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

MUSIC: 30 Seconds To Mars - Nottingham Arena: 19/02/10

The first night of a world tour for a high profile band should be amazing, it should encompass to the band the magnitude of their success and perhaps be their biggest show to date. It is fair to say Nottingham Arena was not one of those massive first nights for 30 Seconds To Mars, being one of the smallest dates they are playing on their 'Into The Wild' tour which consists of Wembley Arena and The O2 in Dublin. However, this did not stop it being awe inspiring.

Starting off proceedings were LostAlone, a Derbyshire band playing rock tunes mixing slow and fast melodies with Steven Battelle's vocal presence. However, playing to an arena full of 8000 people is hard work, and it showed. The vocals were strained and seemed at certain points out of tune. Quirky features about the band such as wearing masking tape and using certain guitar moves, which would thrive in a smaller venue, seem unimpressive and boring. Bands should conquer the intimate venues before attempting to entertain a bigger crowd.

One band that is used to those bigger crowds is the Street Drum Corps, having played the Warped Tour and other gigs classed as 'huge deals' within America and this was their first time playing in the UK. The band consists of members playing varieties of drums including bins and marching band drums, not too dissimilar from the instruments used in the musical Stomp. Though - this is not Stomp! Their set is a surreal punk rock extravaganza, perfectly performed for an arena audience as the lead singer creeps around the stage with a wide grin on his face. The acoustics throughout the venue, though, did not seem capable for this performance with the vocals being drowned out for much of the set but the atmosphere was created and as the curtain drew the audience were left ready for the band that have won many an mtv and kerrang award, and were left ready for one of the best hour and three quarters of the year so far.

The silhouettes of 30 Seconds To Mars appeared and as the curtain dropped after first song 'Escape', so too did any possible doubts about the band. This was the first time a majority of songs from their recent 'This Is War' album have been played live and Jarod Leto mentioned about flaws but noone saw them. The band created a personal experience for all fans playing on two stages, playing acoustic songs from within the crowd and walking through half the audience. They seriously couldn't get any more intimate. The audience cherished every single second, and so too did the band. As the 8000 strong audience came together singing 'Kings and Queens', the glee in each of the bands faces was shown. Their first time in Nottingham couldn't have been any better for them, 30 Seconds To Mars showed exactly what it is like to own an arena.

*****

www.myspace.com/lostalone // www.streetdrumcorps.com // www.thirtysecondstomars.com

MUSIC: NME Awards Tour - Nottingham Rock City : 09/02/10

Its that time of year! The Nme Tour has been back driving around the UK stopping at the main cities unleashing new acts upon our eardrums as well as some familiar names, and with 2010's line-up the anticipation outside the venue was immense. With The Big Pink as the main exception, the bands have hardly any wide variation between the sound of their music but put together do they leave you loving the state of the indie scene right now or will it, as The Drums put it, 'All End In Tears'.

You may or may not of heard of The Drums, though if you haven't - where have you been? They are, according to nearly every new music poll, one of the bands of 2010. Their 2009 EP 'Summertime' created a storm of excitement around the industry in the uk and in the usa (their home country). This is reflected in the publicity that has gathered around them, and rightly so. However, their live set just doesn't seem there yet. Stereotypically indie looking singer Jonathan Pierce motions the drum beats in the air with his fist, fidgeting somewhat awkwardly around the stage, as another member jumps around manically with a tambourine - it all seems slightly disorganised. But as they get used to the success and play more shows I am sure the faults will be easily ironed out leaving a great band that is a breath of fresh air to the indie scene.

The Big Pink were that fresh air tonight though, stealing the show from the indie kids with their huge electro beats. The set was amazing, and Rock City the perfect venue for the band. The problem is, without having a copy of nme to tell them what to think of the band, quite a few of the crowd just didn't appreciate the sight they were seeing, wanting to and I quote - have them "get it over with and play dominos". The Big Pink, with such a tight live presence - even having only been signed for one year, look extremely likely to be one of the massive bands of the next few years, and then and only then will those from the crowd realise how lucky they were to witness such a band on the nme tour.

Bombay Bicycle Club have not had success as quickly as The Big Pink. They have been gigging and recording ever since winning the 'Road To V' competition back in 2006, but having only left school in 2008 their debut album was released last year. The songs from it formed the basis of tonight's set and the crowd lapped them up. The problem is the band, after their experiences within the touring environment, have developed a pretentious attitude towards performing and a hint of laziness due to it. However, the music is perfect and the crowd love them so perhaps they're right to be pretentious.

The headline act of this years tour was The Maccabees who played a full set consisting of classics and a fantastic cover of Orange Juice's 'Rip It Up'. To those who have seen them before and those seeing them for the first time, they are spotless but they do not really offer something totally unique, something that shouts out We Are The Maccabees at the top of their voices...but with the Nottingham crowd they don't need it.

The crowd were won over from the moment the doors opened, the anticipation that lingered was met but instead of The Maccabees it was The Big Pink who were the stars of the show. Showing something different in such an indie based music scene, it is these that will be mentioned as the big stars who once performed on the small nme tour.

***

http://wearethedrums.com // http://www.musicfromthebigpink.com // http://www.bombaybicycleclubmusic.com // http://www.themaccabees.co.uk

MUSIC: Iglu & Hartly - Nottingham Bodega Social : 29/01/10

What I've realised with support bands is that the name normally outdoes the music. In the case of Paint This Town, this is correct. Four teenagers walked casually onto the stage, playing a mix of music situated between You Me At Six and Elliot Minor. There is promise with them but for the time being, they should stick to their school-work.

One band who had obviously done Geography when they were at their American high school were the New Politics, with their banter about Robin Hood...not at all what the audience expects (cough). Winning the crowd over with their rap rock tunes and infectious energy, they seem a lot like Cage The Elephant. The audience even attempted a mosh at one point, albeit unsuccessfully - but what do you expect within such a modest venue? Offering everyone free mp3's was the final push, and the bait was taken with crowd members gleefully singing along as much as they could. So did this audience state last within Iglu & Hartly?

Did it?!?! Iglu & Hartly set the venue alight within the first song - 'Jump', and the audience did seem to listen to the title. The floor was literally rocking as the audience bounced to the music. However, what they played was a majority of songs from their 2008 album '& Then Boom' which has already been toured twice. The big singles were still the ones getting the biggest audience reaction, and it seems some still only know them by 'In This City'. Without new material released, they will keep downgrading the venue size they can play in. The two new songs that were played were fun, but much weaker than the rest of their material. But their stage presence more than makes up for this, they seem to love every second on stage and they seem to love their fans - coming right out to sign anything and everything after the gig. You can't help but fall for the charm of Iglu & Hartly.

***

www.myspace.com/paintthistownuk www.newpoliticsrock.com www.igluandhartly.com

Gig Season

Gig season has officially started so that means my posts are going to get more and more frequent, look out for them!

This starts with a review of Iglu & Hartly going online tomorrow from the gig I am going to this very evening at Nottingham! If anyone is going, find me and say hi!

Tom

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2010

Looks like nothing will be happening much on here until 2010, hopefully got some reviews and interviews lined up for January onwards though so the blog won't be left unattended for long.

It just leaves me time to wish everyone that has read my blog this year a very Merry Christmas, have a great New Year and I hope you'll come back on when I'm back!

Tom

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