EPB-E01-S3 EPB-E01-S3 6 www.thisisbristol.co.uk Thursday, October 7, 2010 Thursday, October 7, 2010 www.thisisbristol.co.uk 7 Music

Carl Barât Mark Ronson Joe Cocker Carl Barât Record Collection Hard Knocks Jim Jones Revue (Arcady) (Columbia) (Sony Music) Frazey Ford

This founder member of the superb Be Good Night of the Hunter Tanyas revisits Bristol as part of her first solo tour. Ford cites the likes of Ann Peebles, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway among her prime influences and her debut album Obadiah has Mott the Hoople’s legendary frontman met with widespread acclaim. Frazey Ford plays St Bonaventure’s on Ian Hunter walks STEVE HARNELL Wednesday, October 13. Tickets are priced £11 adv and available by ringing 0117 929 through 50 years of rock’n’roll 9008. dreams and a life-changing friendship Level 42 with David Bowie Like his erstwhile Libertines sparring partner The best connected man in the music biz, Mark Despite all manner of old rock warhorses Ronson, has ditched the covers and retro soul including the likes of Robert Plant, Eric Clapton Pete Doherty, Carl Barât has pushed the boat He’s the man with the hardest working out for his eponymous solo debut. sound for the follow-up to 2007’s multi-platinum and even Tom Jones coming up with There were Russians, Australians, late-in-the-day triumphs thanks to astutely thumb in the music business, now bass f ever you need an This will certainly surprise a few punters who Version. Instead, say hello to retro 80s synths – player supremo Mark King and the rest of his Jack White’s a fan and it’s not hard to all kinds of people there. It was a chosen covers albums, Joe Cocker has gone in advertisement for the expect another dozen slices of debauched with an enormous list of writing credits –and a white funk outfit Level 42 celebrate their 30th see why. Taking up where the Jon I gathering of the clan.” rock’n’roll. similarly gargantuan list of guest vocalists. the opposite direction. Spencer Blues Explosion leave off, this rock’n’roll lifestyle, Even without knowing if the old anniversary with a string of headline shows. With Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon and Miike The Go! Team playground feel of Bang Bang Eschewing the current trend for rootsy and In that time the band have racked up 18 London five-piece trade in rollicking look no further than Ian magic had returned, the band were Snow’s Andrew Wyatt on board, this is a Bang featuring Tribe Called Quester Q-Tip sets old-timey styles, his decision to plump for a committed to the reunion dates by Top 40 singles and sold more than 30 million garage rock. One of the best live bands H u n t e r. veritable pick’n’mix of pop and rock flavours. out his stall –light and fluffy radio-friendly slick LA session band feel hasn’t paid off at all. on the UK circuit at present, fans of the promoter come what may. A records worldwide. The trademark shades and shock First there’s the baroque music box feel of electro pop. Ray Parker Jnr’s even on here somewhere for lurching riffs and sweaty rock’n’roll brown trousers moment then… Level 42 play Colston Hall on Wednesday, of corkscrew-curly blond hair are The Magus and perky ballad, She’s Something. Ronson’s own vocals are hilariously dwarfed God’s sake. need look no further. Their latest still very much in evidence and, at “Yes, not only for us but for the October 13. Tickets are priced £25 adv and people who liked us, too. Normally Brooding love songs Carve My Name and by Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah on Lose It The title track may kick us off in feisty style, album Burning Your House Down is a 71, he remains every bit the available by ringing the box office on 0117 922 you see the past through rose What Have I Done impress and we even get a and the easy-going poppiness continues on the but this is a record dragged down by belter, too. quintessential iconic frontman as 3686. coloured spectacles and the reality little Berthold Brechtian melodrama on The Fall. hook-laden Bike Song with The View’s Kyle plodding ballads. The Jim Jones Revue play the Thekla in his early-Seventies Mott the doesn’t match up. In this case, we Some of Barât’s roguish charm fizzes to the Falconer. Boy George brings some diva-ish The dated white funk of Get On singularly tonight (Thurs). Tickets are priced £11 Hoople pomp. were better than we used to be!” surface again on Je Regrette, Je Regrette as gravitas to the afrobeat feel of Somebody To fails to get the party started and even an adv and available by ringing 0845 And the last 12 months have been Touring regularly but not well as the cheeky Run With The Boys. Love Me. A handful of instrumentals feel like interpreter as seasoned as Cocker can’t wring Corinne Bailey Rae 413 4444. among the most remarkable of his excessively over the last three needless padding and soul star D’Angelo’s out much emotion from break-up slowie, musical adventure –atale of Shadows Fall –acandidate for his best song decades, Hunter’s still got an cameo on Glass Mountain Trust is glaringly Unforgiven. ducking and diving which to date –has a little of Portishead’s Dummy-era appetite for life on the road. “I’m not repetitive. Much better is the crisp hip-hop of Pointless philosophical navel-gazing like So It incredibly now stretches all the way grace to it and Libs fans will no doubt find Bowling For Soup a big fan of travelling but it’s all Doherty transposed into the central metaphor of Introducing The Business and Rose Elinor Goes only serves to underline the fact that back to 1958. worthwhile when you get on stage. An impressive 19 albums into his Ode to a Girl. Dougall sounds slinky on Hey Boy. there’s very little sense of purpose here. You get aches and pains but the Let’s hope the recent Libertines reunion Too much, though, seems superficial and To add to the case for the prosecution, solo career, he’s released one of the adrenaline keeps you going. You get best records of his life with the doesn’t put this too much in the shade –Barât’s gutless in places. Where’s a Winehouse when Runaway Train sounds bum-clenchingly dated. home later though and collapse in a taken a bold first step as a solo artist here. you need one? What a missed opportunity. spirited Man Overboard. heap for a month! There was also the small matter “I’ve never been a tour hog, one of Out now Out now Out now of tying up some unfinished those guys who do 150 shows a year. 8/10 6/10 3/10 business: Mott the Hoople reunited I like writing more than touring. I’m SH SH SH last October for some highly empty at the moment in terms of emotional shows at the songwriting but I’ve had three relationships through the decades. Young’s Hammersmith Odeon. It was albums out over the last decade. I’ve THE BIG CD cracked falsetto trembles through Someone’s Hunter’s first appearance with the got some dates to play in California band in 35 years. Gonna Rescue You, a reassuring bearhug of a next February then I’m hoping I can Neil Young song which promises redemption and salvation After a period out of the spotlight recovering “It was a question of age as much just get on with a new record.” from the shock death of her husband, as anything with Mott,” Ian tells me Le Noise in the face of life’s harshest trials. Hunter’s story is one of (Reprise) The first of the album’s two acoustic tracks, Corinne Bailey Rae emerged with second from his Connecticut home midway determination and grit. After album The Sea in February which sees her through rehearsals for his Love and War has a Spanish tinge to Young’s joining his first band The Apex Producer Daniel Lanois has never been short on playing and attempts to sum up two of his update the classic soul sound of Marvin upcoming solo UK tour. “I was doing Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass and Al Green. Group in the late Fifties, it was to be lofty claims about the records he’s worked on. perennial preoccupations. There’s more an acoustic show in England and Her hugely enjoyable afternoon set at 14 long years of hard graft before So you’ll have to take with a little pinch of salt our organ player Verden Allen Mott the Hoople had their first hit. philosophising on Angry World and Young Glastonbury this year brought the sun out his declarations that he’s totally reinvented the approached me to do it. He was Lesser men would have hung up resurrects an unfinished song from 1974 with and underlined what a great vocal talent coming to play with me at a couple their microphone. Along the way Ian sound of the electric guitar on Le Noise. Hitchhiker which tells his tale from the early she is. of my gigs. He said that ‘if we don’t even tried his hand at journalism. liked each other more than we had on to produce The Clash, people like Make no mistake though, this is a singular days in Toronto through experiments with drugs reunite now, we’ll never do it’. I’d done for a couple of years! our guitarist Mick Ronson, as well Neil Young album in every sense of the word. and eventual stardom. His acoustic playing on Corinne Bailey Rae plays the O2 Academy “That was the first thing I ever Bristol on Wednesday, October 13. Tickets are never really looked at it that way did when I left school. Births, deaths “When we got back to the UK, as the band itself. There’s no bass, drums, percussion or the epic Peaceful Valley Boulevard is superb and it wasn’t on my mind at all. As Pete tried to get a job as one of the “I don’t think people got it at the keyboards –just Young blasting out his and we close on the aptly-named Rumblin’. priced £19.50 adv and available by ringing and marriages. Meeting vicars with 0844 477 2000. These pop punkers are offering fans so many years had gone by I just their 32 cats and all that –holding Spiders from Mars with Bowie time. I’m not talking about the fans monolithic riffs with a couple of acoustic songs tone turned up to 11 and an ambiguous lyric This could be Young’s best album for the chance to jam with them at the presumed we were never going to your breath for half an hour while because he was just forming a band. who really followed us closely but as a counterpoint. For his part, Lanois treats which could be addressed to a lover or his 20-odd years. Maybe Lanois wasn’t soundcheck of each of their UK get back together. you were there. Reports on He heard that we’d split up and went the general media. A lot of people Young’s guitars with all manner of effects – faithful audience which have stuck by him exaggerating after all. shows. For the less musicianly of you “If it was going to happen then it Shrewsbury Town Reserves etc. on this kind of crusade. It was really thought we were just a glam band reverb, electronic flourishes and all manner of through all manner of odd tangents over the Steve Mason out there, you’ll just have to make do had to be then. Man Overboard did and didn’t take much notice of the Out now “I only lasted three months then I nice of him. ghostly ambience. years. And that huge electric guitar tone returns 9/10 with the gig itself. get overshadowed by the reunion “He not only gave us All The lyrics. It’s developed over the years got fired. You had to learn Walk With Me opens with a crunchy guitar on Sign of Love –areflective look back at STEVE HARNELL The band’s last album of new shows though. It’s a powerful law shorthand and typing. The latter Young Dudes but came in to produce though.” This former leader of The Beta Band has material came with 2009’s Sorry For that band, it really is. wasn’t a problem but shorthand was our album as well. He introduced us Hunter’s latest tour aims to put dropped his King Biscuit Time alias for his Partyin’. Before setting off on this “Our bass player Pete [Overend like Chinese to me. I’m not good at to all these wonderful people and tracks from Man Overboard in the latest solo album. Produced by Richard X, Boys current tour, the quartet have been Watts] had never wanted to reunite, languages! ‘did a David’ on us for a while. You shop window alongside Mott gems. Architects Outside sees Mason strip his songs back to the topping up their studio tans and but Verden told me he’d changed his “Once we started out in music, we know what I mean? He’s lovely when However, the singer stresses he’s no Strummerville I Blame bone for a record which sounds completely readying new material. mind. In the end, it was easy. Mott’s couldn’t really afford to think about he wants to be. I just thought he was mobile jukebox churning out the old unlike his previous sonic adventures. When Brighton quintet Architects Clash collaborator Don Letts DJs guitarist Mick Ralphs and I have quitting because the only real great for the nine months or so we classics ad nauseam. Coco Bowling For Soup play the O2 released their fourth album alongside a trio of up-and-coming Steve Mason plays the Fleece on Wednesday, Academy Bristol tonight (Thurs). toured almost continually since we alternative was the factory,” Hunter hung out with him. “I don’t like doing the same set October 13. Tickets are priced £12 adv and left the band, but many of the rest of twice so it’ll be a whole different list Hollow Crown in January 2009, young acts at the first ever UK Tickets are priced £18.50 adv and adds. “Mott weren’t that good to “Bowie also wanted his manager You’d think that available by ringing 0117 929 9008. the guys haven’t. The question was, of songs from April and May when the metal/hardcore crossover tour from the late Joe available by ringing 0844 477 2000. begin with. We had that desperation Tony Defries to work with us. Tony having Sting as your could they play? Thankfully, they we last played in the UK, otherwise scene was swept off its collective Strummer’s Strummerville or desire though –whichever is didn’t really want to do it though dad would put you off could. It was not just a blast from it gets kind of boring. feet by the sheer ferocity that music foundation. more appropriate –the two things and we got the leftovers. music for life but I the past but a blast from the present, “Each tour is different. I’ve got a poured out of the speakers. Joining Letts will be Dub Pistols that carry you further than those “Defries would be in America and Blame Coco –aka The Dan Mangan too. The politics of it was a whole lot of records that the average Forming in late 2004, their gravel-voiced troubadour Beans with talent who sit back and believe we’d be touring England –that kind Police frontman’s other ball game but the playing part of situation never works. punter doesn’t really know so I debut came two years later with on Toast with songs of sex, drugs they’ll get success handed to them daughter Eliot Sumner They’re calling it The ReHash Tour which was fantastic. “We were never handled properly. usually pull a few songs out from Nightmares, a scarily competent and politics. He won’t be short of on a plate. Desire has a hell of a lot –releases her debut will coincide with the release of a new remix You’ll have to wait until November 22 “I didn’t expect the band to be A band like Roxy Music were those. I’m not that mad on bands showcase of the the band’s material –his debut album, to do with it and we had tons of it.” album The Constant at album which boasts an array of top drawer to hear this talented Canadian’s that good and had no idea what the handled well –they maintained a that go out and do the old hits. You potential. Standing on a Chair, boasted But it almost went awry. By 1972, the start of November. producers reworking gems from the Dub second album, Nice Nice Very Nice. crowd reaction would be. After all, strong image and that’s really can make money that way but it’s However, it was the following some 50 tracks. Also on the bill Mott the Hoople were in disarray. Included on the record Pistols’ last three albums. But he’ll no doubt be previewing an audience makes a gig –the band important. Perception is a big thing boring. Playing just the well-known year’s Ruin that turned those will be Camden quartet The Then came David Bowie on his is Caesar, a hook-up Featured on ReHash will be the work of many of the songs at this Louisiana itself is only half of it. The fans white charger to save the day by and we were lumped in with the stuff is like going out and selling ripples into waves and saw the Supernovas and tropical punk with pop pixie Robyn. ex-Leftfield mainstay Paul Daley, Bushwacka date. The record cuts across genres wouldn’t sit down and a lot of them offering them the song All The wrong people.” shoes –old ones at that. You should band step up from underground ensemble Rum Shebeen and Wrong Tom –the latter has just released including indie rock, alt-country and are getting on a bit, too! That Young Dudes. Those ‘wrong people’ were the never underestimate your audience. leaders into international The Strummerville Westway I Blame Coco plays the orchestral pop. translates back to the band. The “We’d just played a show in a less cerebral likes of Slade and The You’ve got to give them your best.” contenders. Round the UK tour visits The Thekla on Wednesday, a dubwise reworking of Roots Manuva’s back Dan Mangan plays the Louisiana whole thing becomes an event converted gas tank in Switzerland Sweet. “I think the whole package Ian Hunter plays the O2 Academy Architects play the O2 Academy Croft on Monday, October 11. October 13. Tickets are catalogue. tonight (Thurs). Tickets are priced £6 rather than just a gig. and had all had enough. We decided with us was under-rated to be Bristol on Thursday, October 14. Bristol on Saturday, October 9. Tickets are priced £6.75 adv and priced £8.25 adv and Dub Pistols play Metropolis on Thursday, adv and available by ringing 0117 929 “A bout 40 per cent of the crowd there and then to split up. On the honest,” adds Ian. “Our producer Tickets are priced £18.50 adv and Tickets are priced £11 adv and available by ringing 0117 929 available by ringing October 14. Tickets are priced £11 adv and 9008. had travelled over from the States. way back home on the train we and mentor Guy Stevens, who went available by ringing 0844 477 2000. available by ringing 0844 477 2000. 9008. 0845 413 4444. available by ringing 0117 929 9008.