Tuesday 28 July 2009

Remember Remember / Clorinde @ Cafe OTO, London. 26/7/09

It's a shame to have to start a blog on loving music with what has to be easily the worst overall gig experience of my life. The venue interior looks more like an art space than somewhere to put on music, and the seemingly random placing of tables and chairs make getting to the bar/toilet a bit like navigating a minefield. It's a Sunday night in Dalston. The nearest tube station is a bus ride away, so it's with absolutely no consideration for anyone who's actually made effort to get here that Clorinde take the stage at around 9.30pm.

I don't have many good things to say about Clorinde. The Italian brothers mix some minimal guitar with out of tune mandolin to very little effect. It's an uninspiring, overly simplistic sound that doesn't really go anywhere, but the chin-strokers sipping on their organic beer seem to be lapping it up. They seem to get into their stride a bit more towards the end, but they are still only changing from a hobble to a limp. Gripping it isn't.

Finally, around 10.45pm, Remember Remember take to the stage. Graeme Ronald starts with a quick solo cover (Daniel Johnston) and then the rest of the band join him. What (briefly) follows is some looping of bubble wrap and a beautiful blend of instrumentation. The venue is doing everything it can to destroy the atmosphere though, with chatter from the bar infiltrating the quieter moments. I look forward to catching a full set in the (hopefully) near future. Unfortunately (due to tube catching time constraints) i only get to hear the first two songs of the set.

Wednesday 8 July 2009

Well, Good Evening.

I've finally decided to blog all those damn gigs i go to. Expect to see a variety of show reviews on here - from Stadium performers right through to some new chancers playing to the bar staff. The good, the bad and the indifferent. Coming very soon.