This is the second time I’ve seen Clock Opera and I have to say, they have blown me away each time. I love their energy, their enthusiasm, they have great songs and they genuinely look like they love what they do.
I had a blast! and also managed to get a copy of their album ‘Ways to Forget’ on vinyl.
You can read the review over on Goldenplec.
Maverick Sabre at The Workman’s Club, Dublin October 24th 2012
It’s about a year since I last saw Maverick Sabre live, last time it was in The Village in Dublin on a Saturday night, a packed venue meant we got to know our neighbours pretty well.
Tonight, I was guest of the HTC Authentic Sound event in The Workman’s Club where Maverick Sabre performed`an acoustic set. A lot of times during these corporate events, there are a lot of suits and competition winners out for an after work pint. Tonight though, there seems to be a good contingent of genuine fans who sang along with the hits as well as a few lesser known songs.
This intimiate setting allowed the audience to experience a side of the man that we normally don’t get to see. Maverick comes to the stage with cheers of approval, accompanied by a cup of tea and his guitarist, Charlie. Everyone settles quickly into acoustic vibe, with the audience singling the refrain of ‘These Days’ so Maverick doesn’t have to.
Stripped back in a situation like this, really opens up lyrics and the meanings of songs and Mav’s Jamaican influences turn this into quite an experience. With songs like ‘These Walls’, which he tells us was written for a BBC series, and ‘Sometimes’, they tell stories of his neighborhoods, his life, taking hip hop and reggae influences and melding them into what could be the equivalent of a twenty first century folk singer. ‘Sometimes’ stirs the emotion of the audience who sing the ‘I hate that history, I hate that Union Jack, I’ll never speak for any flag or any man’, with gusto.
Throughout the night we hear ‘No One’ and ‘I Can Never Be’, singles from ‘Lonely Are The Brave’, stripped back and delivered with delivered with passionate and soul. The choice though to still play what Mav describes as one of his favourite songs, ‘Wonderwall’, maybe one to change in situations like this. Even a casual music fan would probably know the words to the Oasis track, which has its downfalls. The audience sing it loud, within a full band set up would probably get washed in with the sound but here it seems this got a better response than Maverick Sabre’s own material.
There are a few over excited fans who shout repeatedly for ‘I Need’, to which Mr Sabre responds ‘I Need’s coming’. For a last track of the evening, it was the perfect ending. Going on this performance, Maverick Sabre has a depth and soul far beyond his years.
For a corporate event, it was perfect, for Maverick Sabre, get rid of the Oasis track, you don’t know how good you are yourself.
EDIT: November 5: I found this video online of the night.
Maverick Sabre – HTC Authentic Sound – Live Acoustic show from HTCIreland on Vimeo.
I’m not sure I could ever work with any of my brothers or sisters. No offence, they’re lovely but I couldn’t see me and them getting along for the duration of a working day. For that reason, when I hear that a musical act are siblings my mind slightly boggles. Enter Enfant, a London based duo comprising of twin brothers, Ali and Robin Owen.
Border of Mexico is their second release and it’s a little bit of a whopper. It features chunky basslines, great vocals and breaks that just want to make you dance. The track builds and builds and instead of dropping, brings you to a level of what I can only describe as a stage of floating, where it subtly prepares you to dance your ass off again.
If there’s any bit of justice in the world, this is be huge. Enfant’s reputation for putting on a great live show has been growing this year, I really want to see them! Party round Ali and Robin’s house?
The bad news? You’re going to have to wait til December 3rd to get your mitts on this.
It’s a little over a year since Derry’s Wonder Villains dropped their infectious debut, Zola. Since that the four piece have received airplay both here and the UK for the follow up, ‘Ferrari’. Now they’re back with a new EP due for release on October 29th.
The first noticeable thing about Wonder Villains is just how upbeatand danceable their music is. You can almost see them smiling as the song plays. The title track of the EP, ‘TV’ is a home for indie guitars, clever synth sounds and driving rhythms and a production that deserves a decent set of speakers to listen on. Beautiful sunshine indie pop.
Another memorable aspect of Wonder Villains’ sound is lead singer, Eimear Coyle’s vocals. Whether low and raspy or giving it welly, Coyle has a unique tone which immediately makes WV distinguishable.
‘Chiller Whale’ isn’t as in your face as it’s predecessor but again it’s danceable and features a subtle bass line and handclap ‘ooh ooh’ refrains that will have you singing them all day. It also seems to be the introduction of a slightly more mature sound for the Villains. This is continued with ‘Rapid’ which has a nice arrangement of piano over a drum machine beat, giving a slight home recording feel to the track. Coyle’s vocals here are slightly effected and the synth laden track builds near to give an almost understated end.
‘Explode’, the EP’s final track again shows the diversity that Wonder Villains have. Piano, acoustic guitar and vocals combine for absolutely beautiful results. This is so different from anything else we’ve heard from WV, it’s one of those haunting songs that will become a fan favourite and there’s possibly a future soundtrack with this on it. It’s a joy to hear the ambient sound of the vocal booth, little breaths, lip smacks (is that a chair creak at the end?), instead of intentional gateing of these sounds. Beautiful.
This EP tells us a lot about Wonder Villains, they’re still in their late teens and have progressed a lot since their first single. It can be hard to maintain a consistent high level of songs, especially when you are a song band or act. This is another step up the ladder for WV, a debut album can’t be too far away now. Definitely worth a listen.
‘TV’ EP is released on October 29th through No Dancing/Third Bar.