symmetry 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 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

October 4, 2017October 6, 2017

BPREVIEW: Rews + The Hungry Ghosts + Ed Geater @ Actress & Bishop 25.11.17

Words by Ed King / Live pics by Rob Hadley & Paul Reynolds

On Saturday 25^th November, Birmingham Review presents its winter showcase at the Actress & Bishop – a live gig, with Rews + The Hungry Ghosts as joint headliners, alongside Ed Geater in support.

Doors open at 7pm, with tickets priced at £8 (advance) and £10 (on the door) plus the relevant booking fee if you buy through a ticket agent. Tickets can be bought via See Tickets, Eventbrite and Music Glue – click on the name/logo of each outlet for a direct link.

Tickets are also available through the individual artists’ websites: Rews, The Hungry Ghosts, Ed Geater. Or you can buy tickets direct from Birmingham Review – contact us on info@birminghamreview.net to arrange physical ticket sales (p&p may apply).

So that’s what, where and how much sorted. Now a little more on who… Birmingham Review is lucky enough to have covered a whole smorgasbord of music across 2017, from the lava lamp delights of The Mother’s Earth Experiment to the eclectic ensembles of the Post Paradise showcases at Centrala. But there are always those that stick in our ears for a little longer, or to quote one of our headliners: “Like a little Tequila worm that crawls in, gets drunk, and stays in there forever.”

To show how much we love what we love, we’ve invited a few of our new(ish) friends to come and play at what is, in effect, our (non-denominational) Christmas party. And we’re inviting you, for the mere price of a ticket, to come and see a few of the horses we’re backing in the New Year.

You know that friend that always goes on about having seen (INSERT NAME OF BIG BAND) when they played (INSERT NAME OF SMALL VENUE)… well this is your chance to do one better. Three better, in fact. Check out the below for a sneaky peak at the Pyramid Stage headliners of tomorrow. Or even better, come down to the Actress & Bishop on Saturday November 25th and seem then a bit more close and personal… well, up close at least.

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Rews

First spotted playing at The Flapper back in February, where I got to interview the two women who are increasingly being referred to a ‘the next Royal Blood’ and Damien got to cover the gig. Seldom do you get such a good first impression, both on stage and off.

Since then Rews have gone on to storm Glastonbury (one of Mark Radcliffe’s festival highlights), nudge their way onto various national radio stations, be the first UK band signed to Marshall Records and line up an album, the actually eagerly awaited Pyro – out in November. Just don’t tell them I used an adverb. Infectious, awesome and will kick the teeth out of our Christmas party.

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

For more on Rews, visit www.rewsmusic.com

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The Hungry Ghosts

It’s no surprise that WE LOVE THE HUNGRY GHOSTS at Birmingham Review. And to prove it, we’ve covered them here, here, here, and of course here. I have even had to stop myself from writing about their gigs, as my sycophantic rhetoric is in danger of repeating itself. Plus, there’s no better metaphor than a Joe Joseph metaphor and I’m tired of being outdone (I should learn the guitar to balance things out).

But all their praise is deserved; to quote Larry Love from Alabama 3, whom ‘the ghosts’ supported back in 2015, “they’re a rock band. A real fucking rock band”. Which indeed, they are. The next 24 months could be the pivotal point for a band who, and I mean this, could well land somewhere between The Rolling Stones and The White Stripes in both sound and success. All aboard the Slaughterhouse Blues Express, next stop ‘Amerika’…

‘Amerika’ – The Hungry Ghosts

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

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Ed Geater

I first saw Ed Geater at a showcase presented by Call Me Unique (who sadly couldn’t join us on stage, but has promised to make up for it at the bar) – but his name has been buzzing around the Birmingham circuit and beyond for a while. I have never met someone who didn’t enjoy an Ed Geater gig – seriously, if you’re out there get in touch we need to emboss you in bronze.

Master of the loop pedal, a seriously talent songwriter and an overall lovely fella, if some savvy subsidiary doesn’t snap him up soon we’ll eat all the hats. Check out Giles Logan’s great interview with Mr. Geater too, ahead of his headline show Hare & Hounds homecoming hoedown…. and breathe, that we covered back in March.

‘Symmetry’ – 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, Ed Geater. For tickets email info@birminghamreview.net, or click on the following outlets: See Tickets, Eventbrite, Music Glue

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

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