GIGS

[ljsawyer]

Really don't get Joe Gideon & The Shark, thought they were terrible at EOTR in 2009 and thought the same last night. Woodpigeon and Allo Darlin' were great though!

[killyourtv]

Daughter & Lay Low @ St Philips, Salford

Bought a ticket last summer on the basis of one hearing of the single, which I'd forgotten, and I remained a bit unsure about them on the basis of their impressive sounding but unmemorable set. The church setting provided some great acoustics but even in wooden pews I felt my attention drifting to the draw of the New Oxford a bit too often. May try again when the LP comes out at Easter.

I loved Lay Low, whose solo guitar country/blues set was unrepresentative of her CDs, but still compelling. Would like to seen her back at EOTR. Loses a point for referring to Manchester, of course.

Lovely venue, with local beer on handpump in the crypt, and a receptive crowd.

[geofelgie]

John Murry & Christopher Rees - Winchester Railway

Cool to see Christopher Rees again - been many years - So many years in fact I can't remember where/when I saw him before - But I bought The Sweetest Ache somewhere. He plays solo, and all new stuff but it's really good - would like to hear the new material with a full band and at some point I pledge to catch up on the 3/4 albums I missed.

John Murry is the real deal though. Wavering, shakey, affected.......I suppose.......but to such gorgeous effect....the swell of the album's richer moments takes me over and I'm already hearing it on a sunny afternoon on the Garden Stage. Much is being made of Little Coloured Balloons......but there's other songs just as good - particularly the confusingly titled No Te Da Ganas de Reir, Senor Malverde?.......or "the other really long one" as my memory is insisting on calling it!

Best gig I've been to in a long while.

[Dibford and Son]

John Murry & Christopher Rees - Winchester Railway

Cool to see Christopher Rees again - been many years - So many years in fact I can't remember where/when I saw him before - But I bought The Sweetest Ache somewhere. He plays solo, and all new stuff but it's really good - would like to hear the new material with a full band and at some point I pledge to catch up on the 3/4 albums I missed.

John Murry is the real deal though. Wavering, shakey, affected.......I suppose.......but to such gorgeous effect....the swell of the album's richer moments takes me over and I'm already hearing it on a sunny afternoon on the Garden Stage. Much is being made of Little Coloured Balloons......but there's other songs just as good - particularly the confusingly titled No Te Da Ganas de Reir, Senor Malverde?.......or "the other really long one" as my memory is insisting on calling it!

Best gig I've been to in a long while.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Dibford and Son

[Fareham Grecian]

Yep, echo those last two posts: John Murry was awesome in Winchester, had the crowd rapt and silent despite not appearing to be quite with it (to put it kindly).

I think though that maybe rather than a sunny Garden Stage he would suit an apocalyptic thunderstorm more...

[geofelgie]

Chatted to him after and he was actually very with it.

I suspect that he's actually just very nervous on stage, which, with the subject matter of some of his songs leads people (including me) to make assumptions.

[Dibford and Son]

Totally agree. My feeling on the night was that he was nervous at the beginning and slowly comes alive hence the way that the gig creeps up on you. And you're right. Easy to assume it's not nerves. I know I felt a little uncomfortable for a bit whilst I worked out if he was unfolding in front of the audience or nervous. I'm finding that it was one of those gigs that gets better after its over! If that makes sense? Cannot wait to see him again.

[MattL80]

I also agree with the previous 5 comments!

Great to see the Railway so busy on a week night too.

Haven't seen it that busy for a long time.

As usual, several great gigs coming up, including Deep Dark Woods, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Arbouretum. And Oliver said he was going to reduce numbers!! I think he was having us on.

[shoebox]

I went to see The Wedding Present on Sunday and am off to see Lord Huron on Thursday. I still think he/they are perfectly suited for EOTR, and it'll be interesting to see how they are live.

[riverlodge]

shoebox on your previous recommendation have also got tix for lord huron for their may visit. album also ordered. hope you are on a %age...

[shoebox]

They were absolutely stunning at The Old Blue Last, brilliant gig. Didn't know how they'd recreate those lovely melodies live but they did, it was spot on.

Their first ever UK show and 3 months later they've upgraded to the Scala. They should have that crossover appeal that will see fans of Fleet Foxes and MMJ lap them up. Playing your Roundhouses and Brixton Academies before you know it.

So, so, so hope EOTR have managed to snap them up for September.

[Infinite Jest]

Frightened Rabbit, The Kentish Town Forum, London, 13 February 2013.

A sold out Forum is far from my favourite place to be. It's crowded and the poor design means that it's a struggle to get near the front, which is often less crowded than the back. We ended up perched at the side of the venue, and the sound quality there did the band no favours. But after a ropey first few songs it turned into one of the better gigs I've seen in a long time. There was a real feeling both on stage and in the audience that we were present on the cusp of something bigger, that we were watching the band take it to the next level. Scott asked for the house lights to come up a few times so he could take in the crowd, and seemed delighted and grateful with the way his popularity has taken off. The crowd was excellent, loud applause, lots of singing along, and importantly no dickheads. Very good set, especially once the sound problems were sorted a few songs in. They will be a great addition to EoTR.

Rough setlist:

Holy

The Modern Leper

Old Old Fashioned

Nothing Like You

Late March Death March

State Hospital

Backyard Skulls

My Backwards Walk

The Oil Slick

Good Arms Vs Bad Arms

Swim Till You Can't See Land

Acts of Man

The Woodpile

Living In Colour

The Loneliness and the Scream

And a couple I didn't recognise, which may have been Heads Roll Off and December's Traditions, based on their recent setlists on Setlist.fm.

[shoebox]

I haven't really caught up with Frightened Rabbit since The Midnight Organ Flight, so it's good to see them still playing Modern Leper. Pleased with their announcement, it'll be another to make my dad jealous. He's a bit of a fan.

[Infinite Jest]

The new album is very good. I like The Winter of Mixed Drinks a lot (it was the first album of theirs I heard) but I think some of their older fans didn't like it so much.

[Nigey_boy]

I saw them support Modest Mouse at least 5 years ago and was really impressed by them so these are a really good addition to EOTR

[nigeyb]

Tickets booked....

John Murry (back in Jan - he was great)

Villagers

Arbourtetum

Django Django

Miles Kane

Peace

Parma Violets

Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs

Melody's Echo Chamber

The Pretty Things

Ian Hunter

Rick Redbeard

John Hegley

Bo NIngen

Vic Godard and Subway Sect

King Charles

Chuck Prophet

Edwyn Collins

Slim Chance

Hurray For The Riff Raff

Spiers and Boden

Edited February 14, 2013 by nigeyb

[riverlodge]

Frightened Rabbit, The Kentish Town Forum, London, 13 February 2013.

A sold out Forum is far from my favourite place to be. It's crowded and the poor design means that it's a struggle to get near the front, which is often less crowded than the back. We ended up perched at the side of the venue, and the sound quality there did the band no favours. But after a ropey first few songs it turned into one of the better gigs I've seen in a long time. There was a real feeling both on stage and in the audience that we were present on the cusp of something bigger, that we were watching the band take it to the next level. Scott asked for the house lights to come up a few times so he could take in the crowd, and seemed delighted and grateful with the way his popularity has taken off. The crowd was excellent, loud applause, lots of singing along, and importantly no dickheads. Very good set, especially once the sound problems were sorted a few songs in. They will be a great addition to EoTR.

Rough setlist:

Holy

The Modern Leper

Old Old Fashioned

Nothing Like You

Late March Death March

State Hospital

Backyard Skulls

My Backwards Walk

The Oil Slick

Good Arms Vs Bad Arms

Swim Till You Can't See Land

Acts of Man

The Woodpile

Living In Colour

The Loneliness and the Scream

And a couple I didn't recognise, which may have been Heads Roll Off and December's Traditions, based on their recent setlists on Setlist.fm.

[wackojackohighcliffe]

Yeah, I'm so happy Wintersleep are supporting, worth the entry price for them alone. Hopefully will bring back some memories of a great night in the Tipi.

[riverlodge]

Yeah, I'm so happy Wintersleep are supporting, worth the entry price for them alone.

[theampersanddevil]

I really like FR, looking forward to seeing them cos I missed the barras gig. I really wanted to see wintersleep as well.

I have some concerns though, i heard a track on the radio the other week and it sounded like accoustic biffy clyro....ie utterly forgetable. (so forgetable I couldn't tell you the name of it or how it went) :/

Still to get a chance to listen to the new album as a whole.

Edited February 15, 2013 by theampersanddevil

[nigeyb]

After the wonder that was John Murry, last night I went to....

Villagers / Stealing Sheep - The Old Market, Hove - 17 February 2013

Stealing Sheep are three young women who trade in a wonderful psych-folk that evokes Espers, Golden Fable, and other wonderful bands of that ilk. They are part of that long and esteemed lineage that goes all the way back to Vashti Banyan and Shirley Collins and doubtless way before them too. If that's the sort of thing that ticks some or all of your boxes then you should seek them out. On the strength of this performance, and some cursory YouTube research, I will be buying their album this very day. It's on Heavenly which is usually a very good sign.

I'm late to the Villagers party having only paid attention properly following the release of their 2013 album {Awayland} which instantly got bonus kudos for use of these things... {}. I don't even know what they're called but I love them. Anyways {Awayland} is a great record and filled me anticipation for this show and they lived up to my high expectation. Great songs delivered with passion and intensity. Conor O'Brien reckoned this was the best gig they'd ever done in Brighton despite him being in "a funny mood". A sold out Old Market in Hove appeared to agree. It was magnificent. I'm a total convert.

A few photos here

[GTG]

Nige - Re: Villagers. I think what I love most about them is that Conor makes every line he sings sound like it is incredibly important and profound. Maybe they are, I don't know what he's on about half the time but it SOUNDS great.

Geof - Christopher Rees. Might it have been on the first afternoon of (my first) End Of The Road (2008 - what a year!), in the Bimble Inn when it was hammering down all afternoon (worth it for the double rainbow!)? I remember him and Clare & The Reasons knocking me for six. Still love that song he did with Victoria Williams - Bet Your Bottom Dollar.

[Infinite Jest]

Caitlin Rose, the Windmill, Brixton

An excellent show. Caitlin's voice sounds amazing live, even in a basic venue like the Windmill. She's got a good line in audience interaction, and clearly has fond feelings towards the venue - twice mentioning Roof Dog* and talking about previous gigs here. The place is packed out, and the only negative point is that there are some people talking. Loudly. Why you would organise yourself weeks in advance to get a reasonably expensive (for the 'Mill) ticket to a gig like this, and then talk all the way through it I have no idea....

Sidenote: on the previous page I said I wasn't sold on Woodpigeon, but I'm loving the new album. Hopefully we'll get him for EoTR.

*The Windmill's legendary dog, who lives on the roof. Hence the name. Roof Dog.

[nigeyb]

Loving that Caitlin Rose album.

On Sunday I saw Fear of Men supporting Melody's Echo Chamber. Melody was fab. Really good.

Tonight it's Robyn Hitchcock - superb new album by the by, so feeling pretty confident about a great night with Mr H.

Laters.

[Nigey_boy]

Saw Sigur Ros at Brixton Academy last evening

Everyone is in for a REAL treat - they are so powerful live and this is the 3rd time i've seen them and once again the best live band in the world

Edited March 8, 2013 by Nigey_boy