Concert Review: Ben Howard// D!Club// Lausanne// 27 June 2012

Hello kids

So you should remember Ben Howard back from a few months ago when I gave you The Fear as first sample (also my favourite song – check out the lyrics).

So last night I went to see Ben Howard at D!Club Lausanne – the second time in a week. Not bad.
I was really happy to see him in a dedicated concert. It reconfirms my opinion that artists you really love you should see at their own concert vs. a festival.

Don’t get me wrong, I like festivals – but the performance never compares.
Last night’s performance was 10 steps above that of Hackney Weekend.

Beni is a superb live act. Not only does he build up and drop the song at ten times the intensity of the recorded version but he also adds lots of amazing variations and twist with his voice. His voice is close to perfection and the control and range and power with which he executes his songs is nothing short of breath taking.

His three disciples were not bad either. The multi-talented percussion player, whipped out a cello, a guitar and then a drum. And the bassist juggled strumming his base and hitting some drums in the same song. I admit to not being really focused on the drummer.

The band really managed to keep a high grip of the audience all the way through by mixing folky songs and more rocking songs. Changing the instruments up. Slow and more upbeat songs. And most importantly dramatic build ups and drops 3/4 into the song to create suspense for the big finish (something in my opinion they abused a little bit – but hey I’ll give it to them it’s very effective).

So all in all wonderful concert. The crowd definitely agreed as there was loud shouting and cheering the entire way through. He mistakenly admitted that he was very happily surprised by the support as he had been told the French part of Switzerland is rather boring (true but not necessarily the right thing to say). And also that he had tanned in his boxers with his fellow band member on a boat on the lake the whole day and resembled a gay couple. haha.

So why don’t you listen to his wonderful song The Wolves.

But just know it’s not even close to as good as it was live.

However I do recommend check this out if you want to get a feel for how he uses his guitar as a drum.

Put my name on it – this guy is going to be huge.

MasMusic
I wish I could make a soundtrack to my life and breathe in the notes every day

Song of the day: It's alarming honestly how charming she can be

Hello kids,

So onto the next artist I saw at Hackney Weekend. The controversial big lipped Lana Del Rey. I have already written about the drama about her. I have already given you by far my favourite (but not well known) song Radio.

And now I am happy to present the truth to you: SHE CAN SING.

There are some videos of her on youtube which my friends kept telling me about that she is a bad singer. Well keep your videos to yourself – I saw her live and she can.

To be fair the poor doll is either terrified or extremely shy and in the beginning she was being drowned out by the instruments. And then the sound was not completely clear – kind of a smudgy sound.

But as time passed and the Barbie relaxed, or the sound engineers made the correct adjustment, her voice really came out.
Especially when she added some fancy spontaneous twirls to the song to really show off the power of her voice.

THE GIRL CAN SING. And its wasn’t playback.

So that myth busted.

Here is Carmen. And a very Lana Del Rey type video.

MasMusic
I wish I could make a soundtrack to my life and breathe in the notes every day

Song of the day: We said our dreams would carry us

Hello kids,

I am back from my long and eventful weekend in London. After the paradox that was Roller Disco Friday night and Ascot Glam on Saturday
(although some of the girls were still wearing Roller Disco outfits at Ascot – British gals really like to air themselves out) I went on to enjoy HACKNEY WEEKEND on Sunday.

I had the pleasure of watching Santigold, Ben Howard (who I am also seeing tomorrow at Les Docks), Lana Del Rey and Florence + The Machine all for the total price of 2.50 GBP.
Can you say DEAL!

So let’s start from the beginning – a sample from Santigold.

You may remember that I gave you L.E.S Artistes (if you can’t find it on Spotify it’s because it’s when she was still calling herself SantOgold – why the change of letter not sure)

Anyways she has brought a second album since then – it’s called Master of My Make Believe. With a clear Africanny feel – which she also continued on stage (ghetto dancers, Zebras, and Africa moves).
You can also hear African musical influences (especially in Go!).

Here is Disparate Youth

MasMusic
I wish I could make a soundtrack to my life and breathe in the notes every day