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.
This was the band's first performance as a four piece band since their bassist Jim left, not that you can tell. They pulled off an energetic performance with a modern version of Northern Soul. How to describe their style? Well, the official line is 'a whole record collection in one band', which is pretty accurate. Their influences can be heard within the songs, I couldn't help but hear a little Arctic Monkeys in the lyrics and style of 'Oh Jess', but their influences become embroiled in an original style which is a mixture of soul, rock and funk. And it grabs you, I can easily say once 'Oh Jess' had finished I wanted more. Indeed my "plus one" demanded it loudly as an encore, although we were even more pleased with their pumped up version of 'Son of a Preacher Man'.
From the intimate venue to the drunken compere's polar bear joke, I knew this experience was going to be pretty different from my previous musical form - based mainly on X Factor.
As we sang along loudly, the gig started to morph into something else. The nature of The Basement Bar turns any performance into a familiar setting, as a member of the audience you're not there to watch, you're there to interact, appreciate, love and listen to some bloody good music. The strangers on the other table become good friends, you laugh at their bad dancing and sometimes join in with them; it develops into a communal experience where you're sharing not just the venue but the night. As an audience we were manipulated, Jess's mellow solo keyboard and vocals during 'Carry Me Across' bought us all back down before they hauled us back up with their disco-tastic conclusion 'Get On Down.'
From the intimate venue to the drunken compere's polar bear joke, I knew this experience was going to be pretty different from my previous musical form - based mainly on X Factor. And interestingly, lead singer Jess made it to the second round of said competition. However, I now see the difference in quality between actual musicians and those with the supposed X Factor. I have seen the light, with the help of overpriced drinks and an angelic guide that was that crazy drunken compere. Long live the Basement Bar. And The Summits, who have given soul to my life.
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