music won…
Self described as a “blues band unlike any other in the UK” – they fulfilled that claim drawing dub, reggae, dubstep, rock, jazz and, most successfully in this venue, grunge into their music. With a small but completely different audience from the very beginning of their set they had them eating out of the palm of their hand.
They took a few technical difficulties in their stride with some great improvisation…
Yet again an great alternative to a night in front of the TV (or possibly computer editing images…). Certainly a night of three or maybe four different audiences – Supa3 was by a margin the most successful set of the night, if a little late for a Tuesday night! Emma Topolski, Halflight or Lazy Heart Parade could all equally have laid claim to the title “early (relatively) evening headliners” – but where possibly miss matched to a concrete basement club venue – and the two openers may one day be headlining their own shows…
Leaving home with the prospect of little play at the Cricket to listen to due to early on set of Autumn and having chosen music over the hit and miss entertainment that England’s football team provides at Wembley, I headed for Ronnie’s Bar, Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s with high expectations based on my first experience of six great acts in the heat of early August. Not knowing which bands where playing lead me to answer the question at the door as to whom I was their to see with – “you’ll have to tell me”…
The leather jacket and battered bowler hat of the front man of the openers – Human – set my expectation of the set towards the rockier end of the spectrum you’d expect in a venue with the Jazz heritage of Ronnie Scott’s. That shows that you shouldn’t judge a band by their dress code – the mellow sound of Human was brought about by a smooth acoustic guitar and clever lyrics.
Unfortunately the only further information I have about the band is a link on myspace. That web site is showing it’s age – lacking any mesh into the rest of the social network cloud. Google also draws a blank – maybe Human as a band name is too generic even for the magic of Google to find more information…
Next up were the Irish/American Reardon sisters and their band Maud in Cahoots. The combination of a Tuba, Cello, Violin, and Keys - with the occasional use of a glockenspiel brought a soulful sound to the venue with a hint of pop and motown. Then they added some Jazz to their set as a homage to the venue roots - for me the best part of a set full of highlights.
The pace was then picked up by Alex Vargas, adding the element of rock I’d expected at the beginning of the night. Offering a more raw sound than the previous acts. I can see why Alex has become a regular on TV Nights line up – he bridge the gap to the headline act well warming up a growing audience.
I needed my fisheye lens to get all them members of the headline act into the picture... With nine band members I wondered if Professor Penguin could produce a coherent sound – in my experience too many musician can spoil the effect – they pulled it off with great success by each being specialist. A better approach than individuals switching instruments which I’ve seen spoil the continuity of a performance in the past.
With a brass section, three guitars and two percussionists plus keys and requisite MAC book, Professor Penguin are able to produce an almost orchestral sound – add great vocals from multiple members of the band and the enthusiasm of the packed venue is was well deserved. Their self produced album Planes will be on my list to investigate...
Their set was delayed in the hope that some late arrivals would be able to over come the one out one in policy needed because the venue was full, no such luck, as evening was going too well for many to want to leave…
Another evening of great live music – the lacklustre win at Wembley by a team paid more each month than all the performers present on Ronnie’s Bar could hope for in a career, confirmed I’d made the correct choice.
Grouplove are making London their second home, I've seen them twice before, supporting Anna Calvi on the NME Radar Tour and headlining at the Barfly Camden and they announce they’ll be back in November. At XOYO they were on very good form - clearly delighted to have be launching their first album, at least in Europe, Never Trust a Happy Song. "From our album" being a frequent joyous refrain to introduce their next song... Those in the US will have to wait a few more days – surely an excuse for yet another great gig back home on September 13th… Those with tickets to Brighton Music Hall, Boston are in for a great night…
Never Trust a Happy Song is a great title for an album, and the band’s enthusiasm for sharing the tracks from it with their fans was infections – taking in their stride a broken drums with an impromptu song for their French speaking fans – next tour to include Paris?
One of many the highlights of the evening was the shadow drawing of a Grouplove face - commendation goes to Hannah for flawless mirror writing in front of an audience...
Adding another new venue to my list – I made my way to the Nest in Dalston…
On the smallest of stages and in the smokiest (theatrical smoke) venue I’ve ever experienced, Dimbleby & Capper managed to squeeze their show into the space available. Their electronic pop combined with stage performance made the three change journey worth while.
One of the highlights of the set was a cover of the Phil Spector song “Then He Kissed me” – more up beat than many of Dee and Cee’s songs on their EP – Slick Maturity – hopefully material for a future EP or Album…. You will need to sign up here to be able to get a free download of the Phil Spector number…
Next up were Sheffield’s Shake Aletti. They’d had the foresight to bring their own lighting rig – the first time I’d seen that amount of preparation to ensure a consistent image. Again the smoke intervened, at one point I couldn’t see them on stage at all, even with their enhanced lighting!
Musically their synth based pop with occasional addition of guitar and percussion was well match with Dee & Cee and they certainly had the dance floor warmed up for the DJs to follow…
The evening left me wanting more of both acts – will be great when they have more songs ready to preform.
and upcoming appearance on Aled Jones Sunday morning show I’d have expected her to be headlining the show! 
is their current album. 
- his self described "intelligent pop" had elements of soul and R'n'B - it boardered on Jazz and wouldn't have been out of place downstairs at TV Nights other regular venue... 
will be on my list to investigate... 
. "From our album" being a frequent joyous refrain to introduce their next song... Those in the US will have to wait a few more days – surely an excuse for yet another great gig back home on September 13th… Those with 
– hopefully material for a future EP or Album…. You will need to sign up 