Hot Music Live Presents fundraiser for The Tin #6
Review
One aspect of the evolving series of fundraising gigs for The Tin featuring ‘Hot Music Live Presents' featured (and intended featured) artists which hadn't hit me until they started happening was how, if you invited four top notch originals bands or artists, the actual atmosphere of each event actually exceeded even the already impressive sum of the parts.
This intensity has been a characteristic of them all (last night's was the sixth) as the bands seem to spur each other on to particular heights of performance. This doesn't come from any sense of competition either: all the artists are really supportive of each other and in fact on no gig so far has every one previously heard the other three, so new acquaintances and alliances are being made all the time.
Last night we had The Session, Trust Club, HomeBread and Stereotypical. Once again this included much diversity: not just in style but in experience. As The Session approach a quarter of a century making music together, the members of Stereotypical are still in their mid teens. Equally The Session have many releases behind them, Trust Club quite a few while both HomeBread and Stereotypical are yet to put anything out.
Yet they shared many other qualities including passion for performance, skill & a commitment to their own brand of music with compromising it in favour of commercial templates.
Not only are Stereotypical relatively new to their career, but having just expanded from a trio to a quartet, playing just one gig with the expanded lineup, their bass player was unable to be at the gig so new member Rania Akbik (who played on the second of these gigs as part of Luminae) switched straight over to that instrument from rhythm guitar and you couldn't tell that she was depping. It's not that the songs are simple either. Played fast & furiously, each is in fact something of an epic (I didn't time any of them but I suspect that few clocked in at less than five minutes) and extremely complex: the sound is ferocious but the structures are prog rock. And the drummer (Faris) is the singer too without compromising on tricky playing patterns. No wonder they are so rated by those who've heard them.
The good news is that although without a release yet, they have been recording & I believe "Nostalgia" may be coming our way soon.
One of the few obvious musical links through the night was the sight of two successive lead guitarists favouring the constructive use of feedback. Both Jacob of Stereotypical & Callum of HomeBread spent more of their time at their amps provoking it than I normally experience. The latter in fact didn't half remind me of the sort of sound Robert Fripp "sprayed onto" songs by the likes of David Bowie (e.g. "Heroes") or Blondie (e.g. "Fade Away and Radiate").
That aside, the overwhelming impact of HomeBread was just what a live phenomenon they are. Known wholly for their live act until they get into the studio for the first time, they really are making a name for themselves: with local musicians heading the queue to praise them. Trust Club proclaimed them their favourite band later that night. Just think where they are heading once they add releases to this burgeoning reputation. I'm betting they are looking at some very swift progress from this point. They certainly possess many articulate and respected advocates.
Their authenticity & commitment to what they do are obviously key to all this: their songs are very much their own & delivered with great passion and their share of the intensity I mentioned earlier is a substantial one. There is a charisma too which has a magnetic effect and this cannot be underestimated. The band (the other members being Noah on guitar and vocals, Rhys on drums and Thom on bass) have all the right ingredients in place. Now all is needed is for the touchpaper to be lit & watch them soar.
Trust Club are further down a similar road. Again their energised and vigorous live performances are the foundation of their attraction & reputation but they have now had a couple of EPs and associated singles out to help build awareness of their talents. They also have a line in merch developed which is another milestone in bands' careers.
They really look like they have a ball on stage. As I say, the night showed intensity in diverse and complementary forms and if other bands manifested it in slow burning forms, Matt, Noah (another one: not the HomeBread singer) and Ali tend towards a more joie de vivre style though the lyrical content of the set did visit plenty of different emotions.
The third band in a row to show how well they can play fast, they switched the dynamics (a vital element in how they kept the audience totally engaged): at one point Noah played the bass for most of one track cross legged on the floor: a stark contrast to the near body slamming with Matt on other songs. In fact the constant movement may have delighted the reviewer in me but kept me on my toes as a photographer. Trust Club also make strong use of vocal harmonies and while audiences may focus on Ali's drumming (quite rightly) they may be less aware of how much he contributes vocally.
Small wonder then at how in demand Trust Club are throughout the wider region as a live draw: they probably play in Birmingham more than any other local group.
It's been quite a week for The Session. They released their excellent new single "My Heart Need a Home" earlier in the day but members also experienced a close bereavement… I hope readers will join me in expressing our support on that account which puts music into a different perspective.
I mentioned in the lead up to the gig how I admired the band for pride in their accomplishments but nevertheless being forwards facing & not dwelling on achieved glories. They feel their new single is their best work and their passion for playing seems to increase the longer the band goes on. Stylistically distinct from the other bands, the integrity and commitment to their own songs formed a bond. Passionate & life affirming their act may seem, but the songs do not shirk the darker sides of life. I'm pleased they included "Denver Hill" which certainly does not mince its message and songs like "The Fear" don't offer any platitudes either. The world can be tough but The Session face up to that without flinching & while taking it on, also offer a humane & optimistic sense of where we might go.
Unlike some bands (and I really do not want to be critical here so please don't misconstrue this part) The Session seem happy to play with any band regardless of age or style: they don't have any comfort zone which can creep in with others and in fact seemed not only delighted by the younger bands, taking time to offer encouragement to them but they fed off the abundant energy of the earlier sets. As Dean said afterwards, everyone was on fire & he was right. Yet the fire was constructive not destructive.
Have I ever commented on their cover of Aaron Neville's "Hercules"? If not, I apologise. Not only does it show huge confidence to take on such a song but it really does fit so well with their own material. I found that part moving & it was the song which got others dancing. Another cherished moment from the evening was their second cover "Don't Let Me Down": watching two of the youngest audience members (both Beatles fans) get into it intensely. That what they seemed to be doing looked like head banging along is presumably a generational thing.. Again: what a passionate song to select.
We're taking a break now until after our friends at CovTember have run their own excellent event (19th to 21st September also at The Tin) and will be back on 3rd October with The Muthas, Le Hev Hev, Little Girl Screaming and Lucifer Sky.
Tickets however are already available via this link: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/hot-music-live-presents-the-the-tin-at-the-coal-tickets/13870454
