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February 23, 2018

ALBUM: Autonomy – Table Scraps 23.02.18

Words by Ed King / Lead pic by Meg Lavender

Reasons to be cheerful: 1) Winter has fucked off, 2) Winter II has also fucked off, 3) It’s Friday, 4) Table Scraps’ new album, Autonomy, has been set free into the wild.

I’m feeling a little spring in my step, pun intended, so the ten-track-quick-hit-monster that is Autonomy could not have come at a better time. Just when I’m starting to plan my Fear & Loathing summer road trips, Table Scraps have come along with the perfect soundtrack to a bit of windows down anarchy.

Opening with ‘Sick of Me’ (which has a gloriously literal video – see below) the repeated riffs and dual vocals punch through with simplicity and style. Ain’t alliteration ace..? Garage rock as its most gorgeous, the 2 ¼ min opener sets us up for the slightly faster and drum punched ‘Always Right’, before a little dark self (kinda/sorta) deprecation with ‘I’m a Failure’. “I hate everything I do”… surely not. “And it’s all because of you”. Fair enough.

It’s difficult not to review this album track by track, but if you can listen to ‘Takin’ Out the Trash’ without thinking of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with elephantiasis of the kahunas… awesome stuff. Then just past the midway point we get the album’s lead single, ‘My Obsession’, which Birmingham Review saw smash itself into the world at the Hare & Hounds back in April 2017. ‘Fierce and threatening, in a good way, like some clever simile involving Christian Slater and a Magnum .44’ were the words I used then, and I’m sticking with ‘em.

And whilst the first half of Autonomy was full of summer fun and ferocity, like Day #3 of a barbecue hosted by The Beach Boys and the Ramones, the latter half turns a little more dark and twisted. As David Lynch gatecrashes with “some special meat for the flames… sshhh, just eat”.

‘Frankenstein’ leads the charge with some oil drum vocals and good ol’ fashion twisted blues rock, before one of my favourites, ‘Treat Me Like Shit’, stomps out with a heavy drum spinal chord and guitar lead skin from the off. I’m pretty sure there’s a Theremin in there too, but I can’t be certain. ‘More Than You Need Me’ pulls the foot off the gas a tiny, weeny, little bit, but makes up for any perceived loss by stretching it across the longest song on the album – before Autonomy comes to a close with the lighter, almost jangly, ‘Do It All Over Again’. Which is ironically what I did. And again…

A pretty ball out of the park release from one of Birmingham’s best bands (any beyond, but fuck it – a bit of civic pride), Autonomy is a step up from an outfit that didn’t have much room to maneuver in that direction to begin with. And if you didn’t know, Table Scraps will be unleashing this particular beast at an album launch party at the Hare & Hounds on 2^nd March – presented by This Is Tmrw, with support from Yo No Se, The Hungry Ghosts, Captain Süün and a DJ set from Black Mekon.

Otherwise, or even as well as, go out and get yourself a copy of this album – for the tiny rays of sunshine expected this year WILL MEAN LITTLE without it. Fast, ferocious, fun fun FUN, Autonomy is full of summer smashing rock and roll goodness. TVs and toll booths beware.

‘Sick of Me’ – Table Scraps

Table Scraps release their latest album, Autonomy, on Friday 23^rd February – with a nationwide tour, kicking off at the Foodhall in Sheffield (23^rd Feb) and coming to the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath, Birmingham (2^nd Mar). For direct info on the Autonomy album launch party at the Hare and Hounds, click here.

For more on Table Scraps, including full tour dates and online purchase points for Autonomy, visit www.table-scraps.bandcamp.com

For more from This is Tmrw, visit www.thisistmrw.co.uk

For more from the Hare & Hounds (Kings Heath), including full event listing and online ticket sales, visit www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

February 22, 2018February 21, 2018

BPREVIEW: Puma Blue @ The Sunflower Lounge 24.02.18

Words by Ed King / Lead pic by Annie Elliott

On Saturday 24^th February, Puma Blue will be performing live at The Sunflower Lounge – with support from London based producer Lucy Lu, alongside Birmingham singer/songwriter Sam Hollis.

Doors open downstairs at The Sunflower Lounge from 7:30pm, with food and drink available upstairs all day. Tickets to the Puma Blue gig are priced at £7, as presented by Birmingham Promoters. For direct gig information, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

Ending his 6 date UK tour in Birmingham, before heading out to mainland Europe for shows up until the end of April, Puma Blue returns to the second city – following a support slot with Jordan Rakei at the O2 Institute last October. This time around the ‘croonah blu’ will be headlining his gig, joined by producer peer and collaborator Lucy Lu, as well as the Birmingham based singer/songwriter Sam Hollis.

Puma Blue and Lucy Lu recently released their single ‘Fakery’, which was set free into the wild to coincide with the beginning of this tour. But Puma Blue is still out and about promoting his five track debut Swum EP, which was released in June 2017 – showcasing the laid back jazz, alt-pop, and husky vocals that have taken this Londoner around the smoky rooms and jazz clubs of Europe.

It’s still relatively early doors for Puma Blue too, who is already sitting at the top table of London’s new low-fi and jazz artists such as Cosmo Pyke, Eastern Barbers and Ezra Collective. With a respectably far reaching tour circuit keeping him busy until festival season, Saturday 24^th February will be a good opportunity to see Puma Blue before the bigger rooms of Birmingham beckon – not that there’s anything wrong with the larger venues, but you’ve got to love a gig at The Sunflower Lounge for getting up close and personal with an artist on the rise.

But it the meantime, roll back your jacket sleeves, undo the top two buttons on your slightly crumpled shirt, ruffle the mop top, turn down the lights, sit back, pour yourself a drink, and…

‘Want Me’ – Puma Blue

Puma Blue will be performing at The Sunflower Lounge on Saturday 24^thFebruary, with support from Lucy Lu and Sam Hollis. For direct gig information, including venue details and online ticket sales, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com/event/puma-blue

For more on Puma Blue, visit www.soundcloud.com/pumabluemusic

For more on Lucy Lu, visit www.soundcloud.com/lucy-lu-tings

For more on Sam Hollis, visit www.soundcloud.com/samhollis-2

For more from Birmingham Promoters, including further event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.birminghampromoters.com

For more on The Sunflower Lounge, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com

February 21, 2018February 21, 2018

BPREVIEW: Morrissey @ Genting Arena 27.02.18

Words by Eleanor Sutcliffe

Morrissey will be performing at the Genting Arena on the 27^thFebruary, as part of his first full UK tour since 2015 – giving Birmingham fans the opportunity to hear tracks from his latest album, Low in High School.

Doors open from 6pm, with tickets priced from £40.50 – as presented by SJM Concerts/Gigs and Tours. For direct gig information, including venue details and online ticket sales, click here.

Low in High School is Morrissey’s eleventh studio album, and crept its way into the UK charts back when it was released last November. In typical Morrissey fashion, however, it wasn’t the music that received the most attention but the album’s cover art. True, if you want to be noticed then by all means emblazon your latest album with a photo of a child holding a sign exclaiming to axe the monarchy. And an axe. Anyone else might think twice about the consequences of being so outspoken. Not Morrissey.

Which is exactly why his fan base is so loyal. There’s no hiding behind a false persona with this man – what you see is, blatantly, what you get. It’s something that’s carried him through the years from when he fronted the Smiths right up to the blossoming of his solo career. Morrissey‘s fiercely outspoken attitude and carefully crafted aesthetic of a social recluse resonates with fans across the world.

Granted, Morrissey‘s solo career has also been a bit of a roller-coaster. Solo albums such as his debut Viva Hate and the 1994 release Vauxhall and I received unanimous acclaim from even the most hardened critics, while others such as Kill Uncle were described by the musician himself as being saturated with ‘session musician embalming fluid’ and subsequently fell at the very first hurdle.

But endorsed by some of music’s most loyal fans, it’s never a dull moment when you see this man on stage. The live shows themselves can create a touch of controversy here and there with Morrissey‘s personal and political thoughts coming off stage in more than just lyrics, and I’m intrigued to see what he brings to the Genting Arena. A strong portfolio of new tracks and fan favourites, no doubt. But, I mean, anything could happen. It’s Morrissey.

‘Spent the Day in Bed’ – Morrissey (from his latest album, Low in High School)

Morrissey performs at the Genting Arena on Tuesday 27^th February, as presented by SJM Concerts/Gigs and Tours. For direct gig information, including venue details and online ticket sales, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk/whats-on/morrissey

For more on Morrissey, visit www.morrisseyofficial.com

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

For more from the Genting Arena, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.gentingarena.co.uk

February 20, 2018February 19, 2018

BPREVIEW: Lloyd Griffiths in:Undated @ Glee Club (B’ham) 23.02.18

Words by Ed King / Pic by Karla Gowlett

On Friday 23^rd February, Lloyd Griffiths brings his new one man stand up show, in:Undated, to the Glee Club in Birmingham.

Doors are open at the Arcadian Centre venue from between 8:00pm – 8:15pm, with the show starting at 8:30pm. Latecomers won’t be allowed entry once the doors have closed, so don’t dawdle (not that you should ever try and sneak into a stand up show late… fatal error). Tickets are priced at £10 (standard) and £8 (students) – for direct show information, including venue details and online tickets sales, click here.

Known for many things, from being Jack Whitehall’s tour support act to the presenter of Soccer AM on Sky Sports, Lloyd Griffiths has been honing his stand up skills since around 2014 – including a stint on the BBC 1 Comedy Lounge stage. Griffiths’ new solo stand up show, in:Undated, was debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2017, before the comedian’s first nationwide tour brings him to the Glee Club in Birmingham in February 2018.

A fervent Grimsby Town FC supporter and upfront football fanatic, Griffiths also has an impressive roll call as a sports presenter – fronting shows for many major broadcasters, including Sky Sport, BBC, Talksport and Absolute Radio. Griffiths also hosted BBC Three’s Taxi to Training, where he ferried footballers to their training grounds in a single camera shot show filmed from the dashboard. Sounds like a catchy format. Griffiths also recently took over from Helen Chamberlain as the chair of Soccer AM on Sky Sports, one of the more high profile presenter roles for a sports broadcaster. Not bad for a man who cut his TV teeth on Songs of Praise.

But whilst sport can play a significant part in Griffiths material, his in:Undated show goes a little left field for the ‘aspiring goalkeeper’… if you’ll excuse the pun. ‘A show about overcoming the overwhelming’, in:Undated looks to open up the more personal side of this stand up, with material focused on relationships, break ups, the trials and tribulations of dating apps, and comfort eating.

There’s probably a song or two in there as well – as Griffiths is also an accomplished chorister, performing with the choirs of Westminster Abbey, St George’s Chapel and Windsor Castle. Blimey. Is there anything this man can’t do… off the pitch, at least.

Lloyd Griffiths – BBC Comedy Lounge (2014)

Lloyd Griffiths brings his one man stand up show in:Undated to the Glee Club (B’ham) on Friday 23^rd February. For direct show information, including venue details and online ticket sales, visit www.glee.co.uk/performer/lloyd-griffith

For more on Lloyd Griffiths, visit www.lloydgriffith.com

For more from the Glee Club venues, including further event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.glee.co.uk

February 19, 2018

BPREVIEW: The Winslow Boy @ Birmingham REP 21.02 – 03.03.18

Words by Lucy Mounfield / Pics courtesy of the Birmingham REP

On Wednesday 21^st February, a major new revival of Terence Rattigan’s much loved The Winslow Boy will begin its run at the Birmingham REP – being performed at the theatre until Saturday 3^rd March.

A preview performance will be held on Wednesday 21^st at 7.30pm at a reduced price of £10, as well as a matinee at 2pm on Thursday 22^nd. Further matinee’s will be every Saturday and Thursday at 2pm, whilst evening performances will be from 7.30pm Monday to Saturday.

The standard price will be £15 although ticket prices vary depending on the date and time of performance, as well as seat positioning. For direct show information, including a full breakdown of performances and online ticket sales, click here.

Terence Rattigan is recognised as one of the most eminent dramatists of the twentieth century. His plays are regularly being revived, most notably French Without Tears (1936), Flare Path (1942), The Browning Version (1948) and The Deep Blue Sea (1952) – the latter of which was adapted to film in 2011 by Terence Davies, starring Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston. To further mark the centenary of Rattigan’s birth, Trevor Nunn also revived Flare Path in 2011 for the West End to critical acclaim.

But during the 1950s and 60s, Rattigan fell out of favour with the theatre. His depictions of the upper-middle class were seen as old-fashioned and out of place, whilst dramatists such as John Osborne and Harold Pinter were depicting social change and a Britain both divided by class and fatigued by war. Today’s productions of Rattigan’s work highlight his central themes of English reticence, repression, outsiders, and courageous truth seekers.

The Winslow Boy was first produced at the Lyric Theatre, London, on May 3^rd 1946, with notable names such as Angela Baddeley and Emlyn Williams in the cast. The play is written by Terence Rattigan but is based on a true story of a legal case that erupted during the early nineteen-hundreds. A naval cadet at Osborne Naval College is accused and expelled for stealing a five-shilling postal order. The boy’s family, convinced of his innocence, are persuaded to take the case to court to clear the family name and restore their honour.

Rattigan’s sets The Winslow Boy in London prior to the First World War and opens the family to scrutiny. The cadet, Ronnie Winslow, returns home after his stay at the Naval College with a letter of expulsion for stealing. Without a school inspection or trial, he is sentenced for a crime he denies he committed; the Winslow family must seek the truth to restore the order and balance to their home.

The determination of his father in seeking justice is the crux of the narrative and ultimately the undoing of the family’s happiness. And whilst the play may be ‘old-fashioned’ in the period detail and writing style, in an age where ‘fake news’ reigns it is surely an interesting bridge to an epoch when English values and the notion of familial honour could easily be ripped apart by scandal.

Olivier Award winning Rachel Kavanaugh, the former Birmingham REP Artistic Director, will be directing this new production of The Winslow Boy and overseeing a formidable cast including Tessa Peake-Jones (Only Fools and Horses) as the matriarch Grace Winslow, Aden Gillett (House of Elliot) as the father Arthur Winslow, and Timothy Watson (The Archers) as barrister Sir Robert Morton. Joining this fantastic company of actors, and making his stage debut as Ronnie Winslow, is Misha Butler.

The Winslow Boy – an interview with the director and principal cast

The Winslow Boy runs at the Birmingham REP from Wednesday 21^st February to Saturday 3^rd March. For direct show information, including a full breakdown of performances and online ticket sales, visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/the-winslow-boy

For more from the Birmingham REP, including full event listings and online ticket sales, visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk