Going Deaf For A Fortnight
As someone who was once known as "Mr Gig" this idea appeals although I had totally forgotten about it until the day after it had started. Having been to three gigs over the previous two days though I figured I might as well give it a go.
I'm all for venturing out to see unknown bands in the cities smaller venues. My mate Gary is usually up for it, shifts permitting, and it's regularly a case of a phone call that goes along the lines of:
"Hi Gary, fancy going to see XXXX tonight"
"Yeah sure, what are they like?"
"I have absolutely no idea"
"Sounds cool, see you at 8.30"
Saturday 6th October
The Dead Fish at The Spotted Dog, Bordesley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham – Free
http://www.myspace.com/devaneys
The Dead Fish display a nonchalant attitude to there craft. The bass player only has three strings and there's this sense that they don't really care a great deal about what they are doing. This adds to their impact though as the songs are engaging and well delivered. They tend towards repetitive grooves with few lyrics. One song features the refrain "walking down the corridor" delivered in various ways. That's all it needs as the music plods on behind drawing the listener along. Its not mesmerising hypnotic drones, more a measured reluctance to step outside a groove once its been established and to explore it. It's not jamming either. Whilst the band may look detached the songs are tight. Reference points that I confirmed with a few people after the set include Gang of Four and The Fall. They've got Joy Division as their top friend on Myspace and Paul from Transmission, Birmingham's excellent Joy Division tribute band said he enjoyed them as much as I did.
There's a keyboard and some effects/samples, bass, guitar and drums. I'm sure they had another guitarist last time. This is one of the most interesting bands I have seen in Birmingham for a while.
With another gig to go to across town I couldn't stick around for GRANDSCOPE.
DC Fontana – The Yard Bird, Centenary Square, Birmingham, £3
When I moved to Birmingham in 1992 I put up and advert in the Student Union. It said "Do you want a degree or a record deal?" and went on to list Spacemen3 as the primary influence for the band that I was hoping to get together.
One of the people that replied to that advert was Scott Riley. We formed a band, played a few gigs, split up and didn't speak to each other for years. Scott left university so he could record an album with Sonic Boom (founder of Spacemen 3) and go on several North American tours with Sonic and The Brain Jonestown Massacre. I got two degrees.
Through the magic of Myspace I got back I touch with Scott earlier this year and was delighted to hear that he's still into his music as much as ever. As well as recording his own laidback stuff with a mod feel http://www.myspace.com/soulof66
Scott plays Hammond Organ with DC Fontana http://www.myspace.com/dcfontana
The band play a great set of faithful and reworked soul/mod covers that go down a storm at New Untouchables events. Apparently they also play Scott's track "Take Your Time" from the Spectrum album High Lows and Heavenly Blows (Silvertone, 1994) that he recorded with Sonic Boom but I have yet to hear it. Scott's contribution is by far the best track on that album and the reworking of it with a mod/jazz vibe will doubtless be first class. DC Fontana were far better tonight than the other time I saw them and that's largely down to a new singer. The band were clearly enjoying themselves and so were the audience.
I had to say my goodbyes to Scott between tracks but I'm sure the band will be rebooked for another gig at The Yard Bird soon and I will certainly be going along.