Wow, Jack White, wow. Does this man know how to put on a good show. Tonight’s gig at the HMV Forum was the launch night for Jack’s new solo album, Blunderbuss. Backed by his all-female group, right from the off, Jack hit the stage running.
The night didn’t start off well. Due to the last minute announcement of the gig, it meant turning up early to stand in the rain while wristbands were issued. Eventually, we were allowed into the gig with the strict instructions that photography wasn’t allowed.
I’d seen the support act before and was not impressed but I wanted to be as near to the front as possible so suffered them for a second time. The Smoke Fairies seem to have all the components necessary to be a band I would like. Musically they’re okay but the two lead singers just doesn’t work, leading to an almost drone sound that puts me to sleep. Thry’re not terrible, just not for me.
At about 9.40, Jack attached the stage. Right from the off he showed his intention to impress starting with a thundering rendition of the White Stripes song, Leaves the Dirty Ground. He’s touring with two bands, an all girl group and a male group. Each group has a slightly different composition, with the all girl group featuring fiddle, double bass, drummer, keyboards, slide guitarist and backing vocalist. At times the fiddle player leant a ‘country’ sound to the proceedings and it means Jack can choose a style that suits the day. He also played without a set list and Jack clearly enjoyed acting the part of conductor. I wasn’t sure what to make of this approach, but having seen the first band, I can’t wait to see how the rockier male band sound. Hopefully on his return in June, he’ll take the opportunity to play with both bands.
My aim this year is to get to more new bands. I’d listened online to a number of bands playing the HMV and NME 2012 shows. My pick were Alabama Shakes. Unfortunately their gig clashed with the Jezabels gig and I’d already purchased the tickets. So I put them on the back burner. I hadn’t realised that they were also doing two extra dates at the Boston Arms. Luckily I managed to catch a late release of tickets for the middle gig of their three night stint and I’m so glad I did.
The Alabama Shakes are not trying to do anything new. In fact their only aim appears to be to do things the way they used to be done, and to do it very well. They’re a five piece from Athens, Alabama playing blues, rock and soul music the way it used to be in the 60s and 70s.
In the lead singer Brittany Howard they have a lady with one hell of a good set of pipes. Think Janis Joplin, full-on gravelly soulful voice. This woman is the real deal. Voices like this don’t come along every day. Off course, without a good band around her, the voice wouldn’t work. Luckily, the band are good, bloody good. They’re as tight as tight can be.
These guys deserve to be big. Unfortunately, I think their sound is too retro, so I suspect they won’t be. But they now have one very big fan in me. Brilliant new band.
What’s likely to be my last gig of 2011, something different, blues, hard rock, two gigs, five performances, two rooms and one location, the University of Hertfordshire.
My regular Blues Night at the University was interrupted by heavy rock in the main auditorium courtesy of the Young Guns and Jack Daniels. Upstairs in the ‘Attic’,Hokie Joint, were the headline act for this month’s Blues evening. So a great opportunity to see two different styles of music without much effort without getting rained on in a field. (and with a chance to take some photos with a proper camera).
The rock night, was as I expected, fairly predictable. I don’t really like the Young Guns’ material. It’s high energy but fairly bland but I thought I’d give them a try. Their performance was the same, lots of energy, but not much interest. For me, good rock bands have some ‘light’ in their music. The Young Guns material has no light. Great for moshing, but little else. But the kids loved it. But then I’m not a kid anymore.
Upstairs, however, Hokie Joint were excellent. Fantastic blues rock with a front man with a good stage presence (and lots of black eyeliner), who manages to be slightly freaky without overplaying the part. Of course without a good band around him, his act wouldn’t work. But the rest of the band were more than capable of holding their own. Easily the best band who’s performed at this year’s Blues evenings and easily the best band by miles playing the University tonight.
Hokie Joint
Hokie Joint
Young Guns
Hostage Calm
Apologies, I Have None
