A friday night escapism in gig central, NW1. Rock n roll madness regularly ensues in this venue that Suggs recently got involved with. Band-tastic music promoter/agent/film maker, Heather Minx Ferguson, books fan based artists for intimate shows. Free entry booze deals means a lively crowd already spills out of Bar Solo into Inverness Street even before the first live set.
Stripped to musical, vocal and lyrical simplicity. In certain settings acoustic is like hushed magic. In an intimate bar with a stage, people are naturally chatting, ordering drinks and getting pissed and lairy. A small price to pay when when the performers can win enough attention to soothe the hubbub. Both performances achieve this tonight.
First up, no stranger to being on stage but completely new to playing solo, Jamie Fisher. Best known as lead guitarist in rock band, Officer Kicks, by anybody who was aware of their new blues-rock vanguard LP, ‘Citywide Curfew’. The rollercoaster that inspired it literally broke them in more than one way a year ago.
Fans have travelled from as far as The Midlands for this.
Admitting to being nervous as hell, Jamie sings lullabies of life experience, delivered sensitively but without misery, due to his naturally engaging persona. New to the game, he mixes in with some covers. Lifted by increasing applause between songs, he grows in confidence.The finale is the self-penned, ‘Just Like That’. As songs about depressing experiences go, it’s gentle and stark but life affirming. The overall effect of this set is positive. New friends are made, and a flowery pair of girls knickers arcs their way to the stage as the lights go down. Jamie puts them on his hat and exits into the cheers.
Also bringing an ‘up-for-it’ crowd with them are a bunch of relative newcomers, the headline band, Warehouse Republic. They’re playing classic rocking blues infusions and right now, really are something else. The musicality, youthful energy and passionate intensity give them an edge that wins acclaim, incites on line debates, entices music fans and – importantly for a Friday night on the town – gets the crowd twisting on the dance floor.
With a wide range of influences to their recorded material and a usually punked up electric live set, this semi acoustic session gives an extra dimension to the group and their songs. A rousing rendition of debut single, ‘Revolver’, sets the tone for a rock’n’roll SHOW from guitarist Jimmy Nicholls, bassist Ben Woolford and drummer, Alex Howson (who tonight has swapped his kit for a tambourine which he plays with his foot while simultaneously on guitar). Charlie Flynn is on lead guitar, then honky tonking the piano while on lead vocals (though Jimmy and Ben will each take a turn at singing).
This four headed one man band, and the fans that have come for this close-range gig, are in high spirits. Warehouse Republic play with vigour under the hot lights. They admit to being new, with a short set list, when including some well received covers, but it is their own live favourites like ‘American Girl’, ‘Let It Roll’ and the singalong to ‘A Change Is On Its Way’ which are best received. Mighty new song, ‘Tender’, brings a soulful hint of Texas Blues to Camden Town and the requested ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ by Johnny Cash ends the night on a high with a deservedly raucous roar of approval. They’ve been seminal. Its been REAL.
Images (c) Polly Harvey
polstar-photography.smugmug.com
Warehouse Republic :
www.facebook.com/wrfans
Jamie Fisher
http://soundcloud.com/fishstudio/just-like-that-demo
