This will end up as a non-linear piece. Mainly when I have a written thing in mind it gestates for a day or so, or appears fully formed at the moment of it’s birth pretty much without any critical capacity getting involved. A little like throwing fruit at a wall, some of it sticks and looks pretty, some of it drops into the dust.
I’ve mentioned in several previous posts my admiration for Six.By Seven. Their new album (Love and Peace and Sympathy) is a great record. Chris Olleys enthusiasm for the project has been immense and in no small part inspired by getting drummer Steve Hewitt from Placebo on board. Seeing them live brings sense to this enthusiasm.
But, skipping back an hour or so….
One of things that I’ve noticed and noted in previous ‘review’ posts is that even though I’ve turned out for the main event the starters have been surprising and impressive. From WTATDR & Variety Lights, there are a lot of really committed bands playing support the ticket sellers.
The SIx.By Seven gig had three openers but sadly I only arrived in time to catch Grey Hairs. As they came out to check their equipment I had made some tiny preconceptions which where shortly trampled into sticky mush by their utterly clear mission to leave the audience shaken by commitment and volume. I looked them up when I got home and found their website here Both available recordings are worth a look. I’m particularly impressed by any band that can pull off a fresh cover of a Pere Ubu classic.
Listen to their take on Final Solution here….
Six.By Seven played the new album Love and Peace and Sympathy. Chris Olley wore a hat that made me think of Fields of the Nephelim which is odd because I never saw them and don’t really recall any of their material. At a push I would wear a hat like that but would probably opt for something more Sam Spade given the choice. The Rescue Rooms have really invested in their sound system in recent years and don’t seem to have acquiesced to any H&S policies when it comes to volume (this being a good thing).
The set falls under awesome for filing. The band gave it their all, they had some great material that has a solid fingerprint but a good level of variation, and they are very skilled.
One of the stand out tracks on the album is Truce. I managed to film that one, and its here…………
This is the album version of the song…
Above all, a great night out. There is real music in the world and it’s nearer than you think.
Epilog
In a brave late night decision making style Chris Olley kindly agreed to a Twitter interview. The full text is included below. I think you’ll find it both incisive and informative.
With typically mis timed aplomb, on Tuesday I floated my latest musical endeavour. It’s called BLUE(Sound) and so like the previous release ‘No Direction’ places me firmly in the realm of the boy band. Apart from the music aspect…. and my age range, potential demographic, chance of ever selling a piece of product…. Still, at least I’m a real artist (insert smiley face).
I’ve written a fairly lenghty and representative description of the project here and have managed to get the artefact produced, so now I know it’s real. Not unlike Dinosaur Jr who recalled ‘The Farm’ when it came out for being mastered louder than it should be (endless question marks) I’m still trying to get a couple of the songs properly volumnised so they hurt as much as was intended..
The packaging and the blog post include some pictures that I’m quite pleased with. The whole thing hangs together quite well over all.
You can play all of the songs on the Band Camp player below. I definitely recommend cranking your volume up on the two tracks ‘Hallucinogenic Toreador Blues & Gib Hill Blues, especially the latter.
Buy a ticket, take the ride as a great man once said…
Apostates…. Another song for you. This finished yesterday and almost 100% original content. The main loops and extended sounds are courtesy of my friend Obo (Ken). He provided some midi snatches and mp3 noodles which I’ve hacked, cut / pasted, stretched, phased, echoed and mutilated. Strangely this has ended up as the most structured and almost listenable piece so far.
What is it about I imagine you asking? The vocal for what it is, is a mantra repetition of the title (well almost, it’s actually “He Can Never Find Us”). It references the world in a grain of sand, insignificance, he won’t find us because he’s not looking. Maybe it’s ‘the man’ or the ‘Man’. It doesn’t matter.
So, a happy place song. Relax, you’re just paranoid.
….and….back in the room. Here, better late than never is the video. Due to the ebb and flow of my interest, not in the least what I had in mind. I do however really like the images and think they roll with the theme. The theme being we are in the end dust, stone, memories and deference….and little more. So basically ‘He’ will never find us because we will be small and long gone. Smiley Face!!
…..The River Trent to be precise. I had a little time to kill yesterday afternoon and whilst it was cold, the sun was out and the air was crisp. I had to go to West Bridgford so although it was match day at Nottingham Forest I found a place to park and went for a walk on Victoria Embankment from Wilford Suspension Bridge (like a toy Golden Gate) up to Trent Bridge. There are several full size images here so apologies for the slow loading. I think they are worth it.
The late afternoon sun on the river was very dramatic, lots of long shadows and strong contrasts. I used HDRPro on several of these to keep some detail in the foreground and most are post processed in Snapseed. All are taken from my phone. The one below goes against the basic principle of looking directly at the sun. I still have ‘white spot’.
The image below has a bit of the Hitchcock about it. There were a about 50 gulls sitting to the landing dock all looking at me in a menacing way. I shouted at them to try to get a bit of movement but all I got was a shrug and funny looks from passers-by. This one is full size, shot with HDRPro and tweaked in Snapseed.
The last image is a full iPhone5 panoramic from the mid-point between the bridges. Uploaded at the full size so you will get the best effect if you open it in another window. The resolution from the new iPhone is really quite impressive.
This image collage use three of the brilliant Scarecrows from our Wheelgate Park trip last Saturday. This is put together using PSTouch on iPad and processed using Snapseed.
If there are any death metal bands out there, feel free to use it!
Here’s the daddy of Halloween songs to go with it…..
Screaming Jay was a big inspiration on a lot performers but like many loved and referenced artists didn’t have the most successful career. This is his story…
This is a quick one. Today in the car I listened to ‘The Minneapolis Party Tape’ & ‘Tempest’ Bookends to a 51 year career by the greatest song & dance act on the circuit. Those big friendly arms at Sony make it difficult to share freely available content but (hopefully) here are two bits of content that illustrate a huge journey navigated by wilful intent and muse chasing far beyond that attempted by even the most dedicated circus act.
This is from 1964. At the time of this recording I was a pre-mewling infant awaiting my birth…
This is from earlier in the year. Americas great * hope President in the presence of greaterness. You can see Bob feigning humble, but you have to look close.
This from the same gig…
The new album ‘Tempest’ is an amazing & lyrical record that spans subjects and soundtracks them back into the primary beats of America. I’ll need another dozen listens to assimilate the stories in the songs. Bob is anything but ‘content lite’.
…and anyone who suggests his voice is gone should listen harder. Modulated poptones it ain’t. The voice of a dozen generations it is.
adrian4 
Six.By Seven at the Rescue Rooms
This will end up as a non-linear piece. Mainly when I have a written thing in mind it gestates for a day or so, or appears fully formed at the moment of it’s birth pretty much without any critical capacity getting involved. A little like throwing fruit at a wall, some of it sticks and looks pretty, some of it drops into the dust.
I’ve mentioned in several previous posts my admiration for Six.By Seven. Their new album (Love and Peace and Sympathy) is a great record. Chris Olleys enthusiasm for the project has been immense and in no small part inspired by getting drummer Steve Hewitt from Placebo on board. Seeing them live brings sense to this enthusiasm.
But, skipping back an hour or so….
One of things that I’ve noticed and noted in previous ‘review’ posts is that even though I’ve turned out for the main event the starters have been surprising and impressive. From WTATDR & Variety Lights, there are a lot of really committed bands playing support the ticket sellers.
The SIx.By Seven gig had three openers but sadly I only arrived in time to catch Grey Hairs. As they came out to check their equipment I had made some tiny preconceptions which where shortly trampled into sticky mush by their utterly clear mission to leave the audience shaken by commitment and volume. I looked them up when I got home and found their website here Both available recordings are worth a look. I’m particularly impressed by any band that can pull off a fresh cover of a Pere Ubu classic.
Six.By Seven played the new album Love and Peace and Sympathy. Chris Olley wore a hat that made me think of Fields of the Nephelim which is odd because I never saw them and don’t really recall any of their material. At a push I would wear a hat like that but would probably opt for something more Sam Spade given the choice. The Rescue Rooms have really invested in their sound system in recent years and don’t seem to have acquiesced to any H&S policies when it comes to volume (this being a good thing).
The set falls under awesome for filing. The band gave it their all, they had some great material that has a solid fingerprint but a good level of variation, and they are very skilled.
One of the stand out tracks on the album is Truce. I managed to film that one, and its here…………
This is the album version of the song…
Above all, a great night out. There is real music in the world and it’s nearer than you think.
Epilog
In a brave late night decision making style Chris Olley kindly agreed to a Twitter interview. The full text is included below. I think you’ll find it both incisive and informative.
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 Did you get the video to work eventfully? I need more words for the post. How about a twitter interview. I’ll be Richard Maddely.
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
21h
@adrian4acn yeah, Truce, looks great. Who’s Richard Maddely?
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 Only someone totally committed to something other than idiocy could ask that. Well done. Interview has started.
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
21h
@adrian4acn Is he part of Operation Yewtree?
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 That’s yet to suggested so let’s move on. @rescuerooms has really sorted its sound system out. So, tell us about the hat?
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
21h
@adrian4acn @rescuerooms The hat is a Stetson I found on Brokeback Mountain.
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
21h
@adrian4acn @rescuerooms Rescue Rooms was best venue of tour, best venue in UK I’d say! Amazing room, dressing room and PA soundman etc.
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 @rescuerooms Are you just saying that because you might bump into them in the Market Square? #Nottingham is a tight city.
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
21h
@adrian4acn @rescuerooms No, we all thought that. Rock City is best venue in UK, I’ve always said that, to watch bands I mean, and play!!
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 @rescuerooms I agree. The National Trust has a preservation order on the carpet apparently….
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 Moving on, the new album has an iconic front cover. Is there a Beatles reference relating to the inner spread?
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
21h
@adrian4acn No, it had all the lyrics on it but we used invisible ink. It was a fuck up but great for signing autographs on the tour!
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 The band is really well rehearsed and slay the songs. How did you meet Steve the drummer and does he come with a H&S policy?
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
21h
@adrian4acn Knew him from Placebo days, touring with them, he’s a hard living man!
A4+ @adrian4acn
21h
@ChrisOlley1 He certainly gave me a day & 1/2 of tintinitus. The tours over now, will you be doing more gigs soon, here or in other lands?
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
12h
@adrian4acn Hopefully a bigger tour in November. We will also be playing in Poland in October.
A4+ @adrian4acn
20h
@ChrisOlley1 Last question. You speak German. Is there a possibility that you could do a Helden and record Waffenstillstand?
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
12h
@adrian4acn Waffenstillstand?
A4+ @adrian4acn
12h
@ChrisOlley1 it’s the closest Google translate could get to ‘Truce’ It’s a shapely looking word.
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
12h
@adrian4acn Oh yeah! Truce is Waffenstillstand. In the context of this song though it’s probably more like ‘Ruhe’.
A4+ @adrian4acn
12h
@ChrisOlley1 That would better in the context of the song as well.
A4+ @adrian4acn
12h
@ChrisOlley1 So on that note, Chris Olley, thank you and good night!
Chris Olley @ChrisOlley1
10h
@adrian4acn Goodnight Adrian 🙂
Share this:
Like this:
2 Comments
Filed under Comment, Gigs, Hipstamatic, iPhonography, Music, Nottingham, Photography
Tagged as Arts, Chris Olley, Music, Nottingham, Percussion, Placebo, Sam Spade, Six By Seven, Steve Hewitt