What happened when Newbury went Friday night Live & Local
Live and Local: Tomorrow Bird, Circus of Heathens & Who Ate All The Crayons at Ace Space on Friday, March 17. Review by TONY TRIGWELL-JONES
Along with a sold-out crowd of intrepid new music lovers last Friday, I was taken on a musical odyssey by three excellent, yet diverse, bands at Ace Space.
Opening with the most established artists first, we were treated to the spell-binding, award-winning duo Tomorrow Bird. Comprising Burnt Tomorrow frontman Simon Driscoll and solo artist Jen Bird, the Anglo-American pair’s polished harmonies ran the full spectrum of songs of love and loss. Jen’s other-worldly vocals (belying her musical theatre roots) were well grounded by Driscoll’s more everyman singing style. Though they describe themselves as never angry, suggesting that their music is not at the protest end of the folk tradition, it doesn’t mean that they are not active politically, with the excellent Not All Heroes Wear Capes being a fundraiser for the NHS and the gently cynical In Time providing a hymn to the world-weary worker stuck in a job they hate.
Next up were indie-rockers Who Ate All The Crayons who, in a post-everything era seem to draw on a range of influences, from Foals and Klaxons to The Strokes and Mystic Valley era Conor Oberst. Their contemporary ballads take relatively conventional themes that build to explosive crescendos, in a way that is exciting and unique.
Their choice of covers (No Diggity and Valerie) were real crowd pleasers that even managed to encourage some on to their feet from the seated audience. With just the right mix of heart and fun, the band (who appear to have recently grown from a duo to a four-piece) are destined for great things.
Rounding off the evening were Newbury’s Circus of Heathens, whose melodic vocals, backed by hectic fretwork and complex rhythms seem to owe much to turn of the century American Metal bands like Bullet for My Valentine, Slipknot and Korn.
The band boast two highly-skilled guitarists, Matt (also vocals) and Sean, allowing them to play off each other to produce some riveting solo work.
Meanwhile Stafford is a commanding, precision drummer holds the whole thing together exquisitely. Their best song, Send Me On My Way, allowed each member of the band to showcase their talents. Look out for their debut single Set Me Free, out next month.
As our musical journey came to an end, it was worth reflecting on the wealth of talent we have on our doorstep and the value that such diverse tastes can bring. Respect to those that stayed the whole night and enjoyed this rich diversity. For me, Who Ate All The Crayons were the stand-out act, with their hook-laden, sometimes anthemic tunes and assured stage presence, they appealed most to my own tastes.
I look forward to more celebrations of what West Berkshire has to offer.
