23rd January
latest news: Anna's sweet and sticky pork buns

Arts Sections

Music
Performing Arts
Film
Art and Literature
Arts Features and Multimedia
TV
Games
Original Work

Latest articles from this section

El Camino

The Black Keys - El Camino

Sunday, 11th December 2011

James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.

The Black Keys

The Week in Music

Tuesday, 6th December 2011

Your guide to the musical happenings of week 9

Phatfish

Phatfish Review - The Duchess, 2/12

Monday, 5th December 2011

The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland - Here I Am

Sunday, 4th December 2011

Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.

More articles from this section

The Drums
Ringo Deathstarr
PJ Harvey
Cassette tapes

Singles Club

Wed, 30th Nov 11
jb underthemistletoe
Here and Now
James Blake
Future of the Left
The Blanks

The night we found talent in Langwith

Langwith Bar
A full Langwith Bar
Sunday, 8th June 2008
As our merry group of two becomes a merrier group of five, we assess whether Langwith has any talent to liven up our Saturday evening.

Judges: Helen Adams, RAG President, Jamie Tyler, Student Development and Charities Officer-elect and Zach Pepper, Langwith Chair, with fabulous comparing by Chris O'Brien.

Warm-Up

Chris singing Birthday Boy. I should alert you to the fact that we've been joined by Laura's sister - those of you who read our earlier efforts at reviewing will be familiar with Laura's honesty - her sister's "bitchiness is coming out" this can only get more entertaining.

He grabbed an unusually full Langwith Bar with his acousticy approach. The results from (our) panel was that we liked his voice, but his first song wasn't great, although his second, an Oasis cover was much more tuneful and was perfect for this balmy Saturday evening. The third had a great melody, and he'll fit in perfectly at Woodstock (especially if he plays his soulful song, currently untitled).

Act 1

Two songs by Luke Jennings, the first was the slower of the two, about the first time you go home from Uni, the second was a bit of angrier. We went for 6/10. We're impressed with his guitar abilities, but it all went a bit wrong at the end. One of our panelists claims he is singing out of tune, the rest disagree, we do however all agree on his very impressive instrument - it's red, glittery, and angular.

So what did the judges think? "I like your guitar, and I like your hair, but if you're going to be at Woodstock you need to make it a bit more visual" he suggested "a hair dance" Adams was happy to hear something that wasn't an acoustic guitar (here here!) whereas Tyler went for the old classic of "it's alright." And the end he went to Zach so he could stroke his hair. Nice.

Act 2

"Ok, Simon Wood, is Langwith Goalkeeper and he's a dab hand with a keyboard" the compère announced.

He got raptuous applause. Pepper said: "That was amazing. I'm so happy" Tyler (who missed the majority of the 30 second slot) said: "The bit I caught sounded better than the guy on the TV whilst Adams said: "You're clearly a Langwith Legend and hopefully we'll see you at Woodstock"

He got the acclaim from Laura of being "the best act I have seen at these"

What was he doing? Playing the Star Wars theme, one handed, with backing track.

Langwith Bar
A full Langwith Bar

Act 3

We made bets before they started as to whether they'd be any good. We voted yes. They were. After a rocky start due to technical issues, the duo of Tom Howlett, Jonny P kick in to a belting guitar track, with both going hell for leather on their fretboards before launching into a melodic tune.

They are currently my favourite act of the four heats I've been witness to. They're a band whose CD I'd listen to independently, and whilst I loved groups like the Irresistaboyz these guys are a different (actually musically talented) class.

The girls gave them 9/10 (with one member going for a surprisingly low 7) they gave their chances as 5/10.

They then went for a cover of Justin Timberlake's Love Stoned which was not only surprising because it was good, but also the notes that were achieved, but they asked "for points for an attempt."

A third track, and second cover took a more melodic approach, and asked, "Call me a safe bet, I bet you I'm not" then it morphed into Avril Lavigne then Good Charlotte then Busted then Venga Boys with some Babycakes finally, Aha (or A1) which, according to my much trendier friends was a bit of a Flight of the Concords rip-off, but a good one they assure me.

If we're not watching them in two weeks at Woodstock I'll not only be surprised but gutted. Musical, and comedy gold.

Act 4

Emma, the one who we expected to be a bit harsh, just announced Richard as "bloody good".

He opened with Queen's Too Much Love Will Kill You he battled adversity by dealing with some technical assistance mid-song, and still hitting every note, both with his voice and on the piano.

He gave it his all and milked the last note for everything it was worth, key changes and vibrato all the way. He got a raptous applause, the first standing ovation we've seen and shouts for "More".

The twins matched their scores at 11/10, and another went of 7/10.

Richard Dearden
Amazing.

The next song was written post-break up, and it could have gone two different ways.

Within 30 seconds the doubts were gone. This guy utterly rocked. Although I do feel like I'm intruding in his grief a little, if he gets Woodstock maybe the Queen song would be better, although it was beautifully written and performed.

Tyler summed up: “The passion and effort really went through really went through.” Adams: “You’re very very talented” (echoed by our panel) “I think you’ll lighten Woodstock, there’s a lot of guitars there this year.”

The comments from our panel were that a) they couldn’t believe he’d written his song, and b) that this was real talent and c) if he’d written that song about you he’d definitely win the break-up war.

Act 5

Andrew Wyatt was aiming to pot a full tables’ full of balls in 90 seconds (seriously the amount of inneundo we could make in this article is ridiculous) anyhow, the crowd was dubious. it got to 3 on the countdown, and he did it. (Emma raised debate as to whether its a talent or a skill.)

Langwith Talent
It took 87 seconds, but he managed

Act 6

Max Tyler, who was doing stand-up - the third of the type that we've seen - the first two were rubbish. The hype that had being built around him all night (especially from The Jonny P and Howlie T Experience) who said they think he'll get through seemed to suggest he'd be good.

He had a polished performance and apparently open-mic's which may explain it.

"Clubbing for girls is like Jenga. It takes ages to get ready, when you start pulling you're quite careful, and then you're like, no, I'll pull anything." Quality. (He's already performing at Woodstock so that's all good.)

Reviewers Choices

  • The Jonny P and the Howlie T Experience (made up of Tom Howlett and John Pead)
  • Richard Dearden

Judges Choices

  • The Jonny P and the Howlie T Experience
  • Richard Dearden

I'd mentioned to Zach earlier in the day how Langwith had a job on to beat the so-far-so-talented Halifax. By Act 5 of Langwith's heat they'd done it. Langwith certainly has a hell of a lot of talent.

Check out The Yorker's Twitter account for all the latest news Go to The Yorker's Fan Page on Facebook
#1 Chris Northwood
Sun, 8th Jun 2008 11:50am
  • "Ok, Simon Wood, is Langwith Goalkeeper and he's a dab hand with a keyboard" the compare announced.

I think you'll find the word's compère

#2 Chris OBrien
Sun, 8th Jun 2008 1:42pm

I think the article needs to say more about the compère's skills. Hint, hint...!!

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.