Showing posts with label gigs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gigs. Show all posts

Monday, 29 June 2009

Roving Reporter . . . Eddie's gig at The Dublin Castle

Sunday nights gig at The Dublin Castle!
Spotted: The Horrors Lead Singer, walking past the Castle, in a world of his own, but stopping to chat to band: Eddie's manager - friends in high places!

Last night, Eddie played The Dublin Castle in Camden and yours truly was there to make sure they not only looked truly stylish, but also to enjoy the spectacle that is pop musics newest offering.
Larissa, the bands lead singer wore a stunning, body con, black dress, with rainbow, one shoulder / waistband trim (by SOFIA ALEXANDER), mini hot pink socks and black heels. Stylishly tied to one side and styled with a corsage, her hair looked fab and topped off with Urban Decay, blue eyes, she was definitely a lead singer to contend with!

The boys looked super cool too! Keeping in casual in a mixture of print tees and checked shirts and amazing Puma trainers.
Eddie as a band are perfectly marrying 'Indie' with a 'Rock style Pop', that produces an incredibly catchy sound. I know all the words, I'm such a groupie.

When I was helping Larissa get ready, in what was essentially a store cupboard, we were surrounded by empty boxes, musical instruments and graffiti and the other bands flitting in and out were more Russel Brand stylee, than pop, in fact, many were paying homage to the great unwashed. 
As Liss sat curling her fringe, one rather greasy, guy, derogatorily referred to my pop princess as a 'wannabe Britney'. Naturally we ignored, but imagine the pleasure that Liss got when he later heard 'Eddie's' sound check and we watched him swaying and tapping his feet, only to return with his dread-locked band members in tow for Eddies full set! I have never seen so many 'rock' style fans bopping to perfectly pumping pop tunes!

Sunday, 31 May 2009

Roving Reporter . . . Fashion Music Style Party

Thursday afternoon saw me head to The Monarch, in Camden to have a little chill out session. The mini magazine that is the fab 'Fashion Music Style' - FMS, launched its third issue with a cool gig session from some of the magazines unsigned acts. This was a great opportunity to see some fab bands, drink some free drinks and relax in the fabulous North London. My favourite of the night was 12 Dirty Bullets, but everyone did a great job, all I have to do now is find a place to wear my goodie bag Kangol hat.

Thursday, 21 May 2009

Roving Reporter and Flats . . . Together in one post!


Having pranced about London checking out gigs and parties, we decided that what we really wanted to do was curl up on the sofa with hot chocolates and tell you all about it!
So off we went back to my pad where I cracked open the Cadbury's to make us hot chocolate. 
Tonight we went off to see Sam Loaker play in Camden. We love Sam! He was fabulous and funny - plus he gave me a free CD so I could sway to his crooning at home. Though he did seem nervous, his humour shined through and he entertained the crowd with not only clever and witty lyrics but also cute and entertaining stories to match them too!

He is definitely one to watch . . . We will put up pics and video of the gig tomorrow, until then feast your eyes on his myspace! SAM LOAKER

Saturday, 9 May 2009

Flats talks to . . . Jamie Delaney from Blighters



I head to the back of a little pub, totally indie’esque to find a skinny jeaned boy and pot of tea awaiting me.
With my usual hour delay, the first time ever the band or for this instance Jamie (singer and guitarist of 'Blighters') is on time, I find him, waiting, sitting comfortably, for my grilling.
To me he is quintessentially a totally English boy; I first saw 'Blighters' play at the waterfront in Norwich several years ago, when they were then called 'Monroe’s'. They have a great sound, of which many of my musical friend rave about.
Bleu: So what have you been doing with yourself recently? With the band that is? As I can clearly see you have been shopping he he.

Jamie: Oh well, yes, I went charity shop shopping today I bought an amazing jumper!

Bleu: Wow that’s awesome. Anyway so what have the band been doing?

Jamie: We are solidly writing at the moment, stopped being in London so much and moved back to Norwich now spending loads of time recording with Mike Crossly.

Bleu: Who do you think the best British band is at the moment?

Jamie: God that’s hard, there’s so many and I flick between a lot, um .... I love 'The Magistrates’, and 'The Virgins', who we played with a while back, they were really cool.
Bleu: If you could pick anyone, who would be your mistletoe kiss? (Random but all boys I’ve asked normally say another boy or band member!)
Jamie: In that case, it would totally be Lenny (the drummer)

Bleu: God no! Pick another!

Jamie: He he ok, um Ramallah, she’s an actress I filmed a movie with a while back, I don’t know why, but it would be her.

Bleu: Oh I forget your an actor in your spare time.

Jamie: Yes I really enjoy it, I had my first proper speaking part recently in a film. I really would like to do more.

Bleu: Who are your musical influences?

Jamie: It's always evolving, from the past and changing. But Michael Jackson and, at the moment, (after searching through his shopping bag he finds some Mj records –B-F) Late David Bowie is a definite, Japan and Abc.

Bleu: What influences your sound and lyrics?

Jamie: Well I take influences for lyrics from different places. But we changed our band name a few months back and that was because our sound had changed and 'The Blighters' felt like it met our new material well.

Bleu: What are you hoping to achieve this year as a band?

Jamie: Hopefully do a couple of festivals in-between recording and writing. Get an album out and get a really good single from it to.


Bleu: How did you find your manager?

Jamie: He kind of found us, came to a gig we were playing and it all just started from there.

Bleu: Lucky you, most bands strive to find a good manager. If you were an object what would you be and why?(he looks totally confused) so I give examples? Sofa, a camera etc. (a table? - RR)

Jamie: A pillow so I could smother you. (Funny of scary?! - RR)

Bleu: Oh cheers love, I'll remember that when I do a review on you!
If you could spend a day doing anything what would you do?

Jamie: That's so hard, many things (he sits thoughtfully thinking through so many ideas). Lots of things, but one would be bringing back the musical geniuses from the past, e.g. Freddy Mercury etc. and make a record with them.

Bleu: Would you invite rest of your band?

Jamie: No I'd be selfish, just me.

Bleu: What’s your favourite snack? (It's just a filler question . . . I assume it will be haribo as he’s been tucking in to a big bag)

Jamie: Today it would be haribo.

Wednesday, 6 May 2009

Flats Tells Us . . . The Maccabees & Mumford and Sons @ Electric Ballroom last night

This just a more detailed review of last night with some pics too!
With a last minute rush over to Camden, I met Kie Kie (Roving Reporter) at Camden Town tube. All we had to do was follow the mass of indie kids heading over in their checked shirts and plimsolls to know we were in the right place.After picking up our very “Important”, press, guest list tickets we headed inside, to have a little snoop and wander around to see what was going down. The Venue itself wasn’t really, shabby chic enough for me, but was a good, big, gig space regardless. After grabbing a beer and heading to the main area, we got a good spot up front, to see support band 'Mumford and Sons'.They are actually incredibly good, with old school, mixed with bizarre instrument choices, their sound was amazing! I loved it! I would go and see them again most defiantly. 

(Ben from the Mumford and Sons! - bad shirt, fantastic face! - RR)
The lead singer had a sort of folksy style, indie voice, and deep, meaningful lyrics, it was so perfect. (I felt like I was in a cool barn dance - but cool, really cool! At perhaps a slightly wacky boarding school - RR).

Look who we met in the loo! - she was sooooo nice!
With Ben Lovett on the keys, he was really going for it! But the geek chic instrument of 2009, has to be the double bass! I have never seen anyone rock one before!
We headed outside for a sneaky fag before the Macs played and grabbed a quick chat with Matt Horne about his latest escapades, he promises us an interview soon. 
We spot Felix sneaking behind us for a quick sing along to the support. I grab Land for a second, forgetting to mock his bad choice of headwear! I just got a quick peck and wished good luck for the set, after (finally -RR) introducing all to Kie Kie “your kooky curly haired friend” (is that really my description?! - Not sure if honoured?! - RR)  We settle back into our spot ready for The Maccabees to start. 

Within about 5 seconds of them walking on stage, the sold out crowd were going crazy! 
Most indie bands, really don’t have such great voices, but this band are different in so many ways (you are such a groupie - RR). 
Not only are the songs catchy and well written, but Orlando’s voice is incredible, Felix pours his passion for music onto the floor every time he walks onto the stage, and his solo escapades, fronting the band are becoming more regular. As Felix (shyly) sang his heart out, me and Kie Kie whooped crazily in support (I felt silly, I should drink more, it was however VERY good and worth a good whoop - RR). 

They are, genuinely, an amazing band to see live, even listening to the record, you can feel the buzz . . .
 “We want the record to sounds like the best live gig you could go to” said Felix.
I loved it, Kie Kie loved it, the huge crowd loved it! 
Yet again an unforgettably great performance from them!

Kiss Kiss Bleu flats x