More than just retro grunge, Kagoule.

Shuffling inconspicuously on stage, Kagoule‘s grunge rifts and alt-rock sensibilities had me instantly transported me back to the days of baggy jeans and saggy tops. Though I would be doing the band a massive disservice by suggesting they are only a retro band. Their thunderous drum beats and layers upon layers of distorted guitar sounds show that they’re far more musically capable than just looking back to the past. Maybe the sense of occasion got to the band as the crowd was already ten rows deep as they took the stage. Their stage presence never really matched the impact that their music provided and aside from a mumble about merch, barely a word was uttered. Though that is not a accusation you could possible level at the next band on.

MT stands for Many Things but last night it meant Mental Tantalisation.

Watching MT is like watching your nine year old nephew once he has found and downed enough sherbet to floor a small rhino. You’re incredibly impressed by his energy but you’re also kind of worried he’s going to smack his head on the table corner. Yet, MT put my fears to rest with stomping synth tunes and although their singer flew around, off and then back onto the stage, nobody was hurt. Their unrestrained enthusiasm clearly hit a chord with the crowd with huge responses to songs like ‘Heaven’ and ‘Everything Thing Here I Need’. In fact, the manic dancing from the band was only matched by the frenetical flailing from the fans. On any other night such exquisite madness would’ve stolen the show.

Coming on for their encore, Dog Is Dead.

Though that was never going to be the case with Dog Is Dead waiting and rearing to take over where MT left off. They’re a band who’s debut album is littered with incredible songs which is made oh-so clear when performed live. Rolling out crowd favourites like ‘Teenage Daughter’ and ‘Do The Right Thing’ the four-piece set about delivering a show that had everyone at KOKO thinking that they couldn’t seriously just be playing songs from their debut album. Even their new songs resonated with fans as well as these big hitters. With the crowd baying for a encore, Dog Is Dead quickly popped back on stage with a fantastically and surprisingly intimate acoustic number before unleashing one last belter upon the crowd in the form of ‘Talk Through the Night’.

Before their headline set, I caught up with Rob and Trev from the band:

It’s always summer time when you’re listening to M A U S I.

There is no disputing M A U S I‘s rightful claim as the kings and queens of summer vibes but that night their were throwing down an outright challenge to all those who dared think they could out-dance lead singer, Daisy. She busted out grooves that would’ve had the most hardened of athletes in a perpetual state of perspiration but I barely saw a bead of sweat on her brow. Yet, the band have way more in their arsenal than just some spectacular dance moves. Songs like like ‘sol.’ and ‘M O V E’ are physically impossible not to smile and shake your body to when you hear them but hearing them performed live the result is even more infectious. I dread to think of what Now, I may have said Daisy threw down the grooving gauntlet but I never said it went unanswered.

Everyone WAS dancing to The Other Tribe.

After a bit of a wait as the stage was prepared and masked in the band’s typical tribal paint, The Other Tribe‘s lead singer James was only too happy to accept the challenge. It’s fair to say that the boys from Bristol exploded into their set with their latest stomper ‘We Should Be Dancing’ and were more than willing to lead by example. James’s thrustings and boppings were only matched by indescribable mentality bassist Miles demonstrated. It looked like the lost boys had meet up with some of the baddies from Mad Max, given up on fairy dust and murdering and settled on pumping out huge indie dance numbers instead. Needless to say, that culmination resulted in one heck of a show. As for the crown of the new dancing queen/king, it was still too close to call between James and Daisy so you’ll have to go see them yourselves to try and make the impossible choice I couldn’t.

Before the gig, I caught up with Miles and James from The Other Tribe for a quick chat:

Soon off to a rip roaring start with Eliza and the Bear.

They may be called Little Comets but the boys from Newcastle had such a massive impact on the Shepherd’s Bush audience that would’ve made the piece of rock in the film Deep Impact go “Whoa! Now that is huge” (if space debris could talk obviously).

Having already crammed their way into the prestigious venue, the crowd were soon treated to the anthemic sounds of Eliza and the Bear. The new band were hardly fazed by the squashed masses in front of them and let loose their foot stomping tunes such as ‘Upon the North’ and ‘Southern Wilds’. If the crowd wasn’t too busy bopping away then they were thoroughly entertained by the sight of the band’s trumpeter getting his own splendid groove towards the back of the stage.

As always, The Crookes live produce a scintillating show.

The Crookes, however, were not going to be outdone. Commanding the stage with the clear authority of a band who knows how good they are, they unleashed their irresistible brand of new pop upon the crowd. It’s nigh on impossible not to fall head over heels for this lot when they’re playing such huge numbers but when you throw in bassist and singer’s flamboyant shirt and head bobble, well you’re in love for life I’m afraid. The band eased through their set with remarkable material off their new album like ‘American Girls’ before ending with what is quickly becoming a classic ‘Backstreet Lovers’. Which is remarkable for such a young band.

Little Comets with an unforgettable performance.

I feel I have to set all superlatives aside for Little Comets but if I did this wouldn’t be much of a review so I will battle on. The room exploded with noise as the band stepped on stage with their typical assortment of percussion instruments hanging over them which only intensified when they hit their opener. ‘One Night in October’ had the crowd in a fervent frenzy of perpetual pushing, jumping, dancing but most of all singing. Almost every lyric of every song was screamed back at the band who were clearly getting emotional from this response. Simply put, I don’t think anyone lucky enough to have been at this gig will forget that went down there.

I managed to catch up with lead singer, Paul, from Eliza and the Bear after their set:

Stunning, sublime but most of all, very sweaty Secret Rivals.

Watching the Oxford based indie-rock quartet Secret Rivals sort of feels like looking at a group run spirit a marathon but with synths and stuff. Their boy/girl vocals thrown over fast-paced, thrashing chords just got the blood pumping and the mind forgetting that the weather outside had dipped well below zero.

Adding some Italian flair to to their stage presence on the night was new bass player, Emmanuele Azzoni (what a name!). Their older material still clearly resonating with fans they’d rightly earned in Reading, Secret Rivals played unreleased tracks off their upcoming debut album which held up very well against the likes of ‘Ghosting’ and ‘Everything I’ve Lost’ which is a true testament to those tracks’ quality. Coming to a rather abrupt end to their set was the only slight downside of the performance but I can only imagine this band getting better and better with more gigs. So definitely keep an eye out for them.

Reading’s own supergroup, The 3.1419 Wonders.

To finish the night off we were treated to The 3.1419 Wonders (it’s not pie before you ask) who are made up of Pete from Pete & The Pirates, a Dave from Hot Silk Pockets, and Animal and Cousin It’s love child on drums. A band with that kind of perigee was never going to let their home crowd down.

Having been hopeless in love with Pete’s vocals since the days he hung out with Pirates, it was a clear reminder why he should never try and leave the music industry. Surrounded by top musicians and eased along with a soft beat, it was a huge sonic contrast to Secret Rivals but the drop in tempo eased the night in style.

I caught up with Secret Rivals after their set:

One for the eyes as well as the ears, Avec Sans at their first gig.

Avec Sans‘ set is almost like watching a light show as well as gig. There were fantastical electronic pads everywhere which were furiously played upon by Jack St. James which would have stolen the show if not for Alice Fox’s performance on vocals. Gracing the stage with a powerful yet gentle command, she blew threw songs like ‘Heartbreak Hi’ and ‘The Answer’ which have proved why there’s such excitement about this band even at their gig and a even a few sound-system glitches couldn’t hamper this incredibly impressive debut set. Though if the crowd thought that was an assertive performance then they were in for a surprise.

Taking to the stage and occasionally taking off it, The Good Natured.

Three-piece The Good Natured brought a greater energy to the night with their brand of electro modern wave and front woman Sarah McIntosh was set on making sure the fans felt it. Diving off the stage into the crowd for a bit of a boogie every now and then certainly kept all of us guessing who her next awkward dance victim might be. Aside from the slight dancing danger, the upbeat vibes of the band with older tunes like ‘Skelton’ and new ones like ’5-HT’ definitely got everyone in the right mood for the headline act of the night.

Swiss Lips smashing their sold out show.

And when Swiss Lips broke out ‘DANZ’ for their opening number the entire crowd was hit with infectious beats and everyone had to get their own groove on. The crowd’s moves ebbed and flowed throughout the gig with the band playing unreleased tunes off their soon-to-be released album but thumpers like ‘Carolyn’ generated a few wilder moves. Although, the best moves were saved to last, as Swiss Lips summoned the star of their video for ‘DANZ’ to the stage to bust out his legendary shapes for their final song ‘U Got The Power’ which had us all bopping and humming away to.

I caught up with Avec Sans after their first set:

Despite playing the bass dangerously low, Magnets started the night off on a high.

Discovering the quirks of venues is also an exciting part of going to gigs but I’m not too sure the bizarre sight of watching a dog bark on the roof of The Windmill will be topped in terms of oddness anytime soon. Canine antics aside, innards of the venue were far more conventional and played host to a great night of music.

Magnets began the night in stylish fashion, with a combination of trashing guitar rifts blended in with well worked vocal harmonies. Their impressive set was only matched by their singer’s enthusiasm on stage as almost moments after starting his shirt went from a light to dark blue very quickly. However, it wasn’t the singer whose physical well being I was concerned for. I love eccentric forms of playing instruments, but Magnet’s bassist was practically playing on his toes! I’d hate to be his back come the following morning…

Things got a little wilder with Abiyoyo…

Yet, if I thought a night of eccentricity had peaked I was very much mistaken. Abiyoyo‘s mad, French appeal definitely blurred the line between a chaotic charm and plain madness. Songs would descend into a musical anarchy and I was often left wondering if the group were entirely with it.

To save the night from falling into deeper maddening despair, Miniature Dinosaurs burst onto the stage with their infectiously upbeat hit ‘Lemonade’ before powering through their set. A terrific vocal

Finishing the night in emphatic style, Miniature Dinosaurs.

performance from singer Barry was perfectly complemented by bassist Alban’s joyful jiving by his side. That’s the biggest thing you come away from seeing these Scottish indie rockers, you can’t help but smile whether they’re smashing out tunes like ‘Next of Kin’ or new and unrecorded tracks like ‘Fly’. They’ll keep you grinning and gyrating all night long.

I caught up with Miniature Dinosaurs before they took the night by storm:

MUST began the festivities in style.

On a winter’s night in East London, a boy could be forgiven thinking he should wear two layers to a gig who’s lineup promised to start the 2013 in consummate style. However, that boy (me) was soon to be proved very wrong indeed. The room in The Old Blue Last was already quite warm before the bands began to turn up the heat.

One of the acts who I am really looking forward to hearing more of this year, MUST, kicked off the night in blistering style. Having already wowed many with debut songs ‘Graceland’ and ‘The Devil Lives’, the band showed there’s still a lot more to come from them. They boast such a strong set list and have the performance to match it. I cannot wait to hear tunes like ‘Graveyard’ come out, which I was still humming away to until the next act came on.

The night’s big surprise for me, Blackeye.

It’s always nice to be surprised by new artists at this gigs and in all honesty I wasn’t expecting a great deal as MUST had set the bar pretty high but BLACKEYE proved me wrong. Playful and coy right from the very off, they were pure fun to watch. Easing along with a bubblegum-punk rock sound along with a couldn’t care less attitude, BLACKEYE didn’t seem remotely fazed by the fact the crowd in front of the stage had swelled up. Then again, with material like ‘Growing Pains’ and ‘Spin’ why should anyone be nervous?

The penultimate act of the night, Men’s Adventures.

Somehow, the tiny room at the venue continued to fill up as the penultimate act came on. It was always going to be a hard sell for Men’s Adventures to win me over as I wince and groan at anything remotely country. In spite of this, their surf-meets-country style didn’t have me running to the bar and by the end of the set my foot was even tapping away to their climatic ending number.

Wolf Alice headlined the night with sheer class.

More and more fans surged into this cramped room for the final act of the night. Wolf Alice has already created a lot of buzz around the band with new fantastic songs ‘Leaving You’ and ‘Fluffy’ but tonight was all about the live show. Looking like they owned the stage, it became instantly obvious why this band are tipped for big things this year and the jam packed crowd knew it. Their set was incredible, mixing the old with the new stuff and fans loved both. However the highlight for me, among the brilliant music, was singer Ellie’s battle with the drooping mic stand and the wonderfully imaginative ways she fought on through. It was a perfect drama to match a perfect performance.

Before the battle of the mic, I caught up with Wolf Alice before the gig for a chat:

Tom (second from left) from The Wildes chats to Chris Craddock.

2012 has been a good year for the four piece outfit from Margate, Kent with the release of their self-titled debut EP coming out as well as playing alongside the likes of The Heartbreaks, The Delays and Ash. The Wildes have also gone onto release a double A-Side single called ‘She Gave Me Everything/Damaged Goods’ and after some fumbling around on skype, the band’s singer Tom and I managed to have a chat about it all.

When asked about his highlights of the year Tom instantly spoke about playing recently with The Hoosiers and how playing with bands of this caliber has helped the band develop in both terms of professionalism as well as delivery. They’d also performed at this year’s local festival Hop Farm, which has really helped the band gain a wider recognition than before.

I asked Tom about the band’s dark lyrics combination with upbeat and joyous tunes and he responded with Stephen McRobbie quote about the power of combining these elements that went straight over my head. But it was obvious this was a passion of Tom’s and it can be heard in their latest single, which has improved upon a very catching debut release so when we spoke about their upcoming studio dates I couldn’t help but get excited.

For more of the interview just listen below:

Peter Long began the night in delightful style.

Very rarely will you see a venue which moves a pool table to make room for the bands to play but The Red Lion still proved an ideal place for an imitate gig with some of the town’s finest talent. With PEERS, SHOALS and Peter Long all set to play the small performing area was quickly filled with fans.

The night began in gentle fashion with a solo performance from Peter Long whose soft vocals delivery eased all there into the evening. At that point, the music was the perfect match for the atmosphere generated by the pub with all those around Peter sitting around enjoying a pint (please drink responsibly).

But the evening was soon to kick into a higher tempo, and cram in even more punters into the tiny space as the bands took the platform.

Picking up the pace, SHOALS took to the stage.

And first on up were the wonderfully retro SHOALS whose sound just echoed relentlessly of the 1960′s. It would have been so easy to see the guys fit into that era and that look but they added their own distinctive sound to this.

With the room packing out, people were taking to standing on seats to get a better view as the band broke it joyfully sweet songs like ‘I Wish You Were Here In November’, which not only just got people into the right mood but put a smile on their faces too. Smiles which were soon to be broadened even further.

PEERS’ ‘Nightdriving’ was a perfect sign off for the night.

Despite being a very young band, PEERS showed tonight why it’s highly unlikely that they’ll play somewhere like The Red Lion again having been already booked to play SXSW in Texas next year. Putting on a diverse set, which kept the crowd on its toes all times before ending with the sublime ‘Nightdriving’.

I caught up with Matt from the band before the show to talk about what the band’s been up to and how surviving the Mayan Apocalypse felt:

Kicking off the night with a kicked-back style, MUST.

As the glitter ball shone bright in the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen‘s you just had to glance at the line up to realise what a treat everyone who was bathed in this ironic disco light was in for.

MUST began the night in fantastic style with their lovely lazy song ‘Graceland’ and that mellow vibe was the perfect way to ease into the rest of the gig. However, MUST showed that there is far more to them than the songs they’ve released so far and that 2013 holds bigger and better things for this band. In particular their finishing tune ‘Graveyard’ is something that I’m already desperately keen to get onto my iTunes.

China Rats playing great fast, energetic and upbeat music.

Taking the tempo up a gear or two, China Rats began to energise those there with their fast paced music. Never having heard them before but hearing a lot of good things about them, China Rats certainly lived up to the hype. Blistering through song after song, until the point you know a band has had a good set when you feel they’re leaving the stage only moments after taking to it.

Sparing a moment to let the crowd catch its breath, they also thanked Hey Sholay for going ahead with the show despite being the victims of a robbery where their van and all their equipment and merchandise was stolen.

Hey Sholay provided the perfect way to end a great night of new music.

But if anyone thought that was going to put off the powerfully charming psychedelic Sheffielders, they had another thing coming. As you would have guessed with a band so finely tuned as Hey Sholay, they sounded quite different as they sported borrow instruments but nevertheless were incredible. Not many bands can boast tracks like ‘Shut the Devil At the Backdoor’ and ‘Burning’ yet alone open with both of them and still have more than enough left to comfortably see out the night in wonderful style. Though it’s not just the music that enthrals during their sets, it’s so clear to watch them play their hearts and souls are in their music and such a privilege to watch a band open up like that.

I caught up with MUST’s Elliot and Paul before the show, which was their last of 2012, to chat about how their first year has gone and what 2013 holds; before descending into more trivial topics such as ‘who pulls the best cracker?’ and ‘why do you dance like that?’: