The Great Escape 2012 - Friday Review

Friday, the second day of The Great Escape and I awake with a pretty clear head. After nearly thirty years of existence and almost half of them drinking more than I should I've finally learned that ale is the drink that thanks you the next day. My first act of the day is an early one at midday, Martha Paton at Komedia. I arrive and she's just started, she looks younger than I had in my head and her band look even younger. Don't let that detract you though, she's got a lovely voice which shines in the dark basement room, quite a large audience have turned up for a pretty much unknown singer-songwriter, perhaps they're aware of the word potential too.

Afterwards I quickly head to the seafront to catch Cut Ribbons again, this time it's a stripped back acoustic set with only three of the band members, it doesn't quite hit the highs of yesterday but the gentle melodies allow me more space to fall for Anna's voice all over again. The weather gods agree too as despite a little wind, the sun comes out for the first time all weekend. Afterwards there is a little break in my schedule so I grab some food and check out a few shops in the lanes.

The Latest Music Bar is my next stop, the first time I've seen an act upstairs and it's a good one too. Abi Wade treats a pretty large crowed to an extended soundcheck which acts to whet the appetite for the real deal, it's quite fabulous too, Abi creates a compelling sound with her cello, a beat box and her voice. Her cello is plucked more like a guitar and bashed in equal measure and it makes the most organic and percussive sounds imaginable. Afterwards I head downstairs and catch a song or two from a band that don't really do anything for me before heading to The Fishbowl.

Rozi Plain is the first act I am there to see, her set draws you in instantly, her gorgeous voice repeats around your brain, her evocative melodies enchant overwhelming you with delicacy and warmth. It's heavenly. The crowd seem like a who's who of musicians from the local scene and acts soon to play, there equally unanimous in applause of Rozi's talents. I decide to make (what turns out to be my last visit) to the seafront and have a quick beer in the sun before heading back inside to watch FOE at Life, three songs later I decide I'd rather be back at The Fishbowl and scoot out as quickly as possible.

I catch a band I'd never heard of previously and they are a revelation. The 'Stroud and proud' Hot Feet playing as a duo come trio, their songs are delicate and beautiful, the soft female vocals (I later learn are from a lovely lady named Marianne Parrish) are haunting and the guitar patterns intricate, I instantly fall in love and Hot Feet are without doubt the new band discovery of the weekend for me, an act that will most definitely be featured here again in more detail soon enough. A tip first, don't get stuck behind guitarist Jack at a gig, he's 'quite' tall!

Another pint of Laines later and I'm ready for the next act. If I thought it impossible for the music to get better I was wrong because Emma Gatrill raises the bar again, I'd seen a picture of her London show the night before and it looked magical. Magical is an equally apt word to describe her, a collection of beautiful harp-based songs that bring a warm intimacy to the small venue, as I look on spellbound as Emma's gentle plucks and soaring voice makes the small venue seem even smaller, it becomes like a living room gig. Later Emma is joined by a guitarist and drummer who add wonderful atmospheric noises to her songs, her album came out last week and if you have any sense you'll be buying it soon.

Next up is a solo show by Mariner's Children well not quite solo as Emma provides backing vocals to the striking acoustic songs, the lyrics and guitar provide a rich tapestry and thought provoking music with powerful harmonies and as a self-confessed nay-sayer of male sung folk rock (I blame Mumfords) I find myself blown away by his/their sound, maybe there's a conversion on the horizon...

After three hours of sweet, soothing folk sounds I have an unadvisable encouter with chinese take-away before heading to The Queen's Hotel to watch the culmination of Amazing Radio's day there. Hype it seems is a fickle thing. It's probably easier to write down new blogs that haven't covered Shines than those who have but there is only a small-ish crowd (clashes against Grimes and Alt-J probably don't help their cause, alongside being on the alternative escape which for some reason isn't listed in the festivals iPhone app) to watch the Manchester four-piece, but nevertheless they perform a pleasing set bookended by their best (and most well known) tracks "Spent Youth" and "Shola".

Fear of Men take the stage next to a larger crowd and are joined by a fifth member on backing vocals (who I find the next day is Laish's Martha Rose, a band whom also have Emma Gatrill in their ranks - Brighton suddenly seems a lot smaller!), their show is excellent, one of the bands who I feel deserve the 'buzz' they've received since formation. Which in case we dare forget in the excessive internet hyperbole is only 12 months ago. They shuffle through a twenty five minute set of jangly indie and dreamy vocals quickly, barely stopping for breathe (and certainly not a chat). It's hazy, gorgeous and just what the evening needed.

The venue got suddenly busier around ten pm with the blue neck band identifying 'delegate' seemingly more in force than at any other point of my festival. 'Delegate' at TGE could mean anything, if could mean a guy who write a more popular blog than this one whose got a press pass, it could mean a an A&R guy for a label or it could simply mean a person with deeper pockets who didn't fancy a queue. The balance of delegate / normal tickets is one that I still think the organiser's need to address...

The reason for the influx was for one of the 'bands of the minute' (well according to my twitter feed and hype machine), PINS, four perfectly kitted out (too perfectly perhaps), good looking girls who can play a bit too. An A&R managers' dream you could say. They've only played about ten shows so far and are a little rough around the edges (not helped by an amp problem) but there are signs that given time they'll be able to follow-up the excitement that their early release caused to new blogs like this. "Eleventh Hour" itself is spellbinding, deep guitar and rattling rhythms recalling some of Manchester's finiest post-punk bands. For now I'll label them as promising and keep following them with baited breathe...

I could call it a night but I don't, I head for a drink at The Latest Music Bar and catch half of The Chapman Family's set. I find myself at conflict. I really enjoyed watching TCF about 15 months ago on tour with The Joy Formidable, yet here they start with four new tracks out of five (which in itself is no big deal) but when performed by a rhythm section that I don't recognise as TCF (their old drummer and bassist left amicably last summer) and instead see fresh faced, immaculately dressed lads I'm not sure what to make of it. TCF 2.0 is an entirely new band and I'm not sure where I stand with them. My time runs out and I head over to see my last act of the night Curxes...

The place, Riki Tik's is not a live music venue at all, it's full of drunks dancing to intolerable dance music. I'm expecting a car crash. Curxes take the none existent stage after a bouncer pushes a few people who keep trying to tumble into the keys and then you realise the sound system is shit as well. The band are really up against it, really. They perform admirably though. Roberta even ventures out into the crowd and intimidates a few people twice her size, her voice as strong and powerful as I expected. It's a shame my first Curxes experience had to be like this but I leave with enough there to know they'll be more to come and in venues where music is not a byword for overpriced piss-water lager.

I even manage to avoid the chip shops on the way home, Friday was a success...

The Great Escape 2012 - Preview (Part One) Thursday

The Great Escape Website

It's now just a fortnight until The Great Escape, I'm already excited, I said in my review last year that 2011 was the best yet (I've been to four) and 2012 has the potential to be even better with more venues, more lunch time shows and more bands than ever before, over 30 venues with over 300 bands crammed into three days in the wonderful city of Brighton.

Sounds fun right? It is. Running from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th of May there are so many incredible acts that I've decided to preview in three parts, split by day, I'll pick what I think is the best of what The Great Escape and the Alternative Escape has to offer.I was going to limit myself to six a day but in the end I couldn't narrow it down so I've gone with seven a day, which still misses out a few bands I'd like to catch... So much choice for one weekend.

We Were Evergreen - Facebook
Komedia (Studio Bar), Thursday 10th May 13.30
Komedia (Studio Bar), Thursday 10th May 21.15
The Hub, Jubilee Square, Friday 11th May 16.00

This French/London trio will be the perfect way to get your Great Escape weekend going in fine fashion, with hopefully beautiful sunshine providing the platform for their bright and breezy male/female harmonies and tropical synth/ukulele/glockenspiel  melodies. Cute and bouncy for sure, We Were Evergreen are here to bring some their fun-filled, infectious songcraft to your weekend, one that will be all the better for it.

Shinies - Facebook
The Hydrant, Thursday 10th May 16.00 (Alt-Escape)
Queens Hotel, Friday 11th May 20.30

I'll be tipping a few Manchester bands in my previews, there is an undeniably excitement around numerous bands coming out of the North-West at the minute, more so than in recent memory. One of the reasons are Shinies who've been caught up in a whirlwind of acclaim since they released debut demo "Spent Youth" six months or so, with distorted noise-pop guitars, fast-paced drums and echoed vocals "Spent Youth" and its b-side "Shola" are good enough to make sure you spend your Thursday afternoon mingling with numerous A&R guys seeing if this trio are as good in the flesh.

Ren Harvieu - Facebook
The Loft, Thursday 10th May 18.30

An unusual timing for one of the days must-see acts, Ren Harvieu first featured on this blog exactly one year ago today and now a few weeks away from the release of her debut album she is ready to finally dominate the stereos of household around the world.

Armed with a voice to die for her melodramatic ballads soaked in sweeping string orchestration and nostalgia are simply sublime.I've said this before but Ren's cover of The Rolling Stone's "Sister Morphine" is spine-tingling good. A queen will be crowned, make sure you're in the audience.

Deaf Club - Facebook
Green Door Store, Thursday 10th May 20.00

Wales/London five piece Deaf Club are a bit different to the acts I've covered so far, their beautifully expansive guitar led sound is something I'm very much looking forward to catching over the weekend, I've flirted with seeing them before but this will be the moment I finally do.

Their sold-out tape via Kissability (who host their show at The Great Escape) highlights their beautiful soundscapes, soaring, shimmering guitars interwoven with forlorn drum melodies and the brooding vocals of Polly Mackey. Gorgeous.

Cut Ribbons - Facebook
Green Door Store, Thursday 10th May 20.45

Sticking at the same venue, the next band up are Llanelli ;based Cut Ribbons, whose punchy stadium-sized indie-rock will fill the small(ish) Brighton venue with glistening guitars and dual vocal harmonies.

Their pretty, melodious hooks are polished and will surely result in a few pints of lager being spilled as people bounce around with joy.

Hannah Cohen - Facebook
Unitarian Church, Thursday 10th May 22.00

Another of Thursday's not to be missed acts is Hannah Cohen, this will only be her second ever UK show (after playing in London the night before) from (as I said just a couple of days ago) one of 2012's best new voices.

Guaranteed to something quite spectacular, just like her album 'Child Bride', her sensational voice and elegant instrumentation will leave many hearts aflutter. A truly beautiful venue too. Can't wait for this one.

Toy - Facebook
Pavilion Theatre, Thursday 10th May 22.45

I've not got too much to add to what I've said a couple of times about Toy in the month or so, displaying almost as much hair as talent, the London five piece summed up the buzz with "Left Myself Behind", an eight minute runaway rollercoaster that combines the best bits of psyche, krautrock and shoegaze in one glorious track, gorgeous shimmering guitars duel with the korg keys and consistent drum beats, to keep it simple, it's one of the essential tracks of the last six months from one of the UK's hottest new properties. Truly superb, hard, dense, melodic, brilliant.

Shinies #2 - Spent Youth / Shola Single

Facebook / shinies.bandcamp.com/

Two pieces of news for the price of one today from buzz-worthy Manchester trio Shinies. Firstly a track I've posted before but this re-recorded version is much cleaner and worthy of a repost, "Spent Youth's" melodious shoegaze influenced noise pop caused quite a stir around Christmas time and version 2.0 is likely to do no harm either, beautiful hazy guitars swirl around pummelling drums and swooning vocals, play it repeatedly and play it loud.

Today also saw the arrival of a new track "Shola" (taken from the debut 7" and available to pre-order now via the ever excellent Dirty Bingo), a similarly searing vein of blissful racquet; fuzzed-up guitars drive the grunged-up onslaught of shimmering noise and frenetic drum rhythms, it's big and it's going to make Shinies even hotter property. No live dates outside of Manchester are currently announced, that will change...

Shinies - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / shinies.bandcamp.com/

Manchester isn't a place I really categorise with the shoegaze / noisepop genre, I don't know why, probably the age-old stereotypes of the 'baggy' and 'Madchester' scenes, oh and Oasis. New act Shinies are exactly that, reminiscent of an English Crocodiles on their debut track "Spent Youth" which display an already hype-building signal of potential...

With beautiful shades of light and grey, ear-splitting guitars bury a lo-fi melody of fizzing beauty "Spent Youth" is immediately appealing to the ears and with a bit of gratuitous nudity on the cover to please the eyes, your senses should be prepared for an overload.

I don't know much about them, Google search doesn't either, but I'll certainly be listening to what they put online next.