Independent Venue Week – a week-long celebration/awareness
raising exercise focusing on those small venues run week in, week out by people
dedicated to bringing live music by new, up and coming, and occasionally established
bands to audiences around the country. Tonight is the last of these seven
nights and I’m at The Forum Music Centre in Darlington, a fantastic place that
not only promotes live music but has rehearsal and recording rooms, a café/bar,
film nights, comedy nights and a music school.
First up is Danny Devon, the only artist tonight that I’ve
seen before. Once described as a council estate Bob Dylan, Devon effortlessly
blends acoustic guitar, gritty voice, a country/folky/bluesy sound with an attitude
that can swing from positive and upbeat to despair and anger at modern day
attitudes and situations. Not only is Danny Devon first on stage the majority
of his songs tonight are new, most with just working titles, so it’s testament
to Devon’s talent and ability that he creates an atmosphere that hooks you in and makes
you want to listen.
Danny Devon Facebook.
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| Danny Devon |
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| Danny Devon |
James Leonard Hewitson & The Relevant People deliver a
short but perfect set of fuzzy guitar driven punky pop. Addictive, foot tapping
tunes. A modern take on 80’s Britpop with clever, often witty lyrics. ‘Experience
Song’ bounces along with that almost boppy, singalong Kings Of Leon beat and
infectiously catchy chorus. ‘Shy Of Hard Work’ – faster, heavier, with jangly
guitar riffs a constant background feature. ‘The Screen’ - full on hypnotic
beat overlaid with Mark E Smith type vocals before erupting into a thrashy, heavy,
monotonous (but far from boring) guitar driven chorus of “Just keep looking at the screen. Just keep
looking at the screen”. Sadly it’s a seated venue because James Hewitson &
The Relevant People play songs you should be bouncing around to. It’s
impossible to stay still, feet are tapping and beats beaten out on tables and
knees. ‘Care Less, Love Less’ – “Just because you care less, doesn’t mean that
you are careless.” Perfect indie pop with hints of Mary Chain guitars. It’s
a short, six song, set but it’s enough to make sure I’ll be there next time
this lot play a local gig.
Listen.
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| James Leonard Hewitson |
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James Leonard Hewitson
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Original headliners The Jar Family couldn’t play tonight but
thankfully lead singer Max Bianco is here to deliver a solo set. Unlike The Jar
Family’s driving, roller coaster ride of often full on guitar, drums, bass
driven electric mix of blues, rock and folk this is an altogether more sedate
but no less passionate session. Some Jar Family songs feature – ‘God Is My
Witness’, ‘Sadie’, ‘Where Did You Come From, Babe?’ suit a laid back acoustic
approach perfectly. Solo Max Bianco gives the impression he might be slightly
nervous, possibly a little surprised by the warm response he receives from the
audience. He needn’t have been. His quiet, folk influenced songs speak loudly
about challenging emotions, love, society. “Every time I stand up I’m shot back
down” from the wonderful ‘North East Bay” gives a flavour of what moves him. ‘Superfluous’
touches on almost everything that is wrong with the world today – war, racism,
the refugee crisis, police oppression. “We are a product of your oppression.
And we don’t want to know about it no more.” “No more we will hide and no more
you will control”. Superb stuff. Adding in
a great duet with Hayley McKay and three full on songs delivered with James
Hewitson and his band left this a night to be remembered.
Superfluous
Facebook
Listen.
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| Max Bianco |
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| Max Bianco |
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| Max Bianco |
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