Live Review: We Are Scientists @ Rock City [13/03/14]

Indie dancefloor classics, comedic quips and even a marriage proposal resulted in an unforgettable evening as Rock City welcomed We Are Scientists last night.

After opening with the brooding Return The Favor from their new record, TV En Francais, the American trio up the ante with a flurry of old favourites including After Hours and an infectious rendition of Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt.

Keith Murray and Chris Cain, the charismatic figureheads of the group, display and maintain an energy defying their strenuous touring schedule.

The metal-inspired Dumb Luck is testament to this – with both members frantically thrashing through the song in spectacular fashion.

Almost doubling as a comedy act, the pair take plenty of time between songs to interact with the audience, riffing on topics like Miley Cyrus and Robin Hood.

The New York-based band, evidently thrilled to be back in Nottingham, are a breath of fresh air amidst an industry brimming with detached, brooding frontmen.

Just before the set’s conclusion comes the night’s most unexpected highlight in the form of a marriage proposal, greeted with rapturous cheers.

Madness ensues when the band tie proceedings up with breakout hit, The Great Escape, and the venue’s hall is transported back to a raucous, indie disco circa 2005.

Their songs may not be compositional masterpieces and they’ll probably never sell out arenas, but We Are Scientists real charm lies with the fact they never take themselves too seriously.

For them, the night is all about pure, unadulterated fun – and that’s not rocket science.

http://www.nottinghampost.com/Review-Scientists-Rock-City/story-20810745-detail/story.html#ixzz2wDWAW97y

5 Of The Best Burgers In Nottingham

5. Chiquito

This Mexican chain creeped its way onto the list with its offering of tantalising double burgers. Served with their homemade coleslaw and a choice of skin-on-fries, a fresh house salad or Mexican spiced rice, the two-patty burger packs a mean punch. My weapon of choice, the BBQ pulled pork and cheese burger, came with a pile of delicious, tender pulled pork and enough prime beef to tame the biggest of appetites. Although pleasing on the eye, the wallet may not be as pleased as a hallowed double burger will set you back about £15. Even with 25% off for students, the price will be off-putting for many.

6/10 

4. TGI Friday’s

America is known for many things. Barack Obama, MTV and an unhealthy sense of patriotism to name a few. My favourite Yank import by far is the humble burger. Therefore, you’d expect TGI Friday’s, an American eatery, to come up trumps with their offerings. After coming across The Monster on the restaurant menu, I knew I had to have it. A 12oz burger heaped with crispy bacon, cheese and onion rings – what’s not to like?! When the burger arrived, engulfing the table, I knew it would be a hard feat to accomplish, but I fought through the meat sweats and came out victorious on the other side. Only problem was that the quantity outweighed the quality. The burger, for all its size and glory, was dense and hard to enjoy at times. The burger does make fourth place, however, for its amazing TGI dipping sauce.

6/10

3. Horn In Hand

The setting may be a dingy pub that plays some truly awful music at times, but the Horn In Hand’s Scream burger is the real deal. Probably my most consumed food since coming to Nottingham over a year ago, the burger contains a healthy amount of bacon, cheese and onion rings. The quality may not be of the highest order, but it always hits the spot. The Scream burger doesn’t try to be something it’s not – in fact, it laughs in the face of a gastro-burger. It’s cheap, hearty, cheerful and is always there for you. At £6.95 with a pint included, the world needs more burgers like the Scream.

7/10

2. Spanky Van Dykes

If you can wade past the hipster crowd, there is a mighty burger to be had at Spanky Van Dykes. The bar/restaurant doesn’t play it safe, either. Among the delights to be sampled are a halloumi and chorizo number, and even a peanut butter and fried egg burger! I, for one, wasn’t feeling too adventurous, so opted for the pulled pork and sweet chilli jam. There was a wait, but the effort that went into the burger’s creation was immediately noticeable in its appearance. As for the taste, the smoky pulled pork and the quality beef patty combined extremely well. If there was once small concern, the sweet chilli jam was hardly noticeable, but beggars can’t be choosers. What’s best about Spankys, though, is the 2-for-1 offer on a Tuesday. Take a mate and get stuck in.

8/10

1. Annie’s Burger Shack

This is it. The big one. It’s the daddy of all Nottingham burgers – none other than Annie’s Burger Shack. Recently relocated to a prime spot in Hockley, this is the place to be for all the self-confessed burger addicts. What first strikes you is the insane choice on offer at the restaurant, with around 30 different burger variations ranging from the weird to the wonderful. It has to be seen to be believed. I chose the Delta – an Adonis of a burger topped with cheese, onion rings and jalapeños. From first bite to last, it was a transcendent experience which I still struggle to put into words. What’s more, it will only set you back around £10 for probably the best burger you’ve ever had. Annie’s Burger Shack has changed the burger game. All praise Annie and her fine establishment.

10/10

Live Review: Bombay Bicycle Club @ Rock City [07/03/14]

Indie band Bombay Bicycle Club brought their chart-topping album, So Long See You Tomorrow, to a sold-out Rock City last week. Having previously played the venue in 2011, the London group marked a fine return to Nottingham with a set based heavily on their latest release.

New tracks such as Luna and Whenever, Wherever go down a storm with the excited audience as lead singer, Jack Steadman, is accompanied by a set of talented backing vocalists. Fan favourite, Always Like This, is also given an extra twist with the inclusion of an upbeat brass section.

Not famed for their outspoken side, the band do little in the way of crowd interaction, instead letting the music do much of the talking. Bombay, never afraid to reinvent their sound, constantly invigorate the audience with an array of styles – from the riff-heavy indie rock from their debut record to a new, world-music inspired sound. This is attributed to Steadman’s travels around the globe whilst touring and his growing affinity with Asia. Feel’s Indian-infused riff, well received by the packed Midlands crowd, is a far cry from anything done before by the young four-piece.

Fast rising up festival undercards and with an ever-growing fan base, Bombay Bicycle Club are ready to hit new heights with their fourth album – and at Rock City, they’ve come well equipped. They may have seen the world, but now they’re ready to take it over.

Three Songs Stuck In My Head

White Lies - Death

Epic. It’s a word that epitomises White Lies’ work since day one. Death, the first track off their 2009 debut album, is a storming anthem with a build-up capable of sweeping you off your feet. With a penchant for miserable themes, the band deal with the cheery issue of death with the help of some pounding guitars and synth.  It’s evident that from their very first steps, White Lies always envisaged the grandiose setting of a packed arena. Play very loudly.

Surfer Blood - Swim

If you didn’t know, the sun made a brief appearance this weekend. Many people took advantage of it, donning t-shirts and uploading their beer garden photos to Instagram. This song, however, did the trick for me. Surfer Blood’s feedback-drenched track brings up delightful connotations of a sun-tinged Californian beach and would get anyone excited for a glorious British summer. It might not be the most original of songs, but with a chorus as killer as it gets, just enjoy the surf.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Eyes Off You

Having already been one of my favourites from the latest album, So Long See You Tomorrow, the live rendition of this song knocked me for six at their Rock City gig last week. Kicking things off alone with a keyboard, lead singer Jack Steadman carries the song with a haunting falsetto. Dwelling on a lost love interest, the bittersweet track hits a glorious crescendo with all the instruments coming together perfectly. Masterful, both live and on record.

http://platform-online.net/2014/03/the-three-songs-stuck-in-my-head-alex-copley/

Live Review: Peace @ Rock City [1/12/13]

Emerging late last year, cresting a wave of B-town bands among the likes of Swim Deep, Peace have polarised music lovers with their brand of nonchalant indie pop. However, if the first date of their tour at Rock City is anything to go by, the Birmingham boys have nothing to worry about.

Geed up by a brash, yet storming, set by openers Drenge, the crowd are in high spirits as the main act take to the stage. Kicking off with Waste of Paint, from their debut album In Love, the venue’s floor space erupts into a pushing, singing and jumping mass. Lead singer Harrison Koisser, modelling himself like a hipster Kurt Cobain, has every lyric sang back to him by a drove of teenage fans.

Peace unashamedly nab their sound, and eccentric style, from a plethora of influences – ranging from the indie funk of Foals, to Stone Roses’ mythical baggy beats. The latter’s impact is most profound on the anthemic, thrashing Follow Baby. The track’s killer chorus of “we’re gonna live forever, baby” also a statement of intent from the wide-eyed four-piece.

Preventing any visits to A&E, the moshpit’s intensity fortunately dies down when the group show off a more composed side of their catalogue on Float Forever. The spaced out track displays the young band at their most dynamic – allowing them to showcase their musical chops and a gift for songwriting. This notion is much the same with the dazzling California Daze – a bittersweet homage to a place miles away, both metaphorically and geographically, from their Midlands home.

With a sophomore album due next year, Peace treated the crowd to the first live play of a new track entitled Money. The song’s bombastic disco vibe, much in the same vein as Daft Punk’s recent material, hints at a new direction for the band and suggests the collective are yet to find a signature sound.

The band close the set with fan favourite Bloodshake and give the crowd one final invitation to go wild. The summer hit helps everyone to momentarily forget about the brisk, wintry weather behind the confines of the venue and transports them to Peace’s glittery, utopian world.

As the band leave to rapturous applause, they promise to return to Nottingham again. After a performance of that calibre, Peace’s next visit can’t come soon enough.

Live Review: The Family Rain @ Rescue Rooms [24/11/13]

You only need to look as far as Oasis or The Kinks to see that rock bands formed by brothers rarely end well. The Family Rain, playing their first Nottingham headline show last night at the Rescue Rooms, are intent on proving otherwise.

Siblings Will, Ollie and Timothy Walter open the gig with a frantic rendition of Carnival – a fuzzy example of garage rock at its purest. Revelling in the venue’s intimacy, frontman Will playfully urges the audience to rush to the front and “forget about work on Monday.”

Although comfortable in their confined surroundings, the group’s style and sound is destined for a far greater setting. This is most noticeable when showcasing a heavier, intense side. The brooding Reason To Die, brought to a rollicking climax by guitarist Ollie, possesses a bite worthy of an arena.

The band, best described as a love child of Kasabian and The Black Keys, use the show to preview tracks from their upcoming debut album, Under The Volcano. “Brand spanking new” Don’t Waste Your Time On Me is a gnarly beast of a rock song – amplified further by Will’s raspy, fierce vocals.

Avoiding the usual formalities of an encore, the brothers tear through the set’s finale, closing with bluesy fan favourite, Trust Me…I’m A Genius.

Although undeniably talented individually, the band’s real allure shines when they come together. Whether through vocal harmonies or blistering impromptu jams, a deep understanding between the siblings is evident in everything they do.

Maybe it is best to keep it in the family.


Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Review-Family-Rain-Rescue-Rooms/story-20171743-detail/story.html#ixzz2mQwHNsXX

Album Review: Cut Copy - Free Your Mind

Cut Copy’s fourth studio album Free Your Mind is, for want of a better word, dance. But this isn’t the type of the dance music you vaguely remember after a night out consisting solely of double vodka red bulls – I’m talking about you, Guetta. No, this is proper, unadulterated dance music.

More than just an album title, Free Your Mind is closer to an invitation from the Australian electronic band as they take the listener through a mind-bending, acid house journey. Most importantly, though, Cut Copy want you to have fun and become “one with the music”. Title single, ‘Free Your Mind’ (duh!), takes heed from Madchester legends Happy Mondays – employing a bouncy loop track designed to get even the most rhythmically challenged up and dancing.

Much like their Oz compatriots, Jagwar Ma, the group clearly reference the thriving Madchester scene of the 80/90s during the course of the record. ‘Footsteps’, chock full of skittish samples, is underpinned by a rave-inducing bass synth worthy enough to grace the mythical Haçienda. ‘Walking In The Sky’ instead points the finger at Primal Scream. The track gracefully lowers the tempo, proffering the record’s sing-along moment. In a seemingly spiritual fashion, frontman Dan Whitford chants: “You gotta free your mind, life is all your own design,” – a mantra undoubtedly endorsed by the quartet.

They may take inspiration from a baggier era, but Cut Copy certainly can’t be classed as copy-cats. This is by no means a Now That’s What I Call Madchester. ‘Free Your Mind’ explores a world of sonic possibilities. This can probably be attributed to Whitford’s new approach to songwriting, roughly sketching a song a day for four months. These embryonic tracks would then be presented to the band, allowing them to collectively build them in any way they saw fit. Songs like the glossy, progressive ‘We Are Explorers’ present the fruits of this process.

What makes ‘Free Your Mind’ such a success is its strength as a body of work. No track is weak, and although standing alone as killer tunes, they truly shine as a collection. Songs flow naturally into one another, visiting an array of moods and styles. Interludes littered between tracks such as the futuristic ‘Into the Desert’ add to this effect. For this mastery, plaudits have to go to Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, MGMT) on mixing duties – his psychedelic style the perfect companion to the band’s vision.

Parts of the record may not be to everyone’s taste, but the finished product is a truly rewarding experience. Essentially, it’s the sound of Cut Copy scrapping the rulebook. This is best portrayed on gargantuan stand-out track, ‘Meet Me In A House Of Love’ – a cocktail of sleazy Eurodance mixed with innovative, indie perfection. The song even features a cheeky saxophone solo, so you know it’s good.

Accept Cut Copy’s invitation, and ‘Free Your Mind’ will be an acid trip of an album you’ll want to revisit time and again.

8/10