The incredible Tom Watton has written a review of OOTB 428! Awesome! Here it is…
Out of the Bedroom #428
A review by Tom Watton (and Calum Carlyle)
Paper Truth
The evening starts with a trio of songs on our keyboard from Paper Truth (aka our very own Colin Walmsley).
Colin’s style is a quirky take on the surreal imaginary paper world truth with dogs regularly eating other dogs, Lady Ga-Ga eating other dogs all juxtaposed with Colin’s keyboard talent. Keen to get on next weeks OOTB playlist Colin will be arriving at the Montague (For all those who don’t know (shame on you) the Montague is on St Leonards, and used to be called ‘The Maltings’) a day early next week – launching his new album on Monday the 20th from 8pm. For more information please check www.papertruth.co.uk
Lake “sometimes I’d rather be lonely” Montgomery
What a shame that this is a squashy set from Lake Montgomery, but lesson to be learned from this is that you must “arrive before 7.30pm, if you want to play”.
With the Moral of the story over, we can go back to the joyous task of reviewing Lake Montgomery. Her simple but effective guitar technique is overshadowed by her wonderful voice; although on occasions her vocal embellishments distract from the well crafted songs. Her song ‘Sometimes I’d Rather Be Lonely” is a strong statement of independence from the useless masculinity. With the body of an angel and a bucket full of holes.
Kim ‘not balls’ Ralls
Kim’s first song is called ‘Judas’. No this is not an declaration of treachery, nor is this the evening’s second reference to the “Pop Queen Diva Lady Ga Ga”, its actually a good song. Kim has a powerful rock voice and he writes in a simple early 60s style.
His final song gets some members of the audience (Caro) yelping for home. Kim conjures images of post war Britain and working class fun with the words “A friday night in Norwich in 1954”. Beautiful songcraft.
TAU BOĂ–! (aka Craig)
The name Tau Boo [t-ow! Bou] comes from an astronomical reference to Tau Boötis, a distant star in the Boötis system with orbital planetary satellites, known as Tau Boötis A and Tau Boötis B. All this being said I think the name Tau Boö, would be a good name for a band, or an album, but doesn’t really work to describe an individual (just my opinion, and why I will from now refer to Tau Boö as Craig).
Craig has been before (on a recce mission), but this is his first performance at Out of the Bedroom and he sings with a confident self assured baritone style, which supports his dominant songwriting technique.
All Craig needs is a bank of synthesisers and accompaniment from Lisa Gerrard on a yangqin (hammer dulcimer) and other worldy vocals. In my opinion Craig is very similar in style to Brendan Perry, which is not bad thing. One thing that lets Craig down is over use of tremolo on the vocals, which arcs attention away from the powerful deep notes that he has been hitting. I think that the tremolo technique would be really effective if used once or twice in each song, to the most climactic parts of the songs.
Craig finishes the set with a powerful glance up, similar to that of ‘Neo’ in the ‘Matrix’ after ‘the kick of power’.
Calum Carlyle (CC)
Calum starts with his fast paced multi-genre political pastiche ‘Politics, Politics’. A popular number with fast changing chord progressions and even faster lyrics. During this song Calum sings like a youthful Frank Sinatra, a boisterous Chris Barron (spin doctors), and a brilliant Calum Carlyle.
In the middle of a three gig tour of Edinburgh & Leith, Calum shows no signs of tiring.
Calums second song ‘Get Over Yourself’ is a more soulful number with a vocal sound inspired by the great Superstar soul&swing singers of the 40s and 50s.
‘For the Rest of our Lives’ can be described simply as – clever guitar, cleverer song writing, and even cleverer vocal skills, performed superbly, and this on top of hosting the evening. A confident performance from our very own “CC”
Lindsay & The Storm
Lindsay & The Storm is the name of Lindsay Sugden’s band. Lindsay recently launched her long awaited first album. The band line up has changed since the Storms featured set in February, and the new line up keeps Nelson Wright on percussion, but sees a new and improved strings section, of Cello and Violin.
Lindsay’s stage presence has doubled since February, with clear and confident singing, a good rapport with the audience and a sense of style only beaten when she dons her phosphorescent cycling garments.
The precision of the strings is pleasant, and although this might go unnoticed, it is rare to find such a good balance of tone, technique and tembre in a pub environment – well done Peter and Jen! It would be nice if over the next few months the musicians could lose their scores, as it masks some of Jen’s Cello’s natural resonance.
Nelsons percussion must also be recorded in the review. Nelson has great passion for Lindsay’s music, and with his eyes closed he recites the well written percussion parts perfectly.
Lindsay’s music is both sophisticated and appealing, with a sound which is not unlike Martha Tilston & The Architects or the Unthanks. This is in part down to the professional sounding harmonies provided by Anne Lazaro (and kicking noises from the baby within).
Lindsay’s album is a great buy and you can find more information about the album and upcoming gigs at www.lindsayandthestorm.co.uk
Nick Splinter Smith
Nick played well tonight, but I would like to withhold my review as a protest as Nick only returned to the venue (since leaving after booking a slot) at 9.20, well into the featured slot – which I don’t feel is within the spirit of the community of songwriters. – but a good set nonetheless.
Sir Tom Watton (Review written by Calum Carlyle)
‘Days Out in The Sun/The Cropredy Song’ reminds us that June is traditionally a summer month. Even in this quieter song, Tom takes the opportunity to fully perform the song, in good voice as usual. [Despite slipping in a few wrong chords] …Tom’s performance was rock solid.
For his second number, it’s a rock number with some ‘soultastic’ vocals. Quite remeniscent of “the sixties”, some might say. Like a generous slice of Christmas cake with brandy butter.
His third tune stays in Drop D, and Tom shows his ability to properly play the heck out of a guitar in his sea shanty/ballad “The Coupland & The Amelia”.
Caro Bridges
Caro’s new song is penned clearly with the intention of her band (The River) in accompaniment, thats not to say that she shouldn’t be playing without her band, because clearly Caro is one of the best musicians in Edinburgh and her music is of the moment.
‘Time and Again’ is a nice song with daring rhythms intricate guitar, and she is joined on stage by the irrepressible Matt Norris on Banjo. Superb
“Make me love/laugh” This is a very nice song, but I wasn’t sure whether the song is called “make me laugh” or “make me love” but either way, it was well performed and great to listen to.
*by this point in the proceedings my hand written notes are beginning to show signs of alcohol consumption, as there are beer stains, and almost illegible scribblings on the page – but never mind.
Matt ‘Nozza’ Norris
Matt learned several lessons tonight, including to make sure his flat keys are in his pocket before he leaves the flat. This mistake meant that Matt missed an opportunity to get an earlier set.
Moral of the story over….etc. Fresh from banjo duties, Matt tries his unnamed new song first, and despite a few memory problems ( the song being so new) it sounds like another real shindig maker (any song which when played confirms the status of the evening as a proper shindig).
“When the Sky falls” is a Seth Lakeman/Steve Tilston style masterpiece. I didn’t want to write while Matt was playing, as it was so impressive. Well done. “When the Sky falls, When the Sky Fa-aa-alls” (Me singing at home from the memory of the song). In hindsight – the packaging should read just add oboe.
Matt finishes the set with a classic Moon song, and the audience partake in much foot stomping – Grrrreat!
Blair Durward
Blair opted to have his squashy after everyone else had played. Blair played a good song and finished off a long, and full OOTB.
See you all next week for an acoustic performance of Neoviolet (a fabu-diddle-doo-docious band – I honestly can’t wait!)
review: Tom Watton
compere: Calum Carlyle
sound: Malcolm McLean
