BASEMENT MUSIC LIVE at The Pitz

Review: MMT.

So, me and Phil were philosophising. About how you can never tell which bands are going to leave a lasting musical legacy and which bands aren’t. If you’d asked me when I was 19 which band from 1994 were going still be influencing teenage bands almost two decades later I wouldn’t have hesitated – Nirvana. Or, at a push, Suede, Blur or the Manics. I certainly wouldn’t have predicted Green Day. And likewise, if you’d told me in the year 2000 that Blink-182 would still be casting a long musical shadow in 2012, I would have laughed you out of town. “Blink-182?  They’re a comedy skate-punk band, surely?  No one takes THEM seriously!”

But you never know. You honestly never know. Who’s to say that Dappy won’t be hailed as a musical visionary in 2030?  Or that the single album by Viva Brother won’t be rated higher than the entire discography of The Strokes in half a lifetime’s time?

Still – none of this is to take away from Sounds & Scenarios. Their lively blend of pop-punk and indie – influenced by the two aforementioned acts! – was a fittingly excellent way to kick off an excellent afternoon’s worth of music at The Pitz for “Basement Music Live” (five acts brought to us by (what we reckon is!) Milton Keynes’ best music radio show). They were one of the best young bands we’ve seen for a while: energetic but catchy – they could develop into something special. Also loved the matching waistcoats!  And their last song, “Prized Possessions” hints at how much more raucous they might be in a night-time gig!

Second up was one of our favourite local acoustic acts: Seeking Salvation Through Love. The high quality of the Pitz sound really showed off how good his voice is – between the songs the pleasingly busy audience were hushed to silence! – and we were even treated to a new song!

While I’m here, I should mention that it’s noteworthy The Pitz are still doing gigs, even on a Sunday afternoon. It may have lost some profile in recent years since the departure of Paul Rivers, but there’s no doubting its credentials as a venue. The lights, the stage, the sound, they’re all still in as great nick as they ever were – even if between the acts the sound guy exclusively plays heavy rock from the years 1989 – 1993. The only thing they’re really lacking is a cash machine. (stares mournfully at empty pint glass)

I’d heard good things from the Basement Music guys about I’m Called George, but never seen them before – though when they opened their set with a Lana Del Rey cover, I must admit I thought “Man, These Will Do Me”! It was a great set throughout, really very impressive – hook-laden pop-rock gelled together by the pounding rhythms of the drummer and the synth layers from the keyboard man – in fact all four musicians are clearly very skilled. Plus they had fans with I’m Called George t-shirts and banners!  That really is the dream, right there!

They’ve got a song – I think it might be called “I Wanna Know Your Name”? – which opens with vocal harmonies, bounces through some classic rock shapes and ends up in an immense synthy middle section which is absolutely captivating. Great stuff, one of the best sets I've seen in 2012.

YC Olie is such a consummate professional, such a safe pair of hands. Again, take nothing away from his performance and his songwriting, but he’s more like a compere than the actual comperes – enthusing about the other bands, thanking all the people that need to be thanked. His love for what he’s doing is infectious, and he can turn his hand to any kind of gig. Those of us who happen to see him play quite a lot are excited to hear some of his newest songs, performed along with a backing track of a ‘full band sound’ which is a very intriguing live twist.

We’ve always believed headliners Isabelle to be one of the most musically accomplished of all local(ish) acts – their summery soul-pop (and do I even detect some smoky jazz flavours today?) is easily good enough to reach a national stage. I’ve seen them a few times now, but one thing which strikes me at this gig is how spot-on the backing vocals (provided by their percussionist and drummer) are. They may come from... shall we say men of a certain vintage?  (like we’re ones to talk!)  ...but they sound like the missing two members of a Motown girl band when they harmonise with lead vocalist Letty. The crowning moment of genius in their set this time is the cover of “Groove Is In The Heart” – a song which I had believed was uncoverable by band bands... till now!

So... a great and variety-filled gig, and a smashing way to spend a Sunday afternoon. All hail Basement Music. See you at the next one!

SUMMER ROUND-UP - MMT

Review: MMT

Before I get into the “Dudebox Track Of The Summer” review – which is coming soon, Scout’s Honour!! – I’d like to do a round-up of some of the various demo CDs, EPs and fully produced albums (yay!) that have been pressed into my hands (often in exchange for monies or our own CDs) at the gigs, festivals and open mics we’ve been at over the last few months. It’s been another great summer for MK music, and here’s just some of what we’ve been hearing around and about…

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And where better to start than the Sno!Bar? Aficionados of the Milton Keynes Acoustic Open Mic scene will no doubt know all about the Sno!Jam Sunday nights up at the Sno!Bar in the XScape – and if so, I’m sure you’ll already have a copy of their recent collection “The Sounds Of The SNO!Bar (vol.1)” (a compilation of 12 of the regular acts who frequent their open mic night… hmm, gives me an idea!)…

The CD is bookended by tracks by Isabelle, the fabulous five-piece who also act as regular hosts of the Sno!Jam night, as well as putting on gigs down in Leighton Buzzard. And if you’re keen on the kind of laid-back / soulful / summery / folky / heartfelt acoustic singer-songwriting usually on show at any of their nights, you’ll dig this. Featuring Sno!Jam regulars such as Jon Kendall, Robin Grimmer and Social Resin, I think my favourite choon is the shimmering harmonies of “The Man Who Fell Out Of The Moon”, by Isabelle escapees The Trotsky Assortment. Though it’d be a crime to omit a mention of “Girl Nowhere” by the superb (and apparently “hobosexual”!!) Jet Lagged Jeff, another legend of the local open mic world. An impressive collection.

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YC Olie’s “Miss Direction EP” is a surprise. Well, a surprise to us – we’ve only ever seen him at open mics like The Cannon or the above-mentioned Sno!Jam night, where we’ve kind of got used to hearing him delivering confidently tuneful acoustic gems (and his rousing Killers cover!!). But this six-track EP is a totally different kettle of fish – it’s a balls-out fully-electric pop-metal treat!

It’s actually interesting to hear songs we’ve heard played solo live become melodic punky anthems – “Same Old Girl” and “Miss Direction” turning into much bigger, wilder beasts. Bigger, but not necessarily Better, of course. Just Different – cos naturally I like the acoustic versions too! You can hear the occasional influence of genre masters (like Green Day - listed as such under his MySpace Influences) though, and addition of these extra layers, like the buzzsaw guitars of “Anthem For The Broken Hearted” or the handclaps on “Two”, are a revelation. I’m intrigued to see what might be next for this voyage into “full band” territory. Will Olie gather together a full gang of musicians and translate these songs permanently? I think if he did they would make in instant impact on the local scene, such is the joyful catchiness of the tunes. Watch this space, I guess.

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I’d like to include a brief but heartfelt “Ladies From Not Far Outside Milton Keynes” section here too – quick shout-outs therefore to Rozism who came down from Northampton and headlined our July Monkey Kettle Open Mic night. I managed to swap some Monkey Kettle CDs for her “Sketches EP”, which contains several songs from off her MySpace. “Special Brew” is well worth a listen, though her live cover of “Smelly Cat” will live long in the memory. Likewise I should also big up Jammiesammy who came up to MK to play at the Poetry Kapow! at the end of July: there’s a definite buzz growing around her charmingly wry gems – if you’ve got a short attention span check out her anthem “Weirdo-eo”, but if you’ve got any heart you’ll play them all!

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And last, but by no means least - Final Clearance. We finally – after much Dudebox enthusiasm over them in the past – got to see them live when we had them headline our stage (Stage 2 – aka the Monkey Kettle Stage!) at the Great Linford Waterside Festival in June. And I was lucky enough to get not one but two of their CDs – the five track “Window Cleaners Of Amsterdam EP” (2008) and last year’s full debut album "Teenage Dreamland".

I’ve tried a few times in the past to qualify just why I enjoy their sound so much. The best I’ve managed to do till now is: in a local music scene which is predominantly teenage metal acts, acoustic solo artists or ageing blues-rock covers combos, they don’t sound like much else. But let’s unpack that a bit…

They’re an indie-rock band, for sure – but with the added weaponry of piano-keyboard and violins in their arsenal. The violin in particular makes a difference for me – it adds an elegance, an emotion, an urgency to the sound. But the more I listen, the more I’m drawn to Tom Simpson’s voice as well. Rich and deep with the occasional crack of humanity, it totally suits the band’s songwriting, complemented well by the occasional female b/vox. And let’s not forget, they make their own music videos too (see their MySpace) – as far as I’m concerned, that shows they know what it’s all about! ;-)

What makes them equally exciting to listen to on compact disc is the quality of the recordings of those songs. Both CDs were recorded in a “proper” studio (The Lodge Studios in Northampton), and it shows. The sound is rich, well-mixed and allows the songs to come through… the spiralling lead guitar runs on “After The Scream”. The heartaching harmonies and the military rhythms in the middle of “She’s So Pretty”. Great stuff.

The full album (a year on from the EP) is slightly more rounded and mature, as you’d expect. FC have a poppy, occasionally folky sensibility but that doesn’t make them inoffensive. There’s a definite edge to their music and their lyrics which shows through regularly. Phil mentioned once when we were reviewing them before that he could hear a definite “Nineties indie” influence, and that’s not a million miles off. “Stupid Things” for example calls to mind The Wedding Present, of all people. And the piano-led "The Final Word" could almost be intelligent Britpoppers Gene. But better!

Standout tracks for me are the forlorn and beautiful “Circles Round You” (again, the violin! I’m clutching at my heart) and the bouncy “She’s So Pretty” from “Teenage Dreamland”; and “Started A War” and “Naïve Child” from “Window Cleaners…” – this last I absolutely love – it’s fast becoming one of my favourite ever songs by an MK band!

So, then. Final Clearance. I hope the sale goes on and on. Check out their stock as soon as you can. Before the metaphor police come and nab me.