emerging talent competition - Friday review (March 2007)

John E Vistic gave me a hangover! It wasn't the cider, oh no! We return on time tonight to see more acts playing from the diverse musical worlds on offer over 4 stages of this year's Glastonbury festival. Returning again to the wonderful venue in Pilton given to the locals by the festival to host attractions like an ELO cover band and with catering, a bar dance floor as well as conference rooms, nice.

Heritage Survival Band
The night starts once again with world rhythms this time in the form of traditional African music fused with jazz. It's pleasant, typical and derivative but I find it difficult to remember anything outstanding. A good opener although the crowd was a bit small to start off with because it was a Friday night I guess.

Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo
Emily plays guitar and harmonica and sings in a clear folk style flanked by strings and a multi talented accordion/flutist the girls of Red Clay Halo. Emily's Australian accent is hidden in her strong singing voice but becomes plain as she speaks to us between the fragile tunes. she has a strong voice but it's Rad Clay Halo who really shine on the night! I've seen Emily in her other project The Low Country but it's my first time listening to the Red Clay Halo girls and they really shine, bringing a musical shine to Emily's vocals and songs tinged with that sad delicate lament that many American female country singers also extol. Emily and friends were a definite contender for the Acoustic stage.

Breaking the Illusion
Opening with rock and hip hop the similarities to 'Rage Against the Machine' are obvious and just like RATM Breaking The Illusion do it well. Heavy beats, scrambling rock guitar and an exuberant rapper with a positive message. It all works rather well, they showcase a diverse range at times presenting a mellow funky side more akin to 'Fun Loving Criminals'. There's some interesting samples thrown in and the lead singer thanks us all for coming and for the judges selecting them to play and wishes all the acts luck - a very nice man.

Onions
Next up should be Stoney but he's still the other side of the Atlantic so step up Onions, a runner up in the selection process to take his place. Quirky rock/pop, think Space from Manchester instead of Liverpool. Lyrically tricky and playing music you can't dance to at all. it's wacky and not my cup of tea but full marks for stepping into the breach and the songs are entertaining enough.

Simon X
Blimey! Errr what to say? Jamaican music from Surrey! Don't get me wrong Simon X stays in character and sings well at what he does, but he could possibly be UK's answer to Vanilla Ice - he sounds black but instead he's a white guy bearing a slight resemblance to an Ibizan barman. and it's this fact i can't get over throughout a very accomplished gig his demeanour and music are worlds apart, too far for me to take seriously.

Speedway 5
Fronted by two female vocalists, a guy on keyboards front Speedway5 who play a cool funky groovy keyboard driven stuff with some guitar work over the top of the whole thing and the female harmonies over well thought out lyrics offer up something to dance to. The bass lines get my feet moving and the samples are amusing and a little at times. unfortunately last night's Dr Meaker have surely claimed the dance stage and Speedway5 are off the pace by comparison. It's a shame because if they were playing head to head then it could have been a great night.

Ghost
Are another Dance stage act, a DJ on decks with a rapper and female vocalist in front of him who have brought their own baseball cap wearing posse. But again they stand no chance against the mighty impressive Bristol outfit.

Venus Bogardus
The closing act rocks. Art house punk! Gloriously good and fronted by a swirling guitarist who sweats over a blistering fret board while the drummer powers the skins and fronted by Hannah Levbarg in a woollen dress (she decides it's a bad idea to have worn it under hot lights) who plays thumping bass and screams Riot Grrrrl cheerfully. Despite the frenetic pace and fuzzed up sound it's actually terrifically pop centric. Great stuff to sum it up it's The White Stripes get a beating by Jesus and Marychain fronted by Danielle Dax. Sweaty! Another band for Lost Vagueness surely!


Favourites of the night:
There are fewer highlights for me tonight, only Venus Bogardus stand out for me and Emily Barker's Red Clay Halo. The main problem being dance acts playing for a slot which had already been filled the night before by Dr Meaker.

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