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 Cafe Emma 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…
No comments:
Post a Comment