Public Service Broadcasting 18 May 2013 Birmingham Institute Gig Review

Big TV, will make your eyes go square

Public Service Broadcasting Live in Birmingham: Last year for me was the year of Public Service Broadcasting, being introduced to them through the stunning Spitfire, then on through the other war room tracks, London can take it, checking out older tracks ROYGBIV then Everest and the war room remix ep (with an equally good, if not better version of Spitfire). I was gutted not to be able to see them live in my mega gig year, I think I was out the country when they toured.

As such it was with great enthusiasm I arrived at the little Temple room in the Institute, already rammed with quite an audience of older enthusiasts, I think this must be the typical 6 Music crowd, (6 Music fans keep voting PSB as rebel playlist winners) so I felt pretty much at home.

The support were on when I arrived, the unpronounceable XTXGXWXSXCX (The Grafham Water Sailing Club) a local band who made a good sound the 4 members stood round a table in the middle effectively, or that's what it looked like! But overall a good 'wall of sound type band'. Worth a listen on their sound cloud here

Then the covers came off quite literally, banks of TV's appeared looking like a scene from Max Headroom. All showing static, with a giant TV at the back, not beautiful flat screen TV's but old school wood surround. Minutes to go and on came the testcard. Then on walked the 3 members of Public Service Broadcasting, not a word was said, except a 'Hello' from the computer, and a cheery wave from the bow tie sporting Willgoose.

First track, inform, educate, entertain got us prepared for what the gig would be like, Guitar, Driving Drums, TV's showing cracking visuals plucked from Black & White movies / educational films and keyboards. The films taking centre stage, the band stepping back into the shadows, happy not to be focussed on by anyone, looking appropriately Geek Chic in their ties / bow ties and thick black rimmed specs.

It takes a little while to get used to not having any vocals, just being replaced by the narratives from the films, even between the songs there aren't any vocals, there are comments from the computer 'thanks' after the applause from the first song. It is very different to what you normally expect to hear, a sound tracked evening on National Geographic perhaps. This is though not a complaint, smile on face throughout.

The other aspect that jumps out differently to every other gig is the humour that is used by the interspersed Computer voice between tracks. For a particular favourite, we got
It's great to be here in......(press other button) ...Birmingham, then, We always wanted to play here in......Birmingham. They are definitely a band that doesn't take themselves too seriously, which is a good thing. Another example I thought of this was "Night Mail" which started with recurring pictures of train tracks and train wheels, a stirring beat, which could have continued in a serious manner being a Kraftwerkesque tune, but it wasn't to be, as the narrative from WH Auden Poem is interspersed, again bringing a wry smile as it states.

This is the Night Mail crossing the border,
Bringing the cheque and the postal order,
Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,
The shop at the corner and the girl next door.

Two thirds of the way through and the highlight for me, Spitfire gets a run through, for me the ideal choice for the end of the gig or encore, but it wasn't placed there. It was epic as I had hoped it would be, the audience Euphoric in their response to the song, the footage looking amazing with the Spitfires swooping all over the screen.

The computer announces the last song after an hours set, ROYGBIV another excellent tune and they walked off stage right, the computer requested the opportunity to intro the band (it shouldn't take long) and band introduced as Drums, Visuals (first time I have had a band with a Visuals person) and Everything Else.

Encore back on, and the other Epic tune Everest. Uplifting sums it up best for me. Then the end of the gig, Vinyl purchased (copy of the War room EP finally acquired) and home by 10:30.

So in overall terms, the PSB guys did not disappoint, every song is entertaining at least, not something you can say for many bands, no checking of facebook or twitter required for album filler tracks. I would recommend them to anyone, they had thought through their set, didn't take themselves too seriously and played some belters.

Reflecting on the songs though, it's interesting to consider whether they have anywhere they can go now with this mode of music as it may be that they are a one trick pony, providing an excellent artefact that people will hear in 10 years time and try to remember their names.

John Grant - Gig Review Birmingham Institute 9 May 2013

John Grant at Digbeth Institute Gig Review. 9 May 2013.

John Grant is unique. Articulating in words the music he plays is incredibly difficult, but the background to this incredibly warm man is quite amazing, which led me to seeing him at Nottingham Glee club touring his first album, and an easy choice to see him in the Library Room in the Institute. It's good that his show is so brilliant, as following the day I had had at work I was in a reasonable grump when I arrived minutes before he came on stage, chuffed to find Budweiser now on tap.

So why is John Grant unique? Well in a world of pretend pop stars, rich kids in bands going to Brit school and churning out tunes, he's definitely been through the ringer, as an artist, he had been in the Czars in the late 90's, early 2000's, not a band I had heard, but he would have beenin his 30's then. Rumour has it he then dropped out, was homeless and was plucked from obscurity by Midlake (thanks Iain!), who knowing his earlier work encouraged and supported him to record his first solo album, the critically acclaimed Queen of Denmark. Another year or maybe 2 and the follow up album, preceded by the single Pale Green Ghosts was dropped, to rapturous applause from in particular both Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, and listening to their 3 hour show daily, you got to hear them enthuse a lot.

So what makes the songs unique, well taking the first album, the songs are beautiful, piano laced, heart felt but really accessible as the lyrics are very much everyday language, so a particular favourite will be Sigourney Weaver, with the lyrics

And I feel just like Sigourney Weaver
When she had to kill those aliens
And one guy tried to get them back to earth
And she couldn't believe her ears

This was the first song I think that grabbed me by JG, such an odd juxtaposition of words and music, then Mars, about a sweet shop from being a kid I believe. The other thing hat jumps out from both albums is the regular littering of profanities, F bombs galore, but said matter of factly rather than gangster rappy.

So to the gig, and a cracking 2 hours of John which must have covered most of the 2 albums, great banter in between songs although covering some of the darkest subjects, the suicide (shotgun) of a friend, being HiV positive, homophobia, but all of them delivered in a manner than caused a laugh and allowed you to think about them.

The band were all exotically named Icelandic chaps (with caps) except really for the chap from Coventry, but he got a rapturous welcome. Iceland ring John's adoptive home now.

Got to 10:30 and I was expecting that to be it, what with modern curfews but no, we got a half hour encore. Great value for money, or VFM as the kids would say. Definitely one to get me out of the funk I was in, that and the Budweiser anyway.

So you probably don't know John Grant but I will heartily recommend either album, the second with warm electronics replacing those pianos. Just don't play the tunes with Children round!

Richard Hawley at HMV Institute Gig Review

Hawley backed by various flora and fauna

Gig 40: Richard Hawley at Digbeth Institute
22 September 2012

Seeing Richard Hawley tonight was just what the doctor ordered. Having left my beloved Birmingham City in the evening kickoff being trounced 5 Nil by the mighty Barnsley (a team who had lost every away game this year upto now), the biggest home league defeat since the eighties, I needed a tonic.

Entering the HMV institute things looked promising, pint of red stripe in hand I shuffled forward to be ready for Hawleys entrance. The stage set had dry ice, trees and plenty of lights bathing the band.

Hawley is one of a kind in my experience, a crooner, voice able to fill the room deep and rich, crowd hanging on every syllable. It's not something thats lost on him, he knows his audience is drawn from all age ranges.

Then in between every song there was banter, banter that shows Hawley would be he sort of bloke it would be fun to go for a beer with. We heard about his couple of days beer session before being called by Banksy to get 'Tonight the streets are ours'  in a film and retorting Fuck off as he thought it Nick Banks from Pulp, whilst hanging the washing out as penance to his Missus for drinking. He felt more cred from the song being used in he Simpsons.

The gig rattled through at pace, and Hawley really seemed to be enthused by the audience, who were particularly supportive of Dean the drummer from Erdington. We were told hat in the interval before the encore we were written down in the pinky red tour book, I.e. there's a good chance we will see Hawley again soon.

After Oceans it was over, and I got suckered into Hendersons relish (branded Hawley relish) and boiled sweets. I should have bought a record, as I agree to a degree with Hawley that mp3's are buckets of steam and not as good as records and cd's. But thank goodness I had something this good to erase the Blues.

Alabama Shakes Birmingham - Gig Review

Alabama Shakes: HMV Institute
Gig 24 11 May 2012


Another Gig in Brum and just arrived for the support Childhood, who looked pretty good. The initial songs were poorer as the singer just looked to shout the lyrics, but I liked the image more when they slowed down a little. Then the voice was more measured and went nicely with the guitarist's quiff, Hawaiian shirt and cap, brought me back to the 80's.


Looking round the audience it was interesting to see they were predominantly older, presumably a Radio 2 and 6 Music listening crowd, funnily enough the reason that I was there, as the Alabama shakes had been getting quite a lot of hype and the show had been upgraded to the larger room. Whilst I had heard a lot of the singles, I hadn't seen any photo's of the band so it was interesting to see them come on, and probably the most musically credible whilst stylistically not caring lead singer I have ever seen.


How would I describe the singer, a spectacled guitar wielding Mom in comfortable clothes, but the guitar wielding was then supplemented with an amazing voice, not one that I could place straight off but an amazing American voice that bugged me throughout the concert. Whilst on the topic of the visuals of the band the bassist seemed to be Romeo from the magic numbers hiding underneath a cap.


A stand out (apart from the single which landed early) came later when the hammond organ player got to really show his stuff at the side of the stage. The songs were pretty good as a whole, would have been at home on Beale Street in Memphis and no doubt far more so in Alabama. They then launched into a new song, which was a real old school rock and roll number and finally let us know they had one more number Y'all and they were gone.


They were a proper band, remind me of the brilliant holidays taken in America before kids and in particular the driving tour round the south, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans and others.


Finally on the way out it clicked where I recognised the voice from, and I was really amazed because the songs kept resonating with  I ain't never, never, never loved a man the way I love you.....which was Aretha Franklin and a phenomenal voice.

The Civil Wars in Brum

The Civil Wars were my 10th gig of 2012, which is no mean feat given its only 14 March, and I have been just about surviving busy season.

The decision to see the Civil Wars was a last minute one, hearing them interviewed on Radcliffe and Maconie, on their magnificent 6 Music show was such an ear changing experience that I wrote down the name of the band (obviously not whilst driving) to investigate later, a trawl round the internet later found a live album for free download, and also the free single download for the small price of my email address......and a gig the following night in Birmingham so quickly the ticket was purchased and was raring to go.

Listening to the live album (available on the website and from Eddie's attic, a live music venue and Rooftop Grill in Georgia if the internet's to be believed, and very proud of the Civil Wars) what I was struck by was how much fun the Civil Wars seemed to have, it was all little jokes and interaction with the audience, a great night beckoned.

Getting to the venue, I've not seen the Digbeth Institute so packed in recent visits, in fact not since pre HMV revamp when I saw Elastica in their pomp and Mrs P spent the gig stood on a couple of pint pots to see. So it seemed that they had a bit of a following, dead easy to get to the bar, Civil Wars fans are certainly not hardened drinkers, and red stripe in hand I went to listen to the support act, Matthew & Atlas. Who 'filters his textured and dreamy take on Americana through a distinctly English folk sensibility, and - with his bruised and raw vocal to the fore - tells stories that sound like they’ve been handed down through the ages.' according to facebook and I must say he did what it said on the tin, quite delicately, quietly and politely. I clapped accordingly in the right intervals and wondered how Birmingham were doing against Leicester City (losing if you are interested, despite taking the lead from the penalty spot).

They then set up for the Civil Wars.......the crowd got very excited..........the stage was set, guitar stand, small keyboard, 2 mic stands, bit of smoke, red lighting and then on they came and THE CROWD WENT WILD, it was the riotous applause for the end of a gig and said Civil Warers were, I reckon, slightly surprised by this massively partisan crowd.

They got stuck into a few numbers, they were beautiful, the crowd went wild, Joy Williams positively beamed, but said very little, John Paul White smiled played his acoustic guitar and crooned away, but again said very little....and the crowd went wild.

They settled into their stride then, we were introduced to Joy's bouncy dress, and were reminded that the next song would be the cheerful one, the only cheerful one so better be ready as its not that long...and the crowd went wild. I had a right screamer and whooper behind me.

Given it was just the 2 of them the sound coming was full, booming whilst heavily sad country tinged, every note such perfect and Joy used little tricks such as retreating from the mic to add poignancy

The crowd got a little playful, around the pronunciation of Birmingham with JPW and a bit of banter between JPW and a Geordie at the front, so amused was JPW with the banter he dedicated the next song to him, unfortunately it was a song about yearning unrequited love for the central character, which set JPW, Joy and the crowd into great mirth.

Throughout it was clear that these debut album, self financed Grammy winners (for that is they) really appreciated the feedback from the crowd, it was great to be part of the interaction, playfulness and banter that was shared.

We were treated to the first airing (apart from the others on the tour) of their cover of Sour times by Portishead, which was an excellent interpretation, with the harmonising of the voices together being quite haunting over the acoustic guitar, and the then the gig drew to a close.......the audience went berserk to bring on the encore and out came the band, typical quips continued such as 'were you guys on the balcony doing all that stomping, bet you guys below were worried' and 'hope you guys enjoyed Matthew & Atlas, he kind of let us down as the warm up act's supposed to suck'

The encore included a cover of Michael Jacksons 'Billie Jean' an obvious crowd favourite as when requested what they wanted the audience all screamed for it and showing typical Brum hospitality, when offered a pint after the gig Joy politely declined showing off her preggers bump......which will sadly put off a return to Brum in the near future I would imagine.

To sum up, a cracking gig, Radcliffe and Maconie had commented how their voices seemed to be 2 halves of one voice which really seemed to be the case live, and I've not seen a band so obviously enjoying themselves and with such chemistry between them for donkey's years. Plus the banter between songs was Jarvis Cocker like in its appeal.

For a chance find on searching the web, I was very pleased indeed, buy the album and see them live!!!!