Audiogold

I recall first meeting the guys from Audiogold (at that time known as Audigold) a couple of years ago while they were hunting for food pre-gig while the opening support for The Steepwater Band at Bush Hall. They have grown in musical ability and confidence over the time and it is of little surprise they have taken the band of the week slot, having been selected by the readers of the indie bands blog as the Number One on the New Year Ninety.  For more on Audiogold.

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Grande

The hum of power-plugs come out of the speakers as Grande fuzz the laid-back indie rock which emerges in to the room. This is good solid music, not seeking to strain the leashes of the genre, rather taking an even more lo-fi approach which sits squarely within the out-put. There is plenty to entertain the ears, as the band ensure the distortion doesn’t crowd out the music, rather making it seem more oppressive and strangely, powerful.

There is no need for the serried ranks of strident guitar, as the compositions have a depth and resonance built in to the texture of the sound. It would be interesting to find out why they switched from English to native Hungarian and I must find out one day. For what-ever reason, the sincerity of  the vocal ensures it fits neatly in to the slot.

There is nothing demanding from Grande, rather a decent sound which ensures the audience are left with a wish to hear more.

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Gentlemen Duke

On arriving at The Enterprise there is little to set it apart from the multitude of other bars and pubs around Camden market. Once inside little changes, the DJ was good and the drinks not too expensive considering the area, a nice place to have a drink on a Saturday night but nothing amazing. There is also the problem of finding the room where gigs are held which is up a tiny little staircase hidden away in a corner.

The room itself is the epitome of the small Camden gig venue, essentially the function room of a pub that has a stage in the corner and covered over windows. These rooms are where you can find some of the best up and coming bands in London but the bohemian style generally comes at a price to sound quality, The Enterprise is no exception. Whilst not a major problem with the fast paced singalong Country Folk of Gentlemen Duke the highly developed and sophisticated sound of Audiogold did suffer.

I turned up late to the gig and so managed to entirely miss the first act of the night and wasn’t in the greatest mood when the second took to the stage. Fortunately when they finished around a half hour later that had completely changed. Gentlemen Duke, a self described country folk group from Kent, offer an alternative to the rock and slower paced folk that is dominating much of the London gig scene at the moment. Fast paced, pounding bass lines and incredible energy characterise the kind of sound that I wish I heard more. Embracing both the electric fiddle and double bass over the standard guitar you can’t help but want to jump up and down. The obvious comparisons of Mumford and Sons, Johnny Flynn and so on come to mind but these guys are far from just jumping on the nu-folk bandwagon.

Instead they are probably best described as a mixture of the folksy influences of Noah and the Whale and the raw energy and speed of Flogging Molly. Throughout the set they were joking around between themselves and the crowd keeping the packed room engaged despite its unusual makeup of everyone from metal fans to the hipsters who are found almost everywhere in Camden.

With the rarely seen electric violin solo’s getting everyone jumping to the point that the floor was bouncing an alarming amount you won’t find many bands around who put more into their act than these guys. Though most of their songs are fast they are far from a one tricky pony with interesting and engaging lyrics combining with Sam Cockertons’ almost insatiable energy on the violin. At no other point in the night was the room anywhere near as full and the guys also spent some time in the bar downstairs chatting with anyone who was interested which can only help build up their fanbase.

- With good fortune there is a video of one of the tracks at the gig Andy reviewed.

In-between Gentlemen Duke and Audiogold was Dirty Pendejo though I must admit I managed to miss almost their entire set though I did manage to get hold of their latest CD release. Entitled The Pendemo it is an interesting example of a style the band themselves call  Dirty Funk Rock and may well appeal more to the heavier rock or metal minded listener though that is not to say they should be pigeonholed purely into this category.

Audiogold

Audiogold were the headliners for the night but such was the disorganisation at the venue that by the time they had come on many of the crowd had left and I even had to duck out before they had finished the last song so I could actually get home!

Those that did leave before the band had started missed out majorly, the skill level and writing prowess on display is something you virtually never see in these small venues. Though the set got off to a bit of a slow start for my liking it soon kicked up a few gears and those that had remained stayed rooted to the spot. Some sound problems caused minor delays and affected a few songs but far from ruined the performance. You don’t often get guys like this at small venues such as The Enterprise.

Though very well written and performed the lyrics were for me blown out of the water by the music itself. With a great mixture of lighter slower songs that would sound right at home on the radio through to heavier layered tracks and even a very good cover of Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd – Audiogold offer something for anyone who likes guitar based bands. The initial slower style reminded me of Elbow and the big sound is reminiscent of a small scale Arcade Fire though there are undoubtedly some folk influences in some of the songs.

Probably best described as Folk/Alt rock they are one of the best small bands you will get the chance to see with Jonny Wanders being probably the best guitarist I have seen since I started reviewing for the site a couple of years ago. And they even refunded my entrance money after the venue messed up!

- This video is from a performance by the band at New Cross Inn back in July 2011.

I’d recommend Gentlemen Duke to anyone who likes a bit of folksy rock or even just a fun gig; if they are near me again I’d definitely head down. They should do well as long as they don’t get lost in the swarm of Mumford wannabe’s who seem to be appearing at the moment. Audiogold are something a little different, I tend to go back and see the bands I review again anyway but this time I will definitely do it, very enjoyable this time around and apparently the sound at The Enterprise was rubbish so I can’t wait to hear them when it’s good!

- Audiogold have been firm favourites with the readers of the indie bands blog for some time, taking the number one spot on the New Year Ninety Chart.

Thanks for the review Andy and I would like to wish you all the best for your finals this year and here is hoping we can get a few more gigs sorted before you finish.

With good fortune I hope Andy will be able to contribute to the website after completing university. If you would be interested in writing reviews for the Indie Bands Blog, irrespective of you location in the world, please drop me a note.

We Aeronauts

The band was reviewed in November 2011. We Aeronauts.

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Caitlin Rose

The strength in the out-put lies in the heartfelt compositions. I haven’t suddenly gone all woolly jumper on myself, but just because a tune doesn’t have a disturbingly loud bass, doesn’t mean I can’t find some connection.

What marks out a band for inclusion on the indie bands blog website, is a mixture of things, but the essential ingredient is that the material adds something to the world of music and with no doubt Caitlin Rose ticks the box. Alternative Country may be a more suitable coat to wear, else the blinkers shut over many ears and although much of this genre steeps of sentimental drudgery, each band sounding precisely the same, here we have an artist who takes a slightly different lyrical perspective and threads through some new twists to the genre, whilst maintaining at the core, the essential ingredient that keeps generations of Country Fans coming back for more, that very sameness that turns off those not in to the scene.

Many genres suffer this self same issue, each band wanting to sound more ‘essential’ than the next, but each failing dismally.

What Caitlin Rose is able to achieve, is to open the door a crack to a broader audience as the saccharine sweetness is sharpened with some Bitter Aloes and the music dusted down with a Dyson cleaner, rather than a straw brush. Suddenly we have something relevant and with enough to draw in a wider audience.

Caitlin Rose – Own Side Now by ATO Records

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The Minor Leagues

Whisked back to the New Romantics and life is good, The Minor Leagues, well of course the head in the shell name would pique an interest. How does a band from, Cincinnati manage to encapsulate London in the early ’80′s and then manage to make it all sound so much more exciting. No it isn’t due to the seven musicians, who scintillate the Extensor digitorum longus, rather the sublime interaction between those self same seven.

The song compositions are what raises a smile to the face and get the feet muscles working.

This can’t but help to raise a smile, or you are reading the wrong website.

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Thomas Truax

Thomas Truax has been not only an experimental artist, but also a creator of his own instruments to get the sound he wants for more than five minutes and I pondered whether this should be an ‘essential’ or regular entry.

Warming baritone spills out over the music which supports the lyrical story, as Thomas develops a sound structure which takes on a three dimensional image. Despite the mellowness flowing from the speakers, my head is full of popping pinks and purples as the music wanders the mysterious path that becomes ever more engaging as tracks emerge.

It isn’t necessary to loose musical construction, to experiment as Thomas Truax well evidences. He has the ability to draw the listener towards strong visualisation as the music reverberates around the room. The ears are primed with material which is crafted by a musician who has taken the time to develop sonic instruments which echo the very heart and soul of the material.

I tip my hat to Thomas Truax.

A little invention – called the Steampunk Kinetic Sculpture.

….or for something on stage:

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60- Let Her Dive (Italy)

59 – Illegal Notes (England)

58 – Florida (USA)

57 – Vermillion Sands (Italy)

56 – OK (Wales)

55 – Ambershift (England)

54 – The Great Last (England)

A Little Bit of Joy (Live)

The Great Last | Myspace Music Videos

53 – Slothbear (USA)

52 - The Yuya (England)

51 – Elephant Stone (Canada)

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80 – The Hidden Revolution (England)

79 – The See See (England)

78 – The Recusants (England)

77 – Rise Against (USA)

76 – Gaoler’s Daughter (England)

75 – The Prettiest Meltdown (USA)

74 – Running the Risk (USA)

Backfire by Running the Risk

73 – 100 Monkeys (USA)

72 – Lickspittle (England)

71 – Alphabet Backwards (England)

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Dead Jerichos

Ouch that hurt, Debbie Harry with her eye’s torn out, good on Dead Jerichos for getting on with the next generation, though I must stay she still looks stunning….

I will try and think of Dead Jerichos as wiping away the past, but to be honest, I can’t, references come spinning back to my head from that perennial LP favourite Wargasm, I must write a review one day. Tight and hurried chords reverberate against the vocal as the band drive a high energy momentum.

There is an essential emergency about the band that demands attention, as they shift between rock and echo, whilst the core driving beat takes the music forwards.

My fingers are tapping away next to the keyboard as I dwell in the space in which Dead Jerichos abide. Won’t get much of a review written will it, so let’s try again.

These guys rip the neck out of new wave (hence the Blondie reference) and drive it in to a current space, with a blend of cross-cultural references and a sense of menace that all is not as it may appear. Driving drum is replaced by guitar which hands over to bass and all the while the engaging vocal sets a tone of disquiet.

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Dead Jerichos take up the cudgel of angst and drive a sharp cleft in to the music scene.

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