Live acts

[Hadrian Elephant]

I saw Amp Fiddler over the weekend in Eindhoven and was very impressed. I loved his two initial 12"s on Genuine, but found the LP quite boring. Live he is a different matter, great band, very tight and know how to put a show on.

If you are not a new/70's soul fan it would not be your cup of tea though!

Having really enjoyed the Amp concert I'm keen to go to more gigs again. Any acts that you can recommend as being really fantastic live?

[Martin Lovegrove]

One of the best I've seen in a long time was Groove Collective... they are a NYC Jazz Funk band (about 12 members I think) and I saw them at Jazz Cafe with Fred Wesley and some African singers a while back... absolutely blew me away. Incognito are very good as well.

[john stapleton]

Youngblood Brass Band are over next month - a bit so-so on record (so far anyway) but amazing live. I'm putting them on for the third time - 9 of them, a brass band but with MC and a real hip hop sensibility.

Gravenhurst are really good live, three-piece, folk with feedback.

RSL are probably the best live band I've seen for a very long time - if you liked the 'wesley music' single, it sounds even better live!

And of course Little Barrie, and the Boogaloo Investigators.

[Hooded Claw]

Champion Kickboxer are amazing if you like television/wire style quirky new wave rock (i know i do) probably only playing around Sheffield though.

[vibra]

Perhaps a little obvious, but I think Quantic Soul Orchestra always put on a funky and entertaining live show.

I saw Ty's band earlier this year and really enjoyed them, impressive big sound and they built a strong rapport with the crowd.

And John's right, RSL are very good too.

[john stapleton]

Quote[/b] (vibra @ Oct. 11 2004,12:04)]I saw Ty's band earlier this year and really enjoyed them, impressive big sound and they built a strong rapport with the crowd.

Excellent!
they're on the same bill as Youngblood Brass Band!

[sermad]

Jon Kennedy live is also very good. Same with mark rae. If you like funky/soul/hip hop then you'll really dig it.

[Nick Cope]

Hang on, who are RSL?

[sermad]

manc dance act. Had a massive massive hit with wesley music. Great the first time about a year ago but after hearing it 5million times its so annoying its untrue.

nick - you would despise every moment of it. I would call it soulful/uplifting percussive house.

[Nick Cope]

Ugh. I'll remain ignorant then!

Are there any funky live acts I should be aware of? Are those brass band fellows from abroad, and Ty's band - what's that all about then?

It's funny how so many funky bands are so, so much better live. I've heard stuff from Groove Collective on Cd or vinyl or whatever - bored the crap out of me! But I can totally believe in them being far better live...

[Hadrian Elephant]

Cheers Gents!

I liked Wesley Music (although you are right Serms it, along with Max Sedgley, has been played to death at every bar in the land) and The Mast too, so RSL are definitely on my 'must see' list now.

I've been invited over to Belgium by my mate to see the Youngblood Brass Band play in November. Unfortunately it clashes with the Southport Weekender, so I can't make it. Having heard their records I wasn't that fussed, but I'll have to see if they are coming anywhere near Cambridge soon.

I keep meaning to see Little Barrie but have missed them every single time so far. Oh well.

If anyone is into house/soul I can recommend Peven Everett. His band where amazing when I saw them at the Southport Weekender.

[john stapleton]

Quote[/b] (sermad @ Oct. 11 2004,13:54)]nick - you would despise every moment of it. I would call it soulful/uplifting percussive house.

completely disagree with this - live they're more like a gospel-vocalled spacy Santana. Nothing programmed, all live. Trumpet, guitar, double bass, three vocalists, percussion, drums, and the double whammy of two keyboard players - hammond b-3 and fender rhodes

[Rich Hero]

Quote[/b] (john stapleton @ Oct. 11 2004,14:26)]

Quote[/b] (sermad @ Oct. 11 2004,13:54)]nick - you would despise every moment of it. I would call it soulful/uplifting percussive house.

completely disagree with this - live they're more like a gospel-vocalled spacy Santana. Nothing programmed, all live. Trumpet, guitar, double bass, three vocalists, percussion, drums, and the double whammy of two keyboard players - hammond b-3 and fender rhodes

John, this is the man who insisted to Bongolia and myself that Shakedown, on Inverness Street, is a 'mod' shop...


   

[sermad]

I was talking about the record john - not the live act.

Ty - Ive seen live twice and its cracking. The live drums really lift it.

Hardkandy are great live.

Bonobo are amazing live too.

Ive also heard great things about beatphreak live.

[Nick Cope]

Er, okay, so worth a punt for HF&S then? They might be too expensive for me anyway...