Casiotone for the Painfully Alone / Concern / Urgent Talk

@ Sheffield Shakespeare

This was a late decision. Mid afternoon I found out about this and a few emails later I had made up my mind. 'Casiotone for the Painfully Alone' in Sheffield? This had to be done. Advance tickets had long sold out so it was early on the door and a brief look at the local support from 'Urgent Talk'. Well it was difficult to actually get in the room to see them such was the demand. And I like violins in bands. A wonderful three piece, a noisy, energetic pop band. It really was a shame I could only sneak round the door. One to look out for again.

Middle set was 'Concern', Gordon Ashcroft's singular excursion into the development of the note. To the extreme. Multi-layered swooning electonica with loops and static and occasional vocals. If you could hear them over the cacophony of it all. Earplugs at the ready. One song developed over the set, drifting in and out of earshot, seducing and then tossing you aside in an instant. And then it stopped. Gorgeous.

I had heard of 'Casiotone FTPA' for a while now, but only got to see them the week before this gig on the recommendation of friends. I like slow burn. That's what this does. There is something about passion. It consumes. It blinds. It feeds you with immense energy. It disappears and you are left destroyed. This is what Owen Ashworth, the force behind 'Casiotone FTPA' recites. At the moment I am passionate about 'Castiotone'. Perhaps it too will leave me in time. Desperate songs of loss and sorrow. These are the things we encounter everyday. Our lives. The lives of those around us, our friends and families. Trying to do what is right and failing miserably. Hollow, empty, echoing. Until the next passionate encounter takes us on another journey we believe will make things better. Perhaps.

I love these songs. In the space of a week they have crept into my head. I was mesmerised at the gig. I wasn't in a pub in Sheffield. I was in someone's bedroom. I was writing a letter. I was drinking coffee trying to piece together the night before. I was thinking of a lover. And pinning. These sweet beautiful tales that Ashworth recites over lo-fi electronica, mixed with a decidedly Americana sound. Brief windows into ordinary lives. An Edward Hopper painting. Seductive and disturbing in it's simple honesty.

Words and photos by Michael Prince

Danananakroyd

@ Hull Adelphi

You've seen a fight, right? Not one with stylish kids, just full on action, be it among men or women. A set of legs, fists and spontaneous incongruity; you get mesmerised, from the opening banter to the down right brutality of the troublesome outcome, boarding on riot. The normal adult refrain lost to unplanned cruelty adorned on they who dare to lose; the sights, the sound with thought and morality brushed aside in uncompromised bad taste. Now play out such an event in your head, but this time imagine Youthmovies and their mates Foals, armed with Guns 'n' Roses axes (original ones bought on ebay, not Axel's downloaded monstrosity), have just doubled teamed The View and are giving the indie popsters the shoeing they deserve.* Now pause the image in your head and think of the song playing in the background as you watched the melee – that my friend is Danananakroyd and that chaos is their live show. Much like the depths of humanity when collected and analysed it isn't big or clever, but is fucking enthralling. Dual voices scramble for attention whilst guitars argue before lumping down epic riffs. Both singers prowl the Adelphi crowd, jump into them and barge without fluffing a line.

And there I was expecting another scenesters by numbers fest; how wrong can one person be?

And Ok, ok so The View really have nothing to do with Danananakroyd's sound, but I just rather like the image of them getting a beating.

*This is entirely metaphorical and I would just like to point out that violence should never be brought against anyone, least of all for making shit music.

Mike Reynolds

Scarlet Harlots / Phoenix Fall / Arthur Rigby and the Baskervylles / Ten Floors

@ Leeds Elbow Rooms

My first visit to this venue to see live music and, it's a curious affair, part pool table bar with a small stage in the corner, giving it a student refectory feel. The first three bands only generate the minimum of interest from the clientele, perhaps preoccupied more by the 8-ball action than what's happening on stage. It's a shame because the sound is pretty good and the laid back atmosphere won't put off up and coming bands keen, to get some gigs under their belt.

Each act comes and goes like clockwork, without too much waiting in between. Pick of the undercard action are Arthur Rigby and the Baskervylles, continuing the current vogue of bass less 2-piece line-ups. In this case, the guitar is acoustic and their sound is augmented with big band backing tracks (affectionately called the Baskervylles Orchestra). Front man Benjamin Rigby has a nose for a classic pop tune, particularly 'One Stormy Night' which is reminiscent of some of Neil Hannon's finer moments.

I've heard good things about tonight's headline act Scarlet Harlots, who made the final this year's Orange Unsigned competition. As a West Midlander now enjoying a Yorkshire exile, I'm keen to check out this Birmingham based quintet to see what all the fuss is about. By the time the Harlots take the stage, casual interest has distilled into expectation with about 50 people gathered. They kick off their set with current EP track 'Benefits', a white knuckle fusion of Punk, Dub and Reggae and, it's quickly obvious the band know their songs inside out as they're tighter than a Mother Superior's front bottom! Lead singer Sam Baylis struts through the crowd with a swagger not seen since Shaun Ryder was in his pomp as the quintet blast through their set staples including 'Porcelain' and 'Sunflowers'. The cracking 'A Secret' is next, blending Hip-Hop and choppy calypso guitar, all played at breakneck speed. By this time the crowd are really bouncing and are rewarded with a cracking cover of the Montell Jordan classic 'This is how we do it'. Where did they get that one from?

Quality band, blinding set, even if I am a little biased.

Mike Price

Century Kids / The Harringtons / Supernova Bandits / Goodnight Anita

Soundclash @ Sheffield

Goodnight Anita (FKA Simple delivery) kicked off the evening to a fairly small gathering of teenagers. Their music has good solid drum beat and when it's mixed with their lively guitar riffs it becomes very likeable. Their most memorable track was the cover of 'I'm A Believer'...or rather their interpretation. They made this song their own; a lot more rockier... no animated donkeys here!

Next up was Supernova Bandits who played to a fuller room and received a very enthusiastic welcome. These lads are very likeable, their music is easy to listen to and very singable. Their most memorable track being the slower 'Don't Let Go' had interesting riffs and the vocals were very impressive. Unfortunately the set didn't go with out a few technical hitches... but the band played on as well as they could with the help of a soundman being permanently 'glued' to the bass lead.

The Harringtons entered the stage to an ecstatic welcome from the now full auditorium. They thanked the Century Kids for letting them support, then their energy soon kicked in with their determined attitude. The best track of the whole evening was the dancey 'All These Things That Lovers do' – which for a moment reminded me of Little Man Tate, but then turned into their own Harringtons style tune with trademark ringing guitars and confident vocals. Their set continued to impress the crowd, so much so the front of the stage became a 'moshing mess' of bodies, which became more frenzied when 'City Nights' was played. Unfortunately their set seemed to be prematurely cut short, much to the annoyance of the fans who chanted “more, more” hoping that would entice them to play longer...

Now it was time for Century Kids, their rapturous welcome said it all... unfortunately they encountered technical issues but 'bantered' their way through it well... and it didn't stop them, they got it sorted and the show went on. Their dual vocals faultless from the beginning and the lads making their performance look easy. Despite battling with 'feed back' noises on stage, their carefully written lyrics complimented their danceable music well. Their 'Kinda Cool' track got everybody dancing and seemed to be the most enjoyed song of their set, until of course their encore 'Stay For Me' which seemed to encourage the throwing of various garments at the stage...one lad threw a pair of boxer shorts...?! This band is going from strength to strength and whose popularity seems to expand gig by gig.

Words By Gail Buckthorpe
Photos By Geoff Buckthorpe

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