Tom Odell, Wednesday 12th March 2014

Since 3pm (5 hours before doors) a swarm of teenage girls had been waiting outside the theatre Joy Eslava in Madrid. With no name above the door nor a single poster plastered around the city, Tom Odell takes to the stage before a crowd of around 800 people.

Opening with 'Hold Me' followed by 'Can't Pretend' and 'Sirens' backed by slick harmonies from his 3-piece band, his passion is astounding. "Sorry, we've got technical problems, I usually manage to break the piano," he tells the adoring crowd. A rendition of 'Sense' accompanied solely by a piano has the theatre in complete silence until the roaring sound of applause. After a couple of new tracks giving insight of how album number 2 is sounding, he sang 'Grow Old With Me' which resonated with the Spanish audience who sang along with every lyric.

The 23-year old's charisma goes hand in hand with his on-stage persona, he manages to stay effortlessly cool whilst being utterly charming. He even dared a few phrases in Spanish to which was well received by the Madrid audience.

After performing his highest charting hit 'Another Love', he disappeared off stage for a moment before the whole band returned into perform a 35 minute encore. 'See If I Care' is my personal favourite, the engaging sultriness is much less obvious than his cover of Etta James' 'I Just Want to Make Love to You' yet still incredibly intense. Every song is a high-energy performance from him and his band, guitarist Max Clilverd, drummer Dan McDougall, both amazing, and bassist Max Goff playing electric bass and double bass, vivid pyrotechnics accompany his frenzied piano bashing. The audience were reluctant to let him go demanding more encores until he wrote an on the spot song about Madrid (which he definitely doesn't sing in every city of the tour...) It's not hard to see why music legends such as Billy Joel and Elton John wanted him to open for them at their own live shows.

I was fortunate enough to chat to Tom before the gig. He had just been doing some radio interviews for Spanish press as this was his first time in the country performing and was also feeling a little under the weather (although you wouldn't have known it from his over an hour long sound check). He also took time to pose for photographs with fans on his way in.

If you didn't catch Tom on this tour make sure you get tickets for the next, you won't be disappointed. Also if you haven't already purchased his No.1 début album Long Way Down then I suggest you do so right now, available from iTunes etc.

Website: www.tomodell.com
Facebook: /TomOdellmusic
Twitter: @tompeterodell
Instagram: @tompeterodell

(all photos my own)

Check out the full album on my brand new Facebook page (and please Like!)

Sun, Sea, Sand and a 3 Day Music Festival

2013 saw the 5th Anniversary of one of Spain's biggest music festivals, Low Cost Festival in Benidorm. Over 20,000 people attended each night and it has just been confirmed that Benidorm will remain the host city until at least 2020. Three nights of amazing music, scrummy food and not a rain poncho to be seen.

If your idea of a festival is being knee-deep in mud, soaking wet and having to take practically every item of warm clothing you own and if, like me, that doesn't sound all that appealing then Low Fest definitely will. Held in a sports stadium/fields at the end of July (with temps of around 35°), you can camp in a wooded shaded area or if that's too much like roughing it then you can book into one of the many nearby hotels.

Though Low Festival, yes they've dropped the 'cost' this year, might not have the biggest names in music headlining, you will already be familiar with some and can rock out to others. It does have a VIP Olympic sized swimming pool, as opposed to an unintentional mud bath, and a separate VIP area.

Last year's line up included Two Door Cinema Club, Glasvegas, Portishead, Belle and Sabastian, Crystal Castles and TOY and some cool indie Spanish bands I can guarantee you definitely won't have heard of. Unlike most British festivals, weirdly Low doesn't even start each night until 6pm and most people don't rock up until after 9, the headliners usually play around midnight, and bands play until around 5am. This leaves all day to be spent chilling on the beach or eating delicious tapas in the Old Town, both only a 15 minute walk from the festival.

Last year's festival featured, for the first time ever in Spain, #ElChipProdigiosoDelLow which means "the prodigious chip". This chip was inside the wristbands and allowed anyone attending to post instant updates and photos to Facebook from Like/Check Points and Photo Stations inside the festival by registering their unique ticket number online beforehand. Certainly enough to make mother's head explode at the technological awesomeness.

So far The Hives and Editors are amongst a lot of random Spanish acts confirmed for Low Festival 2014, however most bands won't be announced until the beginning of May.

So glampers, put your wellies away, book your flight, grab your swimmy and pack some factor 30+. Three day tickets are currently 50€ but act fast as the longer you wait, the higher the price (you know the drill). VIP Pool tickets which include an unlimited free supply of Budweiser (curiously I'm feeling they may be the sponsors again this year) are 125€, if you're a fangirl then this is definitely the ticket for you as most acts lounge around the pool during the day.

Read my interviews from Low Cost 2013 with Two Door Cinema Club here and Glasvegas here.

Purchase tickets from www.lowfestival.es

                   

My Low Cost Festival 2013 (all my own photos)

Gabrielle Aplin - English Rain

The British songstress had her first No.1 Single with her cover of 'The Power Love', used in the John Lewis 2012 Christmas Advert. Over the past few years Gabrielle gained a huge online following after publishing acoustic covers and released her first 5-Track EP in 2010. She since toured the UK and Europe, meeting fans after every gig expanding her army of loyal followers wherever she went. Earlier this year she supported Ed Sheeran on his Australia/New Zealand tour after being invited along via text message by the Acoustic King himself.

First single from the album 'Please Don't Say You Love Me' shows her melodic tones and word phrasing to perfection. 'Panic Cord' edges closer towards the sort of pop music we're used to hearing, while other tracks such as 'How Do You Feel Today' and 'Alive' prove why she really is the indie-folk princess.

It's notably refreshing to hear an album with every single song written by the artist. I had the pleasure of watching Gabrielle soundcheck at The Electric Circus, Edinburgh, in July last year. Her voice was so effortlessly powerful and she seemed like a sweet, down to earth girl. This album deserves every success and I'm sure it won't be long before Gabrielle Aplin is a household name and a national treasure.

Published in Vista Magazine June/July 2013

Theme Park, Monday 18th March 2013

Within the first 30 seconds a packed out King Tuts Wah Wah Hut have already fallen in love with the Theme Parks' electric sound and vibrant set. Tracks from their debut album 'Jamaica' and 'A Place We'll Never Know' have every person in the room grooving along with their slick sound.

The loudest screams of the night come when Miles, Marcus and Oscar play 2011 release 'Milk' and their latest single 'Tonight'. The boys manage to create a warm intonation holding this small crowd in the palms of their hands whilst creating a sound that would still sound intimate in an arena of 30,000 people. Lead singer Miles' velvety smooth tones go perfectly with the overall vibe the three-piece pull off so effortlessly. It's like the snuggling up with the perfect blend of silk and cashmere.

Their zesty 80s style is somewhat lacking in the music industry of today. Theme Park could be one of the biggest bands of my generation, I can imagine telling my offspring about my experiences seeing them as I grew up.
 
It may be a snowy winter's night outside but inside this cosy venue I feel like could be in a beachfront cafe in LA sipping on a coconut cocktail, with Marcus' Hawaiin shirt completing the illusion. After the most enjoyable three quarters of an hour I have experienced in a long time the gig concludes with my, and apparently everyone elses, personal favourite 'Wax'.

I was lucky enough to catch an interview with the guys prior to the show, it was lovely to meet them and the interview will be published on the blog at the beginning of next week.

Theme Parks' debut album is available now on iTunes.

A Melodious Hug From Lewis Watson

The best way to sum up Lewis Watsons' latest EP 'Another Four Sad Songs' would be fourteen minutes of pure loveliness. I'm pretty sure the man could make Gangnam Style deep and beautiful, fortunately, he doesn't have to as not only does he have the wonderful voice, but writing talent too. Within only hours of its release 'Another Four Sad Songs' reached #2 in the Singer/Songwriter iTunes chart and #18 in the main top 100, also charting in Australia and USA.

The EP opens with the beautifully written 'Once Before', illustrating Lewis' effortless vocals. A simple love song with a real meaning anyone can relate too.

Following that is the first single from the EP. Straight into the lyrics "sink or swim, hold your breath and just dive right in, ride the wave, just ride the wave far from where we came". It's one of those songs that puts into words what every girl wants to hear from her boyfriend. You probably won't be able to stop yourself trying to harmonise in with the chorus, we all that need someone to will hold onto us for dear life. (This one is a Mummy Lauren favourite too).

'Lamplight' is next, a haunting Bombay Bicycle Club acoustic cover. Highlighting the poetic lyrics "these scattered flashes of delight, they can't help but sway your mind". 

The last track on 'Another Four Sad Songs' is 'Even If', an incredible song you could imagine being as massive as a Coldplay hit and Chris Martin performing it to thousands. Although I'm sure it won't be long before Lewis is singing it to his very own hoards of fans. The message being 'I can't run away from a big mistake', explaining that apologies aren't always enough. 

Having had the pleasure of interviewing Lewis back in July, I admire him for being so genuine and remaining humble and loyal to his fans as his music career continues to snowball. When it's cold and raining outside, snuggle up with a blanket and a mug of hot chocolate and lose yourself in his soulful heart melting music.

Another Four Sad Songs and the prequel It's Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW are out now on iTunes

The Man of the Moment

I write this review whilst singing along to ‘Bones’, one of the tracks on Lewis Watson’s EP ‘It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW’. I first heard about the 19 year old singer/songwriter via twitter, people were raving about him. I checked out his YouTube channel, which has over 34,000 subscribers and 3 million views, and fell in love with his raw voice. Being just him and his guitar, he’s often compared to Ed Sheeran but Lewis is completely different. It’s like comparing nutella and peanut butter, they’re just as good but in different ways.  After listening to a couple of his covers, I bought his single #3 on iTunes. 

Soon after that, on the 12^th April, his independently released EP was available on iTunes. Buying this turned out to be one of my better decisions of late and now I can’t seem to get enough of him. It’s not just his music everyone is going mad about, it’s his sweet, yet crazy, self too. I love how he tries to tweet back to as many fans on twitter as he can, constantly thanking them for their support or even just for buying his music. He’s currently selling physical copies of ‘It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW’ via his website, promising to customise every single one with a requested message/signature. According to his Instagram, the last one he signed was #619!

‘What About Today?’ is the first song on the EP and opens simply with the sound of a guitar. Throughout the song, Lewis’ backing vocal gives it a very fresh and pretty sound. The song is about being constantly confused as to why someone loves you one minute but not the next, with the main line in the song being ‘Well you loved me last night, but what about today?’

The next song is ‘Windows’, my personal favourite. I love the opening line of  "I'm not here to startle you, hell, I only came 'cause you asked me to". It just feels real and down to earth, I guess. The lyrics are beautiful and everybody can relate to missing somebody and no matter what you do, you still wish they could be there with you. I'm sure this one has lots of girls sobbing into their pillow.

Track number 3 is called ‘Bones’,  the first single from the EP. It’s one of those love songs you wish was about you and dream about someone singing it to you. It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW closes with ‘Nothing’, the gorgeous song about doing anything for that one person you love because without them you are…nothing.

With so much talent at the age of only 19 we should expect big things from Mr.Watson. He’s already had plays on MTV, AKA and 1Xtra and had recognition from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Wiley and Charlie Simpson.

It's Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW is out now on iTunes!

JLS 4th Dimension Tour

Last week (April 5th) I went to see JLS on their tour at the SECC in Glasgow. At £35 a ticket the boys were expected to put on a big show. Going in, I could tell what kind of audience this was going to be. Hoards of young girls ran by every few seconds with their JLS hoodies(£30) and foam fingers(£12), average age of the girls was probably about ten years old.

When I went in, the first support act were already on stage and as I got to my seat their set was just finishing. I was sat at the front of Block LL very close to the stage, on the aisle end at an angle. This meant no one was in front of me, my view was amazing, I could see every move. The second support act Vida came on stage after a short message from Oritsé promoting them. The girls performed a small collection of their own songs but it was clear their "swag" was more important than the vocal or lyrical content. Maybe the act was better from a distance? As the performance went on, their singing got shakier and their debut single failed to impress the arena. Starboy Nathan was the last support act, he had two dancers and really got the crowd going. He performed his brand new single 'Who Am I' and everyone joined in with the chorus. He also performed his big hit from last year 'Diamonds' and the whole arena sang along. 

A security man came and spoke to the people sat in my area to inform us that "the band would walk by" and that we weren't to "jump out or grab them". This got my friends and I extremely excited! After a twenty minute break a video came on the screens explaining JLS' mission, they had to pass 4 dimensions to collect their gems (which were of course their trademark colours). There was then a 10 second countdown and one by one JLS came down, on wires onto a second stage in the middle of the audience. It was very theatrical to watch and the roar of the screaming arena was quite incredible. They began to sing and it was made clear that no matter what, the vocals were not lost. Aston has an amazing range! After a couple of songs it was time for them to walk through the audience to the main stage. Marvin and JB took on my side of the arena while Aston and Oritsé went via the other way. I put my hand out as they went by and got to hold Marvin's hand, just for a second. It was hard to believe that I had just touched Marvin Humes' hand! 

The second dimension of the tour was very colourful and striking to watch. Say what you like about these boys but you cannot deny their talent for dancing, the routines showed a wide variety of dance moves and brought something fresh.

Amongst all of their own hits, the boys performed a cover of Labrinth's 'Earthquake'. This included flying across the stage on wires, faceless dancers, lightsabers and fire! It really felt like I was captured in the moment. When they came down, the band got onto a triangular platform and glided across the audience onto the alternative stage for a second time. 

Whilst the boys continued to blast out their biggest hits with amazing dance routines, security gathered in the aisles once again to prepare for them passing back to the main stage. I was so excited and knew what to expect this time as Aston and Oritsé came by. I actually got to touch both of them, their arms were ridiculously muscley and really very sweaty. The next 5 minutes consisted of me jumping around and swooning over the fact that I TOUCHED JLS!

In the last part of the tour the boys interacted with the crowd a bit more, they did a medley of covers including 'OMG', 'Beautiful People' and 'Yeah x3'. The lads certainly know how to work a crowd. Aston was talking to the fans while Marvin and Oritsé wiped down and then threw their towel into the audience, good banter. They then thanked their fans for everything and came across as very humble and genuine guys. It's refreshing to see such successful popstars actually appreciating what they have. They work so hard and deserve every success. A very happy Glasgow crowd left the SECC that night and I guarantee there were no disappointed fans any other night of the tour. In one word...stunning!