Speed Beaver Music

Last night was 80′s night in Camden. With pounding Human League and Durannies downstairs, the Minus IQ guys brought it back upstairs with rather more jumping about than the originals usually managed. It wasn’t rammed but with a posse of photographers and a line of fangirls at the front it certainly had a buzzy feel about it. They’re at the Fly again next week. Should be much more intense then.

Minus IQ myspace.
More pics here.

I came across Rawfox a couple of month ago when they played on the same bill as Run Don’t Walk and was quite impressed by their Who infused rock n roll and energetic drumming. The band seemed to like the couple of snaps I took of them on the night and asked me to come along to Bar Rumba to take some more pictures for them.

I had never been to Bar Rumba before and my expectations where low. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a spacey basement club with a stage and a lighting rig. Apparently the sound system was originally in the now closed Metro club on Oxford Street. I still decided to shoot half the gig with the flash to try and get away from the overly used red light.

More Rawfox pictures
Rawfox Myspace

After only getting back from Germany on Tuesday morning (where I spend a rather Rock ‘n Roll long weekend), I was feeling a little tired but there was no way I was going to miss The Foxes play in London.

I had high hopes for the Islington Bar Academy but things didn’t start well. With seven bands on it didn’t take long for things to run behind schedule. I was starting to wonder if I’d be able to see the band at all or if I had to leave to get the last train home. Yes, that’s how late things ran.

And then there where the rubbish lights! Yes, here we go again! Another venue, another moan about rubbish lights. I decided that I wasn’t going to take anymore and use the flash. So there!

The Foxes played a blinder of a set! In fact I’d say the band is getting better with every gig I see them. And they where great the first time I saw them!

More pictures of The Foxes
The Foxes Myspace

I couldn’t possibly comment on these guys, mates and all that. Put it this way, *I* enjoyed it. Decent crowd too considering Download is on right now.

More pics.

Myspace.

A St. Trinians style outfit is never a bad start and these girls didn’t disappoint: fast, thrashy and plenty of attitude. Sadly, they cleared the room, reflecting more on the audience more than the band. They’re new and raw but given some more gigs, they’ll definitely shape up into something deserving of a better crowd. Definitely one to watch.

Myspace here.

More pics here.

Got a soft spot for these guys. First shot them maybe four years ago in the assorted vaults and pubs of Bath back when they were in short trousers metaphorically. With a new album just released, they’ve taken a step forward from the previous over-Buckleyesque stuff finding their voice more. Tonight’s gig even contained cheeky bass and drum solos. Recommended. Sadly the lights were crap and I had to flashy thing them but I think it turned out OK.

Maybe there’s something about being told a band is good predisposes one to like them? Maybe there’s something to that but the band has to deliver. Bleech did. They’re a really nice tight three-piece. Yes, having two pretty girls helps, but they produced the goods. Definitely one to watch.

More pics
Myspace

TBU visited High Wycombe for the first time last Thursday to open in a great lineup including Melodee Rockmore and Slashed Seat Affair. Both these other bands were great and you owe it to yourselves to go look them up on MySpace and check out their stuff live but for now I’ll just be concentrating on the TBU part of the gig because they’re just too good and time is short.

TBU, if you don’t know already are a 4-piece comprising of Kelly BlowUps on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Arda Payir on Bass, Marc Weber on Lead Guitar and Cem Andre on Drums. Their songs have strong melodies and centre around alternative rock but occasionally dip into oldskool punk.

I’ve been following the band for nearly 2 years and know all their songs inside out but still like to listen to their stuff live a great deal. The set list has changed quite a bit over the last year or so, moving away from their more punky roots and towards a new effect-driven and more contemporary sound although some of the old favourites still remain.

Every set is invariably opened by the 2 minute ‘Black Out’ (their ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ if you like), the opening riff of which could easily feel at home on something from 1977. It’s short, to the point, immediately memorable and utterly brilliant. The next 28 or so minutes are filled with an enjoyable variety of great songs. ‘Without Your Love’, an ode to relationship uncertainty lyrically but which is carried along by melodic and rhythmic optimism is fantastic – Pop-tastic ‘I Don’t Wanna Talk About It’ rocks hard with a big smile and has a great solo – The quiet number of the set ‘Choke’ let’s everyone have a bit of a breather before we’re plunged into the current high-point of the set (in my opinion at least) ‘Stake Through The Heart’ which is lyrically another complicated relationship type affair and musically a barrage of everything that a 21st century rock song should contain. There are other more contemporary-sounding songs in the set, becoming more and more the rule rather than the exception but some punk examples keep sneaking back in, which is not a bad thing at all when they’re as infectious as ‘Yeah Yeah’, which could easily have been lifted of Blondie’s eponymous debut, but wasn’t and the great set-closer ‘Superhero’ which is, after much of the lyrically heavy songs in the set a real tonic, even though perhaps the underlying metaphor is still one of longing.

Sombre lyrical undertones aside, The Blow Ups current set is far from depressing and I would urge anyone who enjoys decent song-based rock ‘n’ roll to check them out as they are, in my opinion, one of the greatest unsigned bands playing this type of music in London right now.

Life may be trying its hardest to be miserable enough these days without we need to wallow in music that echoes this trend. TBU are fun and Kelly as a focal point is amazing to watch, if a little sweary at times.

The Blow Ups are playing next on the 19th June at the excellent Cafe De Paris off Piccadilly Circus.
See you there!

TBU MySpace

Scored some free tickets from Time Out, so wandered along with camera in hand not knowing what to expect. First up where The Cesarians. Sitting somewhere between Amanda Palmer and Gogol Bordello their high-energy cabaret rock definitely got the audience grooving. Headlining was Sweden’s own Tommy Sparks. Thanks to the saturated moody red light and smoke, I got precisely two usable pictures. It didn’t really matter. His thumping electronic disco rock was engaging enough and got the rammed audience eith dancing or at least nodding their heads. Not entirely sure where in the industry there is for him to go. Eurovision maybe?

Tommy Sparks is here and The Cesarians are here

The night started off with the bree-tastic Defining Mutilation, which I have to say I wasn’t really thrilled by. I was slightly sceptical as to what the rest of the nights music was going to be like and hoped to god that at least one of the bands playing was going to exhilirate me… In fact, I was in for a treat!

My first dose of exhiliration came in the form of female fronted A Long Time Dead, who were at the very least… EPIC. They put on a very energetic show and really got the crowd in the mood. Loved them.  Definately a band you should all check out riiight… NOW.

The next joy of the evening was Hang The Bastard, who set a change of pace for the evening. Not as heavy as the rest of the bands billed, but they have a fantastic sound, boarderline trashy, but still very heavy and in your face.

Finally, the climax (for me personally) was my favorite boys, As Winter Burns White. Despite a couple of erm… ‘technical problems’ involving the guitarist ripping out his jack lead and damaging the jack input, and the bassist just generally fucking up his bass in the heat of the moment, they pulled off the best performance of the night. This was the first time I’ve had the chance to see the lads live, and they don’t disappoint. The music was passionate, the crowd was enthralled in the music and beat the crap out of one and other. As you do. My camera narrowly escaped being flattened many times by big sweaty men tossing themselves around the venue many times. I think the poor thing is still suffering from post traumatic stress.
Definately check these guys out, you will LOVE their sound!

The only thing about the venue from a photographic perspective, is the lack of a propper stage, combined with intense fans lunging at you makes it difficult to get any shots without coming out with afew injuries. But it does add to the atmosphere. For such a small place the lighting is great.

Check out the bands I mentioned in this review here:
A Long Time Dead
Hang The Bastard
AS WINTER BURNS WHITE

For more photos from this show, please visit My Flickr Album