Good morning star shines! I do hope you enjoyed the fruits of last weeks musical labour and got down with their proverbial sicknesses. So this week it seems Yorkshire is the accidental theme, providing us with some sexy musical venues and artists, but if you asked this lot they’d know it already. So, to get into the spirit of those in god’s own county, I shall say what I like and like what I say. Be bold friends, this is where I wanna be this week!
Reverend and the Makers / The Enemy
First of all, I’d like to claim back 50% of this bill for my people of the West Midlands. On Friday this double bill of political disillusion, sex with the ex, dole queues and other such wonderful markers of Cameron’s Britain, played to some glorious banging beats, will be entertaining the good people of Doncaster and those who have travelled to visit. This for me is one of the highlights of the year – two of my all time favourite bands who truly embody everything that it is/was to be Britpop, so much more than originals. Brash, bold, working class and damn good choons.
(however, if you miss the gig, tweet the Rev a picture of your pre-ordered album and he may just turn up at your house – serious!)
Reverend and the Makers and The Enemy play the Doncaster Dome on Friday 29th November.
Tiny Planets
I feel like Tiny Planets are what Weezer and Vampire Weekend would sound like if they mated to produce an adorable garage rock offspring. Slightly distorted twangy guitars and a breathy vocal, with a bit of light shouting and hard drumming in the background make these guys sound like a gorgeous (and much needed) update of alt rock – rawer, edgier, and a bit necessary. They also made the top 100,000 things you must do in the North of England list, winning.
Tiny Planets play The Bell Jar, Sheffield on Thursday 28th November.
Crazy Arm
Crazy Arm are from Plymouth, but you don’t need to talk about that as they sound like they were just sprung from the dark and ravaged earth of Tennessee – all melancholy and full of soul. This folk/punk group are addictive listening, all gorgeous harmonies and speedy acoustic guitars. A taste of the deep south without the often embarrassing pseudo-yankee accents that accompany it. I’d grab your best boots, a cold beer, head on down and tap you toes appropriately.
Crazy Arm play The 1 in 12, Bradford on Sunday 1st December. Not from Yorkshire? Don’t worry, you can also catch them in Plymouth on 28th and Cheltenham on 30th.
White Fence
My wildcard this week – not from Yorkshire, probably not sure what Yorkshire is. San Francisco’s White Fence, like your music sounding like it’s still ’66 and your still stoned? Yeah me too, so you’re going to love this. An absolutely vintage sound that sounds pretty fresh. Maybe that’s because nobody really sticks so true to a style anymore, there’d be a mental german techno synth thrown in or something. But no, this is trippy, laid back, lyrically pretty mystical and generally very good. Definitely worth catching, a rare treat.
White Fence play Manchester’s Roadhouse on Sunday 1st December.