Ryan Adams @ Sheffield City Hall
Mr. Cat. Shamelessly stolen from Ryan Adams’ twitter.
An eventful Friday meant that the opening act was missed. Eventful in a not very happy way, but that’s life. The long week of rain wasn’t helping. Still, time to see a musician I’ve waited ages to see live (c’mon, drop by México!) (more…)
Retribution Gospel Choir @ The Harley, Sheffield
It was a strange, funny day when Retribution Gospel Choir came back to Sheffield. It snowed heavily in the morning (not a problem for the Duluth trio of rockers) and by the time their set ended, the snow was all but gone. There’s some possible witty remark/pun/fanboy musing about their music melting snow, but can’t think of any.
Drenge opened the night. Loudly and fast, the way they know how to do it. Some of their zines (Blood and Milk, just like their rocking track) were available for free, which included a good pisstake on The Kooks. The sounds of Drenge are loud and fast, jazzy and punk.
Retribution Gospel Choir were in pure rock mode. Their psychedelic sounds are amazing, even if it might have been a bit overbearing for some of the ones in the audience. “That was fucking ridiculous!” yelled an anonymous heckler, after ‘Poor Man’s Daughter’ placed the band on jam mode. It’s a song that I enjoy and I loved the rendition that was played that night, but if you’ve never heard it before (or seen the band before), you’ll be in the “befuddled heckler” section.
The Revolution EP (which we totally reviewed - cheap plug) was played in its entirety (loved ‘Maharisha’) and some classy tunes from their previous albums were played too. ‘Kids’ always makes me think of Red House Painters‘ ‘Make like paper’, ‘They knew you well’ is always an appreciated punch, ‘Take your time’ works well in both Low and RGC form and ‘Hide it away’ is the poppier, happier side of the band.
Had the luck to talk to both Alan Sparhawk and Steve Garrington about their recent albums. The same question was asked to both: “Do you feel the albums by Retribution Gospel Choir are becoming less stark than the first one?” Interestingly, both replied “no” with a sly smile. Both were quite friendly too.
As much as I love Low, it’s Retribution Gospel Choir the band that connects the most with me. Superb and intimate gig with two very rocking bands.
Words: Sam J. Valdés López (a gushing fan from hell, I guess).
PS: We featured ‘Poor man’s daughter’ in a radio drama a while ago.
Drenge Facebook. Bandcamp. Soundcloud. Blog.
Retribution Gospel Choir Website. Twitter. Facebook. Myspace. Last.fm
Rough Shag presents: Mudcats Blues Trio, Falls and Drenge
The problem with varied line-ups is not the lack of cohesiveness, but predicting the response from the public. It was a semi-cold Friday in Sheffield and Bungalows and Bears was teeming with people. (more…)
An Appointment with the Waterboys
The Waterboys @ Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
Bang on 8 the houselights go down and a hearty cheer echoes round the high ceiling of Bridgewater Hall. (more…)
Review : The Stranglers @ Sheffield Academy
It’s no mean feat when a band manages to span a total of five decades. But that’s exactly what punk’s bad boy veterans The Stranglers have now done. (more…)
Rachel Harrington and the Knock Outs at Greystones
When partaking of a quiet Ale at the Greystones a few weeks ago, my buddy Ray Loughlan spotted that Rachel Harrington was paying Steel City a visit. Having fallen in love with her earlier work this was one not to miss! (more…)
Dia de Puente
Aske Gardens is a park in that lil’ London Borough called Hackney. The park is petite sized and it reminded me of the one from the film Pi. The lonely bounce of a basketball and the odd gust of wind were the only noises on that Monday, March 19th. (more…)
Review – X Ray Horse w/ Low Duo, Empty Churches, The Kickliner & Don’t Sleep Dream
They say that necessity is the mother of invention. They also say never start a review with a cliché. I guess sometimes it’s better to go with your gut instinct. (more…)
Chris Wood @ Belper
Photo: Lauren Nayna Rawal
“There are kids who want to buy a house and they’re sleeping on the floor, while other people out there own two or three or more”- Chris Wood (more…)
Review: A Hawk and a Hacksaw @ St George’s Church, Sheffield
Image source: A hack and a hacksaw's website.
A Hawk and a Hacksaw, the Balkan-folk project of multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Barnes (former drummer for Neutral Milk Hotel) and Heather Trost, a key member of Zach Condon’s recording ensemble for several Beirut albums, have become well-known for their electric live performances. (more…)
Review: Tip Your Bartender, Screaming Maldini and Johnny Foreigner @ The Harley
Never fear the ides of March
for what a cold blistering night tried to ruin
three bands stepped up to save
A swell night at the Harley was to be had (more…)
Review : Autism Awareness Night
Apologies to Line Up 2 and John Swain for missing their sets. (more…)
Review: Soulchart, What The Blood Revealed, Naisian and Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster
A heavy, heavy night. The public waxed and waned, the songs between a bad Metallica album and Rage Against The Machine. Minor nitpicks to a solid offering that four bands well versed on their skills offered. (more…)
Live review: Low Duo’s EP Launch @ The Great Gatsby
Photo courtesy of Victoria Butterworth
The key to being a great lyricists is the ability to tell a captivating story whilst allowing for the music to fill in the cracks and create extra depth. Tonight shows that not only are there great lyricists still left, behind the smoke and glitter of processed pop, but they are thriving on pure emotion. (more…)
Live Review : Easy Tells
With a voice as sweet as honey, Easy Tells started their set off on a Tuesday, night in a loungey Manhattan club like it was a Southern down-home bar. There is certainly something easy about this band, they’re easy to listen to, tap your feet to, they’re easy on the ears and easy on the eyes. The lead singer Matthew Crosby had a warm charm as he grinned through the first song with his honeyed vocals and Brooklyn moustache. Followed up with what may be the best song on their EP, ‘You can’t tell me’ the bassline and guitar work on this song particularly shone. (more…)
Gig review: The Hot Soles, Mad Colours and Hey Sholay @ The Harley
It’s a cold evening, I’m pretty worn out from a lacklustre final day of work before the Christmas break, so what better way to enliven my evening that watching Hey Sholay, with support from Mad Colours and The Hot Soles at The Harley?
Accompanied by my *already* inebriated (soon to become heavily inebriated) mates Ancliff and Titch, this review begins honest and professionally enough, but as you will evidently read, soon becomes defied by their insistence to add comment and opinion.
I apologise in advance. (more…)
Review : Smashing Pumpkins @ Sheffield O2 Academy
It was a special night. Not only because I was catching up with a friend I haven’t seen in 18 months, but because it would become the third time I’d see The Smashing Pumpkins, first time out of Mexico. (more…)
Preview: 322 Festival at The Bowery
The Uneven Blonde crew invite you to not one but two nights of rock and roll, good times and debauchery (not necessarily in that order) with their mini-festival, 322, this 18 and 19 of November at The Bowery. (more…)
Review : Brown Brogues, Milk Maid and Mazes – The Harley
A night of noise. That’s the basic gist of what it was to be at The Harley on a Monday at the beginning of October. Three bands, different amount of members, slightly similar vein of musical preferences but not quite the same sound (although the affinity was quite evident). (more…)
