LIL BAB IN BIG BRUM is a comic strip from Maddie Cottam-Allan, made exclusively for Birmingham Review. And damn thankful we are for it too.
For more from Maddie Cottam-Allan visit www.instagram.com/maddiecottamallan
The Devil In My Guinness
Writer Mark Roberts/ Photographer Jess Whitty
As you enter Norton’s on Meriden Street, you really get a sense that this is a proper Irish pub. I can’t quite put my finger on it, it’s all very subtle. Perhaps, it’s the 8-foot-tall pint of Guinness by the door, right as you walk in.
The Devil and St. Joseph are made up of Joe Frascina, on vocals and a guitar oddly reminiscent of the Selfridges building, but it’s matte black and gold, and actually not hideous to look at. Emily Doyle, on vocals, synth and a snare drum and Billy Beale, on a second guitar, who somehow seriously pulls off wearing sunglasses and what appears to be a pyjama top on stage.
At this point, I’m worrying that The Devil and St. Joseph are going to suffer the same issues as other bands with no bass instruments, but as soon as they kick off, I’m subjected to a subterranean and disgustingly filthy sound that seems to come from deep in a swamp.
The guitars, which range from dark, sludgy tones to chicken-wire razor-sharpness, are the main body of the music. Impeccable solos ranging from cavernous shredding to atonal bliss disperse through the music courtesy of Billy Beale. All cut together with beats from a drum machine that somehow sounds like it had been sent back to the era of cowboys, recorded on a piece of paper and then played back through a 1930s radio.
Emily’s synth ranges from the keyboard equivalent of jelly on a vibrator, to an organ that wouldn’t be amiss at a funeral. Joe’s pugnacious drawl and Emily’s pure tones vibrate within the tunes, embedded in the swampiness of the songs. Joe, taking the lead, draws me in, but Emily is regularly utilised to incredible effect, her voice at times peeking through the mix, harmonious and clear.
Then, Emily turns to the snare drum and engages it. The snare brings a punch that the electronic beats just can’t achieve and as it pierces the sonic landscape, I find myself yearning for the snare drum, hungering for it. I’m falling in love with Snare Drum. It’s warm wooden body, subtle metal frame…
Anyway, I digress. The Devil and St Joseph move around the stage with a jaded nonchalance that is fitting and natural. Though as my last note, this coolness may stray into coldness unintentionally, something that could easily be resolved with a bit more eye contact.
Overall, it’s clear that The Devil and St. Joseph are a band which take command of an impressive sonic landscape. It’s a shame that there aren’t more people in attendance. It’ll be great to see them play backed by the energy of a full crowd.
For more on The Devil and Saint Joseph visit www.facebook.com/thedevilandsaintjoseph
What Showcases Brum’s Talent For Fusion Like Neighbourhd?
Writer Jasmine Khan / Photographer KASA
On the first Monday of each month, Neighbourhd runs its regular showcase and jam session at The Night Owl, in Digbeth. Neighbourhd’s approach, unsurprisingly, is heavily community focused and the inclusive night is regularly attended by music scene staples, as well as newcomers and everyone in between.
A frequent attendee myself, Neighbourhd is my go to for interesting chats, interesting people and fresh tunes. But, get there early because there’s banging food, and if you arrive late, then it’ll probably be gone.
Neighbourhd always has a cool and relaxed vibe when you first arrive, lights typically shine in green and red hues and the disco ball is in full rotation – groovy. Resident DJ Tehan, spins records that catch you off guard in a good way and despite it costing more than £5 for a swallowable pint, the drinks and conversation flow in equal measure.
There’s no guarantee about the type of artist you’ll see at Neighbourhd, or the genre of the sound. Sometimes it’ll be Hip-hop, RnB or Rap, sometimes it’ll be Jazz or Neo-Classical, other times it’ll be Soul, Funk, or Blues. Once I’m pretty sure it was local rap legend Tarju’s mum, Chrissy Lemonte, and she totally stole her son’s spotlight.
There’s always a full house band, including drums, bass, guitar, and keys. Although, it’s not a surprise to spot a saxophone and the odd trumpet. There could be synths, there could be South Asian vibes… Every Neighbourhd so far has been different.
More often than not, it’s impossible to pin down exactly what’s going on musically. You’ll just be compelled to move your body or stare at the impressive technical skill on stage. Neighbourhd is best described as fusion, and pretty great fusion at that.
The night’s consistently high energy is maintained, not only by the of array musicians that perform, but also by the organiser Michael Bird, and regular host Maddie Saskia, who riff casually in between sets. Whilst the vibes are abundantly positive, lots of the artists sing or rap about the struggles of living in modern Britain and Birmingham specifically. This bravery is always rewarded with loud whoops and cheers from the crowd.
Audience participation is not just welcomed at Neighbourhd, it’s demanded. And, the final jam, which typically results in half the audience flexing their artistic talents on stage, is always my most anticipated event of the evening.
The next Neighbourd is at The Night Owl on Monday, 4 April and you can find them on social media via @neighbourhdbrum. Feel free to introduce yourself, everyone’s very friendly.
For more from The Night Owl, including full listings of all upcoming events, visit www.birmingham.thenightowl.club
Snapshots of Mumbai – by Ed King, featuring pictures from Paul Ward
Pics by Paul Ward – all photography in this article has taken from Snapshots of Mumbai
On Saturday 15th August, Birmingham born writer Ed King releases Snapshots of Mumbai – marking 75 years of India’s independence from British colonial rule.
Supporting the text are a series of original images from photographer Paul Ward, who recently won the ‘Fashion Photographer’ category at the British Photography Awards 2020.
Exploring the might and majesty of India, whilst following the roots of British imperialism, Snapshots of Mumbai is ‘a love letter’ to the modern day megacity – published by Review Publishing, owners of Birmingham Review.
The 204 page coffee table book is an anthology of essays and interviews from Mumbai – starting with ‘South City’, a walking tour through the history of this sprawling modern metropolis.
‘Places Behind’ goes deeper under the surface of prominent areas in Mumbai, such as Dhobi Ghats – the world’s largest outdoor laundromat, and Dharavi – Asia’s biggest slum where the film Slumdog Millionaire was set.
‘Modern Gods’ explores three major driving forces behind Mumbai, told through more extensive essays on religion, entertainment, and trade.
Whilst ‘Interviews’ sees Ed King talk directly to of people about their first-hand experiences of living and working in Mumbai.
Featured in the chapter are Saami – a street hawker who works and lives on the streets of Colaba, and Ashwin Merchant – Deputy Director of the Swiss Business Hub, who had to help Mumbai police identify bodies after the 2008 terror attacks, and Naresh Fernandes – a prominent Mumbai based journalist and writer, who was editor of Time Out Mumbai when interviewed.
‘The Gallery’, the final chapter in Snapshots of Mumbai, showcases a special series of twelve photographs from the project by Paul Ward – which have already been on display as standalone exhibitions at both Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Bilston Art Gallery.
Written for audiences who may or may not know the city, Snapshots of Mumbai is also ‘a reminder’ of Britain’s colonial legacy in South Asia – introducing today’s readers to the ‘forgotten history’ of the British Raj.
The first of five books that will follow Britain’s involvement with India – from the trade of the East India Company to the military occupation enforced by the British Crown – the Snapshots of… series will further cover Kochi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Kashmir.
Ed King was born in Birmingham, but has a longstanding relationship with India – having covered music events across the country for a number of UK titles.
Although it was his own ignorance of the history between the two countries that spurred him to write Snapshots of Mumbai.
“The term ‘Empire’ was never taught in my history lessons,” tells Ed King, “it was a left to fade behind tales of the League of Nations and other heroic feathers in caps.
“But the legacy of British India has shaped both countries, tied them together – and it’s becoming part of the world’s conveniently forgotten history.
“I wrote Snapshots of Mumbai because I wanted to learn about the relationship between Britain and India myself. Something I hoped to pass on in an engaging narrative surrounded by beautiful pictures – thank you Paul Ward. This book is not an accusation of ignorance; I want the book to be enjoyed. It is, quite simply, a love letter to the city – an exploration of Mumbai.
“But we should hold on to history and know how the world was formed by our grandparents, our great grandparent’s, and those that came before. It is a frightening and absurd chapter to forget. There’s still an audience for truth.”
Ed King interviewed about Snapshots of Mumbai – filmed at Oikos Café, Erdington
Snapshots of Mumbai is available in both hardback and paperback editions from Saturday, 15 August, release by Review Publishing.
For more on Snapshots of Mumbai, including links to online sales, visit www.reviewpublishing.net/snapshots-of-mumbai
For more on Paul Ward, visit www.paulward.net
ALBUM: Warriors – REWS 07.08.20
Words by Ed King / Images courtesy of Marshall Records
That difficult second album was a little more challenging for REWS, aka the Belfast born London living rock songstress that is Shauna Tohill.
Not only did Tohill have her band spilt in two, following an absurdly strong debut album, but that pesky global pandemic severed the promo gigs for her follow up right down the middle as well – with concerns over coronavirus cutting short the aptly named Phoenix Tour in early March.
Now, on the red latter date that is 7th August 2020, finally something is going her way. REWS’s sophomore album, Warriors, has hit the shelves – or whatever lexicon describes our current online purchasing patterns. But sterilised, self-isolated, never before touched by human hands copies of this 11 track return to glory are now flinging themselves up and down the country. At least something can.
So, is it any good? Has the wait been worth it?
It is tempting to make similes about the name of the previously cancelled tour… but a mythical bird that is gloriously reborn from the flames and ash of its own demise is quite a fitting symbol. If I can find something in Greek mythology that symbolises a killer rock riff and soaring vocals, then the metaphor may be complete.
But to use the parlance of more modern times, Warriors is ‘a banger’ – start to finish, a wrecking ball of a rock album. Warriors is more mature, robust, and ultimately promising than its predecessor, showing a diversity and bravery in its approach that screams gold stars for Tohill and her team.
Opening with ‘Birdsong’, which is simply a corker of a tune, the album is peppered with chorus catching singles such as ‘Monster’ and ‘Heat on Fire’– standing tall as singles should.
Across the 11 tracks there are moments of wonderful restraint, held against Tohill’s powerful front person persona which has always made REWS such a confident and class act – the album’s sorta/kinda title track ‘Today We’re Warriors’ is a great line in the sand for this, alongside the furiously addictive ‘Razorblade’.
And whilst Tohill has not lost her flair for melody, it’s the song writing that really shines across Warriors – this is development, and in that crazy good way that makes you believe you’ll be listening to this artist in your dotage.
‘Move On’ is a cracking raw edge, ‘Play Dead’ shows a confident grasp on the new ensemble, and the denouement, ‘Bad Habits’, is a wonderful surprise and goodbye. Or rather, see you later – we hope. And to this writer, lyrically Warriors is unrecognisable from what came before. I just love it.
REWS have often been referred to as a ‘powerhouse’ – and this declaration to not go quietly into the night is another stamp of their increasing authority on modern rock. Which, honestly, it might not have been – with all the hurdles that have been put in front of it, you’d be forgiven for making a few stumbles along the way.
Warriors if the start of something, not the end – with bright red plumes to send it on its way. And if you’ve ever seen Shauna Tohill strut her funky stuff on stage, you know this is going to ABSOLUTELY SLAY live – once the doors are open and the drinks are flowing again. Socially distanced mosh pit anyone?
‘Today We’re Warriors’
Warriors by REWS is out from Friday 7th August, released via Marshall Records. For online orders and other related REWS merchandise, visit www.transistormusic.com/rews_warriors_cd
For more on REWS, visit www.rewsmusic.com