Last Friday night, in South East London, a rare thing happened. A night of rock n roll was brought to the forgotten corner of London. A week after the Kick Out The Jams all dayer and, a few months after CroCroLand, it feels like a shift is well under way. With Soho becoming overrun by greed, venues like New Cross Inn, Amersham Arms and The White Hart must become pivotal touring stops and breed life into a hotbed creativity so often overlooked.
To break the 4th wall briefly, it was our 8th birthday and, we have to say thank you to the bands and everyone who came. Furthermore, thank you to This Feeling, Kick Out The Jams, Zine UK, and especially Art Beat Promo for their support and inspiration in keeping grass roots music alive.
Opening with the lush and intimate sounds of Mark Radcliffe favourite Daniel Land, the New Cross Inn was served up a piece of introspective shimmering guitar work. Land's voice, under appreciated in his band format with their soaring landscapes displayed an array romanticism and melancholy to lose your self in.
Image courtesy of Caffy St Luce
The temperature was raised considerably when the sexed up riffs of North London's Come At The King. Former single 'Shudder', filled the room with danger and intense anticipation. Everyone knew an explosion was coming, that didn't make anyone prepared for it. All those years watching Noel trying to write this song, blown to pieces in 4mins of dirty rock n roll blues.
A quick blast of 'Hotel Yorba' had everyone dancing but, it was their own 'Minesweep' that laid down the gauntlet. Humble in lyrics, chest out bravado in sound, they have their blueprint to glory.
Image courtesy of Caffy St Luce
Then came Brighton's Lacuna Bloome. A band no longer of potential, they are bursting at the seems of bass hooks and John Squire guitar parts. They demonstrated their ability to switch up from the pop majesty of 'I Am' and 'Alright' to the frenzied set closer. It's one thing to have Stone Roses as an influence, its another to deliver on it.
With an EP coming this Autumn, Lacuna Bloome are sure thing to be on main stages at next years festivals.
Average Sex
Headlining were Tim Burgess proteges Average Sex. From start to finish, a riot of 60s girl groups, punk and charisma. Their first national tour starts this Friday in Liverpool (Phase One) and, on this showing, radio stations are going to be foaming at the mouth to give them airplay.
Image courtesy if Caffy St Luce
Instant classics 'Ice Cream' and 'Melody' had New Cross this hooked and, by the time singer Laetitia has woven her magic, everyone was under their spell.
Not only do they move from destructive New York punk to Johnny Marr pop effortlessly, they do it with an unfettered spirit. 'We’re Done', the greatest chorus in recent times (bar none), is either sung along by fans or having people in stitches with its chorus:
“You act like im the crazy one since I slashed your tyres / Now you wont return my calls since I set your dog on fire”
They icons in the making, they have the singles, they have the album tracks, now its your job, the public to go and fall in love with them.