Although, I have known the album cover of 'In the Aeroplane over the Sea' for many years, from the bargain bins, I only brought it for I guess £5 a couple of years ago. The early tales of Nineties first love, angst and wild landscape sonic guitars passed be by at the time but, I can appreciate them now in a cinematic way, where you go to watch a movie about a past time at the Picture House I guess. I then discovered ‘On Avery Island’ and both records are regulars on any road trips. 

The Union Chapel was a warm place tonight with the heaters blazing and the place pretty much full by the time The Music Tapes took to the stage. Julian Koster like Jeff, an erstwhile member of Netural Milk Hotel is the front man of tonight’s 3 piece (Laura Carter appeared with the band during Jeff’s set).

The band are a whirlwind of sound and visual attention grabbing impact along the lines of say, a Devotchka or A Hawk & A Hacksaw. Eastern European stories and sounds predominate. Julian’s favourite instruments seem to be a Banjo played with a bow and a Saw, again played with a bow. Great fun but any commercial success must be limited.

 Oh Come, All Ye Faithful ....... 

Tuesday night at chapel and there's a different kind of reverence going on between the stone pillars near Highbury Corner.

From the altar, one man and his many guitars had this North London audience under a spell.  There were some spine-tingling moments in this all-too-short set. However, Jeff Mangum's performance of 'Oh Comely' stood out.  It's an extraordinary song, but this was seven minutes or so of poetic soul-baring: naked and vulnerable but ballsy and bruising in its honesty, it came at you.  You didn't know where to look or what to say.

In this case, it's important to mention place.  The Union Chapel is an understandably and increasingly popular venue.  It seems there isn’t a singer or a band that doesn't want to play here these days.  They usually stand, gaze around and go "Wow!"

I've seen a few of what you might call top gigs here. And some utter rubbish too. This venue itself, splendid as it is, cannot make a gig. At worst, it can be unforgiving: mid-January, with a boney backside on a sub-zero pew, and - no criticism, it is a place of prayer - you're not even allowed a wee dram inside. So supping coffee and watching Mangum was fine, but something stronger might've softened the relative blandness of others on this same stage (yes, Gutter Twins).

It’s back to our favourite venue of the moment, the Junction 2 in Cambridge for a totally solo evening with Lloyd Cole and his acoustic guitars 

The audience is made up of a mix of LC devotees and people (like myself) who have just never got around to seeing him live before. Lloyd did make a comment half way through, thanking partners of twosomes for coming along supporting their loved one, as it very rare in a partnership that he finds both people liking his music.

Still best known as singer/songwriter of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (1984 to 1989) he remains without doubt a marvellous performer who has a crisp clear 50 something voice which delivers the stories of the songs very effectively. Self effacing he plays a crowd pleasing set reaching through a vast back catalogue and new songs too boot, all of which, are covered over two, one hour sets.  

Most of his chat centres around his accommodation for the night which is, the brand named hotel next to the venue, which still remains best outlined by John Grant’s introduction to his song ‘Where Dreams Go to Die’, Much I think in the thoughts of LC.

So a very pleasant intimate gig with a charming troubadour.

Pete

Lloyd’s Website

The CB2 cafe is a special place for gigs and really is the closest to the Glastonbury Green field’s tent experience you can get indoors. Scatted cushions all over the floor of the basement venue, tiny stage and fifty people and the place is packed. Good food / beer / wines and a very pleasant crowd, the evening is set. 

Greg McDonald and Gemma Gaynor (She was battered and bruised from falling off her bike earlier in the week) put on a delightful set of folk tunes. A debut record from the pair is currently being recorded with the guy’s from Slow of Hands, in the West Country.

Next up was Ethan Ash. A jolly fellow with a great collection of songs. I guess you would say pretty much in the Ed Sheeran mode and from the look of his hand-outs a master of social networking. Boundless energy and free jelly babies for the audience, he was well received.