Supergrass and Reverend and the Makers at the Roundhouse

This was one of the best gigs I have ever been to. How so?

As usual I got there early for a place at the front on the barrier. This is what an eerily empty Roundhouse looks like. (For context, this was the third of three sell out gigs here - just few of us get there early!)

And then a middle-aged couple from Southampton arrived next to me, and we got chatting and basically got on like a house on fire. So that was one reason it was so enjoyable.

Then the opening support, Rizzy and the Gents, were stormingly good. Described on line as   "A London based band of Gents fronted by Rizzy, a glam punk artist challenging identities and ideologies from East London" this is not something I would have thought my cup of tea. So definitely not something I would have chosen to see, but they were really good. Rizzy (someone I would not know what personal pronoun to use for) had a terrific voice. So, well exceeded expectations.

Then to find there was a surprise unadvertised second support who were Reverend and the Makers (well three-fifths of Reverend and the Makers with drum machine replacing a real live drummer. I am a big fan of the Reverend, who only gets better with age. Great voice, great wit, real enthusiast. A proper personality. In this set he did some of his own stuff with a cover version wrapped around it. So they did Miss Brown, but opened and closed that song with the Beat's Mirror in the Bathroom. A short but ever so well judged set, including of course their biggest hit Heavyweight Champion of the World.

Then there was Supergrass. Who were utterly superb. I have seen them many times over the years (and lead singer Gaz Coombes solo too), but this was their best performance.

The design of the gig was to play their first album, I Should Coco, in full, and then their greatest subsequent hits. The excuse being that this is the thirtieth anniversary of the release of I Should Coco. As I described this to my new friends from Southampton, this was like watching a teenage punk album being played by a classic rock band. As an album its a young, energetically driven piece. Its a real teenage album about teenage experiences written by the band when in their teens. Now they are around 50, but I would say mature rather than old. Gaz's voice is as great as ever, but they are better guitar players now, hence my description of classic rock band. And Danny Goffey on drums is no anonymous bloke in he background, he never has been. Even came to the front on a couple of songs to play bass.

 

Overall, just a wonderful experience. Brilliant crowd - a smattering of young people but predominantly and audience of forty somethings. And to cap it all, the Reverend came right into the middle of the crowd to sing along with the audience to all Supergrass' many great songs. A fan like the rest of us. (The Reverend is the bloke right in the middle of the crowd shot below with his hand raised the highest.)

 

Lock-in at Dingwalls

This was another punt on my part. Knew nothing about Lock-in other than reviews comparing them to indie bands I like; Bombay Bicycle Club, Blossoms, Two Door Cinema Club. So I thought I would give them a go. Not unusual confusion about start times - band's instagram said doors open at 7 and they had three supports, venue's website said 7:30 and no mention of any supports. In the end my hands were tied by 10 minutes of added time in the Cup Final, meaning I got there at about 7:30 which did seem to be the point at which they let the queue in.

Now Dingwalls has several levels and I thought rather than go to the front I would stand at the front of the first "balcony", which is just a few steps up from the lowest level, but still quite close to the stage.

There were indeed three supports. First up were Office Party, a trio who apparently were making their stage debut. The female vocalist had the looks and a strong, but to my ears, rather strident voice. Can't say I enjoyed the set much but ok

However after they finished and the crowd at the lowest level dispersed a bit I decided to give up my spot on the balcony and get right to the front. Taking photos from there had been rather hindered by a tall bloke, who was wearing his sunglasses on top of his head just to make to harder for me! Also the lighting at Dingwalls is just the worst. Lots of flashing lights but nastier still lights that just beam straight into your eyes. Unfortunately being at the front didn't help much on that score.

Second support came from Clamber. Much less screechy lead singer made them easier on the ear. Quite liked their last song, Let's go to Italy. Jaunty number and at least I liked the sentiment.

Not sure that fluffy jumper is ideal attire for a night under hot stage lights..... But would be nice for Christmas

Final support came from Spangled. Now I can see why why one might like Spangled, although personally not to my tastes. Energetic singer made up for rather deadbeat musicians. They had embarrassingly strong support from the audience, chanting their name football style. I say embarrassing because the support was all coming from a group of middle aged folk in band t-shirts - surely their family members. Bit like the over enthusiastic dad on touchline of  his little lad's school football match - sweet but cringeworthy.

And finally Lock-in. I would really like to say how good they were, and how like several reviews say, they are an indie band on the way up. But sadly they don't deserve any of the favourable comparisons to better known bands to which they have been likened. They clearly had their fans. The crowd was enthusiastic, but I didn't find anything interesting in their music. Its all about their frontman - the rest of the band look totally anonymous on stage. Unfortunately Benjy Leak's voice is not the best. He is a good looking bloke with plenty of enthusiasm, but rather more confidence than ability in my view. I also hate performers whose idea of banter is just to shout at the audience "Are you with me London?". Or exhort the crowd to dance, or form a mosh pit or whatever. If the band are good enough the audience reacts - they shouldn't need instruction.

Apparently  they are "ones to watch", and Benjy at one point described themselves as on the way to playing Brixton. I think he reckons the Academy, but personally I think the Electric is more their level. They (maybe just Benjy) had some appeal to the female members as he is a handsome chap, and the young male audience as being a bit of a geezer, one of the lads down the pub. But I didn't hear or see anything to get excited about