Friday 20th February 2015
Sensational rock night
A line-up of bands presented by Dreaming In Colour Productions
On the main stage of The Shed tonight: Emily Carr, New Priorities, Jack Fletcher Band, and 8Miles High.
Another show organised by Dreaming In Colour Productions
Finely picked guitar playing and a well-toned voice, that was pleasant to listen to, delivered with tantalising techniques, made Emily Carr’s performance enchanting. An engaging young artist, Carr had a set of songs that made for delightful listening. Eloquent vocals and enthralling songs, a performance that was very satisfying.
Having seen Kettering-based New Priorities before (I liked them the fist time) I was glad to see them again. They were sensational on stage and had a set of well-chosen songs that included Let’s Dance To Joy Division, so I was well pleased at that. Lead singer Eros Vellucci had a strong, appealing voice with backing from the bassist. They lived the music, doing synchronised jumps at the right moments and their music was driven by a bracing energy.
This is a band I roundly applaud; they ticked just so many boxes. Exponents of popular rock, par excellence, their sharp, snappy playing was both thrilling and amazing. A group of young musicians with lashings of passion and talent, they’ve really got it. All four of them sing; now that stands out for me! I love singing bands. They are good at Arctic Monkey’s covers but someone said to me: “Their own songs are better than the covers.” All You People Are Vampires (Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But…) was one such cover that they delivered well. In fact lead singer Eros Vellucci looked a bit like the young Alex Turner. Well worth seeing again; let’s hope they will come back soon.
Download the band’s demo for free
Watch then play on YouTube
Another band I was pleased to see again was Jack Fletcher Band from Wolverhampton. I say I have seen before, but the first time was when I walked into The Shed just as they were finishing their last song. It stopped me in my tracks. I just stood there and listened; thinking “wow – they are good!” So tonight, I was pleased to see them perform a complete set. Looking like a mod band, two of them dressed in Parkers, they refer to their music style simply as ‘rock’, which I think is fair enough. So, did they know how to rock? Yes, they did. Jack Fletcher is the band’s singer; having only one vocalist loses points in my book but I am not complaining because he knows how to sing and he had a good voice. The band’s songs were strong on attack, tightly delivered and their drummer Tom Robinson thrashed the skins like nobody’s business. Fletcher added some sparkling guitar parts and their performance was altogether electrifying.
Check out Jack Fletcher Band’s tracks on Soundcloud
Last year, 8Miles High climbed to the top of tree of young Leicester bands. OK, I say I like bands in which most or all of them sing. But in this band Oliver Kidd-Martin is the singer; and he is very good. I have followed this band for a long time and I have seen them play many times; so I know what they are like. Since they started, in 2012, they have grown and developed; that has been something wonderful to observe.
It was very good to see them back at The Shed tonight. Since their early days their musical style has moved on and now they play music that is harder and edgier then before. With many hundreds of flying hours behind them, they look and sound like a serious band – which in fact they are now. No longer the new boys on the block, they are one of Leicester’s established rock bands. They perform with real passion and commitment and Oliver Kidd-Martin is an astonishingly good guitar player.
Read about 8Miles High on Music in Leicester
See also:
Omaha at The Soundhouse
Upstairs/Downstairs at The Shed
Linear at Sumo
