Brendan Benson: The Koko / March 5^th 2010

Originally, I was going to write about a 30 Seconds to Mars gig a couple of weeks back. It was a good show, with anthems, flashing lights and huge screens, however after the ringing in my ears had subsided I discovered it was missing the three things that this gig had in spades, heart, soul, and a shed-load of utterly brilliant songs. And to be honest, many bands can stick a huge amp stack behind them and play at being rock stars for an evening, but it takes a special talent to write a bunch of songs that send shivers down the spine and make you go weak at the knees on the first listen.

You might know Benson as the “Other half” in The Raconteurs with Jack White, what you might not know is that bar a few album fillers, he is the main creative force behind them, so the fact that he still can’t quite sell out the 1,500 capacity Koko is quite frankly criminal. Songs like I’m Blessed, Tiny Spark and Cold Hands (Warm Heart) are all strong arguments that there is still nothing quite like a guy with a Telecaster poring his heart and soul out to you and only you with a large dose of melody on the side. Sure, some of the songs sound similar, but when they sound that good, I’m not complaining!

He opens with quite possibly the greatest opening salvo I’ve ever seen at a rock gig in my life, Folksinger into Good to Me into Eyes on the Horizon into Spit It Out and suddenly everyone in the audience is in reserved raptures, observing this ridiculously talented man do what he does best. The latter song providing the most exhilarating moment of the night as the drums crash into the chorus, the guitars roar and the high harmonies (provided expertly by Bass player Jared Reynolds and Guitarist Mark Watrous) perfectly complement Benson’s timeless croon.

After the plutonium-powered opening, the pace slows into a settled ramble which jars a little with the previous frenetic pace, but then he plays Cold Hands (Warm Heart) and all is forgiven. The slowing down means that the audience can now properly lose themselves in the songs, rather than watch in awe as they rattle past. It’s important to note that this is no less awesome than before, but it’s a very different kind of awesome, one that is more like listening to a record you’ve heard many times before and finding things you never heard before, except in a surprisingly chilly converted theatre in Camden. Such as life!

If I had one quibble about the set it’s that the sound really screws up an otherwise graceful Garbage Day and the band seem to notice, playing with less abandon than before and ending the main set on a slightly confused note. And it threatens to derail the momentum of the entire gig; however they come from backstage rejuvenated and ready to unleash Bensons best song, the at once hopeful and unequivocally sad What I’m Looking For, and with that song, the night is saved. A Graham Nash cover and Feel like Taking You Home from Benson’s latest album My Old, Familiar Friend, and the gig is over. A great night and a firm statement of the importance of a well written guitar-pop song which too many take for granted.

9/10

The Wildhearts - Islington Academy - 22nd December

After being quite possibly the drunkest band of the nineties, The Wildhearts have gone on to be one of the most consistent bands of the "noughties" (Christ I feel so dirty whenever I say that...) getting straight back on track with the albums "The Wildhearts must be destroyed", "The Wildhearts" and last years spectacular "Chutzpah!". But on this "Xmess tour", tonight is all about the classics, and what classics they are.

Now, before we get any actual reviewing done, it must be noted that The Wildhearts are not cool. Unfairly so. The major exposure they've had this decade was being supported by (and humiliatingly enough, supporting) cock rock clowns The Darkness. But in all seriousness, who gives a flying fuck? Not me, Not Ginger, not anyone in this utterly rammed venue, and fuck me sideways and call me Noddy, we're right. Who's going to get this much pleasure out of nodding along in a detached manner to These New Puritans? Idiots that's who.

Anyway. After rock-etting on stage to Vanilla Radio (hur-hur), the band give a simultaneously relaxed, yet raging performance. This is far from the biggest gig they've played and they know it, they're playing in front of people who know the band, know what they'll get and get it in spades, yet it still feels as fresh as a daisy doused in febreeze. Between songs the frenzied mosh pit calms and Ginger either starts tossing guitar picks into the audience straight from the hapless roadies hand, or telling long, rambling stories like a slightly pissed best mate (It's that or introducing the "Pilled up Pug" from the top of his amp, I say time for a fifth member lads. he's small, furry and powered by two double A batteries) .

A quick break and the band returns with the heavy artillery, "29 x The Pain", iron clad newie "The Jackson Whites", a euphoric "My Baby is a Headfuck" and a rendition of "I Wanna Go Where the People Go" that tears the roof off the building and hurls it into the cold Islington night. A truly astonishing performance from one of British Rocks unsung heroes that leaves a smile on everyone in the rooms face.

Songs of The Night: Sucker Punch - The Jackson Whites - 29 x The Pain