Grand Architects

Telfords Warehouse, Chester, 18/7/08.

A few weeks ago when I was up in Liverpool to see the Sound Movement, I was speaking with Natalie and Nina. Nina told me that she would be playing Telfords in a few weeks so I promised her I'd be there.

I turned up at Telfords just before 9 as it was free before then. Ok I'm a cheapskate. It appeared that GA were the only band on though.

I bought a drink and had a wander round. A guy came up to me and asked if he knew me from somewhere and was I in a band, yeah 30 years ago mate!!. His name was Barry and was from a local band called Frank, must check them out. At about 9.15 I went down to the stage area. Nina spotted me and came over to say hi, she told me they would be starting at about nine thirty.

Grand Architects are a four piece led by Nina on acoustic and electric guitar and vocals. They play a sort of upbeat rockabilly folk style if that makes sense. It is very catchy though. To me it seems as though there four very different characters here. Good musicians too though a special mention to the bass player who is excellent. They seem to gel together well from four corners .

I enjoyed them though.

John & Jehn

Night & Day, Manchester, 16/7/08.

As I have previously shouted I love the album by this French duo. When I spotted they were playing the Night & Day I just had to go and see them. They were third on a bill of four bands, headlining were 'Cut of your hands' a band I know about but Na!! Two other bands I didn't know but I was there just to see J&J basically. Got to the N&D to find out that J&J were on third of the four bands playing. I bought a drink and went over to stand by the piano. Whilst fiddling around with my camera as the first band came on, who were, well, crap. I dropped my camera only for it to crack against the corner of the piano. After plenty of swearing and pressing of buttons, it's bust!!

I had to opt for plan b, my shitty phone camera. The second band on weren't much either, another four piece guitar band. Though I will add here the guitarist who had all the posses and moves was able to back it with his musicianship. Band weren't up to much though.

John and Jehn started setting up. John plays guitar on stage left with Jen to the right on keys. To my surprise she also plays some songs on bass. This was very good too as she and John played at and against each other when she came out from behind her keyboard. There was a very good chemistry between them too which added to the show. When they were going to play '20 L 07' John announced that he normally play's this wearing his sunglasses, but couldn't find his. He asked if anyone had a pair he could borrow. Being at the front of a very small crowd I handed John my sunglasses.

I absolutely love this pair. I shouted about their album a week or so ago and having now seen them live I am even more entranced. Yeah ok, Jehn's cute but I fell in love with the album before.........

With my camera broke and having to take pics with my not very good phone. I spotted a guy taking photos who looked very professional. At the end I went up and asked if he didn't mind sending me a few of his shots. So a thank you too Martin for the very good b/w photos posted here.

Laura Veirs

Telfords Warehouse, Chester, 14/6/08.

Wasn't sure whether I was going to go to this. I was going to see how my eye felt on the day. Though to miss Laura playing in Chester was an opportunity not to be missed, so I think I always knew the answer.

My friend Tim had asked me get him and his girlfriend Bev tickets too. I'd put a couple of Laura's tracks on a mix tape I'd done for him (Yeah an actual C90 tape!!). He'd liked them and when I told him LV would be playing in Chester he decided to come along, even though she was only solo acoustic.

A bit complicated as they were away on holiday until the day of the gig. I duly got the tickets and posted them to Bev's address, hoping they would get them ok.
I got to Telfords about 7:30 and walked straight in. There were quite a few people there though. They had put out the dreaded seating too, so I bought a drink and took up my customary position on stood on the right. There was no sigh of Tim and after a while I started to wonder whether he'd got the tickets ok.

At about 8:10 the support came on 'Led to Sea' basically a girl called Alex and her viola and looping pedals. I wasn't sure about her, moderately entertaining I suppose. Halfway through her set Tim and Bev turned up.

Laura came on at just gone 9 and opened with a super version of 'Wandering Kind'. It was a very different set than the Night & Day gig earlier in the year. She played more of 'Meteors' than 'Saltbreakers' I think. At the back end of the set she played a bunch of traditional country/folk/blues numbers. Similar to Kristin's 'Murder Mystery and Goodnight' which I really enjoyed. Some she played with a banjo too. She brought Alex out to help with these numbers on viola as well which added to them very well.

Great to see LV playing so close to home excellent as usual too, though I don't think Tim was too enamoured, Philistine!

Album shout - John & Jehn

Got hold of this quite a few weeks ago but it was during a period of mass acquisitions. Having waded my way through several albums this has slowly risen to the top.

John and Jehn are a French duo who work out of London.

Imagine if The Kills were from Paris and Marseilles and had spent most of their life listening to the Velvets. They are difficult to classify but off the cuff that's the best I can can come up with.

They have that typical French eccentricity that is either fascinating or annoying. In this case the former rules.

The album comes as two discs, side John and side Jehn. They share vocal duties so it's not clear if each side is written by either member. Each side contains five songs, which makes it a fairly short album. This works in it's favour I think as it leaves you wanting more.

As I say it's difficult to classify their sound, some is dark and fuzzy other songs upbeat and quirky. It is a compelling little item though.

http://www.myspace.com/johnjehn

An Eye for a gig.

I have a noticeable lack gigs at the mo. My eye problem has put a slight retreat on gigs. That said there is not much about at the moment. Festival season has started so most bands are gearing up for the circuit . It’s not looking too bad for Sept/Oct but August is pretty barren.
I have two shows next week though but whether I do these is debateable. Though to miss Laura Veirs in Chester will be very disappointing, but my health and general well being must come first.

I go in for my eye operation on Thurs so a lot will depend on how it goes and how I feel generally. I’m starting to feel a bit apprehensive now, though I know there is nothing I can do to influence the outcome. That doesn’t make it any easier though. Were it a straightforward lens replacement then I’d probably be ok but there is the possibility of complications with this as they don’t know how the eye is going to react when they ‘go in’.
Ah well come Thurs teatime it should all be over.

Had a nice surprise in the post today though. As a subscriber to Kristin’s Cash Music project every few months I get a little present sent through, today I received three lovely prints. These are pictures taken by K herself and she is using them as the cover art for the song she records each month.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

A bit of a departure from normal service here, though no agenda was ever set in stone.

I’m going to do a book review.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mosin Hamed.
A story of a well educated Pakistani and his conversation with an American tourist/business man at a cafe in Lahore.
It’s told in monologue and he talks of his education at a top quality American institution and eventual employment in a highly regarded city firm. Between which he holidays in Greece with fellow students and falls under the spell of a beautiful charismatic girl called Erica.

He tells of how he embraces the American ideal, his employers pleasure and regard for his work ethic. He becomes accustomed to the lifestyle his wage can afford, at still a young age. His relationship with Erica is always somewhat distant as she is still mourning the death of her one true love and only once do they consummate their relationship. It becomes apparent she is an emotionally damaged character but his love for her never wanes.

Then 9/11, he finds himself at odds with his loyalties, his reaction to the events and impending war at home between Pakistan and India. He is suddenly shaken by a conversation with a client in Chile that causes him to realize he’s been led to work to bring down his own kind, a ‘janissary’ as he is told. His work suffers as he starts to despise the world he has adopted. Allied to the fact Erica has been inducted to a mental institution and he feels more distant from her than ever.
The inevitable loss of his job due to this emotional debate and a longing to go back to his family and homeland bring him back to Lahore.

He endeavours in his own mind to exact his revenge on America. He gets a job as a lecturer at Lahore university where he infuses his students with his fundamentalism. Though he claims not to be a terrorist himself many of his students have become active. Thought provoking.

This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in ages. It’s not a long book about 200 pages so is quite a quick read, even for me. I found it compelling and difficult to put down. It's well writen and you find yourself understanding the character and to me an empathy with his emotions.

A really good read.