2 days, 2 gigs, 5 bands

i managed to get to see quite a few bands while i was in manchester this week. something that is quite hard to do in swansea. it's a bit of the normal gig trail. the two gigs i went to on monday and tuesday couldn't have been more different. for a start there was probably only 30 people at the richard james one while there was about 4000 at the flaming lips on tueday.

the bands couldn't be more of a contrast either. i'll give you a quick rundown.

Monday, King's Arms, Salford

Voice of the Seven Woods: one guy and his guitar, he could just have easily been playing in his bedroom but man was he good. kind of reminded me of nick drake with a bit more spanish guitar in it. he also did a cool recording/layering thing with a foot pedal. kind of like KT Tunstall does. he leaves before his last song finishes with the layered recording.

Viking Moses: this guy was strange. high on acid for a start. hard to know whether he was making words up as he went along( 'pushing my hair through a phone book' was a memorable line. he squirmed and wriggled and rolled up trousers/sleeves throughout. he did play a daniel johnston song though, and he is a legend. but yeah very strange. ask jonny about it.

Richard James: ah what can i say. any member of Gorky's is a winner from the start. he's doing a solo project at the moment as is the lead singer euros childs but the Gorky's sound comes through. no gimics just good songs. billed as psych folk pop (whatever that is) but sounded just folky. really good intimate gig.

Tuesday, Apollo, Stockport road

The Go! Team: wow what energy and can that girl move. only heard 1 of their songs before but they immediately got everyone going. i think if a support band gets people not to talk through their set and actually sing and clap along they have done well.

The Flaming Lips: Once again they were amazing. Flaming Lips gigs are less music concerts and more all out theatre or maybe one big birthday party. there are about 30 massive ballons flying about, lots of streamers and one lead singer Wayne Coyne, rolling about the audience in a big inflatable ball (you have to see it to believe it). Oh also there are lots of people in suits. in the crowd there was an alligator, a rabbit and a superman. some of these get to go on stage and dance along with the 10 santa's (representing christianity) and the 10 martians (representing scientology). i know it's hard to get a picture of it all but its a great night. the video below might give you a little glimps at the marvel that is a flaming lips gig........