Lanterns On The Lake @The Bullingdon Arms Oxford - Live Review

Having never ventured far down the Cowley road, I was naturally a little apprehensive when unable to find The Bullingdon Arms (no connection to the delightful Oxford dining society). It turns out that the Bullingdon Arms is now called “The Art Bar”, with the room at the back for intimate performances now generally referred to as “The Bully”. Quite a contrast, and that was seen in the variety of the crowd, providing healthy competition for whatever-the-Obey-clad-youths-were-queueing-up-for-at-the-O2-opposite. But, demographic studies aside an intimate setting was ideal, and brought out the best of the 2 bands that played in its cosy midst. Oxford based 3-piece Deer Chicago opened, with their set of moderately heavy reverberating rock, and light-hearted quips about the main act’s northern extraction, both of which warmed the crowd up and even got a few dancing.

Lanterns On The Lake took to the stage fresh from an appearance at the Truck Store promoting their new album Until The Colours Run, and brought with them a number of loyal fans. The dimmed blue mood lighting was an interesting touch, but it suited the mellowed piano chords and melancholic voice of lead singer Hazel Wilde perfectly. The opening song Picture Show featured a variety of instruments including an accordion, violin, and an electric guitar bowed like a double bass. If anything, it was impressive how quickly the 5 bandmembers were able to juggle those instruments. The band are described simply as indie rock, and with the tone set to a mellow folk rock one would compare to the likes of Daughter or Beirut, I along with the overly intimate 50-year-old couple embracing in front of me was taken aback by the sudden transition of this tune into a frenzy of drumming, as 4/5 of the band recreated what seemed to be a crazed rain-dance. Just as I was beginning to worry that they intended to flood the venue to better suit their name, they played Another Tale from Another English Town, a nostalgic number which one could easily see turning into a ballad for a generation, while The Ghost that Sleeps within Me picked up symphonic clashes between guitar distortions and the amplified violin. It could have been a sudden blast of the aircon, but the ballad Sapsorrow sent shivers down my spine, whilst the fade to red lights coincided with the last number I love you Sleepyhead, ending the set on a pleasantly gentle note.

It’s great to see the popularity and appreciation for this Newcastle quintet gathering momentum, and one hopes to hear more from a sound that can only be described as precious.

Review: The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Holden Caulfield, how I wish I had read about your escapades earlier on in life. Some things never seem to change no matter which era you are living in, it seems.



View all my reviews

The Mystery Jets @ New Slang - Kingston upon Thames - Live Review

Throughout the set, frontman Will Rees described The Mystery Jets' 10th gig at New Slang as 'a homecoming' whilst summing up its relationship with the reknown Indie night in the secluded London suburb as 'a love affair'. Both of those terms imply a sort of intimacy, and intimacy there indeed was - be it in the form of the small venue, or the constant moshing, pulling and face to face encounters with other sweaty red faced school leavers who had clearly had the same idea as me.

That's not to say that a spot of moshing was going to ruin the experience of seeing one of my favourite bands live, let alone seeing a live show for the first time since September. The opening number "Someone Purer" was a slightly surprising, melancholic choice of song for the occasion, but the reaction from the crowd was completely opposite in tone, with moshpits opening up like gladiatorial arenas and arms frantically reaching the ceiling at the onset of every chorus. And this was just the opening number. The guitar riffs being belted out by Blaine Harrison and Will Rees were as good as anything and added the extra edge to the live performance, while the latter's apparel  was clearly influenced by the band's Texan travels in preparation for the Radlands album. The biggest hits of Serotonin were played afterwards, injecting the already hyped crowd with yet more Serotonin (technically one of the only things you do enjoy).

The process of selecting a lineup is always a tough one for most bands, and this show was probably no exception. Getting the balance right between giving the usual crowd-pleasers a rest and giving your new stuff some limelight always carries its hazards. So it was understandable that most of the songs from Radlands, which, save the choruses, might well have been obscure to all but hardcore fans (myself not included in that contingent) received a funny, or crowd-indulging introduction. It's a shame that the endless moshing and drunken singing along drowned out some of the lyrics at this point (although the crowd's substitution for Laura Marling's part in Young Love was very helpful), as out of all of the albums, Radlands contains some of the thoughtful, witty, and downright clever song writing (must have been all that Texan air) that the band has produced, and as with most things are executed best in the hands of the masters.

For a set in such a small venue, an encore was, again, unexpected, but Will Rees's apparent ignorance at the crowd's calls for 2 Doors Down ("What's that guys? Never heard of it before! You want to hear Two Door Cinema Club?") was quickly proved groundless as they tore it up with Half In Love With Elizabeth, 2 Doors Down and Alice Springs. Let's hope that the unpretentious, down to earth attitude that the band have will continue to shape their success, and that their new material, come when it may, equals the hits and highs they have so deservedly hit on the head so far.