Birmingham Review Christmas Party Archives -

December 3, 2017December 3, 2017

THE GALLERY: Rews + The Hungry Ghosts + Ed Geater at the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase @ Actress & Bishop 25.11.17

Words by Ed King / Pics by Rob Hadley

On Saturday 25th November, Birmingham Review presented its Winter Showcase at the Actress & Bishop – a sold out live gig with Rews, The Hungry Ghosts and Ed Geater. It’s taken me more than a week to recover.

I’ve sat down to write a review of the night several times too, but how do you write a report about your own gig..? You can’t, well I can’t. But luckily our friends at Counteract can, so for Charlotte Niblett’s two cents on the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase click here – with some cracking pics from Paul Reynolds thrown in for good measure. And I have been kicking myself that in all the copy I’ve written about Ed Geater I never came up with ‘triple threat’… good work Charlotte, love that one.

Also, I kinda/sorta don’t have to write anything as the solider of Birmingham Review (or Rob Hadley as he is know in the wider world) was front row and centre for the entire evening with a camera in his hands. And if a picture paints a thousand words then there’s around 84k without you fluttering an eyelash or me hitting a key. Any more would just be rude.

There are some cherry picked pics below, but I would CAPITAL LETTER SUGGEST you check out the full Flickr of Rob’s pics by clicking on this hyperlink or the suitably subtle prompts littering this report.

But now you’ve got me typing away… the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase wasn’t only a chance to book three acts that are all amongst the most exciting on the national gig circuit today, it was an opportunity to put our money where our mouth is. Birmingham Review covers many corners of the city’s cultural landscape, but music is where we began and will always be an intrinsic part of our content.

Rews, The Hungry Ghosts and Ed Geater all have a real “chance at whatever metaphor you use for success”, and we’ve said so with words and pics several times before. But on Saturday 25^th November Birmingham Review got to be part of that progression, even if only for one night. But what an incredible night it was.

Ed Geater opened up to an already busy room, playing the tried and tested from his portfolio such a ‘Symmetry’ and ‘Don’t Think’ alongside a quick toe dip into some newer waters. Layering beat boxing over acoustic six string melodies, with the occasional breakbeat to keep you quite literally on toes, Geater kicked off the Winter Showcase with poise and aplomb. The Hungry Ghosts swaggered on stage for the second set, oozing with gin and mischief, and served up a fine platter of slaughterhouse blues with ‘Amerika’, ‘Lazaro’ and a slightly tweaked ‘Super King King’. Raw, raucous, and now with a cemented new line up, there is just so much to love about this band.

Then it was Rews… half way through their UK tour to promote Pyro, the duo’s corker of a debut album, and straight into a gut punching rock explosion with ‘Let It Roll’. On fire throughout the entire set, featuring album tracks including ‘Your Tears’, ‘Miss You in the Dark’ and ‘Death Yawn’ alongside the ferocious ‘Can You Feel It?’ (one of my personal favourites live), Rews quite simply nailed it – Shauna Tohill’s fearless front stage lead as Colette Williams powers through with vocals and percussion, it’s awesome stuff. Birmingham will never be quite the same again.

The other significant win at the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase was the crowd. There’s a lot of talk about ‘supporting the local music scene’ but unless you drag yourself out of the house, stick a smile on your chops, and get involved when musicians and singers are bearing their souls on stage… then talk is all that it will ever be. At the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase 175 people did all of the things I’ve just listed. And it felt phenomenal. To everyone who was upstairs at the Actress & Bishop on Saturday 25^th November, I both salute and thank you.

The Birmingham Review Winter Showcase was also my swansong, as I now hand the reigns over to Helen Knott – who is taking over as Birmingham Review editor, and Damien Russell – who is coming in as Birmingham Preview editor.

I will be moving over to editor-in-chief (sounds more glamorous than it is) and focusing on the books and periodicals set for release under Review Publishing. Look out for our first titles which will be on shelf by the end of 2017: Snapshots of Mumbai – a coffee table book about the Indian megacity, and the Birmingham Music Review 2017 anthology.

We’re recruiting too, so if you know your way around a QWERTY keyboard or a DSLR please email charlotte@birminghamreview.net

Meanwhile, back at the Actress & Bishop…

Rews at the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase @ Actress & Bishop 25.11.17 / Rob Hadley – Birmingham Review

For more on Rews, visit www.rewsmusic.com

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The Hungry Ghosts at the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase @ Actress & Bishop 25.11.17 / Rob Hadley – Birmingham Review

For more on The Hungry Ghosts, visit www.thehungryghosts.co.uk

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Ed Geater at the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase @ Actress & Bishop 25.11.17 / Rob Hadley – Birmingham Review

For more on Ed Geater, visit www.edgeater.co.uk

For more from the Actress & Bishop, including venue details and links to event, visit www.theactressandbishop.co.uk

WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED – Birmingham Review is looking for new contributors. Anyone wanting to get involved, please email a short introduction to charlotte@birminghamreview.net

November 24, 2017

LAST FEW TICKETS: Rews + The Hungry Ghosts + Ed Geater @ Actress & Bishop 25.11.17

Words by Ed King

IT’S CHRISSSSSSSMAAASSSSSS…

Well, kind of, bit of an obligatory catcall in Birmingham right now. But love it or loathe it (and as inescapable as the people crushing death trap that is the German Market) it’s ‘that time of year’ again.

And to kick Winterval in the proverbial sack (of presents… shame on you) on Saturday 25th November, Birmingham Review presents its Winter Showcase at the Actress & Bishop – a live gig with Rews, The Hungry Ghosts and Ed Geater.

Doors open at 8pm, music starts at 8:30pm, with tickets priced at £8 (advance) and £10 (on the door) plus booking fee. Tickets can still be bought via See Tickets until 12noon on Sat 25^th November – for online sales, visit www.seetickets.com/event/rews-the-hungry-ghosts-ed-geater/actress-and-bishop

**LAST FEW ADVANCE TICKETS REMAINING** You might well get in on the door (it might well cost you an extra two quid) and we might well jettison a table or two, but there are less advance tickets than can be counted on two hands. So hop, skip and jump people.

And in case you need a little nudge, here’s a speed dating introduction to each act we’ve got performing at the Birmingham Review Winter Showcase – with some useful links to boot. See you, and them, at the Actress & Bishop on Saturday 25th Nov.

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Rews

Rews and their infection ‘earworms’ crawled into our subconscious back in Feb, after a stellar gig at the Flapper. To read Damien Russell’s BREVIEW of the gig, click here – to read Ed King’s INTERVIEW with Rews just before they got on stage, click here. And it seems we weren’t the only ones to go a little batshit over Rews, as everyone from a Glastonbury baked Mark Radcliffe to a Huw Stephens have been championing the duo.

Rews have recently released their debut album too – the somewhat awesome Pyro. To read Ed King’s ALBUM review of Pyro, click here. And if you’re more audio than visual (or a little from Column A and a little from Column B), the check out Rews’ official video to ‘Your Tears’ – the lead single from Pyro.

‘Your Tears’ – Rews (taken from their forthcoming debut album, Pyro)

For more on Rews, visit www.rewsmusic.com

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The Hungry Ghosts

The Ghosts, The Ghosts, The Ghosts… Where to begin? If this band aren’t destroying the main stage at some greenfield site in the next few years then there is something SERIOUSLY WRONG with the universe. The kings and queen of slaughterhouse blues, ferocious and phenomenal on stage (and often off, for part of the set at least) The Hungry Ghosts are one of the most exciting bands playing in the Midlands today. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

But seeing (and hearing) is believing, so get yourself to the Actress & Bishop on Saturday 25th Nov and bear witness to this first hand. Meanwhile, amongst the coyotes and shadows of an unforgiving prairie…

‘Amerika’ – The Hungry Ghosts

For more on The Hungry Ghosts, visit www.thehungryghosts.co.uk

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Ed Geater

I felt more than a little sheepish asking Ed Geater to play the ‘support’ slot at our Winter Showcase, but he graciously didn’t flinch and said yes. So we poker faced it and casually sent him a Booking Confirmation. Playing it cool…

Beatboxer, singer songwriter, possibly Birmingham’s best collaborator, and a proper, PROPER performer – Ed Geater is a unique gem that this city should be proud to call one of their own. The Birmingham Review Winter Showcase will be Ed Geater‘s last gig for ‘a while’, as he’s hibernating to concentrate on some new material (… fe, fi, fo, fum, I smell the blood of an album) and we are uber excite to get this man on a stage we’re promoting. Playing first, make sure you get there for doors open at 8pm – you do not want to miss a minute of Ed Geater.

‘Don’t Think’ – Ed Geater

For more on Ed Geater, visit www.edgeater.co.uk

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Birmingham Review presents its Winter Showcase at the Actress & Bishop on Saturday 25^th November with Rews, The Hungry Ghosts and Ed Geater.

Advance tickets are priced at £8 (+bf) and can still be bought via See Tickets until 12noon on Sat 25^th – for online sales, click here.

For more from the Actress & Bishop, including venue details and links to event, visit www.facebook.com/Actressandbishop

November 3, 2017November 3, 2017

ALBUM: Pyro – Rews 03.11.17

Words by Ed King / Pics by Paul Reynolds

Big day today. A red-letter day, as Rews release their debut album, Pyro, to a legitimately eagerly awaiting world.

Well, this little corner is perched on its seat at least. And I suspect I’m not alone. Half of Glastonbury, for one. Marc Radcliffe for another. No doubt some friends and family. The Hawley Arms. The Railway Inn. The list continues…

Birmingham Review first saw Rews back in February this year, when the ferocious twosome came to The Flapper & Firkin – headlining a somewhat smug support band and nailing every second of it. Fun and furious in all the right ways, Rews were a clear win. So much so, in fact, that along with a couple of other acts that we love more than is probably good for us we’ve invited them to play our Christmas bash at the Actress & Bishop (…Sat Nov 25^th, 8 quid, for more of this shameless plug click here).

Signing to Marshall Records pretty much around the time we saw them at The Flapper, Rews have been busy building momentum and recording an album over the past year. A busy festival season, some hand-picked showcase gigs and a pretty healthy portfolio of radio plays took care of the first bit, whilst Shauna (Tohill) and Collette (Williams), aka Rews, locked themselves into a studio to deliver the second bit. And the result is Pyro – released on Friday 3^rd November, through the amp wielding rock monster that is Marshall Records.

Live, Rews are unassailable. So, then… is Pyro any good?

As I’m listening to Pyro, courtesy of sneaky stream from their management, I’ve got the other ear on Radio One – not a station I usually listen to, but Rews are dropping a triptych of teasers from their debut album during the Huw Stephens Show. I’m steadily working up to my own opinion, but I also want to hear what it sounds like in the middle of Playlist A.

Kicking off (a deliberate metaphor) with ‘Let It Roll’, it’s pretty clear from the start that Rews have come to play – Pyro is not pulling punches, as the album’s opener unleashes an unashamed barrage of grab you by the balls rock. ‘Rip Up My Heart’ continues in the same vein, and I can’t help but think of the heavier end of Seattle in the late 90’s and the first time Mike Patton turned up for rehearsal – but that might just be me.

Tohill has those gifted vocals that can range from an almost conversational calm to a high pitched TEAR YOU FACE OFF ROAR, then duck back under the covers as if nothing ever happened. ‘Violins’, track three as we march through this debut, is a near perfect example of this, backed to the hilt by the animalesque thunderclap machine that is Collette Williams. And trust me, this combo is something quite phenomenal live. Then ‘Shine’, the first taste of this here album, comes out with its slightly darker claws; there’s something unflinching about this track and I want it to push, push, push… but how the hell am I going to throw myself down the abyss in under three and a half minutes?

Then back to the back catalogue, before signatures and deadlines, with two of the pop-rock-fingers-up-slapped-face anthems that dragged us into this chaos in the first place, as ‘Death Yawn’ and ‘Miss You in the Dark’ run over you in quick succession. Rews have an unnerving knack of penning easy to catch earworms, a phrase I’m borrowing for this review, and are absurdly fun with it in the process. ‘Death Yawn’ is perhaps my favourite example of this here (especially when you paint the picture what, and whom, it was inspired by) although both these tracks have been stuck in my head since I first heard them over eight months ago.

Speaking of which, I am a tad dismayed not to see ‘Can You Feel It?’ on the track listing for Pyro. Despite appropriating one of the world’s most tired clichés (and using another for the title) it’s a crazy fun track – one that is not only backed by a great melody, but that explodes with the raw versatility of what two talented people can do if you just let them run. Anyway, not my album. And if I’m being supercilious with my lexicon, plonk me in front of an upright piano and get your own back. Drunk spiders…

Then perhaps the cream of this particular crop, or at least the bright forward face of Rews to come, as the album’s second single, ‘Your Tears’, jumps out like Fonzi over shark infested water (Google it). A simple message of self empowerment, a rough edged beginning, that pause… then a chorus that will napalm itself to your brain. Awesome. The danger for Rews, as with every rising balloon, is how firm is their grip. But if giving them a ticking clock, an advance that one day needs to balance out, and enough public pressure to make any normal human want to curl into the foetal position, brings out tracks like ‘Your Tears’ then the plan seems to be working.

Not, however, for ‘We Explode’. I am always asking Birmingham Review contributors to balance their reviews, what I call ‘the velvet glove punch’, and this is where I rein in my adulation. Not a fan of this track; from the staccato start, across the store bought chorus, and through the Pumpkins appropriated spiral into discord, this is Pyro’s weak link. To me. But go out and buy the album then you can argue me down, I just know Rews can deliver better and I have nine other tracks at hand to prove it.

‘Shake Shake’ quickly remedies this dip, with a restrained verse leading up into the kind of chorus that makes you… well, the title maps the landscape out quite clearly. A cracking song, again awesome live, and one I suspect may have been lined up with ‘Can You Feel it?’ in the track listing lotto.

And to kiss the whole thing goodbye, another wonderfully promising glimpse of Rews to come – as ‘Running Against the Wall’ builds a glorious intro of percussion and keys, into a joint vocal message of fuck you adversity. Then it just rocks. Something Rews do with an unashamed and infectious success rate.

There you have it – one man’s opinion. We laughed, we cried, we drove recklessly and punched a hole in the wall… but I’m backing this band. Rews have proven themselves time and time again in a live setting and now they’ve nailed an album. I sense greenfields, bloodshed and glory. Plus, Pyro kicked the front teeth out of everything that got played around it on the Huw Stephen’s Show, so job done on that front too.

Mark it on a calendar, carve it on a wall; Friday 3^rd November, in the year of our Lord 2017. Pyro came to pass. And if anything deserves ornate calligraphy in bull’s blood…

‘Your Tears’ – Rews

Pyro, the debut album from Rews, is released via Marshall Records on Friday 3^rd November, For more onRews, including online sales of Pyro and live gig listings, visit www.rewsmusic.com

Rews play at the Birmingham Review Christmas Party (Winter Showcase) on Saturday 25^th November at the Actress & Bishop, 36 Ludgate Hill, Birmingham B3 1EH. For more event info, including links to online tickets sales, click here.

November 2, 2017

BREVIEW: Kioko + Kofi Stone, Ed Geater, Wuzza Mill @ O2 Academy 26.10.17

Words by Giles Logan / Pics by Rob Hadley

Anyone doubting the vitality of Birmingham’s music scene would have done well to spend Thursday evening in the company of 600 clued up and revved up punters at the O2 Academy. Escaping the chilly evening air for a full on sweat session rammed in amongst a multitude of smiling faces, positive energy and good vibes to get down with three of the city’s finest artists.

Opening the gig is impossible human beatboxing singer songwriter, Ed Geater. He is one of those people possessed of an assured likeability that is infectious. It shines through in his music and demeanour, as he seamlessly slips through a range of styles with an affability that invites warmth and affection.

Ed Geater is an artist with a clear vertical trajectory towards success, recent release ‘Symmetry’, which got an outing here, displays a maturity and sound that could easily crack the mainstream. His one-man band live performances are utterly breathtaking.

Without pause, beats and rhythms are sampled and looped building unique melodies over which Geater’s vocals veer from mournful to uplifting with ease. It was a set ripe with new material, is there an album due…? There should be.

Time to get funked up with the smooth hip hop of Kofi Stone. A full live band adds a sharp frisson to Stone’s raps, relaxed and confident his verse trills easily and rapidly with just a hint of Dizzee about it. For several moments throughout the audience nods appreciatively in unison as the laconically soulful beats carry Stone’s ‘real’ stories, delivered with a humble panache. Stand out track was the chilled and just a little melancholic ‘Stories in Pyjamas’, a laid back nod to innocent days.

With Kioko moments away the audience has swelled dramatically; getting served at the bar is a mission best left for the critically masochistic, room two at the O2 Academy is certainly as full as any gig we can remember.

That thrilling electrical buzz of anticipation begins to energise an eager crowd, exacerbating that is the violent bass switched to almost ear drum bursting levels as Kioko’s intro, Led Zeppelin’s ‘Immigrant Song’, rattles senses and the PA. Kioko take to the stage in a blur of riotous fizzed up energy which they incredibly manage to maintain throughout. Trumpeter and backing vocalist, Ewan Whyte, is a rocket fuelled missile of skanking effervescence; flailing arms, stomping feet and quite possibly the world’s most relentless grin. And he still has the breath to blow into his trumpet. Ewan we salute you.

The seven piece Brummie reggae band are having the time of their lives and this transmits effortlessly to a bouncing crowd. Yes, the songs are great, but that connection with their audience is immutable and very special.

At one point the band run through a roll call of city suburbs to establish fan demographic, with each location receiving a loud cheer as they are announced: Harborne, Bearwood, Kings Heath, Northfield and on, but curiously no cheers for Stirchley (where were you?). Participation is irresistible and even the most recalcitrant of punters, yes us, found ourselves getting down low in a crouch, jumping from side to side, waving our hands in the air or grinning at our neighbours following Kioko’s instructions to, “get the fuck down”.

Songs that stuck out for us were new track ‘Mercy’, which was dedicated to Theresa May, the stripped back emotion of ‘Kiss Away’ and the mighty dub rhythm of ‘Kioko Skank’ – Keeeeooooookoooo. Most impressive was an encore of the anthemic ‘Deadly Roots’, with the band joined on stage by Ed Geater and Kofi Stone.

A triumvirate of essential Birmingham musical talent sharing one stage, what a moment. An incredible gig and thrilling testament to the impact a growing number of artists are having in the city.

Wuzza Mill – supporting Kioko @ O2 Academy 26.10.17 / Rob Hadley – Birmingham Review

For more on Wuzza Mill, visit https://soundcloud.com/wuzzamill

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Kofie Stone – supporting Kioko @ O2 Academy 26.10.17 / Rob Hadley – Birmingham Review

For more on Kofi Stone, visit www.soundcloud.com/kofistone

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Ed Geater – supporting Kioko @ O2 Academy 26.10.17 / Rob Hadley – Birmingham Review

For more on Ed Geater, visit www.edgeater.co.uk

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Kioko @ O2 Academy 26.10.17 / Rob Hadley – Birmingham Review

For more on Kioko, visit www.soundcloud.com/kiokomusicuk

For more from the O2 Academy, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybirmingham

For more from DHP Family, visit www.dhpfamily.com

October 24, 2017October 23, 2017

BPREVIEW: Kioko + Ed Geater, Kofi Stone @ O2 Academy 26.10.17

Words by Ed King

On Thursday 26^th October, the Birmingham based ska/reggae collective, Kioko, perform a special home town show at the O2 Academy – with support from Ed Geater and Kofi Stone.

Doors open at 7pm, with tickets priced at £9 (+ booking fee) – as presented by DHP Family. For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

Birmingham reggae… not often you see those two words throw together these days, at least not unless Basil Gabbidon and friends are about to swagger on stage (and Gaw’d love ‘em when they do). But now this moniker can introduce a younger, leaner, smarter looking ensemble, as Kioko have been clawing their way across festival sites and music industry desks since their debut True What They Say EP back in 2014. And the seven piece have accumulated a fair amount of excitement too, bringing a fervent live show to pretty much every stage they grace… even if they do end up shouting the wrong town name to the crowd.

Picked up by BBC Introducing, Kioko have played respectable festivals including Glastonbury, Kendal Calling and Reading. But their support sets that have held some significant impact too – opening for luminaries including Dub Pistols, Lee Scratch Perry and The Wailers. So if they’re looking to build a portfolio of endorsement from the golden era of reggae, there’s only a few more until they get the complete set.

But Thursday 26^th October is their show, with support from some more homespun talent in the form of hip hop producer and emcee Kofi Stone, and the one-man-six-string beat machine that is Ed Geater. And after chewing a diary for a few hours, we’ve landed on ‘STONKING’ as the line up’s official description.

Coming to the 600 capacity room at the O2 Academy, this is a big gig in more ways than one. But the momentum of love and support has been building behind it so we’re fingers crossed for a sell out – the heavens know the line up deserves one. So if you want to guarantee your place to see Kioko headline their homecoming, you might not want to not drag your ticket buying heels for to long.

‘Tired of Lying’ – Kioko

Kioko come to the O2 Academy on Thursday 26^th October, with support from Ed Geater and Kofie Stone – as presented by DHP Family. For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

For more on Kioko, visit www.soundcloud.com/kiokomusicuk

For more on Ed Geater, visit www.edgeater.co.uk

For more on Kofi Stone, visit www.soundcloud.com/kofistone

For more from DHP Family, including all tours and venues, visit www.dhpfamily.com

For more from the O2 Academy, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybirmingham