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The NIA is possibly one of the worse venues to drive to, and given the pre-Christmas traffic slightly worse than normal. The nearby multi-story car-park is also inadequate for the size of the venue, but having located a space the charges are also custom made for punter rip-off. |
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Symphony Hall is almost full tonight with a mixed age crowd -- everything from 10 year olds in Queen t-shirts to men who look considerably older than Brian May. There's a buzz of excitement in the air. But before we get to the main act, there's Vintage Trouble. |
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First up tonight are the tech metallers of Visions; but it's an early set and cold crowd, they really have their work cut out for them. Unfortunately the sound for these guys is very muddy, and despite hands moving as fast as lightening over the frets, there's nothing but a low rumble and the pounding drums to be heard. |
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This is the first time Vampire Weekend have played the main Civic Hall in Wolverhampton. Lesser bands would have found it a challenge, on this grim and frost bitten night, to create the necessary sense of fun for a set of sprightly, Afro/ indie. No such problems existed for Vampire Weekend tonight. From the kick off they were a riveting act, causing a lot of skanking and beer chucking in equal measure. |
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The support act for tonight’s show is singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, a grammy award nominee, who plays acoustic guitar with the addition of an electric guitarist to add some depth in places. |
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Leaning on the barrier at the front row of a Mcfly concert is not somewhere I ever pictured I would be, but there I was and as the trio ventured out to the tones of YMCA it was clear that I was going to enjoy it. For me Mcfly epitomise everything great about festivals. They are there to enjoy it and more to the point you’re gonna enjoy it. “Who got laid last night?” asked their bass player… |
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For me festivals fit into a number of brackets. You’ve got the raucous end of the spectrum with T in the Park – full of inebriated Scots having a ball and puking everywhere, through to the mystical Glastonbury – Hippies, circus acts and all that jazz. Weston Park's V, sits somewhere in the middle. If you had to pick one word to describe V it would be ‘nice’. The situ is great – smack bang in the middle of country, there’s a balanced mix of ‘beered-up’ revellers and families which makes for a great vibe and if the weathers good – as it was this weekend, and there’s a decent line-up (hey – it’s organised by Mr Branson – it’s gonna be a good line up!!) then you really are geared up for a ‘bostin’ weekend. |
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Tonight’s concert is in aid of the charity Casa Alianza, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a registered charity in Britain. Casa Alianza is an international charity that works in the defence and rehabilitation of street children in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico. The evening has been organised by the support act, Eddy Morton and his wife, Trina and Suzanne Vega is donating her entire fee for this one off benefit show to the charity, so there are numerous buckets around for the audience to give money to if they wish. |
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You can't argue the fact that the Give It A Name tours certainly give new bands some much-needed exposure, and bring some different experiences to the audience. Tonight's lineup - VersaEmerge, Lights, Whole Wheat Bread and In This Moment - couldn't be more diverse, which as far as I'm concerned can only be a good thing. |
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James’ opening gambit was ‘The Only Night’ the opening track of James’ 2nd album ‘Songs for You, Truths for Me’, a lively track which announced Morrison’s intent to the greatly receptive packed house. It was going to be a lively night. He then sauntered through his back catalogue of modern day classics such as ‘You Give Me Something’ and soon to be hits like ‘Nothing Ever Hurt Like You’. Halfway through the set he was joined on stage by local girl Deborah Brown for a rendition of ‘Broken Strings’, much to the delight of the Birmingham contingent. The Brummy lass did a more than adequate job of emulating Miss Furtado as the other part of the duet. |
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The sight of The View finally gracing the stage is greeted by a deafening roar of anticipation, only heightened as bassist Keiren Webster shouts down the mic: “how the fuck are you?!” After an intro track which would not be out of place in a monastery, they move straight into first song ‘Glass Smash’ and the crowd get their first dose of front-man Kyle Falconer’s unique and unabashedly Scottish voice... |
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I got to the venue at 7 o clock sharp, in anticipation to get to the front. Something was telling me that tonight was going to be pretty special, and that I wouldn’t want to miss a second of it. I’ve seen the Pigeon Detectives enough times before to know that they put on an energetic live show, but could they keep coming back with more? Surely there’s only so much a band could do, but tonight pure loyalty was dragging me in... |
