Category: Music

Below: Tubelord

with Tall Ships, Patrick James Pearson
Falmouth, 5 Degrees Below
4.10.10
Words and photography: Lionel Taplin

Stopping by the lovely Cornish port of Falmouth the travelling duo of Tubelord and Tall Ships cram into the cosy surroundings of 5 Degrees Below and turn the night into a well packed, highly inspired and justifiably sweaty show. It’s wet and its cold outside and there’s nowhere better to be than inside, watching some bands and sampling some local cider.

Local favourite Patrick James Pearson start the proceedings mangling his way through his highly original blend of Bowie inspired post-punk. The keyboard maestro furiously manipulates his sound into producing effectively wonderful songs, some moments even being reminiscent of …Trail of Dead and At the Drive In.

After a blistering performance it’s time for Tall Ships to contend their way on stage. Having attended Falmouth uni the trio are seen as local heroes and return to a rapturous welcome. As new recruits of the esteemed Big Scary Monsters label the band has to assert themselves amongst the most eclectic and vibrant bands around, such as Andrew WK, Walter Schreifels, Pulled Apart By Horses and tour buddies Tubelord. However strong their peers may be the Tall Ships really hold their own with their well crafted and unconventionally relaxed sounds. To describe them as math-rock may be justifiable enough; ‘Beanie and Dodger‘ is full of off-kilter rhythms, eccentric guitar loops and distinctive drumbeats. But it’s the groove about them that penetrates the band’s obvious technical abilities that makes them so fun and infectious, when they ended the set with their defining song ‘Vessels’ they had the whole crowd smiling and singing with joy.

Tall Ships making waves…

Tubelord are known producing some wonderfully crafted anthems such as ‘Ratchet’ and ‘Propeller’, and were guaranteed not to disappoint anyone who’s expectations were raised thanks to superb support acts. New song ‘Stacey’s Left Arm’ was delightfully erratic but the crowd played a deserving part in forming this intense set. From start to finish they were mouthing the words to every song and literally going mental, a pit even formed in the shoebox venue which guitarist Joseph Prendergast managed to penetrate and participate in. For me however, they lacked the overpowering groove that Tall Ships carved out earlier. Don’t get me wrong, Tubelord were great tonight and as rewardingly unconventional as their song-writing has proven to be, creating a warming experience for a cold and wet autumn night. But BSM’s newest recruits Tall Ships are probably going to be the ones making the biggest waves in the future.

Tubelord’s Joseph Prendergast went off!

Head here for an interview we did with Joseph Prendergast of Tubelord earlier this year and enjoy this video from the show from Nick Richards…

Buffalo Bar 3rd October Tubelord Gig from LovePaste on Vimeo.

Islington Academy
07.10.10

Having already brought his Gallic flair to Koko earlier this year as well as playing Glastonbury Festival, Jean-Christophe Le Saoût, the man known to most as Wax Tailor returned to the UK with a host of his friends to bring the party to North London on a grey and otherwise drab night.

Taking to the stage with a cellist, violinist and flautist and backed with a cityscape complete with three screens displaying moving animation, videos and other visual treats, the chapeau’d producer and DJ got proceedings underway with the bumping No Pity before introducing his long-time collaborator Charlotte Savary; who looked every inch the unassuming yet totally in control Amelie figure the fans have come to know and love for Dragon Chasers.

Whilst always showing his dexterity on the turntables, Tailor made sure that it was a show that was being viewed, rather than just a showcase of his own talents. With MC Mattic joining the fray, beanie pulled down over one eye and playful sneer on his face, the energy levels were ramped up that extra notch as hands pumped the air and feet got to stamping. The two worlds collided on the track Fireflies with a hypnotic backdrop mesmerising the crowd before the two MCs of ASM hit the stage for Say Yes, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.

The set, which lasted an hour and half, continued to enthrall, with Tailor taking centre stage for a medley of tracks and letting his live band do their thing, always imploring the crowd to give them the applause they deserved whilst calling for more call and response. The crowd interaction raised to fever pitch when Tailor asked for a singalong to Que Sera, a track which even the most hardened of football fans are happy to ring out loudly.

As the night ended, all the MCs and singers returned to the stage, each giving their own take on the hip hop beats and ended with a mass theatrical bow. The cheers and yelling that sounded out were very much deserved and showed Wax Tailor that he’d be welcomed back to the city anytime.

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