Cerebral ballzy

Headliner: Cerebral Ballzy

Venue: rock city basement

Date: 23 November 2013

Support: Fat White Family, The Amazing Snakeheads

The last time I saw Cerebral Ballzy they played a headlining set that lasted about 15minutes and featured about 20 songs with the support bands playing longer sets. I wasn't imagining much difference this evening.

First up tonight was a band called Fat White Family to be honest they were all over the place, no real identity  or style just seemed a bit of a mess to be honest, not my thing.  In fact I enjoyed the music in between bands more as they were playing the awesome new Future of the Left Album.

Next up The Amazing Snakeheads who obviously thought a lot of themselves for a support band they filled the stage with smoke, turned the lights down had a theme song which seemed a bit over the top for me.  They came on said nothing played for about 30 minutes said nothing and just disappeared.  Saying that I will certainly be checking them out on record, they weren't really what I saw expecting and turned out to be a scottish sounding Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, A really nice Bass driven sound.  I wasn't entirely sure that everyone else in Rock City got it, but I enjoyed their set.

Future of the left had now finished and I heard the amazing bassline at the start of Waiting Room by Fugazi followed by Bulldog Fronts! they were playing the first Fugazi EP, respect to those sorting the music out because this was ace.

Next up Cerebral Ballzy walking straight through the crowd onto the stage and BOOM straight into some fast old school Hardcore.  Second song singing on the bar, third song sat on top of the speaker stack, fifth song were gonna speed this up now, the crowd were loving it with some crazy mosh pit action going on, few songs later this is a song about Skateboarding screamed the singer. Next song this is a song about Skateboarding Fast.  A full set clocking in at just under 30 minutes and Cerebral Ballzy were gone as quick as they came.

Well that was a hectic 4 gigs in 7 days, bit of a rest now well till next week when I see Mogwai again.

Jason Isbell

Headliner: Jason Isbell

Venue: bodega social club Nottingham 

Date: 21 November 2013

Support: Amanda Shires

So after the bright lights and video screens of an arena show it was back to more comfortable surroundings and back to a venue I know well the Bodega Social Club in Nottingham.

Upon arriving at the venue in order to collect my tickets I was met with Eva Spence from the amazing Rolo Tomassi collecting tickets at the door at which point I forgot how to speak instead of saying two tickets to collect under the name of.... It came out as club flob wobble flib or some other form of utter nonsense after this minor complication it was up the stairs and into the bodega which was packed.

Jason Isbells recent album southeastern has been a major surprise for me, amazing county tinged songs with great lyrics and harmonies and I have basically listened to a couple of songs of this album travelling alone and live oak almost on repeat since I got the album.

The support tonight was Amanda Shires recently married to Jason Isbell. Some amazing fiddle playing and some great songs and that southern accent provided a great start to the evening although space was limited as everyone seemed to be hanging around the door and my view was rubbish, at the end of Amanda's set it was time to manoeuvre myself to my usual residence by the mixing desk.

Jason Isbell took to the stage and said something along the lines of I don't have any effects or explosions it's just me, that's it.  Maybe it's the loneliest place to be on stage just you and a guitar but as an audience member it seems sometimes you get a better connection with solo artists than with a band, the music and lyrics seem to resonate more and even though you are in a packed room it can feel they are singing just for you.

Starting of with the aforementioned live oak and going through some great songs like Alabama pines, tour of duty and the amazing travelling alone towards the end and telling some great stories the one about deciding to get drunk and to avoid the risk of drink driving going out and hiding his car so that he wouldn't drink or drive and then being unable to find  it for days made me chuckle.

With Amanda Shires joining Jason on stage to accompany him on many of the songs with her fiddle provided a great sound.

Really enjoyed the show, check him out.

Sigur ros

Headliner: Sigur Ros

Date: 19th November 2013

Venue: Capital FM arena Nottingham

Support: I break horses

Me at an arena show..... Who would have thought eh..

After the house party feel of Sundays Franz Nicolay it was a totally different environment tonight with a gig at an arena, I think the last time I went to an arena show must have been the Arctic Monkeys about 5 years ago I'm much more of a small venue kinda person.

Tonight though I was off to see see Sigur Ros surely everyone knows hoppipola? Arriving at the venue it wasn't the most friendly kind of place with stewards taking your tickets as soon as you walked into the standing area and others positioned in equidistant spaces staring motionless straight at those in the seats, I guess this is what you get with an arena show....

Upon arrival the stage was surrounded by a giant white sheet with only visible shadows of the support band I break horses seemingly projected onto the sheet.

It was all a bit weird, but pretty atmospheric. I break horses were pretty good seemingly part goldfrapp, part grimes and part the knife.

After I break horses it was time for Sigur Ros well after a wait of about 45 minutes it was...the giant white sheet was still in place as the lights went out and you could her the atmospheric noise of Sigur Ros.

Images being projected onto the giant sheet and the screens at the side were showing close ups of the band, pretty epic stuff.

I must admit though after the first couple of songs behind the sheet I was starting to look at the video screens more than the stage area and thinking to myself surely they aren't going to play the entire show behindd a sheet? After about three songs the sheet suddenly dropped revealing Sigur Ros

The light show was amazing and the sound stunning backed by a brass section and a string section blending perfectly with the noise Jonsi was making when playing a les paul with a bow.

Stunning performance, mind blowing in fact I guess arena shows aren't that bad once in a while....

Franz Nicolay

Headliner: Franz Nicolay

Venue: the chameleon Nottingham 

Date: 17 November 2013

Support: Joe Slater, Isaac, The Cut Ups

Disclaimer... this may be a slightly biased review as Franz is one of my favourite musicians.

So the first of a busy week of gigs and tonight was Franz Nicolay. Franz is from Brooklyn NY and has played in some amazing bands namely The Hold Steady and Against Me! But has also produced some amazing solo albums that have made me appreciate different styles of music and instruments along with some amazing lyrics.

Tonight was a new venue The Chameleon cafe bar in Nottingham it was a small venue with a kind of house party vibe, if the walls were covered with more fly posters and stickers etc it would be ace.

First up tonight was Joe Slater and acoustic musician playing songs I guess in a Billy Bragg style, songs with some meaning and a bit of angst thrown in. The music was alright but he had to cut his set short with the I guess was a bit of arm pump a sign he hasn't been playing his guitar enough! I know that feeling.

Next up Isaac, a Nottingham based band fronted by Shankland (big thanks to him for putting on the show) I have seen him a few times around notts supporting various bands playing solo and acoustic and remember him playing a good version of To have and have not the old BIlly Bragg song at a venue I don't really get on with The Maze.  Anyway this was the first time with his band Isaac who were a bit more punky and they showed a lot of promise actually.

Next up The Cut Ups + Franz Nicolay. Tonight was a bit different The Cut Ups would be playing their set with Franz playing keys and then they would play musical band members and The Cut Ups would be the backing band for Franz.

I'm sure I should know more about The Cut Ups and they seemed fairly familiar but I'm not sure how, if that makes sense. Anyway they were pretty good some nice interaction along with some great songs, when you have a song called last night I dreamt I saw fugazi to be honest with me you are already half way there, with the fact that fugazi are possibly the greatest and most important band ever,well in my mind anyway.

After a quick turned around it was time for Franz to take the stage. In my opinion Franz is one of the finest musicians around bringing together different styles of music with an array of instruments including banjo, guitar, keys, accordion. Tonight would be slightly different though as it would be the first time I have seen Franz with a backing band starting of with a blinding version of The Hearts of Boston, the opening track from his latest album Do the struggle. Blasting through a few new songs including one written about Mongolian neo nazis, hardly the greatest starting point for a song but you know with Franz it's gonna work and a few others like Frankie Stubbs tears, Did your broken heart make you who you are and ending with the classic Jeff Penalty about when the dead Kennedy's reformed without jello.

The only complaint I have was no banjo songs! Which ment no version of the cracking migration of the cuckoo.

Anyway Franz is an amazing musician who writes songs that I can totally resonate with and should get far more credit, exposure and reward for his songwriting I for one thought can't wait till the not only the next record but the next show.

Give Franz a chance because he's a cracking musician and song writer.

Dillinger Escape Plan

Headliner: Dillinger Escape Plan
Venue: Rock City Nottingham
Date: 09 November 2013
Support: Maybeshewill, Three Trapped Tigers.

The first time I saw Dillinger Escape Plan I pretty much had a near death experience, never seen something so intense, brutal and well frightening. for some reason tonight would be the third time I had seen them....

First up tonight was maybeshewill and unfortunately with early shows I once again missed the band arriving just in time to see the start of Three Trapped Tigers set I was already aware of these and have a copy of their route one or die album. I was impressed with them and the driving instrumental music, they were very quiet on stage not in sound but with the audience but overall I enjoyed their set.

It was now time for DEP, the build up was intense strobe lighting, haunting music, disturbing images and then BOOM straight into Prancer... HOLY CRAP no holding back with DEP straight in your face absolute insanity when the guitarist Ben Weinman  launches himself about 15ft into the crowd half way through the second song and by the fifth is dangling by one leg from the lighting rig above the stage and still playing his guitar you get the idea of what the show was like.

I must admit to liking the softer (if possible) Dillinger songs like Nothings Funny, One of us is the Killer and Black Bubblegum but the insanity and intensity of the likes of Panasonic Youth and the encore cover of Aphex Twins Come to Daddy and 43% Burnt has to be seen to be believed really.

So I have seen Dillinger Escape Plan 3 times now with only one near death experience encountered, to me that is a massive success.

Future of The left

Headliner: Future of the Left

Venue: Bodega Social Club Nottingham

Date: 08 Nov 2013

Support: The Wytches

Future of Left have to be one of the most underrated bands around with some of the quirkiest, intelligent lyrics you are ever likely to hear and after the genius of their latest album I couldn't wait to see them again.

First up tonight was a band called The Wytches.  I first saw these at Tramlines 2013 in Sheffield and they were on my to watch list so I was delighted to see they were supporting future of the left.

They didn't disappoint either the sound they produce is immense so of the noise coming from the guitar was insane, they may only be a three piece band but they have a sound far bigger than that.

Time for Future of the Left what can you say immense sound, brilliant lyrics, one of the best live bands around, throw in a couple of old Mclusky songs and well you have a great gig nothing else to say really...  well except for the fact they didn't do one of my favourite songs of the new album I mean who wouldn't want to watch a TV Show on the MTV where Kim Kardashian is chased through the woodland by a giant bear wearing a mask that carries the visage of the recently deceased film director Michael Winner?  I mean it's not the bears fault he doesn't qualify for a workplace pension and is angry at Daniel Day Lewis for what he perceives as the lack of action in there will be blood.

Deap Vally

Headliner: Deap Vally
Venue: Rock City Basement
Date: Monday 4 November 2013
Support Acts: Offshore Rivers, Skaters NYC

I first saw Deap Vally in September 2012 upstairs in the Rescue Rooms with about 100 other people, without knowing to much about them they kind of blew me away with the music.  Since then I have seen them already this year and tonight would be another opportunity.

First up tonight was a band called offshore rivers, never heard of them before and to be honest they were pretty boring and didn't really fit the evening with their kind of bland rock with the singer seemingly alternating  between Bob Dylan and Liam Gallagher impressions.  Not that memorable and easily forgotten.

Next up Skaters NYC I was going to go and see these at the Bodega in August but in the end didn't bother they play a kind of Strokes esq indie rock and were pretty good I enjoyed their set especially after the first band although I which they went a bit heavier sometimes.

Time for Deap Vally, 2013 has been a great year for Deap Vally with them seemingly breaking though, releasing a debut album and relentless touring all over the world,they never seem to be not on the road.

The crowd was somewhat bigger than the first time I saw them and they came one and played a blinding set. Something I love about 2 piece bands no messing about, just straight to the point.

Deap Vally continue to grow and so do their audiences as they build on their reputation as a great live band. In my opinion they deserve some time off to plan the next level and get some more songs down, even though the album came out in the middle of the year all the songs seem far to familiar.