Farewell

Farewell are the kinda band i’ve always loved; keyboard infused pop rock, so unsurprisingly, i loved them. Only their second ever date in the UK, and this American six piece are rocking out as hard as possible. It’s hard not to want to move, although most of the crowd are motionless, saving their energy for You Me At Six. Farewell play stuff a catchy blend of pop rock that you can sense yourself singing along to the second chorus of each song.

Houston Calls

I first heard of Houston Calls towards the end of 2005, when their debut album ‘A Collection Of Short Stories’ was released. That was an album which i still play all the time, that’s how good it is. Anyway, fast forward three years, and Houston Calls have just released their second album ‘The End OF An Error’.

As the majority of the crowd are newcomers to Houston Calls, I half expected the band to just play songs off the new album especially as it’s just come out. However, the band kick off with Sunrise Goodbyes, Exit, Emergency, and end with Bob and Bonnie, favourites from ‘A Collection…’. The band play several songs from the new album including ‘Modest Manifesto’ and ‘Life Won’t Wait’ arguably the strongest songs on the new album.

You Me At Six

So far 2008 there’s been a group of bands that have seemingly came out of nowhere including Kids In Glass Houses, Go! Audio, and You Me At Six, all mainly appealing to young girls. These bands didn’t come out of nowhere, You Me At Six have been touring for over two years, and thoroughly deserve the success that they are starting to pick up. At times sounding like pop rock by numbers, You Me At Six have excelled at appealling to the Skins generation.

Coming on to screaming girls, which made me have to double check I wasn’t accidently at a boy band concert, the band punches hard with ‘The Truth Is A Terrible Thing’ followed by two singles ‘Gossip’ and recent hit ‘Jealous Minds Think Alike’ leaving some people wondering if they have peaked too soon in the set. The band, apart from the odd mistake during Save It For The Bedroom, sound polished despite throwing themselves around the stage like their lives depended on it.

After only nine songs, the band go off stage. Constant screams from 600 odd girls bring Josh and the rest of the band back on stage, where they play ‘If I Were In Your Shoes’ and my highlight of the set ‘The Rumour’. The performance was energetic and full of high points, however, you can’t help but feel that the crowd deserved more than eleven songs, and only 45 minutes.

The first video by Ostracoda, one of the best rock bands in Norwich. Other Side is taken from their Other Side/No Gravity CD. Check out more Ostracoda at www.myspace.com/ostracoda

Enter Shikari have come along way since the first time they played Norwich back in January 2006 at the Ferryboat. Both critical and commerical success has seen the band rise from playing to 100 people a night to over 1500 kids. Tonight the glow sticks and uv face paint seems to be out in force amongst the young crowd, many whom i imagine were at their first gig.

The bands blend of trance and hardcore gets everyone jumping from the start with crowd favourites being Hectic, Return to Energizer and new single We Can Breathe In Space, They Just Don’t Want Us To Escape. After over a year and a half since the release of ‘Take To The Skies’ Enter Shikari brought out a range of new songs, which, whilst maintaining the now trademark sound showed an even heavier side.

Having seen Enter Shikari back at the Ferryboat it’s hard to imagine them translating so well on a bigger stage, but the band pull it off with no problems. The band seems to relate to the fans, happy to chat for ages whilst onstage rather than the slightly awkward mumblings from a few years back. Bring on the new album next year.

The second night of Elliot Minor’s Skimpies and Aviators tour finds the band in Bournemouth in an old church. The main aim of the tour being to play in as many seaside towns as possible, which don’t usually get visits from touring bands. This, of course, means the venue is sold out and packed full of youngsters many of whom have never been to a gig before. The Landmarc being the perfect venue, with awesome views from where ever you stood and a balcony going all round the room those who did not want to mosh could watch without obstruction or pushing. From the start who could tell the crowd were planning on making the most of the evening, with a mosh pit forming and a loud singing to fall out boy over the pa, before a band had even stepped on stage.

The Days

First up are The Days, a piano led foursome who have recently signed to Atlantic Records and are quietly building up a fanbase before the release of their debut album next year. The Days are catchy pop at it’s best, a cross between the cool rocking of Something Corporate/Jacks Mannequin and popiness of The Fray. Singer Luke Simpkins working the crowd like a seasoned frontman. A band to watch out for in the next year.

Elliot Minor

Elliot Minor burst onto the stage to the sounds of ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside’ and all wearing boardshorts, not only fitting into theme of the tour but also showing they are always as boring or serious as some publications have claimed.

Having been critical of the band myself when i had first heard them, they straight away pump the speakers up with some hard hitting, but pop accessable rock, showing off their technical guitar skills and proving that they are talented musicians. As the set procedes the songs get catchiest, not that it makes much difference to the majority of the audience who are singing along word for word to every song, even b-sides.

Most of the crowd of having the night of their, admittedly, short lives. the exception being the parents dragged along by their teenagers, although certain older members of the audience also get into the music.

Most popular songs are the singles Jessica, Still Figuring Out and Parallel Worlds, all greeted my a scream/cheer louder than you’d expect from 300 odd people. Importantly, not only the crowd but also Elliot Minor seemed to be having amazing night, with the band feeding off the crowds energy.

Over 12 years since their biggest hit ‘Slight Return’ and the bluetones are still going strong, touring admittedly smaller venues but still playing to a loyal following. On one of the hottest evenings of 2008 so far, they play at the barfly in cambridge , which comfortably holds about 50-100 people, tonight packed with over 200 people all almost passing out thanks to the heat.

The bluetones start with a few songs from their last couple of albums before heading into a ‘bands favourite’ set. The set mainly features (for some odd reason) songs from their ‘Science and Nature’ album, a more mellow sound from the recent albums, a sound not a million miles away from Mark Morriss’ new solo album. Mixed with this is the bands favourite singles they have released.

Playing on a small stage with a pillar right in the middle of the stage limited the band movements, or as singer Mark puts it ‘cutting out 70% of his best dance moves’ the band are at their best in an initimate venue, allowing Mark Morriss to charm all of the crowd, joking around with various audience members including the odd heckler.

Rather than leaving the stage and they coming back on for an encore, the bluetones to stay on stage and continue with the set, instead of having to push their way through the sweaty crowd twice. At this point Slight Return, Bluetonic and If… are unleashed on the cheering crowd, leaving the audience sweaty but satified.