Liam Fray acoustic tour, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, Wednesday, September 25, 2013

I have seen Manchester band The Courteeners about four or five times at last count since about 2007 when they first came to Portsmouth and Southampton. With these gigs you know what you are going to get, loud and fast guitar heavy songs belted out across the room with the crowd loving every minute.

To say the crowd at a Courteeners gig is full of energy is probably an understatement, they sing, they dance, they shout and chant - mainly 'Li-am, Li-am, Li-am'.

So when I bought me and my boyfriend tickets to see lead singer Liam Fray's acoustic gig I was a little intrigued as to what he was going to play and what it would be like.

Lets just say I was not disappointed, and the crowd still managed to get a chant in.

Playing for about an hour and a half he treated us to a number of Courteeners hits Last of the ladies, Scratch you name upon my heart and Lose control. All of which just sounded perfect, just him, a guitar and a piano guy. 

It is nice to hear songs like Acrylic slowed down and stripped back showcasing the word smith we all know Fray is.

Even though he said he had a sore throat the songs were delivered, to the sometimes silent room, with such quality and class.

The crowd were also a little different this time, less rowdy but still shouting out the song lyrics at the top of their voice, especially to favourites Bide your time  and Please don't, so loud in fact that Liam stepped back to enjoy the moment and let the crowd sing out.

 I can see why with this tour he has chosen to play smaller more intimate venues like the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth as he can interact with the audience, so much so that someone in the front wanted to talk to him about Manchester to which he said 'You want a one to one conversation but no one else in the room cares'. 

To be honest I think at this gig was the most I have ever heard Liam talk.

He also treated the room to a bit of a Fleet Foxes song which was amazing.

It was an phenomenal gig, laid back and chilled out but still with a slight rock and roll edge. 

Even without the band as support Liam still brings it to the stage and I'll be buying my ticket next time he goes acoustic.

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.

Jake Bugg, The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/11/2012

Jake Bugg is a name that many people may not have heard of but next year he will be the name on everyones lips.

He recently came back from a tour in America with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and has now embarked on his own UK tour. He also played at quite a few festivals over the summer, and you may have also heard his song Lightening Bolt during the Olympics.

Having seen him a few times on TV me and my boyfriend decided to get some tickets as he was coming to Portsmouth.

Jake came on about quarter past ten and played for about an hour maybe a little bit less.

He didn't really interact with the audience just saying the song titles but I can't fault his performance, he is only 18 but he does have a modest stage presence and you can't deny that voice has a unique quality to it.

He is frequently compared to Bob Dylan, and I can see that in his early days. He has quite a country style singing voice and also his lyrics are honest and sometimes a little brutal.

I did feel that most of the people in the audience probably didn't have his album as when he performed songs such as Lightening Bolt, Taste It  and Two Fingers the crowd erupted.

However with his album tracks you could hear people talking in the audience and atmosphere was a bit flat. There is nothing wrong with Jake's performance he could be a front man with swagger when he gains more confidence.

He is touring again next year so if you  get the chance do see him. He has a great voice and has the potential to be a great performer, as you have to remember he is only an 18 year old from Nottingham.

On another note he had two support acts but by far my favourite was singer Findlay who has an old style amazing voice, simply brilliant.

The Bees, The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, 16th December 2010

For the last gig of the year you can't get any better than The Bees.

From the Isle of Wight, I hope this band will be big in 2011.

This is the third time this year I have seen the band, first at Summer Madness on the Isle of Wight, where the line up included Brand New Heavies, The Coral and Paul Weller. Then the second time the band was supporting Mr Weller again. This band can hold their own on stage and do not seem fazed by the bigger names playing after them. They can command a stage and get the audience singing and dancing.

I do love this band. They seem to play musical chairs, in which it seems every member can play every instrument; Tim Parkin who plays the trumpet, can play guitar or bass. The lead singer Paul Butler plays sax, drums and sings, it is refreshing to see a band that love what they do and are fantastic on stage. Other band members include Aaron Fletcher, Rom Gardner, Warren Hampshire, Kris Birkin and Michael Clevett.

The surprising thing is you have probably heard The Bees songs. They have four albums in total and their songs have been used in adverts, such as Magners and Citroën. The fantastic Chicken Payback (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq7ASMbOpmo) has been used in a Sure deodorant for men advert. And Wash in the Rain was used in a Sainsburys advert.

I would say there songs are a mix of The Coral and The Beatles with their own edge.

The latest single I Really Need Love (http://www.youtube.com/user/thebeesmusic), is an upbeat, happy tune and makes you feel warm inside. My favourite song is Who Cares What the Question Is? sung by Aaron Fletcher it is reminiscent of a Beatles track, I defy anyone not to dance when it comes on.

When you look back over the bands history it is very surprising that not more people know about them, but everyone should this band are fantastic and are amazing live!

Check them out if you can, hopefully even bigger things will come for this band next year.