At a U2 gig in 1983 Bono described Big Country and The Alarm as the “new breed”, two bands that bucked the trend of the electronic music of the time and stuck to melodic guitar rock which they delivered in a passionate way. After Big Country’s Stuart Adamson’s untimely death in 2001, the rest of the band took a prolonged hiatus while coming to terms with the loss of their prestigious leader.
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Tonight Champions played host for the first of three gigs for an old Bournemouth band, back from when the Gander and Mr. Smiths were the primary live music venue for some of us. This is the first Poze gig in 10 years, and billed as “The Exxhumation 2011”, with special consideration for the charity UK Brain Tumour, in memory of Janine.
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In all honesty, there was a very dim atmosphere surrounding IBar as I entered with my friends. There were only a few people in the intimate venue and after walking down into the basement, the bands had only just begun their sound check. Paige admitted they had arrived late due to heavy traffic, but despite their obvious fatigue, it was also obvious that they wanted to start their tour in a way that would leave Bournemouth with better memories than a late start. Gradually fans started to gather and a small crowd started to make their way to the basement.
The first band, Dom Remi have a monster of a challenge ahead in order to create an atmosphere and the new outfit who formed from former band ‘Metropolise’ start with a bass heavy intro to attempt to spur on their small following and through a slow start through this into, eventually progressive indie styling emerges. Delay soaked guitar riffs and picking surges a spark to the eventually growing crowd and there is clear talent within the band. The set comprosed of new songs seemed and created some kind of feel to the evening and especially their last track, ‘long way home’ showed a lot of potential to this bands sound.
With a positive atmosphere still in the balance, it’s up to high energy pop punk band, Pump Action Radio to create a surge of energy and instantly their overdrive soaked power chords pump through me. I had seen this band three times before this show, so I was always confident that they would be able to pull through and after ‘With Friends Like These’, a smile is shared amongst the crowd. Tracks like ‘Epic Fail’ from their new EP seem popular with the small crowd and despite a few errors from the band’s drummer, the bands energy remains and there seems to be no discomfort in their performance despite the crowd size being the smallest I have seen at IBar in a while. A very intuitive cover of Jason Derulo’s, ‘In My Head’ was fused with the well known ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ to turn round a fairly stale evening at IBar. From this track, a new confidence was installed and when the crowd was asked to ‘go mental’, new track ‘Hold Your Breath’ saw a mosh pit unfold between several people to end a fairly triumphant set for the Bournemouth outfit.
As Pump Action Radio left the stage, so did a fair number of the crowd and at one point while Paige were setting up, there were seven people waiting for the five piece pop punk band to begin. Luckily, a fair crowd eventually gathered and the band started with a few old tracks, such as ‘Actions’ which received a good response from the crowd. Instantly, they started to show their ability, as progressive pop punk anthems unfolded and tracks from the band’s latest EP, including ‘Love For One’ showcased the band’s strong vocal ability with singers Lewis and Arthur hitting every note with ease and harmonising to perfection. An odd feature to the band was their use of a piano in their songs which added a melodic side to their set.
There were many variations to their songs, as heavier riffs occasionally featured to create a thicker sound and saw most of the members jumping in an attempt to rectify a fairly inanimate crowd. Eventually, the undeniable catchy nature of the band’s songs sparked some energy in the room and the band looked to end with their current single, ‘Young Summer’ which saw a complete change in atmosphere as a few members of the crowd sang along with the band to what can only described as a summer anthem, which stole the show. With an ending to meet any pop punk fans desires, an encore was declared by the fans and the band ended with old track ‘You Got Guts’ which saw an unlikely wall of death end a fantastic set from an uprising gem of the UK pop punk scene.
Set Lists
Paige
For Better For Worse
This Is How We Roll
Actions
Love For One
A Good Fight Is Never Clean
Circles
The Truth
Dear Heartstrings
Young Summer
You Got Guts [ENCORE]
Pump Action Radio
Friends Like These
I’m Right I’m Stubborn
Me and You (Not Me and Her)
Epic Fail
Right Place Right Time
In My Head/Eye Of The Tiger (Cover)
Cool As You
Show You What I’m Made Of
Hold Your Breath
Dom Remi
The Introduction
Where The Worst Of You Are
Untitled (New Song #1)
In Bad Taste
Untitled (New Song #2)
Midnight
Long Way Home
Videos: Paige (Promo Videos)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A65HqshBaHs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmuljqOui6g&playnext=1&list=PL3F90B306EBC4917B
www.myspace.com/paigeuk
www.myspace.com/pumpactionradio
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DomRemi/191771124194493?sk=wall
Words and pictures by:
George Fullerton.
Bournemouth band, The Frequency, are to play a headline gig The Winchester on 15th April in support of the release of their brand new 3 track EP ‘High Society’. This talented four piece have been playing a few quiet warm up gigs to get themselves ready for the launch including a gig at the Joiners in Southampton supporting The Crookes and another at Champions in Bournemouth with Jam Tribute band ‘Total Jam’.
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County Hospital/Constellation/Fearne/Bel Casino/Cella Creeps
Saturday night at Mr Kyps and the 1st semi Final of the Dorset Music Awards, last years event was won by Bournemouth’s The Longest Day who fought a hard battle with Disco’s Out(Murders In), Lady Winwoods Maggot, Mutant Vinyl and Sarah Griffin. This years prize is a place in the Final at the 02 Academy in Boscombe Saturday 23rd April.
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It’s always something special when a show on a Thursday night has the same buzz to it as a Friday night, and tonight, the clever, monthly ‘gig for a quid’ scheme at Mr Kyps is greeted by a large crowd, especially considering that it is a working day. Polly & The Billets Doux join a list of bands including the fantastic, ‘The Rumble Strips’ who have played the same style of night, and it’s obvious why, as they have recently released their debut album, ‘Fiction, Half-Truths and Downright Lies’.
A buzzing atmosphere continues to build and eventually Coke Can Jack walk on to start the evening. Clearly a friendly band, warm smiles are shared between the band and the crowd as they break into their opening track, ‘Bourbon Eyes’ which shows off a charming, mellow sound with a soulful twist. They show no nerves as their vocals immediately connect with their instrumentals and harmonize with each other perfectly. Gradually the band showcase more upbeat songs as the increasingly popular Cajun drum thumps along with my heart beat as the long hair of their percussionist, bounces with the rhythm. Songs like ‘Get Better’ highlight the positive approach the band takes with their song writing and with reverb soaked solos, there is a very uplifting feeling achieved from their set.
After a mesmerizing set from Coke Can Jack, a completely different band strolled on stage in the form of Mountain Feet. As they play their first song, I am stunned by how different they sound compared to how they look. They seem like a grunge rock band from a first glance, but once they break into song, they flood my mind with classic rock vibes. There are certainly factors of the countryside in their music and a clear following flood the front of the stage. Their front man has a fascinating voice, which compliments their country vibe as they hit progressive chords and harmonize vocally to generate a warm feeling to the room. With the crowd starting to move (slightly), their guitarist fuses a harmonica solo into their set which has the crowd in a state of ecstasy. Sadly, their use of the harmonica later in their set seemed to slow down the momentum of their set, but there is no doubt that Dorset will not see many bands quite like this one.
The room waits in anticipation as Polly & The Billet Doux open with a soft, folk fuelled sound which instantly seems charming and inviting. Polly and her band (except their drummer) harmonize their vocals to perfection, which sends a strange feeling through me, probing the evidence to why they are such a highly considered upcoming band. As their set continues, they manage to switch styles and reveal a rock ‘n’ roll side to their songs; yet continue to harmonize beautifully despite more detailed patterns building. There are many unique factors to the band, including the use of a double bass, which only adds to the folk fuelled nature to their music. They also show their multiple talents as their double bass player switches instruments between songs, to show clear ability on the bass and even on acoustic guitar during the soulful track, ‘I Would Ask’ in which he even sang on his own to expose his vocal strengths.
The highlight of the evening had to be the bands final song, which was a cover of, ‘House or the Rising Sun’, in a completely different style to the original. Through their own twists, they managed to fuse two guitar solos into the song with Polly playing their guitarists part while he let rip on a long harmonica solo between guitar solos. With the crowd shouting for more, the venue allowed Polly to return to the stage alone to perform an acapella gospel song which stunned the crowd into silence as her vocals spectacularly varied between softer tones and more vibrant flamboyancy. Make sure you see them in Southampton in April if you missed out.
Set-List
Polly & The Billets Doux
Cry Cry
Follow My Feet
To Be A Fighter
Factory Whistle
Don’t Trouble Trouble
Cup and the Lip
The Rounder
Who do you love – Bo Diddley
I Would Ask
Pretty Thing – Bo Diddley
Head of Steam
Back to Earth
House or the Rising Sun
Since the Fire started burning in my soul (gospel solo)
Mountain Feet
It’s a mystery
She cuts deep
lies cause suicides
Sharing you
Pride and joy (stevie ray vaughn cover)
Coke Can Jack
Bourbon Eyes
Beg Steel or Borrow
Get Better
You Against The World
Bad News
Devil on your Shoulder
Cursed
http://www.myspace.com/pollyandthebilletsdoux
http://www.myspace.com/mountainfeetmusic
http://www.myspace.com/cokecanjack
Download Polly & The Billets Doux’s new single ‘Cry Cry’ on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cry-cry-single/id426886459
Words by;
George Fullerton.
The Virginmary’s are a three piece band from Macclesfield have quite surprised themselves with the speed that their name is spreading through the music world, after successful tours with New Model Army, Skunk Anansie and Slash. Tonight they stop in Southampton as part of their first headline UK tour and despite being a Monday night the place is packed with expectant fans who have come along to see what the fuss is all about.
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It’s a special night in Bournemouth as Champions hosts one of its home grown talents in the form of four piece rock band, The Longest Day. After the release of the band’s debut album, ‘A State of Indifference’, they have been touring the UK and have managed to support upcoming band, Sick Puppies in Southampton recently. With their reputation building and a strong support line-up, inevitably an intense atmosphere surrounded the venue, for all the right reasons.
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Sucioperro from Scotland are back at the Joiners after a successful performance last taking the long trip down from Ayr to support Aldershot three piece Reuben. They obviously made and good impression and many of the fans there that night are back for more. The band are made up Fergus Munro(Drums), Stewart Chown(Bass) and lead vocalist/guitarist Jp Reid who was famously with Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro in Marmaduke Duke.
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Saturday Night at O2 Academy in Bournemouth and a rare chance to see one of British music’s finest vocalist’s in action. Mr. Roger Daltrey with his band who are in town for a special ‘One Off’ intimate warm-up show for a gig the Royal Albert Hall in four days time in Aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust where the band plan to play the whole of the ‘Tommy’ album in full. Tonight they will predominantly feature songs from alum ‘Tommy’ in preparation for the gig in London.
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