Song, by Toad

Mrs. Toad has been away all week and I have been at a gig every night in her absence.  In retrospect this was a bit foolish because I’ve had to sit through some real shit, but everyone I have specifically gone to see has been excellent.  A few less shows next week though, because there are only so many indie three or four-pieces that I can sit through who bring absolutely nothing new to the table in a musical sense and don’t even perform with any real sense of joy either.  Why the fuck are you people bothering?

So here’s a quick run-down of the stuff I really did think was good this week:

Jesus H. Foxx - I do have some reservations about these guys in the sense that at times their punchy, shouty indie-pop can seem just a little contrived.  For the most part it’s excellent though, and improves with repeat listening.   Their single release gig took place at Henry’s on Tuesday and I went along and availed myself of a nice new bit of vinyl.  It’s called Tightt Ideas and if you get in touch via MySpace I’m sure they’ll be prepared to send you one, assuming you ask nicely.  And this is the b-side:
Jesus H. Foxx – This is Not a Rental Car

The Byrons – Well they sound nothing like their recorded stuff when they’re on stage.  Partly this is due to the fact that a couple of the MySpace songs are older tracks recorded when the band was a five-piece, and partly because live they just bloody well go for it.  Sam has burst a bass drum before apparently and Ed managed to break his guitar in this set, but it was bloody fantastic. As a two-piece the sound is inevitably a bit more garage bluesy, but still keeps a pretty contemporary indie sound with its lurching changes of pace.  Definitely ones to keep an eye on if you ask me.  They are (perhaps) about to get round to recirding a few more songs, so there will be more to come from The Byrons on this blog.
The Byrons – Anglais

Alex Cornish – You already know I like Alex’s stuff, and he’s a truly nice chap to boot, and most keen to make a gin-fuelled appearance on the Toad Session in the next month or so, but even that wasn’t enough to make me stick around for the execrable Sandi Thom, not even out of curiosity.  Alex played an acoustic set on this occasion which I really enjoyed, but it was his relaxed, charming way with the crowd that struck me the most.  Opening early at Cabaret Voltaire can be tough because things start very early there so they can get in a more lucrative club night afterwards, but Alex’s easy chat brought the crowd round to his side in moments, and they loved him.
Alex Cornish – Scotland the Brave

Meursault – It’s basically indie electronica I suppose, but the presence of the banjo and ukulele brings something really different to their sound, but really this is mostly about Neil Pennycook’s amazing voice.  It’s such an impassioned howl that it is nigh impossible not to feel the emotion of this music in a live setting.  And the giddy delight at the release of their self-released album (buy one here) was a real pleasure to see.  They were buzzing and it was brilliant.
Meursault – Salt Pt. 2

I may have seen some crap this week, but I’ve seen some great stuff too.  Looking back at that little list, though, you know what excites me the most?  Not one of those groups has a label.  Alex has been courted, but isn’t having any of it, The Byrons just haven’t got their shit together, Meursault put together their first EP with a label but just didn’t think they brought enough to the table and Jesus H. Foxx just decided to put out the single themselves.  Indie is well and truly alive, and I am fucking excited as hell about the next few years of music in this city.