Ben Howard Live At Bristol 02 Academy 29/02/2012- Feeding The Flames

Ben Howard first came to my attention at a local music festival called Lemon Fest in a town called Newton Abbot in September 2010. Even then, in the early stage of his career, you knew he had something special to share as on that summer-like evening as the sun was nearly setting he managed to captivate the crowd in silent awe. Not a house hold name by any stretch of the imagination but something was happening and we all knew it. 

Two years later this theory came to light. Mainstream exposure for Ben is currently at large with his debut album 'Every Kingdom' experiencing full critical acclaim. In February I got my second chance to see this talented Devonian perform live, only this time both his reputation and the venue were more established.

It was a sell out gig at Bristol's O2 Academy, some 1600 people descended with tingling expectation dutifully placed in the pits of their stomachs, and after plenty of highly complementary reviews based on recent shows around the country you could understand why. Anticipation for the arrival of Ben and band soared with every track change from the resident DJ, then finally in standard gig protocol the main lights dimmed and the stage lights raised to reveal the entrance of the main act. 

Ben humbly welcomed the crowd to the show with a croaked and retiring whisper and in unison we leaned in with eagerness to gladly welcome an already growing itinerary of crowd pleasers.

Fantastically aided by his band consisting of multi-instrumentalist India Bourne, who changed from bass guitar to cello to drums throughout the entirety of the show, all the while, filling the room with soaring backing vocals. Percussionist and backing vocalist Chris Bond, aided and accompanied by an electric guitarist using an array of techniques to keep every song within its aura. Together they burned through a thick set of songs changing pace with slow and high tempo numbers. Stoking the fire with a majestically captivating ending to 'The Wolves' sending the crowd into bedlam, then letting the embers tentatively glow with songs such as 'Bones' and 'Gracious'.

It was a mesmerising evening at Bristol's 02 Academy that night. Ben cut a humble figure hanging over the microphone with general bemusement at the sheer numbers of adoring fans cheering and singing to every song. The volume of which only slightly increased with prolific singles 'The Wolves', 'Keep Your Head Up', and 'The Fear'. Proving debut album 'Every Kingdom' to not only be one for the daytime radio DJ's and single searchers but a true classic in the making.

Justice @ The 02 Academy Bristol 09/02/2012

The Justice documentary 'A Cross The Universe' gives you a good idea of what to expect at a Justice gig. Rock and Roll attitudes submerged in heavy beats, synthesisers, emphatic choruses and hysterical crowds of fans, all encased with a casual comical value. So as you can probably tell, there really is nothing quite like being there in person, as I found out on the 9th of February at Bristol's 02 Academy.


As always Justice had sold out their venue for the evening, their reputation of a night of debauchery deemed too difficult to pass up for fans coming from all corners of the UK. Gaspard Auge` and Xavier de Rosnay have built a reputation for their rock' n' roll style juxtaposed with nu-disco, french house and electro funk sound, and it works fantastically. 

Justice first came to prominence with a remix of Simian's song 'Never Be Alone'  originally created for a Paris college radio stations remix competition. After being aired in clubs and through internet sites the song finally got release in the UK under the title 'We Are Your Friends' using a sub label of Virgin Records and this got them the chance of releasing their first album 'Cross'. 

Propelling them to almost instant legendary status after picking up award nominations for 'Video of the Year' at the MTV Music Video Awards for 'D.A.N.C.E' and claiming the 'Video Star' prize at the European Music Awards alongside 'Best French Act of the Year' Justice soon became festival favourites playing at 'Coachella' 'Sonar' 'Oxygen' and 'T in the Park' to name but a few. 

After releasing their live album 'A Cross The Universe' the lads released much anticipated second album 'Audio, Video, Disco' in 2011. It was a smoother, less punctuating release in comparison to the almost flawless first, but it was different, and different was good. They still outlined their knack for hitting explosive hooked choruses with tracks like 'Civilisation' and 'Newlands' whilst introducing a slower groove to songs such as 'On'n'On'. The funk and soul element is still very much alive too with song like 'Helix' keeping you guessing and anticipating the next move throughout the albums entirety.

The stage was set, quite literally, the dummy Marshall stacks were in place each side of the stage and a rather provocatively placed sheet failed to cover up the outline of the infamous cross front and centre. 

As the call from the fans grew louder the lights faded and the calling card introduction of first song 'Genesis' announced the french duo's arrival. Appearing from a thick mist covering the sold out venue came our hosts for the evening, it was difficult to make out much more than the leather jackets, Gaspard's hairline and the intermittent glow from two cigarette ends. They really arrived when their silhouettes were illuminated by the blinding light of the cross.

Dropping into the 'Thriller-esque' groove 'Genesis' took the dance floor over instantly and everyone, in unison, lost themselves in it. This truly set the tone for the evening, an evening dominated by overall admiration of the two men commanding the room so dominantly. The raw from adoring front row ravers propelled the sound of Justice to new levels of hysteria that night and I can honestly say I failed to see anyone not moving to their feet..and more. 

If there was one criticism it was a small one. As in true 'Justice' fashion they blended popular samples into their own tracks and it was of course flawlessly done. But they didn't last long and just as you came to realise the song they had dropped in and came to enjoy its comparative groove it was gone, leaving no real time to revel in it. As I said it was a small criticism on an otherwise flawless show. They truly did explode on the Bristol 02 that night and gave it everything they had to please us. 

It's not everyday they come to England to play but when they do next a recommendation to see them perform would come very highly from me.

Kings of Leon Documentary Talihina Sky

Soaring to new heights or a band hitting turbulance?

'Kings of Leon' have shared an abundance of success since forming in 1999.

Five albums and a documentary later its easy to see why they have vastly become one of the worlds favourite rock bands to date. However, as I am about to explore, new documentary 'Talihina Sky' may have been a stumbling block against an otherwise arguably flawless existence. 

The bands debut album 'Youth and Young Manhood' (2003) was groundbreaking this side of the atlantic, giving them huge success in the UK. Follow up album 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' (2004-05) saw the Followills gain accolade from some of their rock peers. Touring in 2005-2006 with Bob Dylan, an opportunity not taken lightly by the Followills holding him as a hero and inspiration of the band. They also went on to support nations favourite Pearl Jam during the same period on the South Pacific leg of their world tour.

'Kings' first number one in the UK came with the release of their third album 'Because Of The Times' (2006-07). Although some reviews were far from flattering it still shifted over 70,000 copies in its first week.'Only By The Night' (2008-2009) arguably the bands most commercial album to date saw them gain long awaited recognition by their native, America. With debatably a slightly more watered down radio friendly sound, singles 'Sex On Fire' and 'Use Somebody' propelled the album to new levels of success across the globe. Giving the band a broader appeal that stemmed from air time on prime time radio stations.

The bands latest album 'Come Around Sundown' (2010-2011) saw this seemingly unstoppable force of rock and roll gain more reward with a Grammy nomination for best rock song in 2011 for 'Radioactive'.

After all the success obtained through these albums comes Kings Of Leon's latest venture, the homely titled documentary 'Talihina Sky'. It centres on the band's up bringing, family and friends all of which seemingly shaped the four twenty and thirty somethings into the group we know today. 

Even with a relatively acceptable running time of 1:23:06 it feels like more of an endurance test rather than a trip behind the scenes. Choosing to focus mainly on their roots it would have been more bearable had it included more live, studio or touring footage. Instead the viewer is subdued to home videos and interviews with family and friends. What starts as an interesting insight into their religious roots and humble upbringing in Albion, Oklahoma seemingly appears to be filler material opposed to the anticipated footage of the years of sex, drugs and rock and roll that made this notorious foursome irresistible to UK music magazine headlines and the behaviour which made them the adopted sons of the UK's rock scene. 

Director Stephen C.Mitchell was there from the beginning, handing brothers Nathan and Caleb their first song writing deal whilst working on music publishing in Nashville. Admitting that the early footage of the band forming in their garage with brother Jared and cousin Matthew along with early tour and gig footage was "lost or stolen" they had to dive into the archives and recover footage the lads had taken themselves. Being brought up in the 'home video atmosphere' they took to the camera with ease, however the footage is much to be desired.

'Talihina Sky' is not one of KOL's best achievements, and after much anticipation it is rather disappointing it's not the portrayal of one of the worlds biggest bands that we expected or wanted. This won't signal a decent from the summit of chart rock, however it will trigger an expectant, possibly impatient reaction from fans waiting for a highly anticipated NEW project, hopefully, worthy of its hype.