British Rejects at 'The Cut' - Lowestoft Comes to Norwich. Yay!

First an apology to both Chalky Seas and to Mila Falls. It's not that I didn't want to catch your sets, I really would have done so if I could have made it to Open in time. 'The Cut' is a marvelous opportunity to showcase this region's musical talent - a physical manifestation of the fantastic work done in promoting local artists by the event's co-organisers BBC Introdudcing and Outline Magazine. Even if I could only catch one of the three acts tonight my £3 ticket would still be a bargain in anybody's book.

I therefore have to rely on feedback from those present and a little bit of internet research of my own to find out what I missed. Currently there's only one track online that I can find from Chalky Seas, and its a mid-tempo indie-folk affair that goes by the name of Plastic Friends. Pleasant enough, and I love the idea that their new single Cavalier was actually inspired by an old Vauxhall estate car. Probably much more worthy of seeking out for a listen than their name suggests. Unfortunately Chalky Seas sounds far too 'murky-North Sea' and not enough 'West Coast sunshine' to potentially attract the casual passer-by.

Norwich-born Mila Falls has carved out quite a name for herself in the world of house and electro, and played at our own Sundown festival last year. Tonight's set at Open is a more pop-based performance with new material displaying a definite nod towards 80's Disco. She is backed by a live guitarist and drummer, but apparently let down by an intermittently malfunctioning backing track. I only catch the last song of her set, which sounds great, but I almost wish that, for a small intimate venue like the Open Club stage, she had treated us to an acoustic set. Having heard unplugged versions of songs like Radio on YouTube it would have been really cool to have experienced that great voice up close and personal.

As a Lowestoft boy myself it is always a pleasure to see a band from my own hometown (even The Darkness), and British Rejects is a great name with which to sum up the dis-affection of an entire generation from the faded glory of a once great fishing port and seaside town. My authenticity-alert therefore goes off immediately when I see a tousled guitarist sporting a Jack Wills t-shirt. However, that aside, the four lads really put on a spirited show to those still remaining (and it really is a shame at these local showcase events that the friends and fans of the initial acts don't always stay for the entire show). Ryan Redwood makes a great front-man, bursting with enthusiasm and energy. They are not nearly as punk or heavy rock as I was expecting - I would put them more in the camp of Foos-referencing-Undertones - but Owen, Andrew and Sam together put in stirling performances to make British Rejects look and sound like a properly tight band. If they sounded as good as this on their recent UK tour they will have proved great ambassadors for their home town. All in all, this was a great climax to this, the second edition of 'The Cut'.

 

https://www.facebook.com/chalkyseas/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/cayte.webber?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/BritishRejectsFanPage/?fref=ts

The next edition of 'The Cut' is scheduled for April 15th, and features Franko Fraize, Claws, and Maya Law. Full details at :
https://www.facebook.com/events/1553029204994491/

Christmas Shopping and Outline Bopping - The First 'Cut' is the Deepest

Thursday evening. Late night shopping in Norwich. First Thursday in December. Definitely time to get this Christmas shopping malarkey sorted before the crowds and the crush becomes as unwelcome as a grope at a Catfish and the Bottlemen gig. Time to track down Grandpa's socks and Grandma's perfumed drawer liners before the gentle aroma of Yardley's lavender is replaced with the sweatier muskier smack of  retail desperation.

Meanwhile, just a stone's throw from the top of Norwich's London Street (just like Bond Street, but without a tube station) lies Open, the magnificent former headquarters of Gurneys Bank. A place of refuge and sanctuary tonight from the over-priced gift coffrets and questionably unrepeatable blue cross bargains, and the venue for what hopefully will be the first of a regular series of events showcasing Norfolk's finest up and coming bands. Organised jointly by Outline Magazine and BBC Introducing, and taking over the downstairs Club Bar at Open, a good crowd has secured the best bargain available in Norwich tonight - four bands for a fiver (or £3 for those uber-organised bods who booked in advance).

First up are the mighty Midnight Zoo, three youngsters from Norwich who have are already creating waves and are being talked of locally as the 'new Joy Divison'. It's the third time I've seen them live in the space of a few months, and I'm pleased to report that their performances are maturing into much more than just an 80's tribute act. Jess Page Jarrett is a towering presence with his growling vocals, manic guitar work and adolescent strutting. His eyes may be closed whilst he sings, but ours are transfixed. Neat drums from Michael and steady bass from Zachary provide the anchor to a memorable opener for tonight's show. Two new songs premiered tonight, including the impressively moody 'Ride the Tide'.

Jess from Midnight Zoo

Thieving Icons have a lot of support in the room tonight, and relish playing to the crowd as they launch into their set of punchy pop punk. Andrew Todd has recently joined the lineup, replacing Marcus on drums, but the seams don't show. Admittedly their material reminds me of the standard pub-rock fayre that I used to dine out on back at The Greyhound in Fulham Palace Road many moons ago, but the final two songs seem to shift up a gear and have greater impact. More 'Narcotics' please.

Thieving Icons' Liam Wells

Secret From Richard are the second of tonight's acts that are new to me. They seem to divide opinion, but for my money they are probably the most marketable of tonight's lineup, and their playing seems to be a quorum of four individual talents, each contributing to the finished product. The strength of the material is obviously paramount, and even though these boys have the right jeans, the right trainers and exactly the right line-up of faces (bearded beany-toting guitarist, long-haired grunger on bass, manic drummer and blonde good-looker on vocals), the  songs and stage presence could perhaps benefit from a tad more aggression. Way too good to be fed to the A&R men and moulded into something they're not, but most definitely deserving of wider recognition.

Secret From Richard's Jason Sturman

BK & Dad need no introduction to anyone remotely interested in the Norwich music scene, but are so, so different to any of the other three acts that it is a shame that not everyone stayed long enough to see them headline tonight's 'Cut'. The sonic blitzkrieg of Leo's guitar and Pip's drumming never fails to impress, whether it be from the stage of the Norwich Arts Centre with full visual accompaniment, or from a simple marquee by the skatepark in Eaton Park. Either way I am transported back in time to the days of the UFO Club in Tottenham Court Road in a way that the likes of Royal Blood seem uninterested in tapping into. If you like your ears to bleed in seven psychedelic shades, you will love BK & Dad.

BK & Dad

So that was it. Thursday night. Too late to organise another Cut in time to soften the carnage of the next three weeks' late night shopping grapples, but at least Grandma's drawers are sorted. More soon please, and thank you to Open, Outline and BBC Introducing for making the first Cut the deepest. 

My Introduction to BBC Introducing - Real Life Charm, Daisy Victoria, and The Bohicas

A bonus of securing Radio 1's Big Weekend this year for Norwich has been the week of Radio 1 Academy sessions at Open in the city centre, a chance for youngsters to learn about a career in the music and media business. Whilst I just (!) miss the upper age cut-off for attending seminars with illustrious speakers like Greg James and Jake Humphries, or sneaking into live Lounge sessions with the likes of Ella Eyre, Jessie Ware, or The Maccabees, I was able to blag a ticket for last night's BBC Introducing gig, hosted by BBC Radio Norfolk's Sophie Little and Radio 1's Huw Stephens.

Tickets are applied for through the Radio 1 website. After a confirmatory e-mail to reassure you that the application has been received, the bar-coded e-tickets hopefully arrive in your in-box a few hours later. As with all BBC shows, they tend to over-ticket to ensure a full house, so do not take this as a guarantee that you will actually get in. Remember what happened when The Maccabees played Norwich Arts Centre to celebrate their winning the NME Best Small Venue last year. NME sent out free tickets to 400 'prizewinners'. Unfortunately, most of them turned up at the 290 capacity venue to claim their prize.

Last night's patient were finally admitted to Open almost forty five minutes after the advertised 'Doors' time of 19.00pm. An earlier evacuation of the building caused by smoke effects setting off the fire alarms was blamed, but any seasoned gig-goer will know that delays can be, and often are, due to all sorts of reasons.

The honour of opening tonight's show falls on Norwich eight piece, 'Real Life Charm'. who I recently saw support 'Wooden Arms' at Epic. It is always going to be difficult to organise and balance the sound well on stage for a band that has eight members, including two keyboards and two percussionists, but the technical team nailed it tonight. I am really warming to this band. Their percussive electronica contributes, but never overpowers, the vocals and the guitars, and frontman Tim Hyland has the range to sound at one moment like Wild Beasts or Alt-J, then drop down when the song calls for deeper power and projection. No wonder they are picking up radio play from national stations, and you can still get a free download of their single 'Desire' if you are quick. Standout track for me, though, remains the sensual sadness of 'Freud'.

The second local act is the wonderful, amazing Daisy Victoria. Don't make the mistake of drawing comparisons with PJ Harvey or Kate Bush. You might come close vocally with Emilie Simon, but Daisy is a self-contained individual talent that will soon have everyone speaking her name. Give credit too to her brother Sam, who co-writes and produces, and proud Mum and Dad who I believe I spot in the audience with i-Pad and mobile held aloft. Huw Stephens gets a mention for playing her first single 'Heart Full of Beef' on his show, and we all get thanked for coming to see her. The pleasure, Daisy, is ours. 

Headliners tonight are Essex based 'The Bohicas' a four-piece rock band that evolved out of 'Swanton Bombs'. The sound desk really crank up the volume for this one, maximising the blisteringly seedy rock and roll, pumping guitar and ground-shaking drums. Add in punchy vocals and alpha-male posturing and you have rock and roll on a plate. Signed to my favourite label in the world, Domino, these boys provide a fitting climax to this first BBC Introducing gig from Open.

Huw Stephens takes over on the wheels of steel for a DJ set, whilst I sneak off home for a Pot Noodle. For those lucky enough to have tickets for the second show tonight, you are in for another triage of treats with local bands 'Teen Brains' and 'Montagues and Capulets' (both excellent), and 'Sundara Karma' from Reading. Have a good one!

Real Life Charm's Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/reallifecharm , where you will find a link to the free download.

Daisy Victoria has Facebook, including tour dates, at https://www.facebook.com/daisyvic

The Bohicas have their own page on Domino Records' website at http://www.dominorecordco.com/thebohicas/ 

Like Daisy, they will be playing the incredibly fun and cool Great Escape at Brighton later this month