Mar 18, 2012
Making shapes for Fly,Frankie,Fly at SMILE in the Square.
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Making shapes for Fly,Frankie,Fly at SMILE in the Square.
Today's track of the day: Stop No Go- Reassurance Wouldn't Go A Miss
Smile In The Square// Guildhall Square 10th March
It was the grand finale, the concluding spectacle and the glorious ending to what has been arguably the best Smile Fest yet! I am of course talking about last Saturday’s ‘Smile in the Square’, an afternoon full of entertainment, with 10 bands gracing the bouncy castle stage along with Orange Room DJ’s and the music circle.
The day as a whole ran very smoothly, as more and more people threw off their shirts jumpers and hoodies to lay relaxed on the guildhall grass as the day went on. The sun and gentle breeze also proved a great catalyst for the event’s success, which encouraged many to re-live the festival experience be it through dancing or relaxing. The event started with a selection of acoustic acts including the openers The Kaleurs, country solo artist Kathryn Anderson and Charissa, who managed to uniquely transform a number of pop covers into a more folk genre format. After a succession of soothing light hearted performances it was then followed by the more upbeat Oliver who matched the increasing temperatures with their kooky funk numbers that were for most people, the afternoon’s highlight.
The Kaleurs
More bands including the bluesy Alice Avenue, the classic rock outfit 7th Revolution and others then also took to the stage before the eccentric and electric Fly Frankie Fly really brought the audience to life. The pinked up Frankie in his headband and shorts soon went head to head with a topless ‘Bez’ like character (minus the maraca’s) who pulled out a variety of sensational grooves which captivated the audience, forced out video cameras and brought the audience closer to the barrier. A competitive dance off that could rival the disco scenes of Saturday Night Fever followed and created a more energetic atmosphere.
Fly Frankie Fly Dance-Off
Cardinals then closed the event with their dreamy set of slow hits, which sounded similar to Athlete and a host of other melodic indie bands that reigned in the mid 2000’s. The group lacked the same charisma or ignited performance as their predecessor but their overall sound worked quite nicely once dusk arrived. The comedy compeers Ben Shannon and Daryl Edge who provided jokes, sketches and wrestling in between changeovers throughout the day then introduced Chris Anderton and Martin James to the stage once Cardinals had finished. The pair and founders of SMILE then praised the organisers of this brilliant event as well as a list of thankyou’s and compliments to everyone else involved. It is likely that the pair will now go off to prepare for a bigger and better SMILE 2013 however it must be noted that the standards and expectations are now set even more higher than before.
Photos from the day are available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629553761339/
Guest Lecture With Zoe Ball // 9th March
Zoe Ball currently reigns as one of the most familiar presenters on both television and radio. Famous for her work on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show and her presenting of the 90’s kids show ‘Live and Kicking’, Ball came down for a chat on the sofa, interviewed by fellow Media queen Briggy Smale.
Entering the JM Theatre in her glittering flower patterned jacket, Zoe began the talk by encouraging the audience to carry out different projects related to their desired field of work. She put emphasis on the fact that the more material you produce, the more impressive it will look for potential employers, either for paid work or for placement. She followed this by crediting the infrastructure of the BBC and their teaching process from an early stage, pinpointing this as the best company to get involved in.
Providing insights into the production of radio and the playlist selection process was then also covered by the special guest speaker. She criticised some stations for not allowing DJ’s to have the influence on the music selected, holding it partly responsible for the difficulty for underground bands to break through.
The session as a whole was filled with helpful tips to succeed in the media world, shocking celebrity revelations courtesy of Briggy and a few curious insights into the production of TV and Radio. The audience were very appreciative of the knowledge Zoe provided which really justified the awarding of a fellowship to her at the end of the talk.
Guest Lecture With Alabama 3 // 9th March
Yesterday afternoon, JM315 gave way to the legendary Country/Techno outfit Alabama 3. The two members who by alias are best known as Larry Love and Rock Freebase fed the audience with their view points, their music and their tales which were all delivered in a very rock ‘n’ roll political spirit.
The duo started off, by discussing their unique sound, a fascinating blend of Country and Techno, commenting on how so many Country purists were offended because of their numerous drug references. They went on to discuss genre conventions and how they broke them with their rave related lyrical themes and incorporation of dance sub genres.
They moved on, with a continuous debate about illegally downloading, with the pair expressing their surprised agreement of downloading for free. They stated that ‘If you can download it, download it, if you can file share, file share but if you buy it you are a donut!’justifying these remarks from saying how they believe it helps to sell the bigger picture and how it can provide more revenue in the form of merchandise sales and gigging.
Arguably the band’s biggest accomplishment has been the penning of the track ‘Woke Up This Morning’, the entrance theme for the popular US drama The Sopranos. They exclaimed of their pride from being a part of the series, which came about from a David Chase (Sopranos Creator) phone call who at first, ‘thought we were 3 young black kids from the Bronx’. On topic, Larry also informed us of a Kellogg’s offer for the track who wanted to use the song for an upcoming commercial, with the lyrics re-worded to sing ‘Woke up this morning, had myself some bran’. They kindly refused.
The guys went on to finish with a strong four-song set with songs off their new album that could be regarded as fine pieces of political satire and social commentary. The song about last summer’s London Riots was a personal highlight.
Here is todays In Ta Dub with guests CARDINALS. Smile In The Square starts at 12 today!
Brother & Bones // Oliver // Simon Says // Made By Giants // Avondale House 8th March
Reviewed previously by Behind The Smile, from a Joiners show just two days earlier, Made By Giants start off tonight’s show at Avondale House with music which is perhaps better suited in the afternoon with a cappuccino, than a night-time live music venue. Their music is pretty and relaxing, and they are good at what they do, but they don’t give the impression of musicians that are trying to achieve too much. The acoustic duo’s final song, a cover of Foo Fighter’s “My Hero” isn’t the most imaginative of song covers, and it fails to rouse much of a reaction from the restless and growing crowd at Avondale, who are perhaps wanting something louder.
Not many bands can write seemingly nonsense songs about subject matters like peanut butter jelly and still maintain their integrity, but Simon Says manage to pull it off with their brand of infectious reggae. A fun-loving band that left the more uninhibited members of the audience smiling, Simon Says made their way through a lively set, showing themselves to be completely at ease with the audience between songs and encourage sing-along’s during, and it is clear with the amount of audience members singing along, that a number of people have seen them before. While this is a promising sign that shows they are building up a fan base, they should not forget to refresh their well-rehearsed set before they begin to show signs of becoming stale.
Simon Says
The penultimate act of the night (and the second who have been previously reviewed by us), Oliver, step up to the plate next with a sound that can be described best as calypso infused pop. This is a band that would be best listened to sitting on a beach in Jamaica, sipping on cocktails. Lead by the soulful voice of Bonnie Elizabeth, the band remains tight throughout, as the bassist holds down the rhythm with some skillfully crafted walking bass lines. Their catchy vocal melodies grab the audience’s attention throughout the set, and as the band vacate the stage, the songs are still ringing in the ears of the crowd.
The venue is at full capacity for tonight’s headliner Brother & Bones, and there is an atmosphere of anticipation throughout the venue. The addition of a second drum kit meant that anyone who had not already heard of the London-based 5 piece were left expecting something exceptional. - and exceptional it was. With the full force of a nuclear bomb to the face, Brother & Bones deliver a blistering half-hour set filled with perfectly synchronised, stomping beats from the two drummers. Impressive guitar work, rhythmic bass, excellent dynamics and folky vocal harmonies combine to create their patented sound. With an airtight set, well crafted songs, and a sound that leaves an audience breathless, Brother & Bones are a fine example of the talent that is coming out of the British music scene.
Brother & Bones
All images of the night are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/behindthesmile/sets/72157629183607494/
Footage from last nights show at Avondale House, featuring Made by Giants, Simon Says, Oliver and Brother & Bones.