The Crooks: 100 Club, London

The last time The Crooks were in London at The Water Rats, there was a reconnection and reaffirmation between the band and fans alike. What was lost, was found. This time around, the conundrum was trickier. It was prove yourself time!

*banner image credit: Rhona Murphy

‘Dreaming Out Loud’ and ‘Champagne & Caviar’ opened proceedings but, for anyone at the triumphant Water Rats gig, not as they hoped. The energy in the room was flat. Had the desperation for fans to prove themselves to a band evaporated?

No. The room was in awe!

Image Credit: Rhona Murphy

Quiet, jaws down, and eyes bulging the sold-out crowd looked on at a band that had gone to a new place in their time away. More melodic, intense and tighter than before, The Crooks unfurled a stream of rock ‘n’ roll that’s begging to connect with big crowds.

The latest single, ‘Carry On,’ gave their set a different dimension. Slower and more psychedelic, it allowed their guitars to spiral and fall with the freedom usually reserved for a band three albums deep. It allowed frontman Jacko to distil a gritty yet angelic clarity.

Most bands would kill to close on ‘In The Meantime’. Its euphoric football crowd quality bellowed out from Jacko and back again from the fans as one. The Crooks, however, signal time three songs out with Better Days and In Time preceding. Epic drama-fueled anthems which light up the 100 Club like it’s a stadium.

Festival season is upon The Crooks with Isle of Wight, Godney Gathering, and Y Not coming up. Three gigs to change the world? Maybe. Three gigs t change their status from underground to main stage? Definitely.

Jetstream Pony: 100 Club, London

Hailing from Brighton and East Croydon, Jetsream Pony are an indie super group, consisting of Beth Arzy (Trembling Blue Stars/Luxembourg Signal/Lightning in a Twilight Hour) on vocals, Shaun Charman (The Wedding Present/The Popguns/The Fireworks) on guitar, Kerry Boettcher (Turbocat) on bass, and Hannes Mueller (Endlich Bluete, The BV's) on drums.

They opened up the Valentine’s Day Sarah Records reunion at the 100 Club last Friday. Despite the annual celebration of love, they delivered some joyously melancholic indie. ‘I Close My Eyes’, with its Byrds-esque jangle and Arzy’s knowing and tumultuous lyrics, ignite the set.

Meanwhile, during ‘It’ll Take More Than Friday’, Boettcher’s bass playing takes the hooks of The Prisoners and threatens to overspill in a riot but, Arzy’s lush vocals simmer everything, just!

The ante is upped again on set closer and, latest single ‘Yellow Pills’. This was the sound of band hitting cutting loose. It took the throbbing intensity of The Membranes and the pop splendour of Phil Spector.

It was on ‘Had Enough’ where the set climaxed though. The Cure meets The Fall intro should have been enough. The spikiness colliding with shoegaze’s beauty was, one of those rare moments of cultures clashing that make live music the ultimate art form.

Jetsream Pony (and The Hannah Barberas) are supporting Even As We Speak at the Lexington on March 28th.

*image courtesy of Richard Weir

The Orchids: 100 Club, London

Valentine’s day, the 100 Club, and a Sarah’s Records reunion. It was a match made in heaven. Headlining was the Glaswegian 5-piece, The Orchids.

With their 7th studio album in development, an added sense of excitement was in the air and on first hearing of ‘Caravan’, another indie gem is in the offing.

Sadly, honorary Orchid Pauline Hynds Bari was unwell. While her eloquent beauty was missed on vocals, it led to ‘You Could Do Something To Me’ being dedicated to her. The gentle twisting and turning classic was more than a fitting tribute.

Beautiful personifies most of their work, but on ‘A Place Called Home’, something truly exquisite happened. The acoustic and electric guitars combined to paint pictures of unattainable dreams on the horizon. It showcased the human condition quite like no other band can. All felt a sense of isolation, but the sense of belonging it gave the London crowd was tangible.

From ‘She’s My Girl’ through to the set closer ‘Caveman’, they injected enough happiness into the room to rid the world of Brexit and Trump. ‘She’s My Girl’, swirled its way through the room like Storm Dennis but with vocals sent from the gods to reassure us all.

The crescendo of love on ‘The Sadness of Sex’ was akin to the euphoria of the great rave djs. Layer upon layer of love was built on this Style Council meets Saint Etienne gem. Friend of the band Michael Deans, joined them on stage to add his saxophone genius to proceedings. ‘Walter’, in particular, was given a stylish and raucous lift.

The night was brought to an end with the cult classics ‘Bemused, Confused and Bedraggle’ and ‘Caveman’. It was akin to the release of ecstasy. We’ve had their love and we’re begging for more!

*Image courtesy of This Is Anorak City

Thousand Yard Stare: 100 Club, London

Thousand Yard Stare recently returned with a new single, ‘It Sparks!’. A firecracker embodying all that they were and all that they might become. Last week, they opened their Indie Daze set at 100 Club with said single.

Whether it was the glowing reviews or Lammo spinning it on 6music, the band were clearly buoyed. Giles Duffy’s guitar licks were more aggressive than ever and, frontman Stephen Barnes prowled the stage like man possessed. Not everyone was aware of ‘It Sparks’, they were four minutes later!

Their energy was tangible and this power grew all night, prompting Barnes to profess “it never used to be like this”. Signalling that a new album was coming lit the touch paper for this crowd. It was as though they were more determined to prove their worth to the band than the other way around. It’s church in the middle ages or football before the businessmen sold it out in 1992. A communal sharing of love and faith to something bigger than themselves!

Throw in a VAR gag for the classic ‘0-0 AET’ and a devastating rendition of ‘Wonderment’ to close the set-out, and TYS was straying into the region of demi-Gods!

The gig’s defining moment, though, came from the live debut of ‘Schizm Algorithm’. Eight minutes of John Squire grooves via menacing Rage Against The Machine bass hooks proved that there is so much life left in this band.

Furthermore, their fans know it too!

*Image courtesy of John Marshall

Thousand Yard Stare – It Sparks!

When Thousand Yard Stare returned in 2015 at the 100 Club, no one could have foreseen the two fine Eps that followed. Such was their quality, most believed this was then riding off into the sunset on top.

The gigs kept coming though, and now, it’s coming full circle with another 100 Club date on October 3rd. To mark the occasion, they are releasing a new single 'It Sparks' via Stifled Aardvark Records.

Recorded at Raffer Studios in Kent (with Callum Rafftery), it continues in the vein of the Eps. Adopting new directions into their underdog spirit. The pomp and pomposity contained in the orchestral opening melts into House of Love via The Cult's guitars. It's a glorious pop music moment. 26 Seconds of vile Tory austerity disintegrates into menacing rock music.

It’s one thing to attack, it’s another to take people with you. In Stephen Barnes’ vocals, they have an instrument to do just that. They’re the musical equivalent of the Phil Kingston, the climate change protestor who sat upon a DLR train for his 83rd birthday. They carry a depth of love and selflessness you simply have to follow.

Barnes has always carried melody well but, this feels more like a performance. Throughout, he threatens a Johnny Rotten snarling violence but it never fully materialises. It’s pure drama, holing the listener in a state of excitement.

This is a notable point in TYS career. It might not be their best pop single, but it's definitely their most profound. With a new album in the offing, exciting times lay ahead.

The Claim: 100 Club, London

Celebrating the re-release of their 1988 album ‘Boomy Tella’ and, the release of the new single ‘Journey’, Kent’s The Claim headlined the 100 Club in London this past Saturday night.

Along with ‘Journey’, they aired other new songs ‘Just Too Far’, ‘Dear’ and ‘Hercules’. All of which retained their razor sharp Medway roots and continued to find interesting ways to deliver pop hooks.

Their classic ‘Birth of Teenager’, knits the support of Treasures of Mexico and Jasmine Minks together with is dark lyrics and infectious melodies.  

On ‘Boomy Tella’ album opener ‘Not So Simple Sharon Says’, The Smiths’ 60s British kitchen sink drama imagery is displayed gloriously. Dave Read’s vocal’s, although vastly different in sound, have Mozza’s knack in finding great and unexpected vocal hooks.

The pop majesty just kept coming has they dived into their back catalogue on ‘Lonely Tarts’ and ‘Between Heaven and Woolworths’. When David Arnold gets his hazy jingle jangle via Mod’s immediacy going like this, it’s easy to imagine what a young Graham Coxon was listening to before ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish’. Just how did roaring success pass them by?

However, there was no place to be wayward or cynical at this gig. So rare are their live shows that, their credibility and integrity just continues to grow in their absence. Now, with new material shining on its debut London outing, the new album cannot come soon enough (May 24th)

*Image courtesy of https://twitter.com/akumulator_uk

Treasures of Mexico : 100 Club, London

With former members of The Dentists in the band, Chatham’s Treasures of Mexico were always going to light up the 100 Club this past Saturday. Their penchant for sun kissed tunes displayed in full force as they supported the legendary Jasmine Minks and The Claim.

From opener ‘Holding Pattern’ to set closer ‘She’ll Never Get Over Me’, the Kent outfit hit a sweet spot, effortlessly rumbling along like The Feelies, circa ‘Good Earth’. With Bob Collins on lead guitar, they had the ability to step out from the shadows of gentle indie. Whether it’s Weller on the attack or the effortless psyche-jangle of the Fanclub’s Norman Blake on ‘Avalanche’ or ‘The Last Thing’, it’s clear Collins still has the “it” factor.  

During ‘The Last Thing’ and ‘She’ll Never Get Over Me’, front man Mark Matthews threatens a Mark E Smith menace that doesn’t quite materialise. It’s a tantalising piece of brilliance. As the melodic sunshine unfurled, an angst loitered and had the crowd on tenterhooks. The not knowing whether a punk fury was going to breakout of these perfect pop songs was exhilarating.

It’s on ‘Supercute’ where everything comes together for them. Matthews has tapped in to the romanticism of Spector girl groups and Lawrence from Felt, Collins has licks and solos to redefine the C86 movement and in Secret Affair drummer Russ Baxter, they have a melodic beat keeping behemoth.

You will be hard pressed to find a band this good, third on the bill of any gig for the rest of the year.

*Image courtesy of https://twitter.com/akumulator_uk

Tim Burgess and The Anytime Minutes: 100 Club

For Independent Venue Week, The Charlatans frontman embarked on a tour around the UK's iconic small venues. For his London date, he came to Oxford Street's 100 Club. As any Charlatan fan will attest, they've been on a roll since 2015's 'Modern Nature' album. So, to do anything live to top that was never on the cards, was it?

Backed by members of the brilliant Average Sex (signed to Tim's O Genesis label), something magical happened this past Wednesday. Especially when Laetitia, the singer from Average Sex entered the affray. Tim and Laetitia became the post-punk Marvin and Tammi and, as a result, created a party for the ages.

'Clutching Insignificance', usually, a bewitching take on the archetype Charlatans sound became a different beast. Vocally, Laetitia is a behemoth. Her fire and 60s soul enriched the song to spark dancing both on and off stage.

Anyone who didn't fall in love with their partner or a past love all over again on 'One Last Kiss' is dead inside. On record, it’s a crisp take on classic Phil Spector and Brian Wilson records and with Average Sex in tow, heightened the icons sound.

Then, just when your thinking this party has nothing left to give, they dropped a cover version of Culture Club's 'Time (Clock of the Heart). The happiness oozing from the stage had an almost desperation to it. It had to escape, it had to infect the lives of others. The bleakness of the society had to be washed away.

Charlatans guitarist Mark Collins popped in for a stripped-back punk version of 'North Country Boy' before the party went out with a bang on Burgess' 2003 classic 'Oh My Corazon'. After this gig, the roll the Charlatans are on is going to have to pick up the pace to surpass this.

At the time of writing this review, the news has announced the tragic death of legendary comedian Jeremy Hardy. I would like to dedicate the happiness of this gig and writing about this gig to Jeremy. He has given me so many great nights out and in on Radio 4. You'll be sorely missed.

Sisteray - Sisteray Said

“seems like we're generation of rejects”

Wounded and cornered, the British rock n roll band can look ready for slaughter. It is however, planning a viscous polemical assault. Enter stage right, Sisteray.

Reminiscent to The Rifles' hilarious 'She Got Standards', Sisteray have found their indie sniper rifle and head shots are being taken. 'Wannabes' is a beefed up glam rock number attacking the coke fuelled Liam lookalikes who just never leave rock n roll scene alone.

It's refreshing to hear the passion and intellect at which they attack a generation glued to their phones. If only for gig goers, it may result in more people being in the moment. Don't tell your friends what your doing and don't watch the band three feet from your face through an iPhone, twats. Be in the here and now, the time for reflection is in the pub the following day, with people, not social media!

The most striking thing about this EP is the development from 2017's '15 Minutes' EP. 2017 Sisteray would send you off to listen to 00s greats such as Hope of the States, The Rifles, Art Brut, Ordinary Boys and The Paddingtons. 2018 Sisteray, well, they've become colossus. The drumming is worthy of The Who's epic 'Live at Leeds' record and the guitar parts are becoming more interesting and unpredictable with every song. Roll on the 100 Club.

Sisteray -Algorithm Prison

The first time we saw Sisteray live, they had punk songs and they had rock n roll songs. They were good but, it felt a marrying of the two would lead to great things. This is what new single ‘Algorithm Prison’ does.

Lyrically, it snarls at the apathy that technology obsession breeds, especially in their home city of London where life is 24 hours if only you join in. Toss in Niall Rowan’s righteous Charlie Harper and Nicky Tesco vocals and you’re into banger territory.

Musically, it does being the merging of their punk instincts with a broader rock n roll escapism. The guitar riffs and solos, whilst angst ridden are deftly kissed with a sense of freedom. The juxtaposition of this style with a lyrical assault on the willingly downtrodden breed’s life into an indie/punk scene so often concerned with love stories.

Cabbage Live: 100 Club

With their debut album ‘Nihilistic Glamour Shots’ just around the corner, the Mossley outfit are back on the road. With no material in tow, can they pull off their status as a headline act?

At their best, Cabbage are that thing you have been waiting for. They have innate ability to pull together all the Manchester legends mentioned on ‘Tell Me Lies About Manchester’ with the volatility of the punk greats. ‘Terrorist Synthesizer’ combines the swagger and stagger of the Mondays circa ‘Bummed’ with the snot and snarl of The Libertines and the Pistols. This continues on ‘Kevin’ and new single ‘Arms of Pleonexia’ and, in this groove, the brilliant Idles, Shame and The Blinders cannot compete.

However, when they stray into the straight up rock n roll numbers ‘Indispensable Pencil’ and ‘Preach to the Converted’, their power fades slightly, and puts them back into the pack. it

What brought real hope was the undeniable ‘Necroflat in the Palace’. To witness such a young crowd lose its shit as one unifying entity, screaming the lyrics 'I was born in the NHS / I will die in the NHS’ has to be the most beautiful thing ever seen.

The Claim at the 100 Club

The illustrious 100 Club played host to the inaugural Medway Weekender. Headlining the first night were The Claim, a genuine hidden treasure from Cliffe in Kent.

They open with the ‘Say So’, a solid reminder of a time when singles could be a blend of infectious and thought-provoking melodies. ‘Do You Still Feel’ furthers this notion, the Roses style drums are met with a withdrawn Boo Radleys-esque vocal during the verses. They serve as a perfect precursor to a rousing chorus and irresistible guitar part.

Closing the set was the classic ‘Sporting Life’. The guitars are as sharp as ever on this paisley gem. The contrast of the high and low guitar parts is a thing of beauty. It builds the tension expertly in this tale of gambling woe and then, as all hope is seemingly burned, comes the lightest of jingle jangle touches.  

What remains apparent, is without frontman David Read, there never would have been an audience for so many beloved alternative singers. He has a great nous of creating something truly interesting within a great guitar melody. Where Ian Brown and Mark Morriss were going for pop nirvana, Read straddles that line of underground/overground like The Simpsons did for its initial 8 seasons with aplomb.

How long The Claim will be back for remains unknown, but this was a special night with a special band so, here’s hoping for a lot more.