Covered In Bees

Lethal Bizzle + Bashy + Blah Blah Blah, Leeds Rio’s, 29/04/08

It’s always fun reading back the little notes I drunkenly text myself during gigs. Here’s my summary of Blah Blah Blah:

“New wave Housemartins. Young Knives but black. Jamiroquai but not a cunt. Then it hit me – Ian Dury. The accent, the rhymes, a mild funk”

Not quite sure where Jamiroquai came from, but BBB (it was an evening of bees) were a great little opener. Songs that criticise London twats have been done a million times and often descend into lame self-parody, but this collection of tunes were bloody catchy. Death To The Indie Disco has one of the best uses of “wankers” in any song you’ll ever hear.

Bashy was there to warm up the crowd, and we were fucking boiling by the end. I read a review elsewhere on the net that dismissed him for shouting over 30 second clips of random songs...this person clearly wouldn’t know gig atmosphere if it bit him on the arse. Bashy was starting up a riot. Down amongst the crowd, inspiring dance-offs and singalongs, it got us buzzing for the main event.

Bizzle is a charmer. The crowd (young, mixed, Skins) were his before he stormed the stage. The beats were immense, his flow unstoppable. Every track was a hands-in-the-air highlight. Police On My Back, Bizzle Bizzle, Pow, Uh-Oh, Fire...he was full of love for the people and we gave plenty back. Another set that went way too quickly.

And a set that is hard to describe, because Bizzle transcends the genres. A tight live show that could match any rock gig for levels of intensity, displaying bucketloads of charm and accessibility that is often lacking from live hip hop acts. He was constantly on the verge of diving into the crowd, who were equally close to spilling on to the stage. Bizzle is one of the UK’s best showmen who compromises nothing. Potentially life-changing.

Kebab Watch – best chips and cheese in Yorkshire, hands down.

I Heart Maccabees

The Maccabees + Josh Weller, Leeds Cockpit, 25/04/08

Another Leeds gig, another vocally proud Yorkshire crowd, this time belting out Maccabee-related terrace anthems, quickly turning to jeers when an allegiance to Fulham was outed. It’s what you go to shows for, really. And the band well work off that endless enthusiasm.

Opening act Josh Weller looked petrified – mainly due to his wiry afro pointing straight to the ceiling. All Young-Knives tweed worn scandalously tight (a cry of “get your cock out” is met with nervous laughter and the response “I wouldn’t want to disappoint you”) Weller provided a suitable set of abstract indie pop. Circus sounded like, well, the circus, strutting along with a fairground bass line. His “stolen band” (all looking like they come from three very different groups) worked well off the troubadour, with the keyboard player manically brandishing a percussive pineapple for most of the set.

For me, Colour It In was one of the little miracles of last year. Heartbreaking vocals delivered with child-like simplicity, it was naive without being irritating, unsure but not unknowing. Live, there can only be more bounce to the proceedings. Newie You’ll Do As Your Told (the first signs of attitude) went straight into X Ray and Lego. Key to an indie anthem – guitar line you can sing along to. Balls to the lyrics, the melody has to stick in your head. And they’ve got a load of them.

The new material was no massive departure, but it sat alongside and complemented the older tracks with ease. Toothpaste Kisses got arms around shoulders. Latchmere closed the main set, and the already up-for-it audience lost the last of their inhibitions. The gig went way too quickly. Back they came back on for some humble thank-yous, a breezy new song that would be a good closer to the sophomore album, and a perfect version of First Love to see off the night. Everything made sense, there was a clarity in the air that refused to be dampened by overpriced vodka-based drinks.

Kebab Watch – the first time I’ve had a Donner on a plate, and eaten it with proper cutlery. At 3am. In a curry house. Decent mayonnaise, unnecessary salad.