HDIF : Veronica Falls - Jamm

Well, the deadpool's almost overflowing this evening, Swells, Farrah and now Michael Jackson. I had wacko jacko pegged to last until a ripe old age, its a shame really.

Anyhoo, on with this evening's show...

A generation ago I bumped into the junior lifesaver one evening at the 13th Note, I vaguely recall him conspiring to form a Tallulah Gosh tribute band, ginger Allen was to play drums and Enzo Menoni was going to play bass. God knows what happened to those guys, but Wee Patrick followed through and tonight Matthew, Veronica Falls are going to be Tallulah Gosh.

I know its just the reverb on the vocals that makes it sparkly, and Patrick's motown drumming. Or maybe its the girls in the audience stomping along, but its all magical.

I love the way Roxanne is so deadpan when she's singing, then there the merest hint of a smile when she plays guitar, and her little bewildered expression after each noodly bit.

HDIF Ian's championing them, and I reckon there's still time to get them slotted on the Indietracks bill.

HDIF : The 18 Carat Love Affair - Jamm

There's a poster that says Utah Saints are playing at Jamm soon. I've never seen them, should I make an effort to, twenty years too late? They were always a less pretentious KLF, more dance, less art. It'll be worth it for completiests sake.

On stage this evening, The 'Affair are missing their drummer, he's a Glastobore, so we have guitar providing rhythm. The vocals are that boy/girl shouty thing that Sons and Daughters do. They are very relaxed on stage, I guess without the drummer, its not quite a proper gig, but its nice.

The bass player is forgoing his axe and just bears a tamborine and some pink plastic sunglasses.

There used to be this Irish band called Turn who hung around with and were consumed by Idlewild. 18 Carat Love Affair sound like them this evening, but with melodica. Piano and engrossing, stark vocals. They sound like Scunner too, but without the makeup and costumes.

My favourite song of their set is the one where Nobby the guitarist plays a bicycle pump, the atmospheric side of it tramples over any novelty value.

HDIF : Mascot Fight - Jamm

The second band tonight are Mascot Fight. Five lads with this year's answer to indie haircuts, and broadly jangly guitars, bass player with his strap-length set to 'short'.

The wee noodly guitar bit are nice when the rest of the band go quiet. Some at the back shouts out "I like that one". I do too.

I also like the way the keyboard jockey looks comfortable on stage during the songs where he doesn't play. Its usually difficult to pull that off.

Its been so long since I was at a gig, that I've lost all sense of reference points. With that in mind, this mob are 15% tighter than the last band, but 5% less fun. I imagine if they had a CD, it would be mostly brown with blue and gold trim.

I think they sound a little like Wake The President, storming guitars, but with a good sense of space, and wailing.

HDIF: The Give It Ups - Jamm

Its a blisteringly hot day outside, flying ant day in some parts. My first gig since the start of May, it feels like along time.

That songkick website's made me miss live music so much. Going to gigs is such a big part of me, there's a hole that needs filling. And I need another gig under my belt to beat Gloomboy. Its not supposed to be competitive, is it?

So I'm at Jamm in Brixton, was going to bring the missus along, but she's off shopping in Watford this evening, so I'm on my own, crouched at the corner of the bar, beer nearby, head buried in writing.

The first band of this How Does It Feel night are The Give It Ups, still soundchecking, but the weather's nice out, its almost a shame to herd everyone indoors.

I vaguely recall them being jolly good fun last time I saw them, vague memories of songs about dinosaurs.(or was that MJ Hibbett?)

Not sure if this is relevant to the review, but shortly before the 'Ups start I move from the corner of the bar to a dark corner near the sound guy. Here's hoping that before I stick this online, I edit out all the non-reviewy bits.

They start with a new song, a shouty little number called "Why won't you go out with me". The ghost of The Supernaturals would be spinning in its grave, if it wasn't busy haunting The Hussys. I think I'm trying to say the song sounds like 'Smile'.

I like the way the drummer and the bass player swap round between songs, they're like both new band members or something, right?

Also, the band rock out just a little more than I remember from last time, and occasionally invoke the spirit of a Weezer b-side, there's a little of the slacker hip about them.

Aw man, I've got it: -

A cross between Rivers Como and Victoria Wood.