Posts Tagged ‘southampton’

Slovenia’s Elvis Jackson present ‘Street 45’, the third single to be taken from their album “Against the Gravity”.  An original and interesting animated video for the song “Street 45” was recorded on an adventurous tour that saw the band take in Ljubljana, New York and Sarajevo.  This music video captures the message of the song perfectly and takes place on the actual 45th Street in the New York City.  Members of the band appear in the video as animated characters, and focuses on a victim of violence.   In today’s fast-living world, one filled with contradictions, the band are commenting on how unimportant life can appear as we become merely a number – a statistic. 

Created by the team at Knap Studios, you can view the video in its entirety here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WN7axud6v4 

Elvis Jackson gained critical praise during the UK release of Against The Gravity last year, and the band will be gracing our stages again this October when they touch down for a week of live shows.   They will be playing at The Cellar in Southampton on Friday 7th October with Kodiak Jack in support.

October tour details are: 

6th – TBC

7th- Southampton- The Cellar

8th- London – New Cross Inn

9th – TBC

10th – TBC

11th – TBC

12th – Norwich – Karma Kafe

13th- TBC

14th – Hastings – The Tubman 

For more information on Elvis Jackson please visit: http://www.elvisjackson.com/

‘Til Dusk certainly on first listen appear to be offering up something a little different to the usual ‘lad rock’ bands currently doing the rounds.  The 80s have been receiving a bit of a revival over the last few years but generally it has been the electro sounds getting the revamp (or rehash in some cases)via the likes of the bollock numbingly awful Hurts or more palatable Empire Of The Sun.

But what of that other 80s staple, the Soft Rock radio hits, the kind of stuff your Dad always liked, surely they are due some reappraisal and a modern spin?  Well ‘Til Dusk think so and I agree.  Don’t be put off; we are not talking about pipe and slippers music here, just sharp, instantly accessible pop.  Imagine sticking 1985 Dire Straits in a DeLoren and programming in 2011, this is radio 80s with the savvy of the 21^st Century.

As soon as the slick Simple Minds-esque ‘In This Place’ launches the CD I am instantly thinking of all my favourite 80s movies and imagining this slipping nicely onto the soundtrack for Ferris Bueller or Back To The Future, rubbing shoulders with The Dream Academy or Huey Lewis And The News.

With just a shade of Del Amitri in the breezy ‘Honey, Just Walk It’ the classic coupling of chugging guitar verse and bright sing-a-long chorus make this one of several commercial-radio-hits-in-waiting nestling on the album.

But it is ‘Evernamed’ that is clearly the showpiece of the album, delivered with beautiful restraint and allowing the quality of the song to shine through and for vocalist/songwriter James McLaren to showcase his rich voice accompanied by sparse piano and hushed rhythms.  The perfect example of when less is more.

Bringing the album home, I am at last able to use the sentence ‘sounds a bit like Duran Duran’ on the synth-tastic opening of closing track ‘Lies They Sell’ before it breaks into a frankly Tears For Fears flavoured verse.

You can’t help but use seemingly dirty words like ‘power ballad’, ’AOR’ or worst of all ‘MOR’ when describing the ‘Til Dusk sound, but in this context they are not derogatory, this is a surprisingly confident and assured album from a clearly talented group.

Adopting the classic nine track format (Let It Bleed, The Dark Side Of The Moon… first three Duran Duran albums) keeps the excess to a minimum and apart from the slightly medicore ‘One By One’ ‘Til Dusk have produced a timeless collection of tracks.  Less concerned with the zeitgeist and centred on well produced, perfectly executed pop, this will be one of the rare CDs that makes it into my own collection.  Take from that what you will.

Jules says….

Find out more on their official website HERE.

Debut EP from Southampton indie newbies Cardinals is a confident start and boasts at least one fantastic track.  ‘Salamander’ is Bloc Party meets Blur, wistful vocals and a restrained rhythm that shares the same feel (if not sound) as Snow Patrol’s ‘Run’.  Dare I say, perhaps even hints of the shoegazing…. It is a track that grows with every listen and gently implants itself in your brain.

That is not to say the other 3 tracks that make up this introductory release are merely filling space.  ‘Numbers’ is drenched in melancholy, deliciously desolate opening lines ‘walking in to an empty house, and find the note you left yourself’ encapsulate the loneliness expressed.

Loss and isolation seem to be the recurring theme, the desperate ‘Anything can leave if you will it to let go’ from ‘Human Traces’ is far too bleak of a conclusion for ones so young to have reached, however true it may be…..

This is a classically English indie affair, Graham Coxon sparse guitars, detached vocals and lots of cymbals.  Owing a lot to early 90s indie bands like House Of Love or even The Jesus And Mary Chain but with a twist of the current with shades of Foals or Pete And The Pirates about them.

A mature, well-crafted set, filled with slow burn songs that stay with you long after the CD has finished.

Jules Says…

Check them out for yourselves HERE.

Someone, somewhere is going to listen to the first track on this EP and it is going to hurt.  ‘Biggest Mistake’ is a classic “love gone bad tale”, the staple source of inspiration for every band since the dawn of time, but as with music in general, it is all in the delivery and this is where Birds In Flight and vocalist Jess Gibbons gets it right.  ‘Falling for you was my biggest mistake, you brought me nothing but heartache’ ouch, you can feel the pain and disappointment behind this song and more importantly, you believe it.  A great start to the CD.

Second track starts out with crescendo of drums, bass and distorted guitar before dropping away for a spidery guitar melody, reminiscent of Spandau Ballet’s To Cut A Long Story Short, although I am sure this is not by design given the bands age and (I am guessing) unlikely New Romantic leanings.

Completing the trilogy is ‘Heroes’ displaying some funky bass work and bringing Jess’ vocals to the forefront it rounds of a short, but indeed sweet, collection of tracks.

I think it is fair to say that Incubus are a major ingredient in the influence mix, the rhythm section especially have an air of the ‘Make Yourself’ about them but with the addition of the female vocals and some crunchy guitar it is no carbon copy.  This is an EP with a huge amount of promise and some strong tunes, definitely ones to watch.  

Having had the benefit of seeing the band live a couple of times now the songs really come alive on the stage and are lot more powerful in the flesh than perhaps the CD.  You can hear ‘Biggest Mistake’ on our Featured Tracks section…. Go on, I’ll wait here.

Jules says…..

Visit Birds In Flight on MySpace to learn more…

Mark Morriss returns to The Cellar once more!

Bluetones front man returns to the South coast with an intimate gig at Southamptons Soul Cellar. Angry Badger have also managed to get the fantastic Dan Leigh in on a solo acoustic set and main support from Timshel and indie rockers Moody Tuesday.

The Cellar, Southampton

Wednesday 13th April

Mark Morriss (Acoustic Set)

Timshel

Moody Tuesday

Dan Leigh (New Device – acoustic set)

Tickets £8.00 adv – available on line HERE.

Ticket price includes entrance to DJ Hammy’s Supersonic Club Night