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spooky_miss) wrote2010-12-30 12:29 pm
spooky_miss) wrote2010-12-30 12:29 pm
Gig Reviews
I have almost caught up on my reviews for this year – which is good as it’s nearly the next! Its not a chore to do these reviews, its just that sometimes I feel like I’m not in the mood to write as well as I could do, so I like to wait until I’m in a writing mood! Unfortunately it means that these gig reviews are really late, as I just didn’t feel like I could do them justice. I might actually post some pictures as well – I know I always say that, but I have some great ones of the March Violets gig that I should really post!
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Luxury Stranger at Slimelight, 16th October 2010
Gah this was so long ago, I hope I haven’t already written about this!! I love Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, they were the first of the slightly less well known goth bands that I heard, so I was really looking forward to this, even though I’d seen them before. Earlier in the day I went to the London Aquarium (now called the London Sealife Centre or something like that!) with Amber, which was nice! Well apart from the screaming children anyway – I hope I wasn’t that annoying when I was young! At the gig, Luxury Stranger were on first, and although they’re good, to me they sound just too much like a tribute band to the Cure for me to really enjoy them! I do like the Cure, but theres just something about Luxury Stranger sounding like them which annoys me! Red Lorry Yellow Lorry were excellent though. I really love his voice, and he seems to be able to sing like that so easily – that probably sounds weird, but I sometimes think that people who sing that deep must somehow strain their voices, but he really doesn’t. I read a review after the gig which said that he didn’t really seem to be connecting with the audience very much, like he just played the gig and then left the stage, and it was a bit like that, but I don’t mind that, the less talking there is the more songs there are! : ) There was a great moment earlier in the evening when my friend Robert got all excited about speaking to Chris Reed (singer of RLYL), haha, all he did was ask him when they were on and Chris said “about 11pm I think”, but it was funny! I understand why he would get so excited though – they’re a band I thought I’d never ever see, and to have seen them twice, and in such small venues, is just amazing! I’m so lucky with the bands I’ve been able to see…see the next gig review for further proof!
The March Violets / James Ray’s Gangwar / Faderhead, 13th November 2010
The gig started with The March Violets, with Ulterior supporting, at the O2 Academy, Islington. I wasn’t impressed with Ulterior, although I’d read a few good reviews of them, their music was just rock/indie, with nothing special about it, apart from one song which sounded like the Sisters of Mercy! I was glad when they finished though! The March Violets were so excellent!! We were right at the front, so took some great photos (might have to get a phone like Katie’s, as it takes great pictures). Simon and Rosie came on stage wearing huge crow headdresses – appropriately for the song “Crow Baby”, which I think was the first one they played. I can’t remember the exact setlist, but I know they played all the ones I know best (apart from Cut Down Pretty, boo!), and I’ve decided my new favourite March Violets song is Grooving in Green! Also they played a new song, which sounded amazing! I can’t wait for their new album!! And talking of their new album, you can go to here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/themarchviolets and pledge some money (in return for some stuff!) to help them to make the album! It was such a good gig! I can’t wait to see them again.
After the March Violets we went over to Slimelight to see the rest of the bands. I wasn’t that bothered about some of them – saw a tiny bit of Black Moth, but they didn’t sound like anything special, and saw the end of Sique Sique Sputnik, they seemed a bit weird, but I was looking forward to seeing James Ray’s Gangwar and Faderhead. James Ray’s Gangwar was…interesting. The music was good, but it was a bit more atmospheric, Trent Reznor-like than what people were expecting I think. Plus James Ray seemed to be really drunk! (which was probably because there was this drink called “Psydwr”, or something like that!, which is apparently a cider which he brews – as we heard him drunkenly telling someone later that evening!) But it was ok. Faderhead was excellent, of course!! I really enjoy his shows, the songs are just great. I still only have one Faderhead album, I really must do something about that and get some more. After the bands were on we just danced at Slimelight until it was time to go home! : )
It was a great night, the March Violets are definitely one of my favourite goth bands, and I’m so happy that I’ve been able to see them! Can’t wait for their next gig!!
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, Sadler’s Wells, 28th December 2010
Its become kind of a tradition for our family to go to Sadler’s Wells after Christmas, we’ve done it for the last three or four years I think. This year it was Cinderella. Matthew Bourne creates amazing productions – the first one we saw was his ballet of Edward Scissorhands, which was wonderful! We’ve also seen The Nutcracker and Swan Lake by him. Swan Lake was just brilliant – all the swans are male, and I think that really brings something to the performance. I’d definitely recommend it! This production of Cinderella was set during the Blitz in London, and within this setting followed the traditional story – with Cinderella having to leave the “ball” (a dance club) as a bomb fell on it and she was injured. She left one of her shoes behind, and the American Airman that she had been dancing with went through London trying to find her. All the sets were excellent, including an underground station and a train station for the last scene. I must say that despite the great setting this wasn’t my favourite – as I thought I’d recognise some of the music and I didn’t, and I think I enjoy it more if I know the music a bit more. It was still good though, and I would recommend it : )
So that’s it for the gig reviews. This year hasn’t been too good for gigs – I haven’t been to as many as usual, and most of them were bands that I’d already seen before. Next year is already looking excellent though, I’ve got tickets for the following already:
Murderdolls – 12th February (not seen since 2003!)
Rob Zombie – 16th February (woooooo! never seen before!!)
Blancmange :D :D – 15th March (never thought I’d ever see!! Wooo!!)
Bloodstock – 11th – 14th August (Immortal! Haha! I don’t even really know much of their music, but I’m excited about it anyway!!)
The Mission – 22nd October (never seen before!)
I’m also probably going to:
Nachtmahr / Uberbyte – 5th February
Resistanz festival in Sheffield – Covenant, And One, Uberbyte, Suicide Commando and many more!
Manowar if they announce any other dates other than Birmingham!! (such a random place to play! Why not London! Boo!)
DV8 - July – I actually want to go on holiday to York around this festival as I’ve never been there before and it looks lovely, but just need to persuade others to go so it’s cheaper to book a flat / cottage / house.
Whitby – October
Ooh I’m excited about it all already! :)
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Luxury Stranger at Slimelight, 16th October 2010
Gah this was so long ago, I hope I haven’t already written about this!! I love Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, they were the first of the slightly less well known goth bands that I heard, so I was really looking forward to this, even though I’d seen them before. Earlier in the day I went to the London Aquarium (now called the London Sealife Centre or something like that!) with Amber, which was nice! Well apart from the screaming children anyway – I hope I wasn’t that annoying when I was young! At the gig, Luxury Stranger were on first, and although they’re good, to me they sound just too much like a tribute band to the Cure for me to really enjoy them! I do like the Cure, but theres just something about Luxury Stranger sounding like them which annoys me! Red Lorry Yellow Lorry were excellent though. I really love his voice, and he seems to be able to sing like that so easily – that probably sounds weird, but I sometimes think that people who sing that deep must somehow strain their voices, but he really doesn’t. I read a review after the gig which said that he didn’t really seem to be connecting with the audience very much, like he just played the gig and then left the stage, and it was a bit like that, but I don’t mind that, the less talking there is the more songs there are! : ) There was a great moment earlier in the evening when my friend Robert got all excited about speaking to Chris Reed (singer of RLYL), haha, all he did was ask him when they were on and Chris said “about 11pm I think”, but it was funny! I understand why he would get so excited though – they’re a band I thought I’d never ever see, and to have seen them twice, and in such small venues, is just amazing! I’m so lucky with the bands I’ve been able to see…see the next gig review for further proof!
The March Violets / James Ray’s Gangwar / Faderhead, 13th November 2010
The gig started with The March Violets, with Ulterior supporting, at the O2 Academy, Islington. I wasn’t impressed with Ulterior, although I’d read a few good reviews of them, their music was just rock/indie, with nothing special about it, apart from one song which sounded like the Sisters of Mercy! I was glad when they finished though! The March Violets were so excellent!! We were right at the front, so took some great photos (might have to get a phone like Katie’s, as it takes great pictures). Simon and Rosie came on stage wearing huge crow headdresses – appropriately for the song “Crow Baby”, which I think was the first one they played. I can’t remember the exact setlist, but I know they played all the ones I know best (apart from Cut Down Pretty, boo!), and I’ve decided my new favourite March Violets song is Grooving in Green! Also they played a new song, which sounded amazing! I can’t wait for their new album!! And talking of their new album, you can go to here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/themarchviolets and pledge some money (in return for some stuff!) to help them to make the album! It was such a good gig! I can’t wait to see them again.
After the March Violets we went over to Slimelight to see the rest of the bands. I wasn’t that bothered about some of them – saw a tiny bit of Black Moth, but they didn’t sound like anything special, and saw the end of Sique Sique Sputnik, they seemed a bit weird, but I was looking forward to seeing James Ray’s Gangwar and Faderhead. James Ray’s Gangwar was…interesting. The music was good, but it was a bit more atmospheric, Trent Reznor-like than what people were expecting I think. Plus James Ray seemed to be really drunk! (which was probably because there was this drink called “Psydwr”, or something like that!, which is apparently a cider which he brews – as we heard him drunkenly telling someone later that evening!) But it was ok. Faderhead was excellent, of course!! I really enjoy his shows, the songs are just great. I still only have one Faderhead album, I really must do something about that and get some more. After the bands were on we just danced at Slimelight until it was time to go home! : )
It was a great night, the March Violets are definitely one of my favourite goth bands, and I’m so happy that I’ve been able to see them! Can’t wait for their next gig!!
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, Sadler’s Wells, 28th December 2010
Its become kind of a tradition for our family to go to Sadler’s Wells after Christmas, we’ve done it for the last three or four years I think. This year it was Cinderella. Matthew Bourne creates amazing productions – the first one we saw was his ballet of Edward Scissorhands, which was wonderful! We’ve also seen The Nutcracker and Swan Lake by him. Swan Lake was just brilliant – all the swans are male, and I think that really brings something to the performance. I’d definitely recommend it! This production of Cinderella was set during the Blitz in London, and within this setting followed the traditional story – with Cinderella having to leave the “ball” (a dance club) as a bomb fell on it and she was injured. She left one of her shoes behind, and the American Airman that she had been dancing with went through London trying to find her. All the sets were excellent, including an underground station and a train station for the last scene. I must say that despite the great setting this wasn’t my favourite – as I thought I’d recognise some of the music and I didn’t, and I think I enjoy it more if I know the music a bit more. It was still good though, and I would recommend it : )
So that’s it for the gig reviews. This year hasn’t been too good for gigs – I haven’t been to as many as usual, and most of them were bands that I’d already seen before. Next year is already looking excellent though, I’ve got tickets for the following already:
Murderdolls – 12th February (not seen since 2003!)
Rob Zombie – 16th February (woooooo! never seen before!!)
Blancmange :D :D – 15th March (never thought I’d ever see!! Wooo!!)
Bloodstock – 11th – 14th August (Immortal! Haha! I don’t even really know much of their music, but I’m excited about it anyway!!)
The Mission – 22nd October (never seen before!)
I’m also probably going to:
Nachtmahr / Uberbyte – 5th February
Resistanz festival in Sheffield – Covenant, And One, Uberbyte, Suicide Commando and many more!
Manowar if they announce any other dates other than Birmingham!! (such a random place to play! Why not London! Boo!)
DV8 - July – I actually want to go on holiday to York around this festival as I’ve never been there before and it looks lovely, but just need to persuade others to go so it’s cheaper to book a flat / cottage / house.
Whitby – October
Ooh I’m excited about it all already! :)
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