The plan had been to take a night off, and so I decided to take a break from writing and music reviewing by... going to a gig. Nothing like a busman's holiday for rest and relaxation. Still, this evening's event was a charity bash, and none of the trio of acts on the bill was going to give me a headache or make me tense.
Littlemores' brand of Indie blended with a dollop of Ska, a dash of jazz and a heavy helping of Northern attitude might have been a little shambolic in places, but their kitchen sink dramas were delivered with more than enough enthusiasm to carry them.
Mark Wynn is one of York's hardest-gigging local legends, and is an accomplished purveyor of acoustic blues. Straying off the beaten track to find his covers, which are seamlessly interspersed with his own original numbers, he's got a style that's laid back and natural. Despite suffering from a broken strap and dry throat, tonight's set is dispatched with the effortlessness that's earmed him respect in the region's music scene.
Sheffield's Pocket Satellite headline, combining folk and chiming post-rock pop to create a sound of their own. The songs are structured and layered, and charmingly melodic. To achieve this, there’s an abundance of instrument-swapping and complex two and even three-way harmonies, accompanied by a veritable music shop of instruments, including cello, banjo, violin, xylophone and tambourine in addition to the standard bass, drums and guitars. Even the drummer manages two different instruments. Despite one or two minor technical difficulties, they pull it off magnificently, and I can't remember the last time I saw a band who looked so happy to be playing and to be making music together. It's infectious and I can't help heading out into the cold night with a smile on my face.
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Pocket Satellite on MySpace
Mark Wynn on MySpace
Littlemores on MySpace
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