Gig Review: Palma Violets, Childhood & BabyStrange

Monday 18th Nov, I got off the train at Wolverhampton station to be greeted by a sea of parka coats - Beady Eye were in town, but I wasn't off to see them (as much as I love LG) I was heading to the Slade Rooms for Palma Violets - a four-piece indie band from London, who have received praise and backing from the likes of NME and Radio 1's Zane Lowe.

The bands debut album '180' peaked at no.11 in the UK album charts, not bad eh?

The song that brought them to my attention was 'Best of friends' and it still remains one of my favourites.

Whenever I go to see any live music, I like to make sure I get there to see the support acts too, you never know who you might discover... if it wasn't for getting to a Bombay Bicycle Club gig early I would never have discovered Theme Park, who pretty much filled a lot of my summer soundtrack last year.

So, Palma Violets were suitably supported my BabyStrange a punk-esque 3 man band from Glasgow, their angry grungey sound seemed to suit the Palma Violets attitude, and the masses of moshing 15 year olds seemed to approve. I don't think I'll be adding them to my playlist anytime soon, but, live they had an exciting energy and I'd happily watch them again, if not only to feel like a rebellious teen.

Childhood were up next, a very different band, one that seemed a bit of an odd choice really in the line-up, mellow indie with a bit of a psychedelic dreamy feel (I'd already got their song 'Solemn Skies' on a mix CD so I was pretty happy when they performed that one... swaying and singing along...) the rest of their set was nice, easy-listening stuff, not ground breaking, but, there is definitely potential there, they could be ones to watch out for...

And, then, eventually Palma Violets took to stage - the atmosphere was pretty impressive, and the audience was buzzing, the whole set had a great feel to it and band and audience gave it their all, they have a real Clash sound about them, something that for many of the youngsters present might be something completely new, but for the 20+ lot, it was just nice to have a bit of punk indie back in our lives. I would 100% see them again, just wish they'd take off the sunglasses, Boys - I know rock n' roll image is important BUT YOU'RE INSIDE.

Anyway, if they're good enough for Stuart Pearce (weirdly in the audience) then they're good enough for the rest of us.. I think that works.

RECORDS ON REPEAT

This week my records on repeat:

Skin Town - Midnight Lover
https://soundcloud.com/skintown/midnight-lover

90s dance, Rn'B vibezzzzzzzzz

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Blood Orange - You're not good enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbZ3s8XWJlA

Some really funky disco - worthy just for the lyrics alone

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I like David Bowie, he's one of the music greats. And here is him being remixed, well, rather well:
https://soundcloud.com/davidbowie/love-is-lost-hello-steve-reich

LOVE MORE AND WORRY LESS

Love more and worry less,

That's some important advice - something we should probably all take on board

Bipolar Sunshine:


https://soundcloud.com/bipolarsunshine/love-more-worry-less-2

The National *new release*

I'm a relatively new National fan, but now, I dunno what I'd do without them. It sounds cheesy but when I listen to some of their songs, like 'Demons' or 'Start a war' - they actually make my heart ache. And I rarely do emotional...

Their new song is for the soundtrack of Hunger Games, and they haven't let us down.

Everybody needs a prayer, and needs a friend
Everybody knows the world's about to end
Everybody wants to know what the end will be
Everybody wants to look before they leap
Everybody wants to sip of wine to drink
Everybody wants a little more time to think 
Everybody needs a reason why they run
Everybody wants to know what they're running from
And I can see your fever's on the riseI can see the waters in your eyes
And I can see the way the water leads
Love will lead us all to smithereens
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
You said it was everything... 
Everybody takes forever to fall asleep, 
Everybody's got a life they don't want to keep 
Everybody needs a prayer, and needs a friend
Everybody knows the world's about to end
And I can see your fever's on the rise
I can see the waters in your eyes
And I can see the way the water leads
Love will lead us all to smithereens
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
You said it was everything... 
i'm gonna let it in... 
And I can see your fever's on the rise
I can see the waters in your eyes
And I can see the way the water leads
Love will lead us all to smithereens
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
You said it was everything... 
I'm gonna let it in...
And I can see your fever's on the rise
I can see the waters in your eyes
And I can see the way the water leads
Love will lead us all to smithereens
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
Dying is easy, I believe my love and my love relieves me
You said it was everything... 
I'm gonna let it in...


https://soundcloud.com/universalrepublic/the-national-lean-the-hunger/s-5Ft3p

I'm gonna have a listen to the whole soundtrack, I think there could be some gems on there, I'll let you know..

RECORDS ON REPEAT

My records on repeat for this week:

Glass Animals - Psylla
https://soundcloud.com/glassanimals/psylla

Wet - I don't wanna be your girl
https://soundcloud.com/wetnyc/dont-wanna-be-your-girl

and

Eyedress - Nature trips
https://soundcloud.com/eyedress/nature-trips

The Arctic Monkeys take a walk on the wild side

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nHeZJfQ69I

OUTFIT. they're cool

A few months ago, I'd only really heard the name Outfit (a band from Liverpool) a few times, I think I may have caught a snippet of one of their tunes on 6music, but after a radio pal recommended I gave them a proper listen, I did, and she was right, they're kinda special.

So, I was really excited to being going to see them at The Institute in Brum (supporting Everything Everything, who are pretty decent too) but very annoyingly a couple of days before I got ill, cheers for that immune system, nice one. I think I had a fever *cold* but whatever it was, it must have been pretty bad cos nothing stops me from enjoying myself... So while I sobbed into my ticket whilst sipping on Lemsip, everyone else was living it up at the gig, bad times indeed.

But, the missed gig and 20 quid wasted aside...

Their album Performance (released on Aug 12th) is a mixture of dance, techno, indie. It's different, it's a bit messy, but most of all it's good.

Here's one of my faves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APAUl2Fc_0g

Lou Reed. RIP.

Lou Reed died on 27/10/13

So, you may think I'm pretty late with this post about him, you'd be right.

When I read the news (on Twitter) which is how I find out about a lot of breaking news, like many people, I was genuinely shocked and saddened.

Velvet Underground have and continue to play a massive part in my little music world. 

Without people like Lou Reed creating amazing songs, my life would be pretty empty, music just means so much.

Here's Reed at possibly his most tender:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcDuR9BF0Oc

PALE BLUE EYES. xxxxxxxxxxxxx