James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
When an evening goes from good to better to amazing, I tend to assume that the ascension is directly correlated to the amount of alcohol consumed. However, post-festive detox time is upon us therefore restricting said consumption to a bare minimum. With full control of my senses, I can safely report that each act at this Basement Bar gig did in fact outdo the preceding, resulting in a pretty amazing climax: The Sporting Life.
After just missing The Buccaneers, Izzy Isgate was the first act I saw in the endearingly intimate Basement Bar. Mixing jovial with contemplative, the crowd were provided with an eclectic range of lyrical styles which were complemented by notable talent on Bluey, her lovingly nicknamed guitar. The crowd were often silenced by Isgate’s powerful and haunting voice prompting an invitation for people to laugh along to her ode to Miss Jones, a beloved English teacher. Waving the flag for York singer songwriters, this girl’s got what it takes to make it far. I'm sure that you’ll be hearing more of her in future.
Playing their second ever gig, Young Believers played a good if very conventional indie set. The baby-faced lead singer filled the room with a refreshing enthusiastic energy, complemented by fast paced beats and catchy lyrics. Despite the lack of originality the band had a certain charm - their frantic strumming and rasping vocals were occasionally reminiscent of quintessential indie icon Pete Doherty. One other notable feature was the comedic value of their charming sports jacket and trilby clad drummer, Chrissy Hunter. The additional function of ‘comedy’ for this guy on their MySpace site was certainly appropriate; this amusing young man caused somewhat of a distraction with a set of rather amusing faces and subtle eccentricities. It soon appeared that this was to be a common denominator for the Basement Bar bands as The Sporting Life began preparing their set…
Wearing a wide brimmed hat covering a somewhat impressive head of hair, this rather strange drummer served to enhance the immense amount of personality exuding from The Sporting Life. The impressive four piece played a truly original set, diverging from stereotypical indie style and adopting what they describe as ‘Melodramatic Popular Song’. Including musical allusions to Daniel Bedingfield and jittering about the stage like skinny-jean-wearing mice on speed, this band made for genuinely entertaining viewing. The lead singer provided much of this entertainment, displaying unrivalled energy whilst whacking out amazing beats reminiscent of Kings of Leon. If they’re ever again in the York vicinity, check them out. You won’t regret it.
You must log in to submit a comment.
