Author: birminghamreview

On Tuesday 28^th July, The Sonics come to the Institute in Birmingham, with support from Electric River.

As presented by MAMA & Eastside Events, doors open at 7pm – with tickets priced at £20 (advance). For direct info from the venue, click here

Midway through their five date UK summer tour, the Sonics come to Birmingham before playing for one more date in Bristol and one final UK date in London. Moving over to mainland Europe, the seminal Garage Rockers from Washington then play a further two dates in August – before picking up their EU stint again on October 14^th in Barcelona.

Full details of the Sonics’ gig schedule can be found on the home page of the band’s website www.thesonicsboom.com

Birmingham has been flush with Punk/Rock pioneers in recent months, with Birmingham Review last covering the Dead Kennedys and Richie Ramone. Now the Sonics come to town – completing a well rounded, if not rough edged, schooling in all that SCREAMS AT YOU TO LET GO. Modern metal heads and indie kids, take note.

Beginning in 1960, after brothers Larry and Andy Parypas bought a couple of guitars from the Sears catalogue and their musically inclined mum pushed them along the rock road, the Sonics would come into their own after joining Etiquette Records in 1963.

On first hearing the Sonics rock out in a garage, hence the term, the Wailers’ owned label would encourage the Sonics to progress their original material – alongside the Little Richard and other contemporary covers the band started out performing.

The culmination came in the Sonics’ debut LP Here Are the Sonics!!! (1965), which included Garage Rock covers of ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ and ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ alongside Sonics originals such as ‘Psycho’, ‘Strychnine’, and the band’s debut single, ‘The Witch’.

After first scaring then owning the American radio station playlists, the Sonics soon became the North West’s most prominent Rock band – following their initial album success with Boom (1966) again on Etiquette Records.

A subsequent move to Jerden Records, chasing ABC/Paramount distribution, would be the beginning of the (original) end for the Sonics – with the raw sound they began with becoming modified during the production of their third album, Introducing the Sonics (1967), as produced by Larry Levine.

By 1968 the Sonics had split, with individual members reportedly parting on good terms to follow solo projects and endevours outside the music industry. Requests for reunions came to fruition from 2007 onwards, including a performance at the 2009 SXSW festival, with today’s lineup featuring original members Gerry Roslie (lead vocals, keys), Larry Parypas (guitar) and Rob Lind (tenor sax) alongside Ricky Lynn Johnson (percussion) and Don Wilhelm (bass guitar, vocals).

But to get a taste, and I must clarify WE DON’T MEAN LITERALLY (our lawyers have advised…) listen to the Sonics‘ track ‘Strychnine’ – as featured on their debut album. Click here or on the link below

‘Strychnine’ (1965) – The Sonics

The Sonics come to the Institute in Birmingham on Tuesday 28^th July, with support from Electric River – as presented by MAMA & Eastside Events.

For more gig info, direct from the venue, visit http://theinstitutebirmingham.com/listings/upcoming-events/20381/the-sonics-special-guests/

For more on the Sonics, visit http://thesonicsboom.com/

For further listing from the Institute, visit http://theinstitutebirmingham.com/listings/

On Sunday 26^th July, Eleanor Dattani & the LEDs will be playing at The Sun at the Station in Kings Heath – performing in the venue’s raised beer garden.

Presented by NAMU, as part of their Under the Tree Sessions, doors are open as per the venue’s licensing hours – with UtT taking place between 6-9pm. Entry is free. 

Ellie (press release) or Eleanor (website) Dattani is a veritable songstress. Nostalgic and cheeky, Ms D is one of the brighter colours on Birmingham’s singer/songwriter/storyteller chalkboard. Cue references to Abi Budgen and comparisons to Joni Mitchell…

Who the LEDs are Birmingham Review does not know. They may be lights on an elaborate outfit, backing singers made of fairy lights, or a dance troupe of forty wearing those flashing Nike running shoes. Neither Google nor I can say. But if it’s not costing you a bean then it’s no hardship to find out on the night. Unless it’s the dance troupe.

Eleanor Dattani (until told otherwise) is worth checking out for a door charge regardless, with cross genre surprises filtering between confident finger plucked tales – so to get the weekend freebie is a good place to start from. Her Folsky Calypso Acoustic Reggae (©Birmingham Review) would work especially well if the sun shines on Sunday.

But the extra cherry on this Sunday is the venue; The Sun at the Station have been throwing some serious weight behind their events calendar, and the places they place it, and are building (if not built) a beautiful hub of creative endeavor. Good stuff, from mouths & instruments. We recommend you should all go and check it out for yourselves, every last human that can – pack the pace out until the rafters and walls politely call time. Then tell us what you think.

Plus the beer-garden-outdoor-arena-back-raised-venue-patio-area (with benches, flowers & colouful things) is a little hidden gem at the far end of Kings Heath high street, worth going for in itself. Made for a summer Sunday.

Birmingham Review has covered indoor events at The Sun at the Station, with a production value that has been unsurpassed so far on our suburban trawls, but we reckon the literal sessions under a tree will be one step more awesome. It’s not often that Birmingham Review uses American hyperbole. But, so, like, it’s totally cool to hang out there…

Have a stop, look & listen to Eleanor Dattani – playing her latest single, ‘Funny Side’ (Feb ’15). Although we further recommend a quick trip to Soundcloud and a listen to ‘Lift Yourself Up’ & ‘Ellysium2’.

‘Funny Side’ – by Eleanor Dattani

Eleanor Dattani & the LEDs come to The Sun at the Station in Kings Heath on Sunday 26^th July, performing as part of their Under the Tree Sessions – presented by NAMU.

The Sun at the Station is open as per its regular licensing hours, with the Under the Tree Sessions taking place between 6-9pm. Entry is free. 

For more on Eleanor Dattani, visit http://www.eleanordattani.com/

For more from The Sun at the Station, visit http://www.thesunatthestation.co.uk/

Words by Ed King / Pics courtesy of Mostly Jazz Festival

Lo, as was written in the Scriptures…

Slightly narcissistic to write this as Mostly Jazz has all but sold out (at the time of writing only single day tickets for Friday & Sunday are available) but with such a juicy line up to cherry pick from, who can blame me. Or the early bird Ticketmaster fiends, you know who you are…

But yes folks; the sun is shining, the birds are tweeting, the tweets are circling, and the grumbles of the Chantry Road Residents Association have all been mollified.

From tomorrow until 10:30pm on Sunday, Mostly Jazz Festival ’15 is upon us. And what a spread… the memorable moments from Nile Rogers’s closing show could be set for a challenge.

Here are a couple of points worth some weekend interest (to the world of me, at any rate).
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Friday 10^th July / Public Enemy & The Pharcyde

Easily the two acts at the top of the bill. Plucked straight from a time when Hip Hop wasn’t all gangster crap, blingshit and some twat in a white fedora whining about bullet scars – these are both artists with something worth listening to. Chuck D has been honing his message over the years too, so Moseley might even be able to join in without feeling too… awkward. We just won’t mention a certain clock wearing rock fiend and a certain Z List house fiasco.

But angry Farrakhan hangovers and ‘fuck you 50 Cent, you are all that is wrong with the world’ withstanding, this will be a serious opportunity to see something that may never happen again. And if nothing else, during The Pharcyde’s set, you could witness thousands of people in Moseley Park singing back the chorus “….aawww SHIT.” Oh to be a fly on the wall of the next Moseley Society general meeting. A booking of sheer genius.
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Saturday 11^th July / Hackney Colliery Band

If your name’s not already down you’re not getting in, but if it is (and you are) then I’d recommend checking HCB out – fearsome. There’s been a lot of this sort of thing in recent years, strangely placed ensembles covering everything from TV theme tunes to club classics, but HCB do it with certain aplomb. Plus it’s a good chance to see them on a festival stage, which is where they will truly shine. And if you need a bit more of a nudge, viddy below and imagine a hot Saturday with a pint of Thatchers/Purity in your hand:

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Sunday 12^th July / Hansu-Tori & Mahalia

And no, it’s not because there’s ‘Tori’ in the title… David Austin Grey & Co have been grafting through the Birmingham (and beyond) Jazz scene for a while, with the Hansu-Tori manifestation introducing a more mature edge to something already well seasoned. Protagonists include some superb Birmingham Conservatoire schooled musicians, with the spectacular keys of Mr Grey at the helm. Jim Bashford is one to seriously watch out for too, as is Nick Jurd, as is Sam Wooster (aka UUOO)… just watch out for all of them and save me anymore sycophantic copy. Plus there’ll be plugging a new(ish) album, An Improvised Escape, so them boys better play good.

Mahalia. OK, roll the dice time. There is HUGE POTENTIAL in this singer/songwriter, which would be best supported by some more professional platforms without the age specific prefix. She can sing, she can play, she can write – and as the rungs of time fall beneath her, she’ll have even more stories to deliver. And that voice… But it’s all about the live show; Mahalia would be my odds on favourite for a magical surprise moment this weekend.

Mostly Jazz Festival 2015 will be held on Moseley Park, Birmingham, from 10-12^th June. For more about the Mostly Jazz Festival, including full line up and programme details, online tickets & directions, visit http://mostlyjazz.co.uk/

Words by Ed King – follow him @EdKing2210

On Sunday 5^th July, Washington’s best Trans-Atlantic-loved (and still breathing) Indie Rock group, Modest Mouse, comes to the Birmingham Institute – with support from Hippo Campus + Elle King.

Doors open at 7pm, with tickets charged at £17.50 (advance) – as promoted by SJM Concerts.

Modest Mouse was formed by Isaac Brook (vocals, guitar), Jeremiah Green (percussion) and Eric Judy (bass) in 1993. As the Seattle Grunge sound was taking off, with some help from another Washington state three piece, Modest Mouse carved out their jangly capital ‘A’ Alternative sound with their debut single, ‘Broke’ – released on Sub Pop in 1994, produced by Seasick Steve.

Moving over to another Seattle based Indie label, Up Records, Modest Mouse followed ‘Broke’ with their first album to be released to the world – the sixteen track monster, also produced by Seasick Steve, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (1996).

The first fifteen tracks on Sad Sappy Sucker were originally earmarked for Modest Mouse’s debut LP, but didn’t see the light of day until the band had label hoped back to Washington – releasing the 24 track mega monster on K Records in 2001.

Now back on the road with their first studio album in eight years, Modest Mouse released their fifteen track Strangers to Ourselves in March 2015 through Epic Records – the major that’s backed most of the band’s releases since the millennium.

Combining a gut wrenching Punk/Ska charge and some sneaky Calypso, with Garage band meltdowns and the occasional spangle jangly Velvet Underground throwback, alongside a bizarre homage to fashion terrorist (and all round murdering nut job) Andrew Cunanan, Strangers to Ourselves is a diverse return for Modest Mouse.

And with a mammoth summer/autumn tour across America and the UK to promote the LP – Modest Mouse comes to the Birmingham Institute on Sun 5th July, for their first static venue gig on a forty date promotional trail. Nothing, by, halves.

Click on the link/image below and check out ‘Lampshades on Fire’, the first single from Strangers to Ourselves – released in Dec ‘14. And, if my aging eyes don’t lie, see if you can spot the bearded ghost of producers past…

‘Lampshades on Fire’ – Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse comes to the Birmingham Institute on Sunday 5^th July, with support from Hippo Campus + Elle King. Doors open at 7pm, with tickets charged at £17.50 (advance) – as promoted by SJM Concerts.

For further gig information, including online tickets, visit http://theinstitutebirmingham.com/listings/upcoming-events/19381/modest-mouse-2/

For more on Modest Mouse, visit http://modestmouse.com/

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For further listings from the Institute, visit http://theinstitutebirmingham.com/listings/

For more from SJM Concerts, visit http://www.gigsandtours.com/

For more from Epic Records, visit http://www.epicrecords.com/home