FRONT ROW CENTRE - Steve Mason - 'All Come Down'

FRONT ROW CENTRE - Steve Mason - 'All Come Down'

Front Row Centre Shell Hunter Steve Mason

You've listened to the songs...you loved the album...now you absolutely have to see them live...

FRONT ROW CENTRE

Steve Mason - 'All Come Down' (2011)

Village Underground, Shoreditch on April 11th, 2013

For music lovers out there, the ultimate thing to do is to see your favourite artist or group live on stage. Now, I go to a lot of concerts and for me the whole evening is an experience. Living just outside of London means it's a dreaded disgracefully long trek but it is such an amazing place, not only for music but for a night out so its worth it. Sprinkled with individual bars and restaurants hidden in every corner, it makes for a far more memorable experience! To save you hassling around, see my Gig Watch tips below! This is not a normal gig review, this is my experience.

I'd never been to Shoreditch before, let alone the Village Underground but I was really impressed with the place. Shoreditch was totally not what I expected! It was really arty with lots of cool shops, including a pop up mall and excellent graffiti around. As a venue, it was one I'd definitely return to. Its not too large a hall and is much like an old brick train tunnel with a low stage at one end and a bar to the side. LS and I got there around 8pm and as we walked through the entrance, a guy in a green jacket brushed passed me and started speaking to the ticket blokes. Hang on a minute! That was Steve Mason! He had his specs on but it was definitely him. I get quite star struck so I just watched as no one batted an eyelid whilst he walked passed me again and then backstage. This was going to be a great night!

We decided to stand right at the front to get a perfect view and Steve was touching distance (if you wanted to that is). The sound was on point as were the band all dressed in exactly the same worn blue jeans and grey blue shirt, but each member had "distressed" the outfit in a different way. Steve had paint on his and the rest had rips in their jeans. Interesting touch. The banter from Steve was very politcally charged right from the start when he initially walked out and said "Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is Dead!" He didn't talk a lot but he was razor sharp and made us laugh. 

A few songs in, some idiot thought it would be funny to throw a bottle of beer at the stage which luckily narrowly missed the drummer. Steve was looking down at the time when the sound man said "Someone threw a drink at you!" The crowd waited to see if he would kick off but he answered "A what? A twix?!" He's a true pro and got the jovial mood back on track! He played a great selection from his new album Monkey Minds In The Devil's Time such as Oh My Lord, Lie Awake and Fire but it truly made my day hearing him perform songs from previous album Boy's Outside. Lost and Found, Am I Just A Man and Boys Outside were superb but what really got the goosebumps going was the phenomenal All Come Down (official video above). You could hear a pin drop in the room and the crowd were still. I was looking right into his eyes and you could feel he meant every word. He may have been bolshy in between songs when challenged with Maggie Thatcher quips but he seemed to surrender himself to the song. It was unforgettable. When they came back for the encore we were treated with Fight Them Back and a King Biscuit Time song C I AM 15 with Steve doing an impressive show on the bongos. A perfect end to one of my favourite gigs. I desperately want to see him again live, he is a master of his trade.

Gig Watch (everything you need to know!)

Venue: Village Underground, Shoreditch

Support Act: Andrew Weatherall DJ Set

Recommended restaurant: Boho Mexica

Recommended pub: Crown & Shuttle Pub

Photos were taken by and are copyright of K. Bazeley

sfw Pada 10:39 5 Komentar

SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX! - The Beta Band - 'Dry the Rain'

SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX! - The Beta Band - 'Dry the Rain'

Saturday Night Jukebox Shell Hunter Steve Mason The Beta Band

The Beta Band - 'Dry The Rain' (1997)

I've been getting all excited about seeing Steve Mason next week and have been listening to all the Beta Band albums, King Biscuit Time, Black Affair and of course his awesome solo stuff. There is one track that I keep coming back to and don't mind playing over and over. Dry The Rain is one epic song that I think is right up there in my Top Ten, maybe in my Top Five! I don't know what it is about the song or melody but I find it sad but uplifting at the same time.

We're fully prepared to take on the hoard of Brownies

Bizarrely when I listen to it, towards the end when they go into the repeats of 'it'll be okay" etc, apart from the goosebumps, I get reminded of back when I was in the Girl Scouts (of the USA no less) when growing up in Saudi. We had an annual 'Camp Out' at what seemed like an American army base but I found out was actually a geologicial laboratory called USGS, which I remember was miles out in the desert. Bang smack in the middle of the base was a massive football field set down in a sort of dug out. There was the most beautiful freshly mowed bright green grass where we would pitch our tents. During the day, us senior girls would do artsy fartsy crafts and games which we would have to make up to entertain the Brownies for the day. I decided I would teach them how to catch grass hoppers. I was more of an outdoorsy Tom Boy back then!

In the evening, it was a good old fashion sing song around the camp fire and I remember being extremely impressed when we would do songs with a "round" in them. A round (in case you don't know and according to Wiki) is a musical composition in which two or more voices sing exactly the same melody (and may continue repeating it indefinitely), but with each voice beginning at different times so that different parts of the melody coincide in the different voices, but nevertheless fit harmoniously together. One of the volunteers who was a music teacher would teach us how to do it and it would be a mess at first, but when it got going it was great, much like the bit at the end of Dry The Rain. The music teacher would also try and burst in with a harmony as they do. Strange what you remember!

As if you needed anymore proof this song was awesome, have a look below!

Have another "round" of SATURDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX and click here or just subscribe to my Spotify Playlist below!

sfw Pada 12:04 5 Komentar

TRACKS OF THE WEEK -10/03/13 - Snapped Ankles, Everything Everything, Steve Mason, Robyn Hitchcock, Josh Weller

TRACKS OF THE WEEK -10/03/13 - Snapped Ankles, Everything Everything, Steve Mason, Robyn Hitchcock, Josh Weller

Everything Everything Josh Weller Robyn Hitchcock Snapped Ankles Steve Mason Tracks of the Week

Five tracks that were the "Mother" of all songs this week...Got any to share with us?

Flycasual:-
Snapped Ankles - True Ecology (2013)

The band's name rekindles fond memories of my worst skateboarding injuries whilst the song makes we want to dance like a leaping salmon!? I love it! What a killer bassline, it reminds me of the best the 80's had to offer in terms of that Post Punk/New Wave sound. True Ecology is released on the 25th of March and it is the debut single from the London based band, I can't wait to hear more! The 'Fools' remix (below) is pretty Disco Punk-tastic too!

Get the track via 'Ears Have Eyes Records'

Shell Hunter:-
Everything Everything - Duet (2013)

I thought that Everything Everything were mad as a box of frogs the first time I heard them. I've been creeping back to their latest album time and time again, it's definitely a grower. Duet is what I chose for an addition to my New York playlist and I'm glad I did! Great memories of looking up at the monstrous skyscrapers with LS on our birthday. I didn't realise but a couple members of the band have degrees in Popular Music and decided to form a band after they finished their courses! I bet their teachers are feeling smug now...

London Scouser:-
Steve Mason - Oh My Lord (2013)

It's spring (apparently) and as a result I'm a happy bunny. Steve Mason is back with a new song that is out on Monday 11th with his new album Monkey Minds In The Devil's Time out a week later. This song starts off sounding like Dry The Rain (IMO, which can't be a bad thing) and continues where his last album left off.

Shell Hunter and I had the pleasure of seeing him a couple of years ago in Brighton (click here to read about it) and wanna see him again in London on April 11th, the only catch is OP and OM arrive that day from Spain.

Should we go ??? Readers, you decide

Old Pa's Corner:-

Robyn Hitchcock - Death and Love (2013)

 
Here is a track from Robyn Hitchcock's new album Love From London (2013). Robyn, like Billy Bragg have become, what I suppose we call British Institutions. Both have new albums out too and both have a massive following of dedicated fans. It is, would you believe Robyn's 19th studio album.

If you close your eyes and open your mind (very psychedelic) you could be listening to John Lennon or something from the sixties. I think this is just great, there are several top tunes on this album and it is getting better with every listen. Check out also Strawberries Dress it was toss up between that and Death and Love. 

Sfw:-
Josh Weller - Lose You (2013)

This is one of my favourite songs of 2013 (so far!).  It's by Josh Weller who is probably most famous for previously dating Paloma Faith.  He's another artist that have been promoted by Communion Records but there is fairly little information about him. I'm really looking forward to hearing more from him as with music this good, he'll should only be known for his music, rather than his ex's!

Download it for free, here!

Checkout previous Tracks of the week here

Listen & Subscribe to our 2013 Tracks of the Week Spotify Playlist

sfw Pada 07:05 4 Komentar