Page last updated: 21st November 2014
That Was October
Our look back at what we saw during the month of October
Friday 3rd October
The Tea Street Band played at The Soundhouse with support from The Silent Union and Alligatr.’Extraordinary’, ‘deliciously ear-pleasing.’
Aligatr is a young band from Leicester; they have played at the Shed’s Showcase gigs for young bands. On 25th September we wrote:
Leicester indie/poprock band topped off a really good night with a vibrant set of songs. The five musicians on the stage tonight had plenty of character and held the crowd in the room. A band that is no stranger to the stages of The Shed, they took the time to introduce each other to the audience. It was good to see that most of the audience stuck around to support all the bands tonight. Singer Jonathan Doughty received backing vocals from other members of the band (always a brownie point in my book) and he delivered an impressive set with the help of the other musicians. [Music in Leicester]
A band with a lively and attractive set of songs, they included a cover by The Libertines and with up to three of the band members singing, they delivered a good vocal layer that was backed by a committed performance from the band as a whole. With their engaging sense of music and agreeable setlist, they gave us an enjoyable half hour of music that was well-played. Five lively lads making good music.
Leicester band The Silent Union started their set with a really good opening song – Salvation from their EP of the same name. Strong and intense vocals from Dean helped them to deliver an impactful set. Not particularly thrilling on stage and sometimes inclined to be a bit messy, they nevertheless added an enjoyable element to the evening.
Singed to Baltic Records and based in Liverpool, The Tea Street Band provided an extraordinary experience – a deliciously ear-pleasing confection on sounds that kept by head nodding and my feet tapping. Technically very slick and performed with lashings of cool, their infectious rhythms kept my ears firmly pointed towards the stage. I think that some of the many people who had turned up to tonight’s comfortably full show knew what they were looking for.
Even though I had not seen them before, they won me over straight away. They packed in alternative, electro, house, dance, pop styles to their set; capturing some of the most resonant rhythms of the club scene with sumptuously ear-licking beats, it was an ex-clubber’s idea of heaven. I loved it and I was buzzing. The sounds were beautifully orchestrated. They ended their set with their song ‘Summer Dreaming‘ which is on their Soundcloud page. Gloriously atmospheric melodies floating over pulsating rhythms. This band was a discovery that scored an instant success with me. Magic.
Saturday 4th October
Oxjam Festival. Overview of the festival. Report on Oxjam 2014. Slide show of photos.
Thursday 9th October
At The Shed for Charlie Dancer, Lew-Ray and Lois.
Friday 10th October
Glastonbudget auditions with Murmur, The Kut and The Enthused.
Murmur has now changed its name to Midcity. See the Midcity page on Facebook.
Friday 10th October
Soundhouse with Cabin Boy Jumped Ship
Wednesday 15th October
Friday 17th October
The Amazing Snakeheads at The Musician.
Saturday 18th October
The Blue Cops, Pedro Don Key, The Riviera, Flight 15, Alright The Captain.
Tuesday 21st October
Olivia Rose Dean at The Exchange. Keith Jobey was there.
Monday 27th October
Blood Brothers, the musical at The Demontfort Hall, published on Arts in Leicester
Wednesday 29th October
Blue Collar Decade, Koncept, Five Miles North of Nowhere and Scare Tactics at The Shed.
Thursday 30th October
The original UB40 at Leicester O2 Academy.
Friday 31st October
The Struts and Casino Empire at The Cookie.
See also:
Record Reviews from Leicester bands and singers.
New music from Leicester artists.
10 Essays on Bands and Music (publication).