Gig Review: In The City, Manchester, Monday 6th October 2008

In The City 2008 - To The Bones @ Cellar VieThis year’s In The City is turning out to be really great. In previous years we haven’t been to nearly as much as we should have but this year we’re making the effort to get out every night. The event would be even better were it not for all the belaminated record industry delegates clogging up the venues. I’m not sure what they’ve been delegated to do but talking loudly while the bands are on while us mere mortals strive to hear over the top of them is my best bet. Then there’s the photographers who think that they have the right to get in everyone’s way for an entire gig because they have a big fuck-off camera. This happened on Sunday night at Cellar Vie during To The Bones where at one point there were four or five such planks making it impossible for anyone else to get a decent view. A couple of them were at it for the entire gig, which is just ridiculous; I mean, how many photos do you need to take? If the pics on Drowned In Sound today are the best from the 300 or so you took then you’re clearly in the wrong job.

In The City 2008 - Magic Arm @ Piccadilly RecordsTonight we began at Piccadilly Records where we missed the start of Colorama’s set but enjoyed what we did see; their cool, laid back mix of country rock, folk and blues making for almost as chilled-out a start as we had at the Bay Horse the day before. We were there to see Magic Arm, who I’ve seen in a supporting capacity at least three times in the last year, but never headlining, and never with a full band. He started off solo but with his superb manipulation of his looping pedal it sounded anything but. After his excellent rendition of Serge Gainsbourg’s “Ballad of Melody Nelson” and a few harmonica problems that brought songs to a grinding halt, the band – made up of members of My Side Of The Mountain – joined in and things got less intricate and more rugged, but no less enjoyable, even though Justhipper had to put up with a cameraman standing right in front of her for most of the latter part of the gig while chatting away and texting his friends. They closed with a terrific version of “Widths And Heights”, leaving the song’s undeniably catchy chorus rattling around my brain for the remainder of the evening.

In The City 2008 - The ABC Club @ Chicago Rock CafeThen it was off across town to the Chicago Rock CafĂ© on Peter Street where we managed to catch Radio Luxembourg’s final song – a rather excellent slice of anthemic Welsh pop – and were then enthralled by the old school indie of The ABC Club with their wonderful jangling guitars and the breathtakingly morose Morrissey-esque vocals of Zandra Klievens, who stood stock still and expressionless throughout, which is exactly how it should be. At least the jabbering delegates behind us picked up on the brilliance of Klievens’ voice and I hope that they don’t stay unsigned for too long because I can’t wait ’til they release an album. They were followed by the disappointing Dash Delete who, despite their earnest endeavour, brought nothing new to the indie landscape with their sub-Bloc Party bluster. We left after a few songs: another early night for us, but another enjoyable one, nonetheless.

5 Responses to “Gig Review: In The City, Manchester, Monday 6th October 2008”

  • Jordan Says:

    Hi Mate,

    Thank you very much for the nice review…if you send me your email address ill make sure you get a copy of our new songs which we recently recorded.

    Jordan, The ABC Club

    x

  • Max Says:

    This is a bit late because as you know I’m only an occasional stalker.
    You guys seem to have enjoyed the ITC event this year and in all truthfulness I have to say i enjoyed the experience more that I have in the past ALTHOUGH I’m hard pressed to point a finger at anyone and say THEY were remarkeable.
    I thought the home grown talent was pretty darned good this year and I felt the standard was higher than I ever recall it. A few Manchester ‘based’ artists will go far given the right background support.
    But I’m digressing because what I really wanted to mention was a London band called Brute Chorus (or The Low Sparks) as they were previously known. I saw them at The Tiger Lounge on one of Max & Lee’s (FictionNonFiction) nights – a good starting point for any ITC venturer not certain where to make base camp. GNOD and Mugstar were also on that night which made it pretty memorable as far as I was concerned.
    So if you don’t know Brute Chorus then check them out. I was not surprised to find out later that a couple of the BBC Radio 2/6 presenters had the hots for them but that seems to have cooled down now. Really they haven’t changed since I saw them as The Low Sparks about 2 to 3 years ago which might be a good thing because I think their quirky little songs have got more appeal these days.
    Saw Light Syndicate at Wotgodforgot on the Tuesday night. I mention it because I know you appreciate them on here. They were excellent and gave a very ‘professional’ performance.
    Of course I saw one of my favourite bands – Laymar – at Night & Day on the Sunday night along with The Spinto Band plus I also got to see the Jessie Rose Trip at The Ruby Lounge where I swear there was more people with delegate passes than anywhere else.
    There were more highlights but it’s all fading to black a little bit.
    Hope you don’t mind this late, late message.

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