1,059 HAIL, Fassine, Luke DeSciscio, Swindon Level 3, Thursday 26th October 2017

An utterly fascinating evening of challenging music and entertaining rock discourse with talented folk began with a very late call. Unsure about my ability to stay awake late after The Horrors gig last night, I nonetheless went for it, lured by the prospect of an eclectic 3-act bill at my old “spiritual home”, Swindon’s very own Level 3, topped by Hail, the remaining pairing of Liam and Sophie from the very promising Polar Front, who impressed up the Vic last September (gig 1,003) with a genre-straddling indie/pop collision of a set. Early days for the new line-up, sure, but worth checking out anyway...

Parked round the corner just after 8 only to find the venue shut, with door due at 8.15! Popped into the neighbouring Rolleston instead,  to find tonight’s promoter Dave Franklin engaged in earnest discussion with my recent Facebook friend Geoffrey Head! One of only 2 gents whom I'd happily defer to as having a greater passion and appetite for "live" music than my own (the other,  ironically, also being called Jeff!), it was great to finally meet "The Head Of Music " in person, and we compared notes and gig experiences over Grolsch and Lemon & Lime in both the Rolly and Lev, once it opened.

Quickly, the time ticked to 9 pm,  and Luke DeSciscio plugged in onstage and prepared to play to a sadly sparse but knowledgeable audience.  Once again conjuring a hushed and intricately melodic atmosphere from the outset, his dexterous acoustic guitar work formed a base for his impressive, octave-straddling voice to swoop and soar.  "I'm still getting used to playing sober," he remarked, and another feature of this set was how thoughtfully and cerebrally he approached his performance throughout, as if considering how to meet his own standards. The pastoral and baroque atmospherics again recalled 60’s icons Love, but the voice, quavery and chillingly beautiful, was Buckley-esque in its emotive range (yup, I know "Buckley-esque" is a bit of a cliche phrase, but hey, if you hear clip clops down the street, you think "horse", not "zebra", right?). I loved the lyric, "I'm getting a tattoo to forget you" in the stark, bare "Patterns Of Revolution"; his refusal to play the between-song banter game  ("don't expect any communication from me while I tune"... nice one!); and final number "Jessica", the conversational lyricism depicting a breakup in brutal, mundane detail. I’m becoming more of a fan of this talented young man each time I see him!

Had a, "holy shit!" moment at the bar afterwards, as former XTC guitarist Dave Gregory was in attendance! Mr. Franklin kindly introduced us and we briefly chatted XTC and Boston rock, before London band Fassine eased into their set. The reason for Mr. Gregory's attendance tonight (Fassine having featured on the recent excellent Sky Arts documentary "This Is Pop"), advance reports had led me to expect an eerie, ethereal 4AD trip-hop groove soundscape from Fassine. None of that, though, as the 5-piece, led by the strikingly attractive brunette Sarah Palmer, initially recalled the moody, loose-limbed melancholy of latter-day Madder Rose, thereafter weaving a more complex musical pattern of dark, dramatic late night torch music and keyboard crescendos (once the mix allowed for it), overlaid by Sarah's soulful and, at times, almost operatic vocals. No obvious comparisons here (I noticed bits of the classy indie heartbreak of The Heart Throbs, and the layered, textural approach of Grizzly Bear, but really, I'm reaching here...), just a fine, accomplished band displaying those old-fashioned virtues of splendid musicianship and intelligently crafted songs. Plenty to say too, the gregarious Sarah remarking, "we wanted to see the White Horse and the Ken White murals, but went to a Weatherspoons instead!", then waxing eloquently about XTC prior to their splendidly observed cover of "Nonsuch"'s "That Wave". The subsequent "Sunshine" was my favourite, an eerie keyboard refrain underpinning a building groove which soared to a crescendo. Ultimately, of Fassine, I can simply say, This Was Pop! Classy and clever, but pop all the same. Nice one! 

A couple of engrossing chats with Luke DeSciscio and, outside, Fassine, saw me miss both Dave Gregory and Geoffrey's departures, and the first couple of numbers of Hail's set. Yipe! Wandered back in to find the duo already kicking up a storm, with Sophie's rousing, strident tones and impressive vocal range and Liam's hard-hitting drum style being augmented by some looped electronica colour wash (normally my bugbear, but hey, I can forgive them!). Sometimes a little too hard-hitting from Liam - as if attempting to compensate for the reduced numerical line-up by bashing the shit out of his drums, and occasionally suffering from "bass drum wander" as a consequence! - they were nonetheless determined that their melting pot of rock dynamics, ethereal textures and modern-day pop/ dance sensibilities be delivered stridently and powerfully. "Criminal" was my set highlight, a tumbling drum pattern underpinning a stripped verse which built to a more layered strident chorus, and the subsequent "Nothing" featured a looped grime rap, the result of a collaboration with a local grime artist. Overall a fine if embryonic set - clearly a work-in-progress, the key building blocks of talent and application are there for Hail, so their journey to the finished product should be fairly swift! 

More rock chat with Liam and Fassine afterwards, before I cried, "enough!" and headed wearily home. Glad I made it to this one, though; all Hail to a Fassine-ating evening!

1,003 POLAR FRONT, homeplanetearth, Luke DeSciscio, Swindon The Victoria, Thursday 15th September 2016

A little clutch of local gigs now to augment my increasingly (and accidentally!) copious Autumn Dance Card, and the first one is a promise kept. After rocking up too late at the Castle to catch Polar Front’s recent Swindon Shuffle set, I spoke with vivacious vocalist Sophie – a friend of my “sister-in-law” Sam – and promised that I’d catch their intriguing sounding band at a later date. Tonight’s “Songs Of Praise” event being the first opportunity to make good on that promise, I determined to catch a band of whom reports suggested a collision between pop accessibility and atmospheric yet punchy electronica-embellished indie. A dreamier Pvris or a female-fronted, poppier White Lies, perhaps? One way to find out…

A baking hot evening so I stuck with the shorts for the drive up the hill. Hit the venue at 8.30 for an entertaining chat with hosts Ed and Dave as usual (“how’s retirement?” If only!), before they rounded up the opener, Luke DeSciscio, for his set at 9. I’d seen him once before, supporting Gaz Brookfield and Lonely Tourist, where his more minimal atmospherics were at odds with the more overt and punker prevailing mood of the night. Tonight, however, he fit perfectly; the opener (“about Stanton Park!”) wove an intricate guitar pattern and a Love “Forever Changes”-esque mood of pastoral melancholy, overlaid by his eerie, octave-changing voice. One obvious comparison could be made to his vocal gymnastics, but it was a valid and wholly appropriate one, as “Vivid Love” saw him deliver a Jeff Buckley-esque haunting quivering quaver over an awed hush of a song, and “To Carry You” (which followed a lengthy re-tuning – “it’s so worth it!” he announced) saw a falsetto chorus so redolent of the great man. I also admired his use of quiet and space to create his atmospheric mood, and his reluctance to compromise his set; intending to play 2 more numbers but having only time for one, he announced, “you know what, I’m done – come see me another time.” Brave boy. Fine set!

Next up were Oxfords homeplanetearth, who apparently were, “bringing tie-dye back – and Star Trek fashion!” announced Ed, making reference to the male vocalist’s shirt and the blonde female vocalist’s glitter make-up and short velveteen dress. Their set also aimed to create a dreamy atmosphere, albeit via more keyboard driven shiny 80’s “Bubbles” style funkier pop which was a pleasant listen, but which bordered slightly on the repetitive and bland for my tastes, like some of Talk Talk or China Crisis’ more throwaway material. A brand new number debuted tonight was a slightly clunky mess, and although a punchier, more upbeat closing number hinted at some promise, for me they’ve got a ways to go to be the finished article. Good luck to ‘em, anyway…

It then seemed that suddenly we were inundated with an influx of punters for the main band! Fans, friends and family, including a few already bedecked in “16916” t-shirts celebrating the Polar Front debut EP for which this was a de facto release party. Ed took the opportunity to address the crowd and exhort them to come see more original “live” music, before Polar Front played “happy birthday” to CD producer and mentor Sam Bates, then after a false start we finally got the gig under way at 10.40. Opener “Saints” was an appropriate agenda-setter; a slow-burn start leading into a thunderous drum-propelled soaring pop hook, powered by some dramatic and resonant White Lies-style indie rock guitar and Sophie’s impressive smoky, soulful late-night vocals. This set the tone for the show; a powerfully played clutch of numbers, all sweeping drama and occasional dark menace, yet with a definite pop accessibility and impressive brain-hugging choral hooks. Like recent Vic hosts The Vim Dicta, in spirit at least, there’s a genre-straddling melting pot of influences here, all melding into their own cohesive identity. “Brother” was a stripped back opener leading to a tumbling drum pattern climax; the unnamed “G#” saw some resonant guitar work from guitarist Perry, and a cover of Destiny’s Child’s throwaway pop number “Say My Name” morphed into a moody, angular torch song epic, capping an impressive and surprisingly accomplished set from such a young band.

Grabbed the list and got it signed (much to the surprise of the band, for whom this might’ve been a first – get used to it, folks!) and chatted with drummer Liam (a son of an old work colleague!) before saying my farewells and heading home for midnight. Definitely more to come from another very promising local band in Polar Front – I’m glad I kept my promise!

925 GAZ BROOKFIELD, Lonely Tourist, Luke DeSciscio, Swindon The Victoria, Thursday 18 September 2014

And as before, a Frank Turner show is followed in pretty short order by… a Gaz Brookfield show! Rach and I had a lengthy and in-depth conversation about Frank and Gaz’ evident similarities on the way back from Saturday’s show, my conclusion being that considering their remarkably similar backgrounds (members of former punk bands – who, despite their best efforts and hard graft, never cracked it – turned solo folk-influenced performers) and usual subject matter (staying true to their punk protest roots whilst also drawing from their own life experiences), it’s pretty much a given that there would be musical and thematic similarities. Gaz even acknowledges this fact on his song “Frank And Sam”; however for me Gaz deftly walks that fine line between influence and plagiarism, his own individuality and voice shining through. I’ve certainly got room for both of ‘em in my life, record collection and gig itinerary, me!

 

This also being a full band show, there was another incentive (if one be needed) to attend this gig. So I trundled up the hill early doors under foreboding skies, hitting the venue for a chat with “Songs Of Praise” promoters Dave and Ed, fellow veteran gig-goer Stuart Langsbury, and a few words with Gaz himself, minding the merch stand, before opener Luke DeSciscio at 9. A raffish tousled gypsy-looking young chap with a tremulous, haunting voice, straddling the octaves between soprano and often atonal falsetto, his songs were minimal guitar embellishments for his talented vocal gymnastics and softly spoken, often trance-like delivery, as he weaved an eerie, melancholic atmosphere, which I enjoyed despite the lack of real hooky tuneage.

 

By complete contrast, Lonely Tourist, next up, was all about the tunes and the banter. Oh, the banter; “I’ll try to make this a referendum-free zone,” announced the expat Scot, “let’s face it, if [the vote is] yes, well it’s not you, it’s us, and if it’s no, then things will have to change!” The erstwhile Mr. Tierney’s short snappy banter was intermixed with short snappy tunes delivered at a hectic, rollicking pace, quipping along as he went (“a mad shagger for President! That’s the kind of country I’d like to live in!” and “what’s with the dry ice, is Kate Bush on next or what?”). “I Am A Fly”, which (deliberately?) appropriated the hook from Wire’s “I Am The Fly”, and the excellently received “The Ballad Of Paul Tierney” about his journeyman footballer namesake, were highlights of another entertaining set from the Bristol domiciled Scot who, as Ed remarked afterwards, “we might have to deport tomorrow!”

 

Things cracked on apace, and barely 10 minutes later Gaz and his 5-piece band were hooked up onstage and ready to rock, in front of a thankfully full and enthusiastic house. They were in no mood to fuck about; straight into the ramshackle rollercoaster ride of the double salvo of “Limelight” and “Land Pirate’s Life”, the crowd already rocking and singing along, and Gaz feeding off their/our enthusiasm. This was a damn hot one, the packed house really cranking up the heat, Gaz remarking on both this and the amazing Thursday night turnout on a number of occasions. A couple of numbers in, the differences between Gaz and Frank Turner were becoming evident; Gaz drawing more from the folkier aspect of his sound, particularly in a full band setting, with Ben Wain a focal point throughout with some virtuoso and frantic violin sawing (Gaz remarking early doors, “I don’t know about you but I could listen to [Ben] all night!”). After a huge ovation for the opening line in “Towns”, “I grew up in Swindon…!”, a cacophonous opening guitar squall and pounding drumbeat led into a tremendous “Black Dog Day”, delivered with scary, wide-eyed conviction and startling venom by Gaz, articulating the gravity of the subject matter perfectly and even giving the energetic singer reason to pause for breath at its’ conclusion. A savage “Be The Bigger Man” followed, equally dramatic and fiercely delivered. Gaz was totally in the zone for this mid-set double, no mistake!

 

We needed a sway-along “Under The Table” to lighten and diffuse the mood, then a solo interlude showcasing a new number “I Can’t Drink Cider Anymore” highlighting Gaz’ recent pancreas and diabetes problems, which I could empathise with. A half-spoken, confessional “Tell It To The Beer” evoked a melancholy mood, but Gaz and the band roared back to round off a startlingly quick hour set with singalong versions of “The West Country Song” and a ragged set closer “Diet Of Banality”, before staying on (“is there any point in us walking off then coming back on again? No? Then we won’t bother…”) for encore “Thin”, another rousing singalong to close out another tremendous set from this earnest, punk/ folk influenced hard-working balladeer and his fine band.

 

Said my goodbyes and left, driving home under sheet lightning-lit skies, to ease my aching limbs into bed (I’d been rocking out throughout from my front row, stage left spot). Aching knees the next morning, but Gaz was definitely worth it!