There's this amazing new band I've been getting into recently, it's the first new band that's genuinely interested me in months. So tonight The Lovely Eggs are playing at Buffalo Bar along with four other bands. I've never been to this monthly night before but I already love it , the organizers tell you to make a compilation CD in advance, which you leave at the door, and when you leave you get somebody else's back. Cute idea huh? Making CDs/enforcing my tastes on others is one of my favourite pastimes anyway so I am enamoured with the night before we even set foot through the door.
The first band up are The Peryls, a three piece band joined tonight by a cellist. All three members, bass, lead and rhythm guitarists, share vocal duties. There are beautiful, shimmery harmonies and haunting lyrics whispered over the swooning strings. They are like a creepy Victorian version of Fleet Foxes with a generous helping of Nick Cave thrown in for good measure. If you've ever read 'The Gashlycrumb Tinies' by Edward Gorey then the best way to describe The Peryls is if they put music to that book. Lyrics about bygone times, tales of unfortunate characters and sinister endings. A little boy who swallowed an ember which never ceased burning inside him.
Second band on are The Grave Architects. Their latest single 'The Bike Song' is available to download for free now here Tonight they play the full version of the song which tell the story of his first true love, his boyhood bike. The full version of the song goes on for about 10 minutes and spans various musical genres, from ska to indie pop to rap. They're a really fun, crowd participation band and have all the bounce and enthusiasm of Pulp, Art Brut and Half Man Half Biscuit. It's impossible to watch this band without a huge grin spreading across your face. Oh and did I mention, they end their set with a cover of 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave.
Next up is MJ Hibbett, a one man folk rant. His comical take on life is accompanied by a 'Billy Bragg if Billy Bragg grew a sense of humour' style of singing and acoustic guitar. One song tells the story of how our protagonist had always hated The Smiths because all the arsehole popular kids at school liked them. Begrudgingly he has to admit that they are actually good. Ha. It's the small things in life, that we all experience, given a spotlight & stage. And another great cover, ending with 'Boom Shake the Room' by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.
The School are a great little band from Cardiff who channel all the fabulous sounds of 60's girl group. They are in the same vein as Camera Obscura, with great string sections and beautiful, sweet as honey female vocals but they are a little more frivolous than Camera Obscura, more pop and fun. They obviously have loads of fun on stage, giggling throughout and sharing little in jokes together. Delightfully twee twinklings from the xylophone are wholly welcomed too.
Ending the show are The Lovely Eggs, a band who I have been unable to spend twenty four hours without uttering the name of for some months now. You may recognise lead singer Holly Ross, she used to be in 90's girl pop punk band Angelica and has now formed The Lovely Eggs with husband David Blackwell. They have just released their debut album 'If You Were Fruit' which is a real shouty/cutesy/feedback/fuzzy lo-fi classic. Magnificently ramshackle on record, live they are even more so. The standout track for me this evening is Halloween single 'Haunt Me Out' . It starts out a bit 50's but quickly descends into a delirious, whirring cacophony.
So a good night was had, and the CD comp I picked on the way out included tracks from Arab Strap and Pulp. Happy days.
Leanne
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