Showing posts with label NicenSleazy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NicenSleazy. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Tuesday, 23 February 2010
February Drawings
Drawing Field Music in Glasgow tomorrow. Drawing Florence & The Machine in Debaser Medis, Stockholm next Tuesday - Yippee-Kai-Yay! Nice one.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Marble Valley, Lyons, Adam Stafford, NiceNSleazy
Steve West plays to the audience.
Marble Valley.
Marble Valley (featuring Steve West for all you Pavement fans!) were brilliant. Apparently they only get together every two years, but have been going for nine. Great vibe, energy, sound, antics. They wore the venue well too. It was the first time I'd encountered Adam Stafford(Y'All Is Fantasy Island) and was very pleased. Really liked it and look forward to encountering more. Good choice of support for Marble Valley. It was good to see John B McKenna and Rory 'Wong' though unfortunately I don't think I was in the best place to hear/experience Lyons, so will need to see them again when Fearghas gets back from Mexico and situate myself in a better place in relation to stage/speakers. Or just do what I plan to do and experiment with getting my own set of in ear monitors to hear what the audience should be hearing. Could be the start of something new...(More pics to come)
Saturday, 15 November 2008
The Beat Goes On! De Rosa and Found - Can I have some more please Sir?!
Tonight was a guid night. Two of my favourite bands ever, in one wee hot room, in the dark with loads of appreciative folks.
Pictures to come.
Pictures to come.
Sunday, 1 June 2008
The Sauchiehall Crawl, without the Crawl
I had wondered if I would crawl tonight, or rather, madly dash with bags of schtuff banging behind me as I tried to render the essence of each show in 5 minutes after battling through crowds, venues, stairs and distance. Decided I'd just spend some quality time in one place. Plus a pint of San Miguel was a good place to forget what I was missing.
Dissappointed Make Model were not on the list tonight; hope they sort out their issues.
As it was, I stationed myself in Nice and Sleazy's tonight and was glad, ignoring the frustrations of not being able to see the Ads, Galchen and Twilight Sad. But I DID get to see The Phantom Band, who were phenomenal. Well, perhaps that's too strong a word, but it was at a suitably audible volume that all the rythms, clicks, whistles, strums, poignant words and thumps could be felt making their way through your core, especially if you were me and standing right infront of the amps. It was Wawesome! So I told them. Bit dissappointed there weren't more folks, cos there should have been. I also hate gushing so much when I like something. But rather that than uber cool.
Jo Mango was poorly attended more so, but was a sweet injection in the eclectic selection on show.
The night started with the fine voice, screeches, mix of instruments and words from Ross Clark, wholesome songster. A buddy-hollyesque thumper with a raw earthy quality to his songs, fleshed out with stories from close to home. 'Sex is for Losers' is a song whose title I chuckled at, but the crowd obviously hadn't warmed up enough to join in. Aye, there was a few.
(Currently my pictures are drying in the kitchen/office of N&S along with the drawing I did last night of the Average White Band which I was pretty pleased with. However, having them in the kitchen/office gives me a slight collection of sweat on my brow, but what do I do when there's a ladlefull of liquid drying it's residue filled puddles into the paper?
Speaking of puddles, there was this dude outside the Cellar bar/club/room sitting in his own spew which actually looked like it had exited the other end. What was more unfortunate was the guy that was consoling him accidentally overbalanced and plonked his hand right in it. Ergh.)
So anyway, got some great drawing done of the 4 bands including We Were Promised Jet Packs, a fine array of musicians who kept chopping and changing their instruments. I wondered what the point of this was - to show how talented they all are? Or was it incase somone was incapacitated that someone else could fill in cos they knew the part? They didn't really seem like heavy partyers, more like tea drinking odd balls that just liked jerking your chain when you expected them to be playing one instrument only. 'Ha ha We'll show them!' Or maybe they were illustrating that anyone could play their music? However, I did enjoy them. Lots of potential.
So it sounds like it was a top night. Pity I couldn't stay for a partying session, but after dancing my ass off at Soundhaus till we got kicked out in the daylight hours, I was glad I had just enough change for a couple of beers and the bus there and back.
Time for bed said Zebedee.
Dissappointed Make Model were not on the list tonight; hope they sort out their issues.
As it was, I stationed myself in Nice and Sleazy's tonight and was glad, ignoring the frustrations of not being able to see the Ads, Galchen and Twilight Sad. But I DID get to see The Phantom Band, who were phenomenal. Well, perhaps that's too strong a word, but it was at a suitably audible volume that all the rythms, clicks, whistles, strums, poignant words and thumps could be felt making their way through your core, especially if you were me and standing right infront of the amps. It was Wawesome! So I told them. Bit dissappointed there weren't more folks, cos there should have been. I also hate gushing so much when I like something. But rather that than uber cool.
Jo Mango was poorly attended more so, but was a sweet injection in the eclectic selection on show.
The night started with the fine voice, screeches, mix of instruments and words from Ross Clark, wholesome songster. A buddy-hollyesque thumper with a raw earthy quality to his songs, fleshed out with stories from close to home. 'Sex is for Losers' is a song whose title I chuckled at, but the crowd obviously hadn't warmed up enough to join in. Aye, there was a few.
(Currently my pictures are drying in the kitchen/office of N&S along with the drawing I did last night of the Average White Band which I was pretty pleased with. However, having them in the kitchen/office gives me a slight collection of sweat on my brow, but what do I do when there's a ladlefull of liquid drying it's residue filled puddles into the paper?
Speaking of puddles, there was this dude outside the Cellar bar/club/room sitting in his own spew which actually looked like it had exited the other end. What was more unfortunate was the guy that was consoling him accidentally overbalanced and plonked his hand right in it. Ergh.)
So anyway, got some great drawing done of the 4 bands including We Were Promised Jet Packs, a fine array of musicians who kept chopping and changing their instruments. I wondered what the point of this was - to show how talented they all are? Or was it incase somone was incapacitated that someone else could fill in cos they knew the part? They didn't really seem like heavy partyers, more like tea drinking odd balls that just liked jerking your chain when you expected them to be playing one instrument only. 'Ha ha We'll show them!' Or maybe they were illustrating that anyone could play their music? However, I did enjoy them. Lots of potential.
So it sounds like it was a top night. Pity I couldn't stay for a partying session, but after dancing my ass off at Soundhaus till we got kicked out in the daylight hours, I was glad I had just enough change for a couple of beers and the bus there and back.
Time for bed said Zebedee.
Monday, 19 May 2008
Nuts and Seeds, Tinariwen, and Not Drawing
Nuts and Seeds, Nice and Sleazy’s
Tinariwen, The Arches
All in One Night
I felt a bit of a fraud last night when I was standing, dressed up, my redundant drawing materials bag at my feet, and my comp. ticket bent in my hot sweaty hand, watching one of the most 'recent' lauded rock bands from Africa. After having read clippings, quotes and viewed a short documentary, I was aware that Tinariwen, the 7+ group from Mali, were a much respected and followed group, playing their ‘Tuareg’ style guitar music, the main scraggy haired chap Ibrahim Ag Alhabib being the main driving force behind them all.
Ibrahim or ‘Abaraybone’ as he’s nicknamed - which apparently means ‘ragamuffin kid’ – stood elegant and stoic amongst his group. His long hair, a desert worn afro, seems to be emblematic of the music that is more challenging and contemporary than more traditional music from Mali. Not that they don’t draw on their musical heritage, but they question their existence more, and comment on daily life and troubles instead of lauding past warriors of old. Having been exiled as a young child after the execution of his father and their farm animals, these events are bound to have had a monumental effect in Ibrahim’s outlook and subsequent response.
The atmosphere was hot and heavy with a good mix of folks in the audience, a little subtle in their movements due to it being packed, but responded with warm enthusiasm to the other lead vocalist/guitar player Abdallah’s check to see if “y’alright?”
The projected visuals in the background added fire to the dark chasm of the Arches, while the lighting lit up their bright traditional costumes. I wondered if some of the band members’ choice to wear the desert garb was merely for show, or whether they didn’t wish to be scrutinized during their performances. It looked pretty authentic, but I have seen photos where they seem to be wearing more retro western rock garb. Did the Glasgow audience appreciate their cultural get up? Did it matter? I think it did.
However after hearing 5 or 6 songs, and getting a sufficient taste of them, I was pulled to another event happening elsewhere. I bowed out after half an hour, guilty of not drawing, and the desire to see what Nuts and Seeds had to offer at Nice and Sleazys.
Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. I even paid to get in – 4 quid is a very decent price, tonight however I was on a mission just to listen and take it all in.
Note: (I do go on a bit here; if you’re looking for a simple review of the gig, scroll down)
Before I set on my epic collision course to ‘drawing the experience’ and translating what I sensed and witnessed of a music performance, I was one of those prattish types who just got down and boogied at the front, whatever type of music influencing my erratic flailing movements. I miss those days.
Now it’s a different sort of ‘elated improvised choreography’, and much more restricted. My juddering leg can still attempt to get the better of me at times, but I quell it with the strict instructions that my paper needs to be still in order to draw, any juddering must be translated via my hand. Adamant that my pictures must not be photorealistic, I aim to document the performance, with the style of drawing being affected by the music, character and energy. I’ve reached a point now though, where I don’t know if I’ve honed a formula that isn’t so much of a filter, as more of a stylized characterisation of the event.
I also haven’t figured out whether that’s what I want or not. I will continue to explore for now.
Getting back to the performances, (Crikey this is turning into a right tome! Stop rambling Jen!).
Okay I’m going to try to be brief.
Nuts and Seeds @ Nice and Sleazy’s
Sparrow and the Workshop – Only caught their last song – fun and creative, hill billyish, Bonny Prince Billyish, Cat Powerish, Jeff Buckleyish, 2 blokes and a girl. Look like they should be called a Hawk and a Hacksaw, but with more tools.
Drumkit, guitar, violin and saw. Good looking bearded drummer sings. Violin, guitar playing girl is cute and I heard the end of her lovely singing. Shyish looking young guy played guitar, could possibly play other instruments. Good vibes from this group. Apparently they’re playing Dunstaffnage Music Festival this year. Definitely want to check them out properly.
Foxface – I am a confirmed Fox Face fan. I can’t help myself; they’re raw, they’re arty, they’re multi-talented, they use their Scottish roots from which spring different slants on traditional songs, and organically grown hybrids of fairy tales and fantasies. They’re catchy and rare. There was only one song that my attention wandered on, but everything else had me hooked. They’re also a beautiful looking bunch. And their new t-shirts rock!
(Okay Jen time to wipe up your drool now…)
The Oh-Sees – I pity the elected gimp that had to wipe down the walls, ceiling and stage after the main man John? hawked up enough slev to serve in a soup bowl. Mingin’. (Hypocrite)
Yeah, just because ye think yer a wee genius from the States with an alternative hyped up tattooed band, their instruments up to their oxters, token ‘attractive rock chick’ on percussion and vocals, and drummer with downsized drum kit so he can tan his gangly arms up and down their skins, does not mean you can recoat the insides of Sleazy’s from your over stimulated saliva glands. Even with your possessed skinny jeans/broad shoulders/mad bangs/twisted energetics and sob story ‘bout your favourite twelve string Geetar that American Airlines violated en route.
That said, I thought these guys were fantastic - brutal, brash, jangly, melodic, well timed, tight, manic, surprising, challenging, ecstatic - even with all the little flaws, duct taping and overindulgence of ‘scottish beer’. The lovely ‘Shelley Duvall-like’ Bridgid is the Yin to their Yang. Oh, and the bassist is single…
All Praise Nuts and Seeds.
Tinariwen, The Arches
All in One Night
I felt a bit of a fraud last night when I was standing, dressed up, my redundant drawing materials bag at my feet, and my comp. ticket bent in my hot sweaty hand, watching one of the most 'recent' lauded rock bands from Africa. After having read clippings, quotes and viewed a short documentary, I was aware that Tinariwen, the 7+ group from Mali, were a much respected and followed group, playing their ‘Tuareg’ style guitar music, the main scraggy haired chap Ibrahim Ag Alhabib being the main driving force behind them all.
Ibrahim or ‘Abaraybone’ as he’s nicknamed - which apparently means ‘ragamuffin kid’ – stood elegant and stoic amongst his group. His long hair, a desert worn afro, seems to be emblematic of the music that is more challenging and contemporary than more traditional music from Mali. Not that they don’t draw on their musical heritage, but they question their existence more, and comment on daily life and troubles instead of lauding past warriors of old. Having been exiled as a young child after the execution of his father and their farm animals, these events are bound to have had a monumental effect in Ibrahim’s outlook and subsequent response.
The atmosphere was hot and heavy with a good mix of folks in the audience, a little subtle in their movements due to it being packed, but responded with warm enthusiasm to the other lead vocalist/guitar player Abdallah’s check to see if “y’alright?”
The projected visuals in the background added fire to the dark chasm of the Arches, while the lighting lit up their bright traditional costumes. I wondered if some of the band members’ choice to wear the desert garb was merely for show, or whether they didn’t wish to be scrutinized during their performances. It looked pretty authentic, but I have seen photos where they seem to be wearing more retro western rock garb. Did the Glasgow audience appreciate their cultural get up? Did it matter? I think it did.
However after hearing 5 or 6 songs, and getting a sufficient taste of them, I was pulled to another event happening elsewhere. I bowed out after half an hour, guilty of not drawing, and the desire to see what Nuts and Seeds had to offer at Nice and Sleazys.
Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed. I even paid to get in – 4 quid is a very decent price, tonight however I was on a mission just to listen and take it all in.
Note: (I do go on a bit here; if you’re looking for a simple review of the gig, scroll down)
Before I set on my epic collision course to ‘drawing the experience’ and translating what I sensed and witnessed of a music performance, I was one of those prattish types who just got down and boogied at the front, whatever type of music influencing my erratic flailing movements. I miss those days.
Now it’s a different sort of ‘elated improvised choreography’, and much more restricted. My juddering leg can still attempt to get the better of me at times, but I quell it with the strict instructions that my paper needs to be still in order to draw, any juddering must be translated via my hand. Adamant that my pictures must not be photorealistic, I aim to document the performance, with the style of drawing being affected by the music, character and energy. I’ve reached a point now though, where I don’t know if I’ve honed a formula that isn’t so much of a filter, as more of a stylized characterisation of the event.
I also haven’t figured out whether that’s what I want or not. I will continue to explore for now.
Getting back to the performances, (Crikey this is turning into a right tome! Stop rambling Jen!).
Okay I’m going to try to be brief.
Nuts and Seeds @ Nice and Sleazy’s
Sparrow and the Workshop – Only caught their last song – fun and creative, hill billyish, Bonny Prince Billyish, Cat Powerish, Jeff Buckleyish, 2 blokes and a girl. Look like they should be called a Hawk and a Hacksaw, but with more tools.
Drumkit, guitar, violin and saw. Good looking bearded drummer sings. Violin, guitar playing girl is cute and I heard the end of her lovely singing. Shyish looking young guy played guitar, could possibly play other instruments. Good vibes from this group. Apparently they’re playing Dunstaffnage Music Festival this year. Definitely want to check them out properly.
Foxface – I am a confirmed Fox Face fan. I can’t help myself; they’re raw, they’re arty, they’re multi-talented, they use their Scottish roots from which spring different slants on traditional songs, and organically grown hybrids of fairy tales and fantasies. They’re catchy and rare. There was only one song that my attention wandered on, but everything else had me hooked. They’re also a beautiful looking bunch. And their new t-shirts rock!
(Okay Jen time to wipe up your drool now…)
The Oh-Sees – I pity the elected gimp that had to wipe down the walls, ceiling and stage after the main man John? hawked up enough slev to serve in a soup bowl. Mingin’. (Hypocrite)
Yeah, just because ye think yer a wee genius from the States with an alternative hyped up tattooed band, their instruments up to their oxters, token ‘attractive rock chick’ on percussion and vocals, and drummer with downsized drum kit so he can tan his gangly arms up and down their skins, does not mean you can recoat the insides of Sleazy’s from your over stimulated saliva glands. Even with your possessed skinny jeans/broad shoulders/mad bangs/twisted energetics and sob story ‘bout your favourite twelve string Geetar that American Airlines violated en route.
That said, I thought these guys were fantastic - brutal, brash, jangly, melodic, well timed, tight, manic, surprising, challenging, ecstatic - even with all the little flaws, duct taping and overindulgence of ‘scottish beer’. The lovely ‘Shelley Duvall-like’ Bridgid is the Yin to their Yang. Oh, and the bassist is single…
All Praise Nuts and Seeds.
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Mr Hudson and the Library Pictures
Yes, unbelievably, it has been 5 days since I have had the necessary technology, and that was in the heart of Glasgow. Hope you didn't mind the wait.
I must just add that there was another band supporting called the Envy Corps. Quite different to the other two bands, perhaps not the best choice of pairing. They were from the States and had big egos. However I very much liked drawing the drummer and the bass guitarist. I think they were brothers. Very cool characters, lanky, geeky and intriguing. Very into what sounds they were creating. The drummer lost his glasses at some point; bit like the muppet Animal with his kit.
Friday, 9 February 2007
Mr Hudson and the Library,
'The Bread & Roses EP is a unique insight into the eclectic world of Mr Hudson & The Library. It shows a cross-pollination of hip hop and reggae beats with old fashioned song writing.'
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=34791778
NiceNSleazy's. Great night. Mr Hudson and the Library on tour. Good vibes and talent on the stage, great people, great songs, great suits, ties and hats! Freezing night, but crowd kept in the warmth.
They're playing in Edinburgh tonight at the Cabaret Voltaire. If you're up for shaking a leg and having fun to some beats you couldn't do otherwise with, then I hope you can catch their last gig up here for a wee while.
They will soon be supporting Amy Winehouse along with their talented and sassy support, Remi Nicole.
All in all, great song writing, some humerous observations on life, and great singing. Excellent rappour with the Glasgow audience.
Pictures to follow once I get into the same room as a scanner.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=34791778
NiceNSleazy's. Great night. Mr Hudson and the Library on tour. Good vibes and talent on the stage, great people, great songs, great suits, ties and hats! Freezing night, but crowd kept in the warmth.
They're playing in Edinburgh tonight at the Cabaret Voltaire. If you're up for shaking a leg and having fun to some beats you couldn't do otherwise with, then I hope you can catch their last gig up here for a wee while.
They will soon be supporting Amy Winehouse along with their talented and sassy support, Remi Nicole.
All in all, great song writing, some humerous observations on life, and great singing. Excellent rappour with the Glasgow audience.
Pictures to follow once I get into the same room as a scanner.
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