Leverete @ South Street Reading

Saw the fantastic Leverete at South Street Reading on Friday. It was a wonderful gig on Sam Sweeny's birthday with them all very relaxed and intermingling interesting anecdotes along with the music.

Homework from the night:

a) Explore more English folk tunes
b) Play 'small horse' next motorway journey
c) Practice getting an After Eight mint stuck on forehead into mouth
d) Be able to turn an After Eight mint packet inside out


If you don't know about Leverete, here's their intro on YouTube:

And another example of what you can enjoy from them..... buy the album!

Spiro @ South Street and The Vapourer Moog

Had a fantastic evening just before we get into the Christmas rush to see Spiro. I first saw them at WOMAD about 6 years ago and have long enjoyed their music. And what a treat it was to listen to them in more intimate surroundings at South-Street with some cabaret style tables. Each of the members took a turn in explaining the songs and bringing about a wonderfully dream-like state of enjoyment from the musical patterns and melodies.

In the interval I purchased the one EP we don't have at home, The Vapourer which includes an int

eresting version of some songs using a Moog to complement their traditional instruments. I asked Alex Vann, the Mandolinist how this had come about. He said that Adrian Utley (of Portishead) and fellow Bristolian had suggested it as the instrument would complement their sound. And indeed it does. As the quote on the RealWorld records site says:

A new six-track mini album featuring Moog synthesizer mixes by Adrian Utley (Portishead), which transport Spiro's music to an ethereal place somewhere between Sci-Fi, Bach and Kraftwerk - plus a new recording and three dazzling live tracks from WOMAD Charlton Park 2012.