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March 7, 2017March 6, 2017

BREVIEW: Band of Horses @ O2 Institute 20.02.18

Words by Damien Russell / Pics by Reuben Penny

I’d largely forgotten what it was like to be so focused on a band that you let your pint get warm. Especially at what is rapidly approaching six quid a time.

I walked into the Band of Horses gig with an open mind, having decided to take my friend whose birthday it was not knowing that she loved Band of Horses. A happy accident, but one that left with a 40-minute drive and a lot of waxing lyrical about how good they are. I try not to believe any kind of hype and make my own mind up; not having seen Band of Horses before, I nodded and smiled in all the right places but would leave it to the band to do the real talking.

The evening seemed a bit flat on the run up to the main event; slow to get people in, quite a subdued support band, sedate lighting. So when Band of Horses came on and launched into a slow number, I wasn’t holding out much hope.

Sometimes it’s good to be wrong.

Band of Horses finished the first half of what turned out to be called ‘Dull Times/The Moon’ (you got me guys) and then launched into the second half which opened the set proper. And it was a launch. They hit the audience with song after song for 30 minutes plus, without even stopping to let a full round of applause ring out and with the instrument changes they throw in. That’s no mean feat.

I was impressed. You may be able to tell. That level of polish and co-ordination takes a lot of work and a lot of gigs to get right; it’s clear that while Band of Horses might not be making leaps in innovation musically, they are a professional and dedicated outfit.

They also have a new album to promote, Why Are You OK, but interspersed the set well with classics; all the new material was consolidated into the first half of the set, leaving the second half for crowd pleasers. A reward for being patient with the new material. And I don’t feel like we needed it. I think Why Are You OK has some strong songs on it – the band playing them fresh on this tour, and the few gigs they did last year, did them proud.

The first half of the set had some great dynamic shifts too, with the straight through approach feeling more like a stage show than a race to the end. We had ‘Solemn Oath’, ‘Casual Party’, ‘Country Teen’ and ‘Throw My Mess’ off the new record, side by side with ‘The Great Salt Lake’, ‘Marry Song’, ‘Laredo’ and more from the back catalogue. I couldn’t help feeling it drop off a bit about halfway though.

By the time ‘In A Drawer’ was performed, the last song they played off the new album, things had settled down a bit and lost a little momentum. Still high quality material, just that compared to the grand entrance the peak had passed and what I would normally expect to be a big build up to the real big crowd pleasers, was more of a stroll.

But the crowd pleasers are just that and left everyone on a high, with the live rendition of ‘Is There A Ghost’ being especially good. I had heard rumours Band of Horses were not doing encores for some of the gigs on this tour and I wondered if they would for us. But they didn’t disappoint; ‘The Funeral’ ended the set, and with a roaring applause the evening.

They look like truckers, they play like rockers and they put a setlist together well. But the lull in the middle was shame and if I’m honest, they’ve stayed true to form and kept to their own brand of Southern Rock without too much change or re-invention.

Overall, Band of Horses came over as a relaxed group who put on a good show; I would absolutely recommend seeing them if you ever get the chance.

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For more on Band of Horses, visit www.bandofhorses.com

For more from the O2 Institute, including full event listing and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2institutebirmingham

For more from SJM Concerts/Gigs and Tours, visit www.gigsandtours.com

March 6, 2017March 6, 2017

BPREVIEW: The Pigeon Detectives @ O2 Institute 08.03.17

Words by Michelle Martin

Fresh off the release of their fifth studio album, Broken Glances, The Pigeon Detectives are landing in Birmingham for a live show on March 8^th at the O2 Institute. Their appearance will be supported by Franklin and AutoPilot.

Doors open at 7pm and tickets are prices at £15.00 (excluding fees), as presented by Birmingham Promoters. For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

The Pigeon Detectives are made up of lead vocals Matt Bowman, Oliver Main and Ryan Wilson on guitar, Dave Best on bass and Jimmi Naylor on drums.

The Rothwell based band formed in 2004 and burst onto the indie rock scene three years later with the release of their debut album, Wait for Me. It peaked at number three in the UK Top 40 Charts, reaching Gold status. That same year The Pigeon Detectives were nominated for Best New Act at the Q Awards and toured with Kaiser Chiefs on their Manchester and London dates.

In 2008 The Pigeon Detectives performed to over 15,000 fans in two days at Leeds Millennium Square, shortly before the release of their second album, Emergency. The album’s lead single, This is an Emergency, reached No. 14 in the UK Singles Chart.

That same year the band had a demanding schedule of festival appearances, including V Festival, T in the Park and Glastonbury Festival, culminating in a special performance at Alexandra Palace and a sold out UK and Ireland tour to conclude their Emergency promotion.

The Pigeon Detectives achieved their third consecutive Top 40 album with Up, Guards and at ‘Em! In 2011, and supported this with two successful UK tours and an appearance at Reading and Leeds Festival. Their fourth album, We Met at Sea, took the five piece back to their roots, opting to record at Cottage Road Studios in their hometown and touring in northern Europe and Russia.

Their latest record, Broken Glances, was released February 24^th 2017 – you can read my Birmingham Review of Broken Glances here.

The Pigeon Detectives return to Birmingham on 8^th March, showcasing their latest effort alongside a decade long back catalogue. Check out the double A side release from Broken Glances below:

‘Lose Control’ – The Pigeon Detectives

‘Wolves’ – The Pigeon Detectives

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The Pigeon Detectives will be playing at the O2 Institute on 8^th March, as presented by Birmingham Promoters. For direct gig info and online ticket sales, click here.

The Pigeon Detectives released Broken Glances on Friday 24^th February, out via Dance to the Radio. For more on The Pigeon Detectives, visit www.thepigeondetectives.com

For more on Dance to the Radio, visit www.dancetotheradio.com

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For more from the O2 Institute, including a full event programme and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2institutebirmingham

For more from Birmingham Promoters, visit www.birminghampromoters.com

February 24, 2017March 6, 2017

ALBUM: Broken Glances – The Pigeon Detectives

The Pigeon Detectives will be playing at the O2 Institute on 8th March, as presented by Birmingham Promoters. For direct gig info and online ticket sales, click here.

Words by Michelle Martin

In all seriousness… where have ten years gone?

It’s been a surprising decade since Wait for Me, The Pigeon Detectives’ platinum-selling debut album. But hitting double figures in the game clearly hasn’t stopped the indie five piece from Rothwell. After a four year break of flying around the festival circuit and UK venues, they’re back with their fifth studio album, Broken Glances, available through Dance to Radio Records from February 24^th.

A slicker, much evolved combination of vocals, synths and drums, Broken Glances is different from their previous work. The Pigeon Detectives‘ new sound is welcoming. However, I’m having overall mixed feelings about Broken Glances – it seems as if two albums had been merged into one.

The smooth, mature sound from opening track ‘Wolves’ makes you immediately question whether it’s a Pigeon Detectives’ record, with a promising new sound and possible next step for the group. The effects of producer Richard Formby appeared to have rubbed off on the band, with beautiful floaty vocals from lead singer Matt Bowman on ‘Munro’.

‘Falling in Love’ and ‘Sounding the Alarm’ are also standouts from the album – I’m unashamedly admitting to overplaying these tracks – with a stronger assortment of pulsating synths, soothing piano melodies and soft echo vocals. ‘Falling in Love’ is a far cry from the album tracks on Wait for Me and Emergency.

When ‘Stay with Me’ bombarded my headphones with strong drones of electronic and guitars, I thought a snippet from a Daft Punk demo has slipped in before it switched to an uplifting indie rock number. Although you know a song is good when it gets you up and commencing a new dance number in your bedroom.

‘Lose Control’ felt displaced, along with ‘Postcards’ and ‘Change my World’ – the final tracks on the album, which appeared to have very similar guitar intros. I admit to feeling uninterested; ‘Lose Control’ obliterating my ears with a bass heavy track and strong dance elements, which felt the most out of place.

Although prominently stronger elements are featured on the album, The Pigeon Detectives are arguably struggling to find their sound on Broken Glances. Moving in the right direction, just perhaps a more solid fluidity is required.

‘Enemy Lines’ – The Pigeon Detectives

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The Pigeon Detectives release Broken Glances on Friday 24^th February, out via Dance to the Radio. For more on The Pigeon Detectives, visit www.thepigeondetectives.com

For more on Dance to the Radio, visit www.dancetotheradio.com

February 22, 2017

BREVIEW: Tegan and Sara @ O2 Institute 18.02.17

Words by Helen Knott / Pics by Eleanor Sutcliffe

It can be hard for artists to change musical direction. Perhaps some don’t have the talent or imagination to reinvent themselves… not everyone is Bowie. Maybe others are concerned about alienating a fan base they’ve worked hard for years to develop.

So it was nothing if not a brave move for Tegan and Sara to ditch the earnest indie-rock that had earned them a solidly successful career for over a decade. Teaming up with Greg Kurstin, who last week was named Producer of the Year at the Grammy Awards (not just for his work with Tegan and Sara, but also, more famously, Adele) helped them move into the more mainstream realm of 80s inspired synth pop.

It’s a move that has paid off, helping Tegan and Sara gain critical and commercial success for their last two albums Heartthrob and Love You to Death. Tonight’s show is the penultimate in a month-long European tour in some of the biggest venues they’ve visited to date. Still, it does pose a problem for their live show: how do you create a cohesive performance with incohesive material?

Set opener ‘Back in Your Head’ is a statement of intent on that score. It’s one of their most famous tracks off The Con, which is probably their best pre-pop album. Normally an introspective, though pacey piano-led track, tonight it’s reworked into an electro-pop belter. And it fits seamlessly in with the pop.

Other re-workings have mixed success. ‘Alligator’, one of the set highlights, easily works in the synth pop style – even back on 2009 album Sainthood the sisters knew how to pen a pop classic. On the other hand, ‘Northshore’, also from Sainthood, is an ill-conceived, souped-up mess.

In the main, the set sticks to Tegan and Sara’s two most recent albums. However, it’s said that Taylor Swift was influenced by Heartthrob and songs such as ‘How Come You Don’t Want Me’ are very Swift-esque. When the tracks are good, it’s not unreasonable to mention Tegan and Sara alongside such pop heavyweights; ‘Closer’ and ‘Boyfriend’, tonight’s closing two tracks, are brilliantly witty and catchy as hell.

A three track acoustic segment of songs from The Con celebrates the album’s tenth anniversary. It feels like a small concession to appease older fans, who would probably like to be hearing a little less synth pop. It gives everyone else the chance to catch their breath from the dancing.

If tonight’s audience is anything to go by, the change in direction has helped the twins to reach out to a new generation of young fans. It makes sense that their music now appeals to younger people. Tegan and Sara might be in their mid-30s, but the subject matter of their songs remains stubbornly adolescent, concentrating on subjects like break-ups and that hot new person you fancy, though always with an interesting sideways twist.

It all adds up to a fun, if ultimately unfulfilling evening. I’d like to hear Tegan and Sara’s music reflect the off-kilter world of their lyrics – it all sounds a little too safe. And they may make a good fist of reworking their old songs into their new style, but that does mean that things end up a little samey and one-note.

As the years go by and their career continues the big question will be: can Tegan and Sara reinvent themselves again?

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For more on Tegan and Sara, visit www.teganandsara.com

For more from the O2 Institute, including full event listing and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2institutebirmingham

For more from Live Nation, visit www.livenation.co.uk

February 17, 2017

BPREVIEW: Band of Horses @ O2 Institute 20.02.18

Words by Damien Russell

On the 20^th of February, Band of Horses will be performing at the O2 Institute – playing in Birmingham as part of 7 UK/Ireland dates on their international tour.

Doors will be opening at 19:00 and tickets are £25.75 (plus booking fees) as presented by SJM Concerts. For direct gig info, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

For those of you not already familiar with Band of Horses there’s a fair amount of catching up to do. The band formed in 2004 and in their 13 years have had 6 studio albums and 1 Grammy nomination. They have also had 8 line-up changes, although band leader Ben Bridwell has remained constant throughout.

Band of Horses hit the ground running with their first album Everything All The Time, a minor hit that charted internationally – even in Scandinavia, where it found the lower reaches of both Sweden and Norway’s national album charts. The band’s debut single, ‘The Funeral’, has been used in numerous television series, films, video games, and advertisements.

Their successes continued and their third album, Infinite Arms, was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Alternative Album category. The LP also and featured in the Best Albums of 2010 lists from Q Magazine (#21), NPR Listeners (#15), Filter Magazine (#10) and Paste Magazine (#14). The song ‘Laredo’ was placed at No28 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 50 songs of 2010.

Band of Horses’ sixth and latest album, Why Are You OK, was released in June 2016 and brings the band back to a fuller sound. In an interview with Gigwise.com, Ben Bridwell said; “I wanted to pore over it and explore some more sincere themes, instead of speaking in riddles so no one knows what I’m talking about. That was fuelling the fire and that takes time.”

For a pre-gig taster, check out Band of Horses’ latest single, ‘Solemn Oath’ – released on June 10th 2016.

Band of Horses perform at the O2 Institute on Monday 20^th February, as presented SJM Concerts. For direct gig info and online tickets sales, click here.

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For more on Band of Horses, visit www.bandofhorses.com

For more from the O2 Institute, including full event listing and online ticket sales, visit www.academymusicgroup.com/o2institutebirmingham

For more from SJM Concerts/Gigs and Tours, visit www.gigsandtours.com