Got to see the Oh Sees a while ago with Fog in Leeds, so when he suggested a return match in Manchester, both Boy-Lee and I were well up for it – why wouldn’t you be – they are amazing live. We met up in Warrington first to watch the Warrington Wolves get beat by Hull FC, before heading for Manchester and watching City win the FA Cup in the Lass O Gowrie. After a visit to the Temple, we filled up on Kebabs in Topkapi and headed into the gig.

First up were Prettiest Eyes, a 3 piece who make quite a loud dancey racket…..

Main man John Dwyer presides over the evening with his guitar held high on his chest – Having two drummers front and centre makes a statement that this is going to be loud and these guys more than earned their keep with punishing beats that didn’t let up all night – the mosh pit was wild! We got covered in beer which was washed away with buckets of sweat. ‘The Dream’, ‘Animated Violence’, ‘I came from the Mountain’ – the pace didn’t drop and the interweaving drums were relentless. A fantastic night!

Bob the Chiropodist

A Fantastic weekend of great weather, some interesting football results and Music Music Music care of those lovely people at the Brudenell. Can’t tell you how lucky we are to have them here in Leeds – it’s a wonderful venue but wouldn’t be half as good as it is, without being run like it is – nice one Nathan!

Too many bands to do full reviews so here goes with a picture review……

SATURDAY 11th

LUMER – high intensity punk sound – a great start to the weekend

SISTERTALK – not my cup of tea – best moustache of the weekend though

ELLIS – from Canada “this one’s called ‘frostbite’ about the worst night of my life!”

WORKING MEN”S CLUB – Brilliant performance – like Joy Division crashing into New Order – Some songs with drum machines, some without, changing instruments and vocalists, loads of passion – loved them

HAND HABITS – low key Americana

THE NUDE PARTY – my favourite of the day, hell, of the whole weekend!! 70s Stones/Velvets style Rock’n’Roll that you could sing along with after only hearing the chorus once: “You’ll never make enough money, and no one cares about the things you say, you’re gonna wake up someday, man you’ll wish you got a job”  Just Awesome! (and 2nd best moustache of the weekend)

POTTERY – Indie pop with Sacha Baron Cohens ‘Grimsby’ on drums

PIP BLOM – she knows how to rock – got better with every track – most excitable drummer of the day

QUEEN ZEE – not my cup of tea

THE BLINDERS – moody and magnificent – powerful as ever

PIGSPIGSPIGSPIGSPIGSPIGSPIGS – they’re very loud

SUNDAY 12th

BDRMM – An awesome start to the day – like a cross between DIIV and New Order – melodic bass – loved them!

LD MOSES – good rockin’ indie with intense lead singer

OHTIS – good old country boy who played in the dark

WEAKEND FRIENDS – bouncing pop punk, full of energy. Lead singer apologised for the bands name

HARKIN – lovely local lass (well one song was inspired by a night in the Brudenell)

TRICIA WHITELY – heavier rock sound with some interseting guitar licks

EMERSON SNOWE – light pop sounds – not my cup of tea

ALEX LEHEY – from Melbourne – inoffencively tuneful

WH LUNG – happy monday soundalikes (lead singer even did a reasonable Bez) no bad thing

THE BETHS – great set of harmony driven songs. Funny banter between songs – whats not to love?

Only caught the end of the VIAGRA BOYS as they’d been put on at the same time as the Beths – I enjoyed the 3 minutes I heard and the crowd seemed to like them – best tattoos of the weekend by far!

THE FAT WHITE FAMILY – a powerful performance that got the wildest crowd reaction of the weekend – Lias is such a great frontman – more than slightly deranged he holds court with a sweat laden magnetism – great stuff

 

Bob the Chiropodist

I was going to write this one up but Joe Solo did such a good job – I’m just going to link to his HERE – a great time was had by all…….and if you haven’t heard Joe’s song with Commoners backing then here it is……We also got to sing ‘No Pasaran! with him – buy them and help him along why don’t cha

   

 

Posted in News | Leave a comment

James Yorkston makes beautiful music. Quiet, considered, chilled out, moving, beautiful music. He was phenomenally good tonight with exemplary musicians to back him – An inspiring evening!

First up were Viking Moses, a duo from Baltimore who’s songs were full of downbeat lyrics and intricate guitar, backed with solid mellow bass.

I briefly saw James Yorkston at a Record Store day event a few years ago with John, who’s a huge fan and got us all to go tonight. Two songs in, we were all bloody glad he did. His backing band were phenomenal – Jon Thorne on double bass (who made it sing) and Neil MacColl (son of Ewan and Peggy Seegar and brother to Kirsty no less) on all sorts of instruments including a finger dulcimer – Ace! James himself played a multi stringed thing that had keys too……no idea what it was but it sounded great! My favourite was ‘Broken Wave for Doogie’ – his former bass player who died – heartbreakingly gorgeous

Bob the Chiropodist

It’s always a joy to see the Ukrainians play and tonight they were celebrating 30 years since the first 10″ EP from the Wedding Present of the John Peel Ukrainian session songs was released…..now available in an expanded version with a 3rd session included with the cover in Leeds Utd colours.

First up were ‘East to East’ who do (?Polish) Gypsy Balkan tunes with great vigour and gusto – one to get the pulse going – would love to see them again.

The Ukrainians did 2 sets, one of covers and one of the John Peel Sessions. Everyone on stage and in the crowd was beaming from ear to ear – it was such a fun night. Each of the covers had Sledge, Liz, Alison and I looking at each other….struggling to put a name to the song “It’s the Smiths….Bigmouth strikes again….no, no….its The Queen is Dead!” – Others included American Idiot, Ace of Spade and Venus in Furs – fab stuff. Never Mind The Cossacks – Here’s the Ukrainians.

The second set started with Simon Smith on drums for a couple of tunes – the Weddoes drummer on those early sessions. His booming style of drumming has an energy like nothing else – great to hear. Predictably, the crowd got more and more animated as the night went on with full blown mosh-pit madness by the end – they deserve nothing less.

Some photos here of the first time the Weddoes toured doing a Ukrainian set

Bob the Chiropodist