Gig Diary September 2012  

Jim Moray/Sabrina Pigott/Jamie Lockhart @ The Red Shed, Wakefield

Tonight was the final show of the Wakefield folk festival.

Opening act Jamie Lockhart (aka Mi Mye) was a late addition to the line up. I only realised he was on when he got up on stage. He has a different guitar but still no guitar strap. Since he plays standing up this means that he plays his guitar in the style of a huge ukelele. He is his usual charming self telling little anecdotes between the songs. In fact the story concerning one song was actually longer than the song itself.

I haven't seen Sabrina Pigott for quite a while. She is Irish born but West Yorkshire based. She surprises me by being less folky than I remembered. The music is more singer/songwriter in style and is a little reminiscent of Lisa Hannigan (a bit of a lazy comparison I know) and the rather more obscure Odi (another Irish singer songwriter with West Yorkshire connections).

Conversely I was suprised at just how folky Jim Moray was. He was very academic (and a little dry) in the way that he introduced each song with a brief resume of its origin. He played acoustic guitar and piano (not at the same time). I had been lead to believe that he used loop pedals on stage. He later told me that he hasn't done this for a number of years. The only experimental moment was when he used an electronic device to turn his vocals into a weird glitchy autotune style choir.

That's not to say the music wasn't good. I thought his guitar playing was excellent and his vocals solid (his singing reminded me a little of Seth Lakeman). My favourite moments, however, were when he took to the piano. However I must admit I was expecting a slightly more edgy performance.

Wilful Missing @ the Town Hall, Leeds

This was a bit of a tough gig for the Wilful Missing. Firstly it was part of the inaugaural Leeds International Beer Festival. Secondly they were playing in the huge reverb heavy Town Hall with quite a small PA. They were also a member down with Ruth the drummer otherwise engaged. However they had a decent understudy behind the kit with the ubitiquous Gary Stewart.

In truth their set was a bit of a blur to me in my alchoholic haze with the backdrop of plenty of noisy conversation going on. The band took the attitude that no-one was listening and messed about a bit more than normal. It all sounded fine to me. A friend at the other end of the hall couldn't hear a thing though apparently.

The Encounters @ Academy 2, Sheffield

Once again we're in Sheffield to see my nephew George's band. Tonight is their biggest gig yet. Halfway down the bill at the Academy 2 in Sheffield. Apart from a Vaccines cover at the end they are now playing all original material as well. A couple of the songs I recognise from previous gigs and George's vocals seem unaffected by the cold his mum tells me he's got. Possibly they weren't quite as tight as last time I saw them but they seem to be enjoying themselves. As Mrs Windbag points out though they need to work on their between songs banter. At the moment there are a few awkward pauses.

Emma Pollock/RM Hubbert/St Gregory Orange @ The Hop, Wakefield

September is in full swing and gigs are starting to come along. Tonight is not the sort of gig that would have caught my eye not so long ago. But its organised by the Rhubarb Bomb and recommended by Gary Cotton.

First up are St Gregory Orange tonight featuring Harry Rhodes on 'Rhodes' style electric piano. Its quite a sparse set up with the other accompaniment being Tim on acoustic guitar. It creates space though to appreciate Tim's lyrics. They come in torrents and sometimes its the sound that I listen to more than the story. The lazy comparison would be Alex Turner but Tim's a much stranger and more interesting proposition. I enjoy the fact that this is a one-off performance in a style that we may never hear again.

RM Hubbert is a hulking presence and his acoustic guitar looks like a ukelele in his hands. He starts off by explaining he's depressed and not feeling much like speaking. His set is mainly instrumental and is really good. The music sounds somewhere between flamenco and traditional Scottish folk. The percussive drumming he employs at time on guitar is a little reminiscent of Jon Gomm.

Finally we have Emma Pollock. Apart from the fact that she's the singer with the Delgados I have no experience of her music. Of the artists on show she is the most conservative in some ways. But what she does is really good. She plays straightforward songs on an acoustic guitar. There are country, pop and folk elements to the music.

Overall a great night but with only 30-40 people there probably not financially viable. It raises questions once again of whether Wakefield can sustain a thriving music scene 

Beirut/Daughter @ The Academy, Leeds

A friend expressed surprise that Beirut was playing such a large venue. To be fair it was pretty busy (but they had closed the balcony section).

First up though are Daughter. They are a quiet trio who spend a lot of time swapping instruments and messing with tunings between songs. I quite enjoy their set but in all honesty I wasn't blown away by them. They are very atmospheric and have a couple of decent songs. My mood wasn't helped by some student hipster who spent an entire song telling everybody his view's on the new XX album. I could clearly hear him despite wearing earplugs.

Thankfully my mood soon improved when Beirut came on. My initial feeling was slight concern. The band consisted of a trumpet player, trombone player, accordionist, drummer and bass player. Zach Condon (Mr Beirut himself) combined singing with forays on the trumpet and ukelele. I wondered if I could face a hour of the style of music. As it happened though time absolutely flew. I recognised some of the songs but not all of them. The music combined elements of Balkan Klezmer, Mexican Mariachi and French chanson. I also have to mention the drummer who was absolutely phenonomal.

Washington Irving/Tsar Nicholas III/Daniel Martin Moore/Misery Guts/Steph Fraser @Communion @Oporto, Leeds

The fact that this gig was promoted by Nick under the Communion franchise would probably have been enough to drag me along in any case. The fact that I've seen Washington Irving recently clinched the deal for me.

First up was Steph Fraser. A female singer-songwriter from Blackpool but studying at the widely respected Leeds College of Music. I am pleasantly surprised by the quality of her playing and songwriting. Her voice improves as well as the night goes on. She mixes her own songs with a sultry smokey cover of Springsteen's 'Dancing in the Dark'. Turning a stadium anthem into a late night song of frustration was a pretty impressive trick.

I don't know about you but the name Misery Guts doesn't fill me with great enthusiasm. This is a shame because the band are really really good. They play Americana of a very high quality. The songs are great; the arrangements are powerful but subtle; the musicianship spot on; and the singing strong and melodic. I can't recommend them highly enough. Ignore the name and go looking for this gang.

Daniel Martin Moore is playing a duet set with a woman who's name I don't catch. After the lively Misery Guts this is a lot quieter. The duo come from Kentucky and the music is understated country harmonies. I'm not sure my gig companion for the night, Nat Lawrence, was that struck by them. It was more atmospheric than striking but I thought it was pleasant. Perhaps a lively Oporto was not the best place to hear this stuff.

Nat certainly took an instant dislike to Tsar Nicholas III. I can see her issues but I quite enjoyed it. I would suggest the good Tsar has a Captain Beefheart record or two in his collection. The band play an agressive blues which the Tsar growls over. In his mismatched suit, dishevelled hair and specs he prowls round like a club singer doing a Nick Cave impression. To my mind this is a good thing.

Finally Washington Irving take the stage which brings a late surge of people into the room. I think this is a bit of a shame. We've had four decent acts and yet people can't be bothered to give them a try. Anyway Washington Irving are everything I remembered with their loud fast take on Scottish folk. Kind of somewhere between a Glaswegian Pogues crossed with the Skids.

Wussy/Piskie Sits/American Werewolf Academy/Aztec Doll @ the Hop, Wakefield

Signs that you are getting old number 23. I'm chatting to Gary Cotton when I notice a distinctive bloke with a flowing (scary) beard at the back of the room. 'That guy looks familiar', I says to Gary. 'Have I seen him at the Emma Pollock gig the other week. Or was it out and about in Wakefield somewhere?' 'Hmm,' says Gary 'or was it in a Wussy video?' Then the penny drops it is one of the stars of tonight's headlining act. Doh!

First up though are Aztec Doll. A local act I believe. They've bought along a reasonable crowd. They have a kind of gothic side to them. The singer/guitarist is a little reminiscent of Siouxsie. The music mixes a little modern day atmospherics (I'm thinking the XX) with a lot of early eighties post-punk stylings. The songs are a mixed bag but the playing is good as are the arrangements. The bass player even chucks in a bit of reggae in the last song (which also fits in with the post punk sound). 

Slightly less impressive are their mates who exit the room grumbling at the cost (four quid) for 30 minutes of music. The idea that might stick around to watch the other bands doesn't seem to have occurred to them. A couple of them do pop their heads in the door for the odd 30 seconds of the other bands.

American Werewolf Academy are a three piece from Texas. They play tearaway pop punk. They're nowt special but pleasant on the ear and pleasant to speak to as well. Mrs Windbag says she's reminded of the Hold Steady a bit and I know what she means.

This is Michael Ainsley's final gig with the Piskie Sits. To be honest they are a bit lacklustre to start with but they grow into the set with a finale of 'Big Fat Mouth' a fitting finish. Musically the playing and sound seemed clearer than some past occasions.

This just leaves Wussy. We are somewhat surprised that they are down to just a duo. I guess that the logistics of touring the UK when you are from Cincinatti mean that you have to make sacrifices. Anyway the odd couple swap vocals and both play guitars. One is older bearded and male and one is younger with an hairless chin and is female. The songs are quirky and tuneful. 

The Grand/Buffalo Bones/Moody Gowns/JonnytheFirth @ Velvet, Wakefield

Velvet is the bar formally known as Escobar. Its been kind of tarted up and turned into a cocktail bar. For some reason the Grand always seem to be able to get a gig here though. Tonight is their single launch but in any case they've got an impressive bill of support acts.

First up is JonnytheFirth. Due to drummer illness he has had to rescind the retirment of his one-man band act. As usual he doesn't seem too happy about it as we chat to him before hand. As usual though he sounds fine live. He undersells himself if you talk to him. He's a highly entertaining act - high energy and raw as hell but a polished performer all the same.

Next up are the Moody Gowns. Last time I saw these I kind of listened to them from a room away. I was thinking Kaiser Chiefs. Actually observing them in the flesh I realise they are much weirder. They are kind of funky with a very outgoing front man. On the whole I'm still not keen on them though.

Buffalo Bones on the other hand are my kind of act. Another kinetic front man but playing something much more to my liking - rock'n'roll. They are a three piece and there is bits of MC5, White Stripes and the Stooges in their music.

The Grand are their usual epic self and in front of a decent audience are a little more forthcoming between songs as well.

Richard Hawley/Lisa Hannigan @ the Academy, Leeds

I've been looking forward to this gig for a while. I'm a fan of Richard Hawley and have been lucky enough to see him live before. Extra incentive though is my first opportunity to catch Lisa Hannigan live.

In all honesty I'm a bit shocked that Lisa Hannigan isn't better known to the audience. After all Richard Hawley is a bit of a cult hero anyway so you'd expect his audience to be a bit more sussed.

Anyway she was excellent. Capable of coming across all folky and whimsical she also has a harder edge as well. Demonstrated on the PJ Harvey-like 'Knots'. Her small but perfectly formed band consists of John Smith on guitar and vocals plus a drummer/mandolinist/backing singer. John Smith I've seen in his own right previously and he proves an excellent foil for Hannigan.

Onto the main guy. Richard Hawley has moved away from his traditional string laden ballads for his latest album. Which is more of a heavy psychedelic guitar record. He plays virtually everything off it and to my ears it sounds great; particularly the main set closer 'Down to the Woods' which rips off a Stooges riff to good effect. He doesn't forget his old style though and sprinkles a through big lush ballads through the set.

New Vinyl/The Last Party/The Finnlys @ the Hop, Wakefield

Tonight is a special night. New Vinyl are playing their newly recorded album from end to end. Complete with the guest musicians that also contributed.

First though we have the support acts. The Finnlys are up first and play to a pretty sparse crowd. They're all togged up in suits and they have shiny new guitars. Normally I don't like that sort of thing. Fortunately the music is pretty good. It takes a couple of songs to get into them but they combine Arctic Monkeys type indie with something a bit more powerful. The driving bass lines remind me of The Jam and the Small Faces.

There's something dislikeable about the Last Party even before they start. It could be when the singer wraps his silk scarf round the mike stand. Or it could be the big bulky blackboard they've got with their name on it. Its obviously a pain to lunk around. What's wrong with just having a banner or backdrop? Anyway they play boring poppy lads anthems. Not a million miles from New Vinyl to be fair but without the charm and talent.

So finally its time for New Vinyl and the venue is packed. Unlike the more trendy Wakey bands these guys have friends and family :-) The album is a good mixture of past classics and new songs. I think Lee joining has been crucial. As likeable and as rock'n'roll as Johnny was he just wasn't as good a player. For whatever reason Danny has finally plucked up the courage to put some of his slow songs in and it just balances the set out. The best of his old upbeat songs are also present - 'Untitled', 'Concrete City' and 'Break the System'. The violin playing of Kieron O'Malley really lifts the three songs he features on. The drummer seems to have improved as well (he was always ok in any case). Its certainly whetted my appetite to hear the album.