A Snapshot of Music Through Summer
The Summer months are fading fast, but thankfully we have a lot of lovely live music to remember them by. Here’s a snapshot of some of our highlights for our 3rd instalment of Live Reviews, from July - Sept, and of course a playlist to go with it. Enjoy.
Luke> I visited NYC in July during a heatwave and caught a free show by Hip-hop legends Common & Pete Rock. It was part of the Brooklyn Summer Series and had a really balmy community block party vibe. There were fruit vendors, homemade cocktails, kids having water fights and the air was thick with weed. The sun was setting in the packed park when they came on. As a teen I was obsessed with Common’s 'Like Chocolate for Water' so it was a real a treat to hear those tracks with such an enthusiastic crowd. Common's strong sense of storytelling again comes to the fore on the current record with autobiographical interludes giving the show a cinematic quality. Iconic producer/rapper/dj 'Pete Rock' was welcomed with equally warm arms by the New York crowd.
Imogen> I was particularly intrigued to see the live show of Brooklyn band Water From Your Eyes. Every time they release something it’s different to what they’ve just done. Sometimes it’s jagged, chaotic post-punk, sometimes sweet and shoegazey, other times more 70s rock - and their live show made this eclecticism even more evident with a set list that really kept us on our toes. Whilst they were fighting poor sound (as is apparently always the case at ICA) and illness (poor Rachael was turning around to sneeze between lines), it was a very entertaining show. My highlight was hearing the song that introduced me to them, ““Quotations”” (included in our playlist) - a beautiful track that builds in intensity over hypnotic looped vocals and makes me want to cry every time I hear it.
Luke> I expect the new MJ Lenderman record to be in many critics end of year lists so it was no surprise that this Rough Trade in store had a long waiting list and was intensely observed by a crowd hanging on his every word. In many ways he’s an unlikely rockstar shy with his quiet and slightly awkward aura but boy do his songs do the talking. Crazy to think he’d been hiding away playing rhythm guitar for Wednesday for many years but now looks to quickly eclipse that band. His tunes bring to mind the country rock of Neil Young but with the grunge lilt of Evan Dando or J Mascis and I love it. He’s back in November for full band shows though pretty sure they sold out in five minutes. If you can get there, get there.
Imogen> Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin was in town playing a run of stripped back shows at The Lyric Theatre, and it was something quite beautiful. She stepped out on stage completely alone, apologised as she took a few deep nervous breaths before beginning a stunning a’cappella intro. From then on the entire room was entirely silent, hooked on her storytelling, just her and her electric guitar. Jacob Diamond joined to provide perfect harmonies for a couple of songs, including a version of The Roches “Runs In The Family”. You could tell Julia was struggling emotionally, and she explained she’d received some sad news before stepping out, but did amazingly well to hold it together. The theatre setting made for an incredibly focussed and intimate gig experience, which whilst probably quite intense for her, felt very special and the perfect setting for her music.
Luke> New York band Model/Actriz brought their industrial-pop-core(?) to the Shacklewell Arms and it went hard. VERY hard. I knew nothing about this band prior to the gig which is sometimes the best way to experience any art. That said, i’m not sure I was quite prepared for the show I got. Not only was it a million degrees in the tiny back room venue but it seemed to be oversold by some way. Apparently there was a waitlist of 600 more on Dice that were shut out. Those lucky ones that were in the room were treated to a riotous affair with sequin capped frontman ‘Cole Haden' spending more time in the middle of the crowd than onstage. Think Nine Inch Nails but camp and danceable, absolutely glorious.
Imogen> I’ll be honest, I went down to see Wednesday at Scala a little apprehensive. I was feeling delicate and it’s not my usual type of gig - country rock/grunge that gets pretty heavy in places. But I had a bit of an awakening. They gave a refreshingly rough and unpolished performance that created an electric energy in the room. MJ Lenderman took lead vocals for a couple songs which was a bonus (I’ve been loving his solo stuff recently) and I surprised myself at how much I enjoyed the moments where singer Karly Hartzman was basically screaming over a wall of sound. There were some softer bits too, but all in all it was a release I didn’t know I needed.
Luke> What can I say about this band that I haven’t already bored my friends to death with? Phoenix are a band I’ve followed for over twenty years now, even briefly befriending them many moons back in Paris. I don’t think a single person I have recommended their live show to in this time has ever been disappointed either. In fact, most go back time and time again. Their All Points East set was the final of a two year tour cycle in support of 'Alpha Zulu’ of which I saw the opening night in Nashville. It felt quite special to bookend it with a show in my own back garden and this time watching with some of my best friends both old and new. They are an immaculate live band. Tight, punchy, melodic, cathartic, euphoric and with beautiful visuals to match. The set ended with Thomas Mars doing his now customary crowd surf from the back to the front of the crowd. Viva Phoenix!
Imogen> I was introduced to this band by a booking agent friend with impeccable taste, who invited me down to their debut London show at the George Tavern. Hailing from Antwerp, Belgium, BLUAI (pronounced “blue-eye”) are a 4-piece girl band serving up a mix of tender indie folk and country pop with an Americana twang, delivered with an effortlessly cool European aesthetic. The guitarist was particularly brilliant, absolutely shredding solos in between lovely lap steel moments. Big new fan over here.
Luke> The Lemon Twigs just get better and better. The brothers must’ve been only about 16 or 17 when their debut came out in 2016 and while their musicianship was incredibly impressive the songs felt a little like they were trying too hard. Back then it was more prog leaning with time signature changes, theatrical vocals and extended solos. I dug it but over the last two albums they have truly matured and cracked the code perfecting the most lush two and half minute power pop tunes and I can’t get enough. The crowd at The Electric in Brixton was an interesting mix of young teens styled out in ‘70s clothes and old record collector dudes like me, all hooked on their harmony driven guitar bangers. Expertly executed with panache, easy comparisons would be The Beatles and The Beach Boys but there’s so much going on here. Tunes for days and I couldn’t stop grinning.
