04.12.07

It’s not for the cock, it’s for the kids

Posted in Captain Lovebead, Gigs at 7:55 pm by Captain Lovebead

Good Shoes, Vincent Vincent and the Villains, Late of the Pier, Clarky Cat - Stealth, Nottingham 4th April 2007

Late of the Pier

I arrived halfway through Clarky Cat’s set. I must admit that my first thoughts were completely unrelated to the band and their music. I was completely astounded at the nature of the audience.The gig was organised by All Age Gigs so when it said 14 plus I assumed that that included those over 18, but I was gravely mistaken. I glanced around the room and saw one girl leaning against the wall with a lollipop. A group of floppy haired and skinny-jean-clad boys were passing around a cigarette in a circle, eagerly getting their precious nicotine rush. With a look combining scorn with disgust I focussed my attention on the bands.

Clarky Cat

The set was overall pretty good. The first song I paid attention to really lowered my expectations for the night. It seemed as though they had succeeded in amassing every aspect of mediocrity from every band they’d ever listened to and then channeled it all into one grey lump of averageness, whilst calling it a song.

But then they brought in the synth.

The next few songs abandoned the whining guitar and uninteresting lyrics and brought forth a montage of joy, smiles and, above all, dancing. This theme then prevailed throughout the rest of the set, only occasionally allowing the pre-pubescent motifs exude from the lead guitarists plectrum.

Next time, more synth: that’s what you’re good at guys.

Myspace

Late of the Pier

These guys didn’t even need to start playing to get my immediate attention. When they were bringing out their equipment they brought three bed slats tied together so that each one would hang vertically.

I’d never heard them play before this gig but within seconds of getting my first hit, I was craving for more. I can’t have been the only one. A McFlurry of movement spread through the crowd leaving everyone sticky with terpsichoric euphoria. I think that that’s the best kind of sticky available in this day and age.

A ripple of excitement went through me when I realised they were about to use the slats. The synth player produced a stick and began hitting the different planks. And because some were hanging lower than others, they each had a distinctive sound. I thought it was dead clever of them.

Then they played a fantastic song, which I later discovered was called Space and the Wood. It combines the magics of a catchy recurring tune, heavy beats that make your muscles twitch in unison with the music, and an incredibly distinctive singer. I don’t think it could be more Numanoid, and I say that with commendation.

Space and the Woods

Buy their album.

View their Myspace.

Vincent Vincent and the Villains

Vincent Vincent came on with a grimace and managed to maintain it throughout the whole gig. They played the songs you’d expect from them: Johnny Two Bands, Blue Boy etc and they played them well. During their final song, Vincent Vincent stood up onto a raised part of the stage and, letting his mike stand fall into the audience, he screamed over the top of the youths’ heads for an emotional finale before walking off stage.

These guys, especially Vincent Vincent, know how to put on a good show: they’ve had a lot of practice and they know what they’re doing. But I couldn’t help feeling that they didn’t want to be there. VV would make sly remarks and just laugh them off and he never really looked too happy.

I couldn’t help but think that, if they’re being paid to come here and still look like they’d rather be at home, how can I be expected to enjoy it?

Johnny Two Bands

Vincent Vincent are still on tour. Fancy seeing them? Check out the dates on their myspace.

They also have a website, catch it here.

Good Shoes

Good Shoes opened their set with Nazanin. Months ago, a friend recommended Good Shoes to me, I listened to the few songs they had released at the time and decided that I didn’t think much of them. However, I have since obtained their album and I think it’s fantastic. So when I went to the gig I wasn’t sure of what to expect. Were the album’s merits grounded in their high production values? Or had they simply improved since I first heard them.

Well, I can’t really say, but my experience of the gig was very positive. I didn’t really get into the first part of the set, mainly because I didn’t know the songs too well. This was apparently quite obvious as Rhys Jones the singer/guitarist/frontman later commented that I looked bored right up until “a song came on you knew”.

He was fairly correct on that one. And I honestly wish that I’d listened to their album more fully before seeing them live. When they played Photos on My Wall the crowd went crazy and dragged me into the mayhem.

Rhys is not the frontman that Vincent Vincent is but I couldn’t help warming towards him as he played. He seemed truly pleased to be there and that, I feel, is vital for any performer.

Good Shoes are on tour, look up their dates on myspace.

They also have an album which you can buy from Amazon.

The Photos On My Wall (Removed)

Permalink