The Rifles Acoustic - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, 29/11/2012

This is the third time I have seen The Rifles and each gig couldn't have been more different. 

The first time was in the Joiners in Southampton a pub venue which was really hot, full of 
people and just a little bit mental. 

The second time was at Chester Rocks. A one day festival so a completely different atmosphere. Massive field, high volume music and most people either drunk or on another planet.

So this time it was an acoustic gig and I wasn't expecting too much, the band are quite rocky and I couldn't see how it would transfer over to an acoustic gig.

Usually there are five members in the band but at the gig there was Joel Stoker on vocals and playing guitar, Lucas Crowther on electric guitar and vocals and Dean Mumford on the keyboard, leaving bassist Lee Burgess and drummer Kenton Shinn at home.

All the songs sounded really good with minimal instruments, still a bit rocky but some of the song lyrics are quite melancholy without the heavy bass and booming drum.

The crowd were fairly subdued, except for the odd heckling and then a pint being thrown at the end but not as crazy as the gig in the Joiners.

They ended the set with Science in Violence, but played loads of crowd favorites Romeo and Julie, Lazy Bones and The Great Escape. There was a lot of crowd interaction and the lead singer Joel was even given a pint by a member of the audience.

It was actually a really brilliant gig, great atmosphere, great music and a great band in a brilliant venue. If you get the chance to see them do it and if you get the chance to see them acoustic definitely do it.

Also we missed the chance of a lifetime as we were going to go to a nearby pub but went to one down the road. We late found out that band and the support act The Mono Polys were in there...I was not a happy bunny.

I suppose I should also mention the support act. The Mono Polys a two piece band one on guitar and one on keyboard. The lead singer looked about 16 but when he sung he had a Ian Curtis style to his voice very deep and moody. I was not expecting it at all and they were fantastic, one of the best support acts I have seen for a while. 
I think we will be seeing a lot of these guys in 2013, well I hope so anyway.

Mainly quiet on the homefront

October has been fairly quiet some work and personal issues but apart from that not much else, hence the lack of posts.

However, on Sunday I have the Great South Run. Who knew I would be able to run ten miles, 'You haven't done it yet' I hear you cry well actually last Sunday I did run ten miles! So all being well Sunday should be fine!

Coming up I have that, in November I'm off for a week and plan to cook and bake, it is the boyfriend's birthday, we might see the new Bond film 'Skyfall', then the latest Twilight film and the Twilight marathon before...well you knew it was going to happen.

Also my anniversary in London and a visit to the film costume exhibit at the V&A, two gigs- Jake Bugg and the Rifles. I have it all going on in November, in December got Viva Forever the Spice Girls musical.

Also got lots more planned for next year - musical 9 to 5, Warhorse and Pink so never fear this blog will be back to normal before you know it.

Chester Rocks, Chester Racecourse, Saturday, June 16 2012

Over two days Chester racecourse plays host to two very different types of music. On Saturday the bands include The Rifles, The Suns, The View, Cast and The Courteeners. On the Sunday audiences pack in to see Pixie Lott, Katy B, Labrinth and Maverick Sabre, two very different types of music.

As a massive Courteeners fan it was a no-brainer to get tickets for the Saturday and for £35 you can't go wrong really.

The run up to the weekend the weather was not great, a normal great British weather of rain in the summer.

I saw the weather forecast for Saturday and for Chester it said torrential rain and thunder and lighting, and I was scared. Me and the boyfriend were all set with kags in a bag and wellies. The ground was ok a little soft but not a swamp. Throughout the day it was drizzle and then stop, but we didn't get soaked which I was glad about. However, it was freezing but the weather didn't dampen our day.

Me and my boyfriend got there about half two (gates opened at two) and we were amazed at just how much there was a lot of bars, little stalls with Pimms and strawberry cider for sale, delicious by the way like eating strawberries, also loads of food on offer fish and chips, posh burgers, normal burgers and loads more about £7 so ok for festivals.

For lunch I had the fish and chips they were priced up separately chips £2 and the battered haddock was £5.50 and it was worth every penny. The fish was delicious, crispy not too greasy and just the best fish and chips I have ever had. The boyfriend chose a lamb burger and fries and when he saw my fish and chips he instantly regretted his decision.

There was also a sweet stall, oxygen party where for £5 you can get five minutes of O2, I know I didn't get it either, also a fun fair with attractions.

We missed the first act but caught The Suns, the lead singer looked like Guy Garvey from Elbow and the sounded very much like Johnny Cash, good.

The other bands were good, The Rifles were brilliant having seen them before I knew they would be good, however, the sound suffered a little as it kept dipping out. Almost as if the wind was carrying it away. It was a shame as I know how good they are in a small venue but still equally good.

Considering I wasn't really looking forward to them The View were really, really good. We only knew the one song Same Jeans but the crowd loved them and were singing along to the whole set and I was pleasantly surprised. I did think that The Rifles would be third billing but I think out of the final four they were the least known up north.

Cast were part of the Brit pop scene back in the 90s and to be honest I didn't really know who they were. The crowd on the other hand did. But when they started performing there were quite a few songs I recognised on the set list including - Flying and Guiding Star, Google them you will instantly recognise them. They were great and showed the young bands they still have it.

After Cast were the headliners The Courteeners. This was the fourth time I had seen the band, previously in small venues. They played a couple of new songs including Welcome to the Rave, which was good. I loved the old songs though What took you so long?, Cavorting,  and Not 19 Forever.

I didn't recognise Liam at first as he has cropped his hair but he did look good.

The band as always were amazing, just fantastic live. Great vocals and just played to perfection, I knew there was a reason I loved this band, just a shame it took them so long to come back and perform.


I will admit that I think something is lost in a large festival, the atmosphere was great and lively with people singing and dancing. I think I prefer the intimate feel of a smaller venue but loved The Courteeners all the same. I think for the money it was well worth it but would prefer Courteeners in a small venue.

I recommend Chester Rocks fantastic day out.

Check out the website: http://www.chester-rocks.com/

Crazy, crazy, crazy!

Since I started my new job I have had a busy few weeks. On my first day I saw The Rifles at Southampton, not ideal when you have a two hour commute, they were really good though.

It was fairly quiet for a bit then I had my friends hen weekend, cocktail making, clubbing and dinner at Jamie's Italian. For the first time I had a Cosmo and it was really tasty. We had a competition, racing how to make a cocktail, I raced the hen to make a 'woo woo' fairly easy vodka, schnapps and cranberry juice. I got very nervous and got most of the vodka on my hands, but we drew so I had to drink a flatliner... Tabasco, sambuca and tequila AWFUL! My mouth burnt. It was a really good weekend though.

Then the weekend after it was my birthday and Denis did the Stockholm marathon again, then it was my birthday and I spent the day with Denis just chilling.

It's been fairly quiet but last Wednesday I went to a gig at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth. I saw Warpaint, a four piece girl band from America who I first heard on Fearne Cotton's show as part of the Music Generator. They played most of the songs from Fool album including Warpaint and Undertow, they were just beautiful live, such a harmony to their voices. They are not big at the moment but they will be. I could imagine them maybe being on a Twilight soundtrack some of their songs have a tortured quality to their songs that would fit perfectly alongside Paramore and Anya Marina. They are playing a lot of festivals so if you can go see them live make sure you do.

Then on Saturday I went and saw the matinee performance of Glee at the O2. I will admit I am a gleek! They played for about an hour and fifteen minutes which was a bit of a disappointment but overall they were really good. Amber Riley who plays Mercedes has a phenomenal voice and Santana (Naya Rivera) was exceptional, especially when they sung River Deep Mountain High. Lea Michelle was also amazing, her voice would not be out of place in Wicked, I really think she could play Elphaba in Wicked and be just a good as Idina Menzel. A bit different from Warpaint but more of a show than a gig and they were all really good.

On Sunday it was my friend's wedding but there will be a separate post on that.