Sirius Live Music
Acoustic Night
Reviews from SIRIUS
Weds 2nd May
Phil King
Folk singer-songwriter with a full sound and upbeat songs about topics of world issues and more personal ones too. You can tell he's played the songs many times before from the slickness of his performance, but still captivates the one time performance attitude.
Trimalchio
Playing mostly their own material with a few authentic covers including robert johnsons "sweet home chicago", Trimalchio's set was uplifting with the ambient sound of ben's funky rhythmn guitar setting a back drop to his fast paced lyrics, much in the style of anthony kiedis, and matt's intricate, well phrased jazz/blues solo work. Breezy yet with soul, summer time music that would warm you even in the winter.
www.myspace.com/trimalchioband
Howlin Rene and Whistlin Willy Wilson
From the blues band Renegade, Rene and carl came down to do something a little different: R&B acoustic! Playing classics such as "you got my mojo working" with all the heart and soul of the king himself, there was no choice but for everyone to be singing along, dancing in their seats. Energy and passion come through both performers, especially in Renes earthy, from the heart voice and Carls lick-filled, slick yet wild harmonica solos. Really worth checking out the next time you fancy a good night out...
Farther
In total contrast, Farther bought the atmosphere right back down to a peaceful, tranquil feel. Their lush, 3 part harmonies on the choruses with female counter-melodies kicking in just added to the melting pot of loveliness. Oh, and did i mention the straw hats, and 3 acoustic guitars playing off each other creating a sound so full yet pretty you could listen all night. If you've had a tough day at work, just follow this link and listen, you'll feel worlds better :)
www.myspace.com/fartheracoustic
Weds 11th April
Chalky Gravell
Opening tonights SIRIUS was the wonderful Chalky Gravell from Southampton, joined by bassist Dave Jones. Chalky's songs work on a short chord porgression and a tight rhythmic groove that sets the backing to his lyrics of lost love and times in life. Featuring an unexpected bass solo from Dave when Chalky's string decided to break, the set was entertaining, foot tapping and nicely put together.
Oliver Talkes
Also from Southampton, Oliver took on a very different approach to chalky, and indeed many of the artists we've had at SIRIUS. His style was a mix of lullaby like folk mixed with the sonwriting of Tom Waits with his indepth, complex and wonderfully crafted lyrics and jazzy chords, and Nick Drakes soft almost meloncoly approach. His guitar playing was so detailed, almost classical, and singing rich with such great diction, it could have been a recording, yet somehow his calm nature bought across an emotion to the audience: peace. It was a treat to see someone with such a simple set up bringing acoustic music back to its, more American, roots and creating a such a beautiful sound.
Lou Brown
After a phone call from Frankie at 8.30pm that night "Lou one of our acts hasn't showed up", she got her guitar in the car and came down to play. It's the first time she's performed solo in a long while as she's at present working on her album with a band, but it was wonderful to see the spirit of Lou come through both in her fun and freindly raport with the audience, and her honest, fantastically written songs. Tonight throwing in a new bluegrass style song (which was great!), her set had contrast in emotion, style, intensity and context. Wonderful lady, great music.
The Family Buzzard
A debut for the Family Buzzard here, and they fitted in perfectly! Their music is a mix of folk, blues, Beatles stlyle and whatever else that mixing pot needs to make a fantastic bunch of songs. Again having a brilliant range of styles bringing the audience from laughter to deep introspection, the Family Buzzard are funny, musically dynamic and a really great group of people. With Countess Basie on bass and vocals, Sugar Ray on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Chairman on percussion (wash board, spoons, suitcase bass drum, snare..not all at the same time!), their sound is full and lively, as is their performance.
www.myspace.com/thefamilybuzzard
Weds 4th Apil
Frankie Milner
Tonight supported by the geniuses that are Bobby,guitar, and Cath, flutes and whistles, Burke (brother and sister), my set was mostly upbeat with one slower number thrown in for good measure."Gods and the stars" is one of the tracks played that you can hear on my myspace.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the audience for being so fantastic and appreciating, respecting and giving warmth to the artists that perform here at SIRIUS. You make the night something special. Thank you.
www.myspace.com/frankiemilnermusic
Paul Liddell
Extremely talented and wonderful singer-songwriter from Sunderland making full use of technology with his pedal boards creating drone instruments, riff and rhtyhm loops, vocal harmonies and thick guitar strummed textures. Strong and rememberable melodies create the basis to his songs which come in a wide variety of emotion, style and lyrical context as well as guitar technique. His voice is warm with a husky edge and a huge range which is covered with great and musical control. If you're in need of some new music to get into, let it Paul Liddell's, you'll be glad that you did.
Pete Christie
I know one shouldn't have favourites, especially when writing reviews, but today I'm going to! Not only does he cover my very favourite Bob Dylan tunes "Not dark yet" in his magical way, but his own songs have too come to be some of my favourites to have ever entered my heart "Normal shade of Blue" ,"Wating in the wings". The best bit about Pete is, you never quite know what you're going to get. Using tonight only a loop station, a guitar and his voice, Pete Christie created an hour of music that took the audience on a journey of happy, sad, funny and thought envoking. And he's the only person I've met who actually says what's going on in his head!! If you haven't seen Pete play yet, don't waste any more of you time and get out to see him...he's playing at SIRIUS @ the Sundial festival on July 1st (just a tip!)
Weds 28th March 07
Stu Creswell
Opening tonights show with his upbeat almost punk style of heavily strummed and rhythmic guitar and rapid, fully passioned vocals. The song that particularly stood out for me was "Rock and a hard place": what a great tune! See link below for the full band...
Zara Sophia
A debut for Zara at SIRIUS and it was a great pleasure to see her perform here with her one leg on a stool delicate guitar playing lending the main focus of her music to her amazingly powerful yet warm and soft voice and complex melodies and free structures. Having learnt to sing in Barcelona, you can really hear the European angle in her music, interesting and encaptivating.
Gav
Of a more similar style to Stu and lyrics of such refreshingly diverse subjects such as the way we have come to be as a world because of the media. Also of interest were his chord patterns, who moved seemlessly into different key centres and back, again adding to this punk like sound.
www.myspace.com/builtbyrobots.
Numidian Wish
We nearly had a 5 piece band in the small stage of SIRIUS, but unfortunately the lady drummer had to leave early through illness, but none the less, Numidain Wish got up and performed a powerful and elegant set. Elise's voice is stunning, ranging from husky and gentle, to clear and strong, she really puts her heart into her performance and this, as well as Paul and Wills beautiful locking acoustic guitar parts and the moving bass lines, make Numidian Wish a band well worth checking out....
