‘Under’ - EP REVIEW
Spitfire Hostels, having just played their first gig; at Newcastle City Library, as part of a youth open-day are to release an EP. ‘Under’, from the ‘That Old Beige’ EP, out now online, is a neat and tidy first single from the young North-East band. Recognisant of early Metronomy, the riffs sink effortlessly into the rhythm and sound of the song. The drum beats are sharp, and the overall effect is that of an experienced musicianship. Spitfire Hostels should be proud of a single which shows such promise, a potential and a professional sound for the band. This song is ready for radio – try to catch them before they take off.
An Interview With Field Music
It is a warm July day in Sunderland. We are sitting in a small recording studio in an industrial estate near the river. The room is packed with loose bits of foam sound-proofing and pianos and keyboard stands, guitars and boxes of percussion. I try not to sit anywhere where I might break something.
The studio belongs to Peter and David Brewis, who are part of one of the North East’s most critically acclaimed bands of recent years, ‘Field Music’. They have been described as ‘one of the smartest rock bands out there’, and are their albums are regularly greeted with shining reviews from the likes of Pitchfork, Q, Mojo and various other magazines. Joining us are Spitfire Hostels, who had just played their first gig; at Newcastle City Library, as part of a youth open-day. We asked them if they wanted to come along to talk to Field Music about making the leap from school-band to indie-rock stardom.
“The Daily Grind, The Moral Wealth, A Portrait of The National Health”
Maximo Park have certainly come back fighting, with their fourth studio album The National Health.
Returning back to basics, the album is an echo of their first release A Certain Trigger: big sound, high energy, indie-pop-rock-genre anonymous. This album pulls from a wide variety of styles; eighties synth meets punk guitars, meets dance rhythms. Imagine it as a nostalgic pick and mix: The Park have created their own unique musical concoction. Lead singer Paul Smith really shows off his range in this one, transforming seamlessly from belting out power choruses of Waves of Fear and Write this Down to the smooth lullaby-like melody of Unfamiliar Places. However, The National Health isn’t going to send anyone to sleep very soon. Up-tempo, edgy, erratic guitar riffs make for some anthemic tunes almost written to be played in crowded rooms.
A highlight from the album, as with all Maximo’s efforts, would have to be the eloquence and wit of lyric smith Paul. He brilliantly conveys an entire spectrum of emotions; the title track is a satirical, cynical critique on modern society: “The daily grind, the moral wealth/ a family bound by means of stealth/ a portrait of the National Health”. Many of the songs on this album do have melancholy undertones, like the dramatic opener When I was Wild, showing off fourth album maturity and depth. The album is basically a thirteen song poetry anthology set to guitars, bass, keys and drums.
A song worth drawing particular attention to is the latest single The Undercurrents. One of the softer ones on the album, with an “oh la la la” backing reminiscent of a bygone musical era, it’s essentially a nice, atmospheric, melodic love song. Yes, I did just use that ‘n’ word,’nice’, because that’s what it is: relatively simple, and unlikely to offend.
The National Health is a valiant effort from Maximo Park, and I only hope it can match the timelessness of A Certain Trigger. However, I doubt it’s going to fuel their mainstream career. Maximo just seem more suited to being low key, even retaining local ties in the form of geographic references and covert prestige.
Francesca Lawson
KEVI
Maximo Park - “The National Health” Tour
Maximo Park made their return to home turf after three years, with a superb, sell-out show at the O2 Academy Newcastle.
Support came from a six piece French export, La Femme, creating an eclectic, genre-ambiguous noise from too many synthesisers. They certainly did a good job of warming up the crowd; it’s just a shame it was due to a craving for some decent music.
By the sheer volume coming from the audience alone, it was clear this was a home crowd; eager for Maximo’s return. The band opened on a melancholy note, beginning with the atmospheric When I Was Wild taken from their latest album. The peace didn’t last long; with the frenzied, erratic riffs of The National Health, the floor was already jumping.
It’s a good job the fourth album was released prior to the tour, as the new tracks were received the same as the classics: hands in the air and relentless crowd chanting. The sign of a satisfied audience. Acrobat, an emotional ballad from A Certain Trigger had its first airing in a while, saved for the home show. A varied setlist kept proceedings thoroughly enthralling, moving from such slower, lyrical songs as This Is What Becomes of The Brokenhearted, to major anthem Going Missing.
The Park are on trademark form, with ineffable energy. Singer Paul Smith’s avid gesticulation and hip wiggling endured throughout; all the while battling with the microphone stand. One distinct feature of Maximo concerts is the level of audience interaction; every time the chorus of Questing, Not Coasting came around, Smith would point at a different audience member to sing “Hey you, what’s new?”, and explaining song meanings added a personal touch. Songs were interspersed with the traditional audience banter; “It’s good to be back – I had a bath in my own house!” brought about raucous cheering from local fans.
There’s something special and homely about the O2 Academy; compared to the Arena, the venue for the band’s 2007 sell out tour. At least Maximo Park seemed completely comfortable and relaxed in their surroundings, pulling off a brilliant, charismatic performance. Welcome home.
Francesca Lawson
KEVI
Seize the David O’Doherty
The Stand is no more than a dark basement when Sam the Sound Man has turned down the house lights for David O’Doherty to take to the stage. David, as always, begins his set with his famous ‘unnecessarily long off-stage intro’, and immediately after, the tension is high, and you’re in that right mood you need to be in for some classic O’Doherty.
This being his first time touring to Newcastle, it feels like the ‘unnecessarily long off-stage intro’ has been hanging in anticipation since 2000, after his first proper Edinburgh Fringe show. But now he’s here; wrestling through a full house to get to the stage, in a basement with the riotous echo of eager applause.
David appeared to enjoy having more time to play with, now that his show is free from Fringe boundaries. In the first half an hour of his show, David spent time getting to know his audience; although this didn’t really pay off in Newcastle, where his fans are young and more likely to still be studying. He picked up a lady from the audience’s shoe box. The shoes weren’t for her.
When back on from in the second half, O’Doherty retreated back into his shell; which although didn’t engage the room as dynamically as the first half was supposed to, did allow a better mode for channelling some fine David O’Quality (- and by this I mean his excellent comic rhythm and droll tone).
Being most well-known for his tiny keyboard, the old favourite ‘Party Time’ certainly got us all ‘excited’; and the friendly atmosphere that his stage presence exuberates make the room feel ‘all invited’.
David expands his comic range on stage, from more than just the ‘witty doofus’ we’ve seen of him from the panel shows, to some pretty solid stand-up; containing, in his own words ‘some actual jokes’! Although, he still works best as ‘Cabaret-vide O’Doherty’, it is his combination of whimsical storytelling, sarcasm and song that is still true to his past material.
Scott Weddell
KEVI
Pappy’s Last Show Ever
Pappy’s Last Show Ever is thankfully no ‘closing down sale’. Set under the premise of aged Ben, Tom and Matthew’s flashbacks to their ‘Last Show Ever’, the now ancient team (Matthew wearing glasses over his glasses is surely a sign of very old age) are remembering how that fearful night left them divided – by the trio of temptations: wealth, fame and true love; each of which are punctuated sharply with a series of interlinking sketches. The latter, the true love sketch, takes a lady from the audience and supposedly follows her love life from Ben to grave; with a whirlwind of props flung about by Tom and Matthew. The end result smacks of a cheesy dating website advert – An effect we can be sure that they intended.
Pappy’s relaxed stage presence is warming, and carries their laid-back style of presentation well. Although the cast’s self-awareness is endearing, I do hope they lose the faux ‘corpsing’ by the end of the tour.
For these veterans of the Edinburgh Fringe, it is good to see that their show treads well on tour, unearthing new ground and reaching a larger audience. A highlight of the first half (a prologue made of the oldest and best sketches) is ‘A Bobsleigh Team’s Working Lunch’; As trivial, ludicrous and immature as that may sound… Well, that is exactly what the show is about. Their integrity is kept, due to the evident care and attention they give to the genre; maintaining a welcoming, professional and thoroughly entertaining hour and a half of comedy.
The overall flashback premise allows for a swift movement through the sketches; keeping their act slick and on the ball. This show serves to affirm Pappy’s legendary status and professional legacy in the field of sketch comedy.
*****
Scott Weddell
KEVI
Fresh from the Fringe with Pappy’s
Fresh from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scott Weddell caught up with Tom Parry, one third of Fosters Comedy Award Nominees 2012 Pappy’s. And of their hit podcasts Pappy’s Bangers and Mash and Pappy’s Flatshare Slamdown.
S: Have you recovered from the festival yet?
T: It’s always such an intensive month, but we’re alright now. We normally have a few weeks away from each other, but we’ve had a commission for the BBC, so we’re right back into work again.
S: You’ve been at the Pleasance Courtyard for the past couple of years, but you were in the Queen Dome this year; how did that compare?
T: We loved it; personally, I think it’s the best room at the festival. When we were writing the show, we knew it was going to be in there, so we wrote it with that in mind. But it still travels well on the tour, if not for a few exits and entrances being a bit different. But it’s a great space. Plus, the Dome’s great because you can wait inside, so the audience don’t have to dry off first!
Other alumni of the Pleasance Queen Dome 2012 include sell-out shows such as ‘Coalition’ – starring Phil Jupitus, Joe Caulfield and Simon Evans and ‘Kemble’s Riot’ by Adrian Bunting.
S: So how does being on tour compare with being at the festival?
T: It’s a very different boat. There’s something very satisfying about going to someone’s town and putting the performance on for them; there’s something very traditional about it. It has a very different feel to Edinburgh [Fringe], when people have already seen 4-5 shows that day. But on tour people have just been to work or something like that!
-Pappy’s are touring their show Pappy’s Last Show Ever till the end of November, and will be at The Stand Newcastle on 23rd October. Flatshare Slamdown is due to air in late October and their new BBC3 series in late Spring 2013.
Scott Weddell
KEVI
