The Soft Pack, Banjo or Freakout and The Wooden Pigs at Southampton Joiners.
Last night I went to see the above 3 bands at Southampton Joiners.
I specifically bought tickets because I wanted to see the Soft Pack. Someone on Twitter was really talking them up a couple of weeks ago (I think it was @neil_mccormick – the Telegraph music critic) and I’ve been listening to them loads on Spotify.
This is them on Letterman the night before they played in Southampton. (Crikey)
This is also them, though not from last night’s gig – but it’s a good clip.
Someone in the comments on a different youtube clip by the band reckons that their music is the sort of music that could be used in future iPad adverts. I can see that but if that was meant as a criticism then so what? I think they’re ace.
Also ace were the two support acts.
Banjo or Freakout is an Italian expat called Alessio Natalizia (he had a drummer with him for last night’s show. Don’t know if that’s a usual thing).
This is the kind of excellent music he makes (It’s an excellent video as well)
Banjo or Freakout’s stage presence was a bit unassuming – but what I first thought to be a ramshackle and stumbling approach to playing live music soon made sense. Things built up and by the end I was wanting more. Later, when I got home and started to look for some of his music on the internet I was thrilled at what I found. (Listen to more here on his Myspace page)
The first band on were The Wooden Pigs, a local band from Bournemouth, who were young, a bit arrogant and were quite splendid. Young (and not so young) bands have been raiding the post punk box of tricks for years now – and maybe that’s true of this lot but I was quite taken by the fact that they reminded me of very early U2 and very early Simple Minds. I was also quite taken by the fact they were also excellent.
You can listen to some of their songs at their Myspace page (For me – the second song on their playlist The Light of Day is a belter).
First gig of the year and three really good bands.
Here’s some more random facts about last night’s gig.
1. The Joiners is an absolute dive. It smelt, it was cold, the toilets were vile and the interior decor was mainly matt black paint and promo stickers. I’ve been going to venues like that for nigh on 25 years and I loved it.
2. I’m not drinking for the whole of February. Bit weird leaving a gig sober – but being sober didn’t detract from the gig. And I could drive home. (Made the gig a lot cheaper as well)
3. The Joiners is really close to St Mary’s Stadium where earlier that day Pompey THRASHED Saints. There was much talk of the match amongst the gig goers.
4. The person I went with really liked the Wooden Pigs and thought they were the best.
5. If I like music I will use words like excellent, ace and so on because I cannot think of much else to write. If I don’t like something then I won’t write about it. Just happened that last night I liked all 3 bands. That does not happen that often.
You can buy and download the 2 Soft Pack LPs at Amazon by following the links below.
Tags: Live Music
