MUSIC: Chipmunk - Loughborough Students Union: 11/03/10

Chipmunk played a hit laden set of just fifteen minutes at Loughborough to celebrate the university elections. He walked casually on stage showing a shy, innocent side to him as he faced the Dj for the majority of the first song. It did not take him long to reach his comfort zone, however, as by the time he played 'Diamond Rings' he was embracing the crowd, smirking as they danced. As he lectured the crowd about staying in uni, you got the feeling that he wanted to be with them - he wanted to be a student but music somehow got in the way. Though, much of the crowd was glad it did as they sang at the top of their voices to his number one single - 'Oopsy Daisy'. 'Look For Me' was the song of the night, as Chipmunk pitted each half of the crowd against each other in their screams. Given fifteen more minutes, Chipmunk could have fully set the venue alight...maybe he'll be back and will start that fire some other time.

**

www.iamchipmunk.com

MUSIC: Stereophonics - Nottingham Arena: 5/03/10

There are people who dream of being on the guestlist for shows, who love the idea of their name being on the door and them being able to walk in for a free gig. Those people obviously haven't encountered Nottingham Arena, who leave you waiting twenty minutes into the support band's set that you are reviewing to get you into the gig. But still, shouldn't complain.

The last ten minutes of Hip Parade was all we managed to see, and they really seemed to work the crowd with their Scottish charm. First seen on Channel 4's 'Unsigned Act' programme, they are now recording their debut album. They were themselves on stage, their humour being embraced by the crowd as, on request, they chanted a sentence of profanities "just because it's cool to hear lots of people swear". The song in question was Dynamite, a pop/rock song reminiscent of The Fratellis early work, which works really well in an arena environment and will have gained the band a hefty amount of fans for the future. Hip Parade have fun as they play, allowing the audience to have fun with them, they definitely have headliner potential!

Stereophonics were preaching to the converted, their show was definitely one for the fans with a mammoth twenty two song setlist. With so many songs, the gig just seems rushed and they leave hardly any time to actually interact with the fans and create atmosphere for the crowd. However, the production of the show was impeccable - with lighting and video footage being used much to their advantage. The thing is, Stereophonics are amazing at playing music but they just seem arrogant by rushing through their songs and the audience only started getting into the mood three quarters of the way through. 'Dakota' was a highlight of the night, as confetti shot out over the crowd who sung every word, though this did not save what was a rather tedious show.

***

www.myspace.com/hipparade // www.stereophonics.com