Penny Black Music
Joe Gideon and the Shark : Albany, London, 11/10/2007
Author: Benjamin Howarth
Published: 01/11/2007
…I have seen Joe Gideon and the Shark play five times this year, and I am firmly convinced that they are a special find. Having now dragged several of my friends along to see them, and been rewarded with thanks rather than bored shrugs, I'm confident of their appeal. __The obvious focal point is 'the Shark'. She is an awesome drummer - sharp, stark, rhythmic and fluent. But she is all those things while also playing piano with the other hand, or strumming a guitar and playing drums with the pedals. Finding this all a bit boring, she'll occasionally chip in with backing vocals as well. __When I first saw the band, this rather remarkable performance was all I focused on, though it was enough to make me promise to see them again at the earliest opportunity (which presented itself unrepentantly when they jumped up on stage to support Sons and Daughters!). __Having seen them five times, the novelty has been worn over by the quality of the songs. Joe Gideon has a powerful deep voice which well suits these intense, blues rock songs. Not deliberately catchy, they nevertheless stick in the head. Closing the set, 'Anything You Love That Much, You Will See Again' is the band's defining song. Slow, intense and simple - it is a great song, fit for venues far more glamorous than the cellar of a north-London pub. __Given the huge round of applause, it was a bit weird to suddenly realise that, no, they weren't the headliners…
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
'Drowned in Sound' write about JG&tS
How to describe London-based duo Joe Gideon & The Shark without you being in the same room as me… it's tough, for sure. Without waving hands and pulling shapes it's tough to convey what this music can – and usually does – do to a body exposed to it; it's rough, ragged, blues in its veins. It's dark, atmospheric, oddball and surreal; it's on your doorstep and in your airspace, alien yet talking the same language about the same ol' trials and tribulations of a life lived. Uppers and downers: expected and accepted... When DiS caught them earlier this year we needed them for our DiScover Club. And we got them, too.
Joe Gideon & The Shark are sure to appeal to fans of Lift To Experience as their blues-laced alt-country narratives are delivered with engrossing drama…
www.drownedinsound.com
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Joe Gideon & The Shark supporting Scout Niblett 21.05.07 @ Bush Hall, London
Joe Gideon and The Shark are the main support, and never manage to disappoint. Their ability, as a duo, to create ballads of epic proportions is a feat of musical mastery and has gained them quite a following. Their colossal sound fills the air, sometimes its magnitude is literally astonishing.
Maps Magazine
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Le Jardin Botanique, Bruxelles, April 15th 2007
Supporting Archie Bronson Outfit.
An unknown group, with an unusual name, Joe Gideon and The Shark proves to be one of the best opening acts i've seen. During their set of half a dozen songs, this mixed duo, a la White Stripes have the audience in their pockets. The pieces often begin with hypnotic arpeggios be Gideon, 'un sympathique barbu', with a warm and serious voice, who speaks more than sings in the manner of Lou Reed, or even Eddie Vedder, 'I'm Open' period. Then the music picks up, the rhythm accelerates, the melody becomes more rock 'n roll, and Gideon starts to sing. It's at this time that his sister, Viva (or the Shark), truly enters the scene. A brunette with long hair and a fringe, Viva mostly plays two instruments at the same time: The drums always, with the guitar or keyboard. She also sings the choruses, and probably makes the coffee. Impressive. In conclusion this is an excellent and extremely promising group, whose music at times recalls the Velvet Underground. I'm on their mailing list and i've asked them to come to Paris.....We shall see...
Emanuelle Chirache www.bside-rock.com
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Joe Gideon & The Shark supporting Archie Bronson Oufit , Scala Kings Cross 21.03.2007
Tonight's support Joe Gideon and The Shark are a brother/sister duo from London, formerly of Bikini Atoll. Viva possesses a multitude of musical talents, including the capacity to play drums, guitar, piano, eight track, glockenspiel and sing pretty much simultaneously. (You have to see it to believe it). Fronting this seeming one woman band is Joe with his guitar and gravely voice. The lyrics tell dark and mesmerising stories set to heavy but melodic instrumentation. Quite unlike any performance I have ever seen, these two pull off an excellent, genuine and rich sound.
Nancy Roxx
God is in the TV (www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk)
NME (http://www.nme.com/reviews/7330)