Gareth Emery gig

Gareth Emery is hosting three amazing shows this weekend.

This series of events are replacing Gareth’s Decade tour show, which he had to cancel as a result of the pandemic.

The Decade show is to celebrate the last 10 years of Gareth Emery’s music. 

It’ll be a 2.5 hour set featuring his greatest hits from the last decade.

The show will feature lasers, smoke, multiple cameras – essentially the full production – and will be shot from Gareth’s pool in his back garden.

The three shows across the weekend (the initial broadcast and 2 replays which Gareth plans to join the chat for), each in different time zones, so people from all over the world can tune in and party together.

The first show will be broadcast on Friday 8^th May  at 9PM EST/6PM PST, with the primary target being the US audience. 

A replay for Europe will be shown at 8PM BST/ 9PM CET on Saturday 9^th May, while the replay for Australia/Asia will be on at 6PM AEST (UTC +10) on Sunday 10^th May.

Tickets for the event cost $10 and can be bought through this link 

Buying a ticket will get you access to all three shows.

Enjoy!

A box of great music

I found myself at a venue in Dalston the other day to see another gig.

I couldn't stay for the whole evening.

So, I saw two of the acts.

Musical boxes

Box of Ghosts were one of them.

Their sound was sumptious, soulful and rhythmic.

These guys have a lot of energy and mysticism, they draw you in with an intriguing and varied sound that haunts as well as excites.

Figure it out

They were followed by a set from Figures.

In Velo they produced the perfect sounds to drift into on a warm summer evening in a classy bar.

I could have believed that I was on the continent and not in the UK.

I left reluctantly with a smile on my face.

Savaging it up...

I tripped myself off to see the Savage Nomads played their single launch of tension in the middle at the Notting Hill Arts Club the other day.

I have to say their door policy is infuriating, having to always have an ID handy even when you are well over age and then get it scanned as well smacks more of surveillance culture than a good time.

Anyway, let's hope the venue see the light, there are plenty of others that only require you to have ID on you, slightly less gestapo.  

The Wholls

Before the nomads were up it was the turn of The Wholls, who warmed up into something quite special.

 They were a little bit Arctic Monkeys lyrics wise, with initially only a few more musical breaks and twangs of Mexican flavour.

Their playing was tight and proficient.

Early on it was not inspirational, but solid.

The main guitarist when he played reminded me of Finley Quaye.

They later burst into a entertaining and lively Mexican wide boy mash up called Emily.  

Nomadic

There was testostorone everywhere by the time the Nomadic lads came on.

They've added a little to their repetoire since last I saw them, many eons ago, there are guitar songs woven with more orchestration.

 They also have a new keyboardist with a trumpet, a big thumbs up to that development, especially the trumpet.

On one new track there was a jazzy vibe that was far out of character and Billy's drumming in this really shines.

Surprise cover

They even snuck in a Paul Simon cover out of the blue.

The Savage Nomads are definitely growing in a really good way.

Hats off.

Rocking Montague

Out for another deliciously fun gig night this weekend.

Looks like I'm making a habit of this.

Turned up chiefly to listen to Chekhov's Rifle play, for the...

No wait, I can't actually remember how many times I've seen them.

Let's just say it was the latest of many.

Chekhov's line-up is now all male, after the female bass player was baby-capacitated.

They deliver a tight and rousing set, with a 'new song', oo er.

The set is not even spoilt by a dropped and swiftly recovered drumstick, not a beat missed.

Great jiggly fun, with lyrics to leave you baffled.

They are followed by Tim Ten Yen.

I'm always a bit suspicious of a man with a tiny Casio keyboard.

In this case it can be easily forgiven.

This was a shits and giggles set with all the gusto I have come to expect from performance poet Richard Tyrone Jones.

Prancing about the stage he sang beautifully over an iPod and had most of the audience in stitches.

“I have an enemy a sea anemone.”

And a song about a cat looking out across the dance floor.

After all this I was well revved up for the last act, who during the sound check had moved through three instruments.

What a disappointment!

Mainly covers and not inspirational ones, I'd like to say more about the set but in truth I walked to the back of the bar after a couple of songs to chat in peace.

He was musically proficient, but, well, dull.

At least The Montague Arms is a lovely place to have and a drink if the bands don't pass muster.

An eccentric pub, meets ship, meets taxidermist, with bar staff who probably need hearing aids.

It's great.