Eight hours of motorway driving, counting endless sheep, and mind-numbing attempts at pronouncing the road signs passed by and finally James Drakeford and friends arrive at what could have been mistaken as ‘the arse end of nowhere’… CONTINUE READING THIS POST >
Music: Review: Beach Break Live
Music: Songs From a Room
Sofar (Songs From a Room) is a global music movement consisting of a series of intimate pop-up gigs held in living rooms. It brings together genuine music lovers with modern day poets and musicians who write and perform their own songs. The idea occurred to friends Rafe Offer, Rocky Start and ‘Passion Ate’ Dave at a Friendly Fires gig where people were talking throughout the set. They believed that music should be treasured and really listened to and so decided to hold a small gig for friends at Dave’s flat in Kensal Rise. Two years after its inception Sofar gigs are being held in 10 cities across the world. I attended the latest gig in London on Thursday.
I was a bit apprehensive about what to expect. The email I received on Thursday, announcing the location, stated a strict start time and that we should stay for the entire evening and either clap, sing along or be silent while the music plays. That same evening myself and a friend found ourselves in North London, following small signs directing us through a labyrinth of industrial buildings. We arrived at a converted warehouse flat by a canal which was spilling over with people. After receiving a warm welcome from co-founder Rafe and pouring ourselves a drink, we sat cross- legged on the floor and the evening commenced.
Ex heavy metal rocker Steve Smyth opened the night on guitar with his soulful voice and muffled lyrics. His performance had an otherworldly element to it, only enhanced by the fact that he looked a bit like Jesus. Next up was the lyrical Rosie May who would trill pithy lines such as ‘people don’t want love, they want a plan’. After a short break Jake Morley, accompanied by John Paul on double bass and Harry Mead on drums, delivered a rhythmic set. Their eccentric combination of acoustic bass and the frontman playing the guitar horizontally in ‘lap guitar’ style captured the audience’s attention right from the start. The final act was The Joker & The Thief, consisting of drumming front man Dan Grabiner, Justin Gartry on guitar and kick drum, and Josh Elliott switching between the saxophone and accordion. They came across as a mix between a stand-up and a band, coming out with great lines such as ‘if your daddy didn’t beat you how can you be a success?’
By the end of the night the room was pulsating. Rather than the school-assembly hush that I had expected, the night had swung between genuinely enchanted, breath held, silence to calls of encore! The environment is relaxed, with some of the musicians sat on the floor or barefoot. It feels like you are amongst a group of friends, drinking and jamming. But what SoFar distils down to is the music. There is enough of a mix on the night to find that one song that truly resonates with you. The performers are real, inspirational and genuinely talented. You are guaranteed to form at least one musician crush by the end of the night!By the end of the night the room was pulsating. Rather than the school-assembly hush that I had expected, the night had swung between genuinely enchanted, breath held, silence to calls of encore! The environment is relaxed, with some of the musicians sat on the floor or barefoot. It feels like you are amongst a group of friends, drinking and jamming. But what SoFar distils down to is the music. There is enough of a mix on the night to find that one song that truly resonates with you. The performers are real, inspirational and genuinely talented. You are guaranteed to form at least one musician crush by the end of the night!
For more information or to join the movement go to www.sofarsounds.com
Sofar (Songs From a Room) is a global music movement consisting of a series of intimate pop-up gigs held in living rooms. It brings together genuine music lovers with modern day poets and musicians who write and perform their own songs. The idea occurred to friends Rafe Offer, Rocky Start and ‘Passion Ate’ Dave at a Friendly Fires gig where people were talking throughout the set. They believed that music should be treasured and really listened to and so decided to hold a small gig for friends at Dave’s flat in Kensal Rise. Two years after its inception Sofar gigs are being held in 10 cities across the world. Parisa Razaz attended the latest gig in London a week ago. CONTINUE READING THIS POST >
Arts: Artist Profile: Lewes Herriot
Lewes Herriot has a really cool brain. Here’s some proof in words in case all the proof in mento drawings isn’t enough. CONTINUE READING THIS POST >
Fashion: Kangol and Aerial7
We don’t even feel like we’ve had much chance to get the summer straw hats out yet and we’re already on to Autumn/Winter 2011 but we really like this idea; Kangol have teamed with cult headphone company AERIAL7 for a quirky collaboration. CONTINUE READING THIS POST >
Arts: Home of Metal Launch
Last week was the ‘official’ launch of Home of Metal; an ambitious project created by Capsule to realise Birmingham and the Black Country as the true home of Heavy Metal music. Sprawling throughout the region a series of exhibitions will showcase the history of metal music through artist interpretations, fans memorabilia, the bands own collections of clothing, guitars and much more. CONTINUE READING THIS POST >
