Sing It For the World

Sing It For the World

Monday 24 October 2011

You Me At Six: 2

It's a chilly October evening in the windswept coastal town of Margate, and the swarms of teenage Josh Franceschi fans flow towards the Winter Garden's venue where tonight's concert is being held. For a small town in Kent, the queue grows thick and fast, and fans are even let into the venue to queue earlier than scheduled in order to try and warm them up a little before they all freeze half to death.

The first support act, Lower Than Atlantis, obviously have a decent following here tonight as the crowd gives them a fabulously warm reception and many are singing the words to songs such as Deadliest Catch which, in particular, gets everyone pumped. They end their set on a cover of the Foo Fighter's classic The Pretender, and everyone seems to be fully prepared to tear Margate apart tonight.

Unfortunately, Deaf Havana do not seem to be able to follow up Lower Than Atlantis' successful beginning of the evening. Although they clearly also have some fans in the audience who enjoy their set and sing along to songs such as Friends Like These, they do not seem to create the same sense of energy and enthusiasm throughout the crowd and do not live up the hype that surrounded them before their set this evening. What a shame.



However, the stars of the night certainly manage to pull it out of the bag. You Me At Six may not be embarking on their main tour for their incredible new album Sinners Never Sleep. They may be very excited about beginning their tour in America in the next few days. They may not have expected much from the tiny town of Margate, as Josh later admits. Despite this, they still give 100% into their performance and try to make it enjoyable for every member of the audience, and this much is apparent from the passion and life that they inject into the night. New songs from Sinners Never Sleep, such as Loverboy and Bite My Tongue, are very well received for an album that has been released less than a week ago, and Josh proves that he doesn't need his friend Oli Sykes to scream for him- he does a perfectly good job of it on his own. The real fanatic screaming starts as the opening riff of Save it For the Bedroom blasts out, and continues for the rest of the night, heightening through songs such as Stay With Me and Contagious Chemistry, and hushing to a harmonious sing-along throughout Fireworks.


I remember seeing YM@6 last December at the Hammersmith Apollo, and that night they put on a pretty good show with a great set-list. However, watching them again tonight, I have realised just how much they have grown as band after recording Sinners Never Sleep, as their performance has improved amazingly. All in all, it is one of the most exciting nights that Margate will probably experience for a while to come.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Slam Dunk Festival 2011- Main Stage


Hatfield; that place with Hertfordshire University in it, just outside of London, right? Well, for 364 days in a year, that's about all anyone knows about Hatfield- if they know it at all! But today, Sunday 29th May 2011, it is going to be known for one reason, and one reason only. Slam Dunk Festival. The queue of fans outside stretches considerably, and consists of a huge age range. The ska-punk one-day festival attracts the old-school 'daddies' who'll remember the first wave of ska and are determined not to let go of their youth, as well as the young teenagers with neon mohawks and nose piercings.

Although there are several stages in amongst the university field (Jagermeister stage; Atticus stage; Macbeth Footwear stage; Honour Over Glory stage; Kerrang! Introducing stage; and the Punktastic.com Acoustic stage), you know the biggest and best bands are going to be headlining the main Jagermeister stage by the end of the point, and why run the risk of missing them?


The Skints are first up, and have the incredibly difficult task of opening the main stage to hundreds of adoring fans. The new up-and-comers in the ska-reggae genre show that they are no pushovers; they are not willing to let the crowd become distracted or bored for a single second, and the beautiful singing voice of the multi-skilled Marcia Richards combined with the raw Jack-the-Lad London accent of Joshua Rudge makes for a strange, yet melodic, sound. They serve as a brilliant warm-up to begin the day.

Californian Power-Pop group Hellogoodbye are next to grace the main stage and, although they have had more mainstream success than The Skints, they seem to struggle to maintain the crowd that The Skints left swaying to their sound. Luck certainly doesn't seem to be on their side, as this is where the power issues that continue throughout the day begin. As the electrics cut several times through their set, this makes it even harder for Hellogoodbye to keep the crowd entertained, and they begin to drift away to the other stages. Their set includes songs Here (In Your Arms) and Baby, It's Fact, and these seem to be the only numbers the crowd actually knows, so the odd few people sing along and tap their feet, but, in general, Hellogoodbye seem to take the festival atmosphere right back to the drawing board.

Goldfinger, one of the main contributors to the third-wave ska movement during the mid-1990s, are next up on the bill, and are the first band of the day to really get the crowd going. As soon as they enter into their first song, the short and snappy anthem, Spokesman, the crowd immediately start jumping, moshing, skanking, and any other movement that is possible at a punk-ska festival; they general just rock out. Most songs are sung back to the band almost word-perfectly, and they help to engage the fans by splitting them in half and creating a Harry Potter-style Griffindoor/Slytherin sing-off, which really creates a unified and enjoyable atmosphere. From this point onwards, it honestly begins to feel like a festival because, despite the port-a-loos, beer tents and merch stalls, there are really only two elements that make a festival truly great- the crowd and the bands. And Goldfinger manage to make these two elements into one.

Punk-rockers Anti-Flag may feel too aggressive or too serious for some members of the audience, with their loud, gravelly voices and outspoken political views, but their controversial and courageous political opinions are what makes their music so great. It gives them attitude, passion, energy. And, for anyone who thought they didn't know how to have fun without politics, the huge power cut that occurs during their set allows them to prove these people wrong. They see this situation not as a set-back, but as an opportunity to fully engage the crowd in their music; they grab a megaphone from backstage and jump right into the thick of the crowd, screaming their lyrics as loud as possible. It doesn't matter that their words can barely be heard through the speaker, because the crowd all pull together and harmonise the lyrics to Die For Your Government back to the band, louder than any of the members themselves. It's a beautiful sight, and an inspiring experience. The power zaps back into action and so do the band, finishing their set with the drummer, Pat Thetic, blasting his final beats from his drum kit in the middle of crowd. They handle the electrical issues better than anyone could have expected, and it only serves to make their set stronger.

The Starting Line, from Philadelphia, are the next band to play, signaling the beginning of the two main acts who are waiting backstage. Although they seem eager to play themselves, and they are indeed enjoyable to listen to, they are yet another band that don't seem to quite hit the spot with the crowd. Whether it's because the audience are too full of anticipation for the headline acts, or because the band are placed too late into the evening and they should have maybe been billed for an early afternoon performance, or simply because they are not that well known in the UK- whatever it is, despite the fact that they are playing in a 'prime-time' spot, they seem to scream 'support act'.

The sun is going down. The crowd is growing rapidly. The plastic cups of liquid are being thrown left, right and centre. This can mean only one thing. The headliners are up.

Reel Big Fish stride confidently on stage, in their Hawaiian shirts and their outrageous sideburns. It's clear they are here to have a good time, and to hell with what anyone thinks about them. Thankfully, everyone loves them. They play the old favourites, such as Beer and Take On Me, and invite Marcia from The Skints on stage for a rendition of She's Got a Girlfriend Now, which is a refreshing reminder of the friendship between the bands behind the scenes. Their witty banter and hilarious comments make their set even more enjoyable and, even though they probably could have selected a better set list for their slot, the fans still adore them anyway, and they are the best band of the entire day by far.

But the show isn't over yet. Last, but absolutely not least, are the legendary Less Than Jake. They burst onto the stage, laughing, joking, stumbling and shouting. They have obviously been drinking throughout the day- this is a festival after all- and they don't take anything seriously, except when it comes to thanking each and every one of their fans for coming out to see them. Two members of the audience get a particularly special thank you, as two sisters are invited up onto the stage to dance, and are eventually persuaded to kiss, making their night unforgettable. Not only that, but the band encourage members of the crowd to climb up the nearest trees and create the biggest circle pit Slam Dunk has ever seen during All My Best Friends Are Metalheads. They're fun, they're fast, they're everything this festival stands for. They are everything this type of festival, and this type of crowd, craves. It is an invigorating way to end the day.
 

My Chemical Romance

After years of wating, My Chemical Romance have finally returned. From their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, to their mainstream breakthrough, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, to their last album to date, the theatrical hit, The Black Parade, they have had a wild ten years. Fans have been waiting for four years to hear a new sound from My Chemical Romance, and then they hit us with the fun, fast-paced rainbow album that is Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. Now they've returned to the UK on 12th February 2011 on their World Contamination tour, and the atmosphere is electric.

Fans are queuing from early afternoon, dressed up to the nines in brand new Killjoy outfits, and several of the males have dyed their hair red, like a crowd of mini-Gerard Way's. The doors open to Wembley Arena, and the crowds flood in. Listening to the girls and boys singing along to MCR's hits and babbling with excitment foreshadows exactly how the night's show will go down.

As the standing area of the arena fills rapidly, the sweat is pouring before any music even begins. The first support act, homegrown British band LostAlone, do their best to captivate the large venue and, for a widely unknown band, they don't do a bad job. There is the slight feeling of awkwardness as they don't quite manage to reach the crowd as well as they could, but all in all, songs like Elysium and Unleash the Sands of Time hit the spot for now.

When the second support come on, it is clear that Welsh rockers The BlackOut have had more experience and a larger fan base than LostAlone, and they fill the remaining empty spaces with their bounds of energy and enthusiam. The crowd seem to welcome The BlackOut as a support act with open arms, and they do a fantastic job of warming everyone up- literally! Before the main act are even out, there are people passing out and being thrust towards the bodyguards, but everyone takes it in their stride and get increasingly pumped for My Chemical Romance with songs like Children of the Night, Save Ourselves (The Warning) and new single, Higher & Higher.

After what seems like an eternity of staring at a mysterious black curtain, the lights go down. Hearts start pumping. Screams echo the arena, and the tension builds. A familiar voice booms Look Alive, Sunshine out of the speakers, and thousands of voices recite it back. Suddenly, the curtain drops, and the band are exposed. One by one they are spotted, and last of all, Gerard Way struts confidently to the front and centre stage and Na Na Na blows everyone away. The show has truly begun.
There is no shortage of volume all throughout the night, from song to song, right until the end. My Chemical Romance are back on form, with a new outlook and a new sound. Hits from Danger Days such as Vampire Money and SING really get the crowd going, especially new fans, who look a bit lost whenever any tracks from old albums are played. Planatary (GO!) seems to be a particular favourite, and I don't think there was one static person in the arena throughout this song. Not forgetting their old fans, My Chemical Romance deliver a truly varied set, including known-by-heart hits from The Black Parade, such as Mama, Famous Last Words and Welcome to the Black Parade. Songs from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge seem to bring back a hint of nostalgia for the band, but this just adds to their charm. I'm Not Okay (I Promise) still speaks to every outcast in the crowd who finally feel that they belong here, tonight, and Helena touches the heart of everyone who knows the story behind it. They even throw in Our Lady of Sorrows for good measure, which gains a fantastic reception. They came back for a traditional finale, and ended the show on the note of Vampires Will Never Hurt You from their first album, which seems to be the perfect way to end such a whirlwind night.

The silence rings out deafeningly once the band leave the stage and lights come back on. It's almost like the crowd misses their presence already. Everyone leaves the arena with the same feeling; fulfillment. After waiting for a considerable amount of time for such an inspiration band, My Chemical Romance did not disappoint. In fact, they exceeded expectations and are truly back on top form.

You Me At Six



On a rainy evening on 15th December 2010, groups of teenagers are queuing up, some for three or four hours in the rain, waiting outside the Hammersmith Apollo. The only light illuminating the place is the large sign- 'YOU ME AT SIX, 15TH DECEMBER, DOORS 7PM'- and of course, this is why we're all here.

The Wednesday is the extra added date, so the standing area isn't packed to the brim, which makes a refreshing change. Still, a healthy crowd grows as it edges closer to 7:30pm, and the first support act, Canterbury, hit the stage. They may look no older than seventeen or eighteen, but they're cute and quite enjoyable, though they could still do with some polishing up before they really reach the top. The second support act, Set Your Goals, are a heavier band all the way from California and, although they may not be that well known on this side of the Atlantic, they get the crowd a bit more lively by encouraging circle pits and moshing, so they are a good live act simply due to audience participation. The final support act of the evening are the Welsh up-and-comers The Blackout, and it would seem that a large proportion of the crowd are there for them just as much as they are for YM@6. They seem to really connect with the audience and get everyone singing along, playing a lot of their well known songs and some from their more recent album, The Best Thing in Town. They get the crowd well and truly warmed up for the main act.

At almost 9:30pm, the lights go down, the stage goes black, and the crowd go wild before anyone even sets foot on stage. Screams errupt as each member of YM@6 appears- Max Hellyer (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Matt Barnes (bass), Chris Miller (lead guitar) and Dan Flint (drums) - and, finally, lead singer Josh  Franceschi walks on and you can no longer hear yourself think. After a short instrumental intro, they launch into the song that arguably started it all, Save it for the Bedroom, and the show has started. Songs from their latest album, Hold Me Down, are known by heart almost as well as the old classics, such as Stay With Me and Fireworks, which saw the lighters come out and had everyone in crowd harmonising beautifully. They played the favourites from their first album, Take Off Your Colours, such as If I Were in Yours Shoes and Kiss and Tell (from the second edition), and even went right back for fans who have followed them since even earlier days with surprise track, The Rumour. Two acoustic songs went down like a storm and were recited word-for-word by the crowd, including the usually electric track You've Made Your Bed, and the classic Always Attract. Although Always Attract is usually enhanced by a female guest singer, unfortunately that wasn't the case, but they were joined briefly by The Blackout's Sean Smith for The Consequence. They finished with the upbeat belter Underdog, and everyone leaves with the feeling that they finished with a perfect song choice.

The crowd may have mainly consisted of teenagers, most of which with their lip piercings and sweeping fringes, but nonetheless they provide a fantastic atmosphere of excitement and fun, and there are still the odd fans who you wouldn't expect to see at this sort of gig that give it a refreshing feeling. The band are full of energy for the hour and a half that they play without losing face once. They give and give and give to the crowd, never ever letting a single person get bored or feel that they are not part of things. There are no big productions, no gimmicks, just five boys from Surrey who rock their hearts out just for the love of the music, and they need nothing else.

Hello!

Hello! Did I already say that?

Welcome to my new Blogger site!

My name is Sam. I'm 17, from a small town in Kent, and I want to be a music journalist!

Therefore, I have set up this blogging page to allow me to write reviews of any gigs I attend to increase my writing ability, add a little something to my portfolio, and, most importantly, because I enjoy it!

So, read, comment, follow, whatever! :)