I'm Back!

It has been a year since my little blog has given its opinion on the happenings in the alternative scene. I’m a year older, wiser and more mature (kind of) than I was when I had been blabbering on about artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Jake Bugg and Noely G. Since then my music taste has flourished; I no longer restrict myself to one genre, I take time to listen to unsigned bands. I spending evenings entering this black hole of intensely listening to artist after artist, finding bands which really stand out for me. I keep this blog as something to look back on when I’m older, seeing who I obsessed over and reminiscing over old concerts. This little blog gave me the wonderful opportunity to write for www.overblown.com, a fantastic little webzine which raves about indie, DIY and other alternative music genres. However, since I have recently started my further education – life took over (A.K.A getting drunk most nights and forgetting my priorities…). I feel like I should revive this blog, give my thoughts and show the very few of you who bother to read this blog that I am committed to music. So welcome to the second coming of Indie-Alt Blog (A year on I have noticed how cringe the blog title is, hey ho). 

'A Dream Outside' - Gengahr's Album Launch and Album Review.

Lucky fans, family and friends got to share a mile stone in Gengahr's career on Friday, as they share each track of their debut album in an independent cinema in Hackney. Old favourites like Dizzy Ghosts and Powder made an appearance, as well as their fresh, unreleased tracks.

Hearing A Dream Outside for the first time live will be an experience I will never forget. The atmosphere was so chilled. The band managed to set off such a relaxed vibe; fairy lights tangled in with the drums, the album art changing colours on the movie screen, and the band playing their music so passionately. Who knew a band named after a Pokemon could pull of one of the best gigs I have been to?

Dizzy Ghosts set off the show. A contrasting concoction of calm guitars with extracts heavy drums is a brilliant audience pleaser, and they sounded perfect. Another band showing you don't need to be all auto-tuned to create such authentic music. 

Along with recent released singles like She's a Witch and Heroine, the audience was thrilled to see the new, unreleased songs of their album. Embers and Dark Star were particular favourites. Dark Star's twangy guitar riffs has made me put this song on repeat all day. They closed their set with the stunning Trampoline.

Now when it comes to hearing the recorded version of A Dream Outside, I have never had an album where I could just sit and listen. The moment the needle hit the groove, I sat there watching the plate rotate, totally hypnotised by their music. The songs intertwine with each other so well, and with so many layers to listen to you have no choice but to clear your schedule for the next hour and just sit and enjoy. 

The setlist/track listing:

Dizzy Ghosts,

She's a Witch

Heroine

Bathed In Light

Where I Lie

Dark Star

Embers

Powder

Fill my Gums With Blood

Lonely as a Shark

Trampoline.

Gengahr have a headline tour in Autumn, be sure to catch it as it will be a tenner which you will not regret spending. Their album is released on Monday 15th June.

Wolf Alice, Cambridge Junction - 10/04/2015

WOLF ALICE CONCLUDE THEIR 2015 UK TOUR AT CAMBRIDGE JUNCTION.

Possibly the most insane gigs I have been to. Truthfully, I’m surprised I got out alive. Wolf Alice has been touring around Britain since March, with the support of Crows (Glasgow-Cardiff), Bloody Knees (Bristol-Cambridge) and The Magic Gang. All insane bands, very mental night.

THE SUPPORT

Bloody Knees

The Cambridge born band Bloody Knees began the evening, and the atmosphere was crazy. Countless crowd surfers (Including Theo) and wild moshpits which pretty much the whole crowd was involved in (if they wanted to or not). Bloody Knees is such a unique band, however splashes of Nirvana can be recognised in the bands grungy-ness. I was a bit sceptical at the beginning as this band is usually something a bit out of my comfort zone... but my God, they were the perfect band to open the evening and they left the crowd roaring for more. Brilliant.

The Magic Gang

Juxtaposing Bloody Knees' darkness, was The Magic Gang, more cheerful, however an equally insane set. This band was faultless live. The band treated us with their new single, and judging by the reaction, we all loved it.

WOLF ALICE

Wow.

I have never been to a gig before where I actually felt it was my death sentence, I was crushed in the moshpits and against the barrier, but to be honest I didn’t actually care. I went crazy, they were crazy.

Ellie and Theo (apologies, I had no pictures of Joel).

Wolf Alice treated us with old favourites like ‘Fluffy’ and ‘Bros’, and also played a number of songs from their new album, including ‘You’re a Germ’, and if their album sounds like they did last night, it will be the best album of the year, for sure. When Wolf Alice played, it was all a blur; I was completely lost in their music. The atmosphere was honestly the best thing I have felt in any gig I have witnessed. The best song was probably their new single ‘Giant Peach’ (possibly the best song I have seen live), and ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’ in their encore. Wolf Alice was meant to play the old gem ‘White Leather’ in the encore aswell, as written on the setlists, but to be honest I didn’t care because MLS was the best way to close the set. At the beginning of MLS, the band were joined with all the support acts, and basically every just let go and went crazy. Ellie joined into the crowd in the chorus, and after the song the majority of the performer’s crowd surfed (brave of them), which made the whole audience shit their pants with excitement.

The Queen herself.

Ellie and Joff

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 





 Seeing Wolf Alice was the best £13 i have ever spent, and the greatest part is that all of the bands came out and talked to the fans. They were all so genuine. Bloody Knees and The Magic Gang are possibly the coolest people ever, and Wolf Alice are superior.

Possibly the greatest group picture ever, taken from Wolf Alice's Facebook page.

My Love is... Devoted to Wolf Alice.

In my Music That Defines 2014 post, I went on about how I need a Wolf Alice album in my life, ASAP...

'Giant Peach' Artwork.

Three long months later, the world decided to stop torturing me, and my wish was granted; Wolf Alice are due to release their debut album ‘My Love is Cool’ on the 22^nd June 2015. Their album will include old tracks like ‘Fluffy’ and ‘Bros’, also accompanied by their newest single ‘Giant Peach’

Earlier this week, they also announced that they are releasing a limited edition –only 500 copies- 7” ‘Giant Peach’ vinyl. This release represents Wolf Alice’s split personality perfect. Giant peach is so heavy, so loud, and this contrasts the B-side perfectly. ‘I Saw You (In A Corridor’ is such a sweet, calm and heart-warming song, they sound like a completely different band. This is why I am in love with Wolf Alice. The fact they haven’t really assigned themselves in one genre is what makes them so appealing. This band is so versatile, and this is why their album deserves all the success they can get.

‘I Saw You (In A Corridor)’ is available as a free download when signed up to their website, ‘Giant Peach’ is on sale now.

Thanks, Latitude...

I am a huge lover of festivals, if I can’t go, I spend the three days watching the coverage, crying that I’m not there. Last year’s festivals were amazing; Damon Albarn at Latitude, The Libertines come back at Hyde Park and Jamie T’s secret set at Reading and Leeds. I, like many people, am not a big fan of the R&L line up this year. To be honest, I’d rather catch Kasabian at V-fest (never thought those two words would be in the same sentence…) than watch Mumford and Sons strum their banjos.

However, my disappointment in this year’s festivals ended today at midday. Latitudes line up is heavenly, and it outshines any other line up I have seen.

On Friday, 17^th July, Latitudes stage will be graced by the presence of my very favourites – alt-J. If you have the chance to see them at the festival DON’T MISS OUT!! This band is by far one of my favourites I have seen live, and the fact I am going to be seeing them again in the summer puts a face-splitting smile across my face. Prior to alt-J will consist of the highly praised Caribou.

On the Saturday, I predict I will spend the day at the Radio 6 Music Stage;  Drenge, Wolf Alice, Catfish and the Bottlemen and the Vaccines are people who I can’t even think about missing.

Latitude definitely left the best until last on Sunday. Noel Gallagher, the God himself, will be performing, subheadlining will be Manic Street Preachers. When I saw Noel's name, I must admit, I screamed. Last year Damon Albarn, this year Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds – both showing that all great musicians don’t last a few albums, their music will forever be masterpieces. Subheadliners include Manic Street Preachers.

Acts which I also hope to see include Gengahr (Wolf Alice, Gengahr and alt-J, sounds familiar! Click to see review…) and the great comedian Jon Richardson.

Not only am I excited to catch my favourite acts, but I’m excited to find out new people too. Looking back at last years lineup, a lot of acts have gotten bigger and get the success they deserve, so I’m excited to see who is next.

On behalf of the majority of festival goers, thank you for giving us a god sculpted line up...

Beautiful line up, isn't it?!

George Ezra, O2 Academy, Brixton - 20/02/2015

On the evening of Friday, 20^th February I had the pleasure of sharing my evening with George Ezra – and almost 5,000 other people…

THE SUPPORT

Supporting Ezra on his tour is Raleigh Ritchie. Beautiful vocals accompanied by an amazing band had done a very good job getting the crowd pumped for the next couple of hours ahead. At times, he was a tad over enthusiastic, but it was great to see such energy on stage being passed on to the crowd. However, throughout his set people were commenting on how ‘un-George Ezra’ he is, and I agree, he is probably near the opposite of Ezra. But where does it say the support needs to be the same as the headliner? It was nice to have some variation to the evening listening to something I wouldn’t usually listen to.                                                                                                                         

In my eyes the support acts main job, along with promoting their own music, is to get the crowed buzzed for the headliner, and Raleigh Ritchie completed that well.

GEORGE EZRA

The backdrop of the stage consisted of ‘EZRA’ lit up, a pile of beige, tattered suitcases beside a lone microphone and the band set up behind. ‘Suitcases?’ you might think, but this is a clear link to his debut album ‘Wanted On Voyage’ with a collection of songs, which he told us he wrote when travelling round Europe (hence the names: ‘Barcelona’, ‘Budapest’ etc.). The suitcases was accompanied by bottles of water and a nice mug of tea(?), which Ezra seemed to enjoy throughout the night.

During 'Spectacular Rival'.

Along came 9:30, and the crowd was beginning to get a bit restless. Soon enough, a screaming crowed welcomed Ezra. Starting up the night with the popular, upbeat ‘Cassy O’. He also sang an old classic ‘Benjamin Twine’ taken from his first EP ‘Did You Hear the Rain?’ this song made my night. The star struck crowd screaming at the top of their voices along with him. The band which accompanied him was flawless, interacting with the crowd throughout by clapping along to Ezra. However, the band is incomparable to Ezra’s beautiful baritone vocals, which (weirdly) I can only describe as thick dripping honey? Stunning.

If someone asked me what George Ezra is like on stage, if he is relaxed, if he is shy, if he is bubbly? I’d describe him as his twitter. His stage presence was like nothing I have seen before, he was funny and interacting with the crowd. ‘Love that!’ he’d say in the middle of a song, to people waving their arms, high in the air, to the beat. Ezra also gave the obligatory ‘Thanks for coming speech’, but he added a bit more emotion than a simple thank you; he explained how he come to Brixton Academy when he was 14 or 15 and how much of an amazing venue it is, and that he is happy that he is playing in it today. This shows how much he doesn’t take his following for granted.

After the crowd pleaser's of ‘Listen to the Man’ and ‘Blame it on me’, Ezra’s band departed and stood in front of us was just a man attached to his guitar. He covered the beautiful Bob Dylan song ‘Girl from the North Country’, which grabbed the audience’s attention with the beauty of this cover.

After his acoustic set, he played more songs from his album – and along came Budapest. You can tell he gave it his all in this well-known and to be quite honest, a much overplayed song. In return though, the audience gave it their all; singing along, waving their arms high in the air and clapping along. After completing this song, Ezra and his band had a casual ‘selfie’ taken with 5,000 people in the background. Then they all left the stage, leaving the crowd thirsty for more.

After a few minutes of the crowd screaming, Ezra happily trotted on stage with a new mug of drink, and placed it on the pile of suitcases. In his encore he played three more songs, closing the night with ‘Did You Hear the Rain?’ The silent crowd was soon accompanied by a smooth baritone vocal, opening the song. Everyone joined in, then came along a heavy guitar solo, which seemed Ezra just loses himself in, showing his passion for what he does… What a way to close the show.

Setlist and rating:

Cassy O 8/10
Listen to the Man 7/10
Benjamin Twine 9/10
Blame it on Me 8/10
Barcelona 7/10
Over the Creek (acoustic) 7/10
Girl from the North Country (Bob Dylan cover, acoustic) 9/10
Leaving it up to you (acoustic) 9/10
Stand by your Gun 7/10
I Try (Macy Gray cover) 8/10
Breakaway 8/10
Spectacular Rival 7/10
Budapest 9/10
Blind man in Amsterdam (encore) 7/10
Song 6 (encore) 8/10
Did you hear the Rain? (encore) 10/10

Alt-J, O2 Arena - 24/01/2015

On Saturday I had the pleasure of spending my evening along with an arena full of people who have the same interest as me – Alt-J. I didn’t know what to expect from them, firstly because this isn’t the usual type of band I see live, and secondly I have never been to a concert with about 19,999 people with me (I’m much more of a fan of intimate gigs). I must admit, being the unorganised person I am (proof of this is that I haven’t written anything for a good month - sorry), the backlash of buying tickets only a month before the gig was that my view was rather restricted. I was worried that being so far away from the band, it would lack the atmosphere of a gig that I usually go to.

What I usually experience from a gig is queueing up for what seems like years to get as close to the front as I can. Then when I am in, I stand –uncomfortably close- next to the people I spent the last six hours with waiting for the band I feel that seeing them is a necessity. The atmosphere of is great, the electricity, the excitement, the buzz – I love it, but I feared that’s what Alt-J would lack, but I was wrong…

THE SUPPORT

The evening started with a band that I see some shared qualities with Alt-J. Gengahr opened the show and they were faultless. With a band with a less-than-they-deserve following playing in an arena with a capacity of 20,000, it’s the best opportunity for them to show their talent. They did their job flawlessly, I hope to see them again soon. Listening to them is a must, and seeing them live is a necessity – it’s worth it. This band exceeded the expectations I had of them, and I can proudly name myself a devout fan, as I have listened to them non-stop since – and I hope to see them live again soon (this time front row maybe??).

After Gengahr’s performance, they done a very good job of getting me pumped for Alt-J, but first came Wolf Alice. Admittedly, when I bought the Alt-J tickets, I knew more about Wolf Alice than I did about Alt-J (however, a month of playing both of their albums endlessly, it quickly changed). The thing I loved best about them is that they sounded even better than they do on record. The guitars sounded that bit heavier, adding more excitement. The vocals were perfect, sweet at some points, for example the heart melting song Blush, or loud and, what I can only really describe as, careless (but in a good way) in other songs. I was extremely excited to see them live as they get really good reviews – here is another one to add to their collection. They closed their set with my favourite song of theirs, Fluffy, and straight after I went on my phone and bought tickets to see them at Cambridge Junction in April, my excitement is indescribable.

ALT-J

After the amazing support, it felt like hours to wait for Alt-J. I have never really understood people when they say ‘I could explode with excitement’ until Saturday, because the support got me so pumped for Alt-J, that the gap between Wolf Alice and their performance, I literally felt like I was going to burst – I couldn’t wait.

They came on with Hunger of the Pine, and it was amazing. My fear of the lacking atmosphere vanished in seconds as I and the people who surrounded me stood up and danced throughout. After that came Fitzpleasure, which is my favourite song of theirs, and they aced it. They were hypnotic (so hypnotic I totally forgot to record anything to share with you) I spent what felt like only five minutes singing my heart out to all of Alt-J’s finest: Matilda, Leon, Left Hand Free. Before I knew it they were thanking us for their biggest performance and went into their closing song – Breezeblocks (which is the best performance I have ever seen live, EVER).

Along with them aceing every song, the light show was amazing, the set list was faultless and I have come to the conclusion that despite my lack of a good view of the band, it has been the best concert I have been to, and I am 110% sure I will be seeing them again and so should you!

They performed:

•          Hunger Of The Pine
•          Fitzpleasure
•          Something Good
•          Left Hand Free
•          Dissolve Me
•          Matilda
•          Bloodflood
•          Bloodflood Pt. II
•          Leon
•          Interlude I
•          Tessellate
•          Every Other Freckle
•          Taro
•          Warm Foothills
•          The Gospel Of John Hurt
•          Lovely Day
•          Nara
•          Leaving Nara
•          Breezeblocks

Overall, the concert was 9/10.