Reel Big Fish: Liverpool Academy

Posted by jamie on Feb 6, 2012

Reel Big Fish, Orange, the JB Conspiracy

Academy, Liverpool

3^rd February, 2012

Rosie

 

When I moved to Liverpool, the thoughts running through my mind were something like “fantastic! Now I won’t have to travel 60 miles to get to the nearest decent gig”. Of course on arriving, I realised that it’s a rare occurrence that bands actually stop off here on their tours. So I’m usually still stuck with the 35 mile trek to Manchester. Last night, however was a different story entirely with the arrival of Reel Big Fish and support acts Orange and the JB Conspiracy in Scouseland.

My evening didn’t exactly start off as planned: I arrived in the venue and headed to the bar for a nice pint of cider. £4.10! Not so nice. Especially in Liverpool where you know you can walk up the road to a certain club and get the same for a mere 90p!

Arriving half an hour before the JB Conspiracy were due to come on, we had time to chill for a while, which just made me realise how small the venue seems when no one is there…it’s a shame, because anyone who turned up late missed the “brass packed ska punk turbo jazz” as they have described themselves. The band jumped straight in to the thumping, dance worthy Pipe Down, the only really old track that they provide us with tonight. Somehow this was my first time seeing JB Conspiracy, they’re one of those bands that no matter how hard I’ve tried, every time they play anywhere I can’t make it, so I was especially excited tonight. They seem to have a good blend of “new” songs and favourites off debut album This Machine. Three of the four tracks from their new EP The Calm, Start Listening, Going Up In Smoke and Skeleton Key were also presented with great enthusiasm.

There were a few specific things that struck me about their performance: one was how much the vocals have progressed, finding their own style, more melodic and refined than those found on This Machine, which really comes through on their new EP too. The keys parts are also stunning, not the average tunes you’ll get from any other ska-punk band and they really add another level to their orchestrated mix up. Each song has its individual merits but all the distinctive elements of this band just blend together so successfully in a way one could never really imagine, presenting an array of musical textures which you won’t find in your average ska-punk band. The keyboardist’s ability to play keys at the same time as alto sax was another shocking highlight. I was amazed!

There was a pretty decent crowd response during Going Up in Smoke and they called for some audience participant later on. I think they really define themselves from other bands purely by being so soulful without losing their fun, horn driven elements that make their songs so danceable. They’re just so unbelievably tight and together throughout their set. So serious, but so fun.

They finish on Time Machine, which is just as great as the rest of the set. They’re just so consistently enthused and always together. You just can’t fault a performance that’s this tight. I think a lot of people arrived not knowing who the hell they were and will leave intrigued fans, awe inspired and excited to delve in and discover everything the band have to offer.

Second support act Orange certainly make an impression as they walk on stage to The Who’s Baba O’Riley with a collection of silly hats and very silly hair. I’m slightly confused as to whether the front man’s outfit was a joke or not, it was very reminiscent of a Gerard Way style hair/outfit combo, but I’ll let that slide for now.

I’ll admit straight out that they don’t seem to be the kind of band I’d usually enjoy. They seem like a slightly odd choice on the line up, out of place sandwiched between two hyper horn fuelled ska-punk bands, which probably didn’t aid my views on their performance. While there was nothing overly offensive about it, their vocals did not appeal, the deep raspiness of the front man seemed somewhat lazy at times, whilst their backing singer helped them sound like a cross between Green Day and New Found Glory, enough whine to keep it going but rather more tuneful than the other vocalist.

They tried really hard to grab the attention of the audience, and seemingly they did, they seemed to keep everyone fairly captivated however I personally felt there was too much reliance on the theatrical rather than the music.

When they cut out vocal lines for intros and interludes where the bass lines became more interesting, backing up the standard pop punk guitar riffs, their talents started to appear through the haze. They were together but there seemed to me to be a musical element missing which was evident right from opening track Elektron Gun. They progressed through the set as everything got a bit tighter however this was slightly ruined by an awkward rendition of the Beatles’ Help! that they closed with. It’s always a risky move when in Liverpool but I guess they pulled it off as it certainly livened up the end of their set.

It seemed like we were left hanging for a while for the appearance of the Fish, but this left me with time to meet some of the people about, such as the woman who told me that although she’s married, she’s definitely in love with the Fish and has been for 10 years now so didn’t even bring her husband with her. They certainly draw an attentive crowd.

Reel Big Fish are one of those bands that appear in the UK every year, so the chances are you’ve probably managed to catch them before and having seen them even once, you know exactly what to expect. The same can be said from most people who’ve listened to their live album “Our Live Album Is Better than Your Live Album” a good few times. This is by no means an insult. They clearly know what they’re doing and have done for years so they keep churning it out and every time it is a damn good show. When they’re in to their 20^th year it almost suggests some kind of timelessness.

They launch right in to Everything Sucks and I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too, dating all the way back to 1995 and 1996 respectively. They seem to start off slightly slow but that doesn’t last for long. Tonight there’s definitely a focus on their older 90s tracks, only a few songs from We’re Not Happy ’til You’re Not Happy and Monkeys for Nothin’ and the Chimps for Free sneak in. It wouldn’t be a Reel Big Fish show without some hyped up ska cover versions, this time Brown Eyed Girl was chosen, and proved to be a real crowd pleaser: there’s not a person in sight not dancing, a good thing too after Aaron stated “you better all know this song and if you don’t, we don’t care”. They consistently expose this air of not caring about anything or anyone, reflecting how they are entirely self assured in their performances. They don’t need to prove themselves to anyone.

Highlights were definitely the inclusion of 241 which is always a good dance along horn fuelled (what isn’t when it comes to Reel Big Fish?) affair, the many versions of Suburban Rhythm including the country one allowing everyone to swing around their partners Cotton Eye Joe style. Where Have You Been? adds a contrasting tone to the set with its emotional lyrics and more sombre character moving in to the bass interlude. With the brass playing in unison, the sound grows to huge proportions, almost bursting our ear drums before throwing us in to Beer. Half way through Aaron decides to play his guitar part behind his head rather impressively, as usual. They disappear briefly and return for the obvious two song encore of Sellout and Take On Me.

The whole of their set seems like a massive party, as always…aided by Aaron Barratt’s Hawaiian shirts, as always. Everyone’s out of breath by the end of the show from dancing so much and I barely have a voice left. With Reel Big Fish, you always know what you’re going to get but you also know that it’s going to be a good time because their enthusiasm is so contagious. It seems in recent years they may have had to rely on support bands to help pull in the people that have seen them over and over to make it worth it, but that just means the night is all the more enjoyable. It was a kind of gig you can’t help but leaving on a high note: Reel Big Fish just ooze that kind of positive energy.

Reel Big Fish: 2012 UK dates

Posted by jamie on Nov 2, 2011

Reel Big Fish will tour the UK in January and February of 2012.  Tickets are on sale here now. 

Support comes from Orange and our boys the JB Conspiracy.

JANUARY 2012

25 - Waterfront – Norwich
26 - Pyramid Centre – Portsmouth
27 – O2 Academy 2  – Birmingham
28 – Rock City – Nottingham
29 – Corporation – Sheffield
30 – University – Newcastle
31 – Garage – Glasgow

FEBRUARY 2012

1 – Academy – Leeds
2 – Academy 2 – Manchester
3 – Academy – Liverpool
4 – Sub 89 – Reading
5 – Cardiff Uni Solus – Cardiff
6 – Pavilion – Falmouth
7 – Westlands – Yeovil
8 – Hippodrome - Kingston Upon Thames

9 – Shepherds Bush – London

Get tickets here.

JB Conspiracy: 2nd album news

Posted by jamie on May 5, 2011

This from the JB Conspiracy via our facebook..

For the past few weeks we’ve been locked away in a studio near Watford with producer Larry Hibbitt recording the remaining parts of our forthcoming second album. Now that we’re almost at mixing stage we thought we’d let you have a little peek at what we’ve been up to!

Find out more here.

 

Random Hand: High Wycombe show

Posted by chips on Oct 7, 2010

Alternator Gigs have put on yet another cracking bill.  This one’s at the Nag’s Head in High Wycombe on 23rd October.  Keighley ska/metal behemoths Random Hand headline, with support from the JB Conspiracy, Beat the Red Light, and Bored of Justice.

See the show on facebook here.  Thanks to SuzySka for the pic.

JB Conspiracy: Underworld headline show

Posted by jamie on Mar 31, 2010

This one sort of sneaked up on all of us: The JB Conspiracy will headline Camden’s Underworld on Saturday.  Support comes from Over and Out and Advantage.

Doors are at 19:00.

We Are The Union w/ Kids Can’t Fly, Anti Vigilante and the JB Conspiracy

Posted by jamie on Feb 10, 2010

 

 

Kids Can’t Fly, Anti Vigilante,

The JB Conspiracy, We Are The Union

 

Friday 5^th February, 2009

 

Underworld, Camden, London

 

Jamie

 

 

Friday night ended up being one of those: one of those evenings where everything went just about perfectly.  One of those where you find yourself a little bit sad, even as it’s happening, because you just wish that every day could be like this. We played football over lunch, but I still managed to eat a big bowl of soup at my desk in the afternoon and, to top that, we were sent home an hour early: excellent.  All the more perfect, too, because that meant I could grab my ticket from All Ages before the show and save myself 50p.  It meant we’d be on time, too, which was priceless, because, despite being on first, Kids Can’t Fly were the one band I really  wanted to see and they were due on stage at 18:30 which is pretty loopy when you think about it.

 

Chips and I celebrated with a giant falafel wrap and then went to hang about and annoy strangers by loitering for ages right in the middle of a very busy pavement. We’re both small, but got our fair share of tuts and sideways looks as we stood there trying to peek through the bars and spot when the doors opened.  Needless to say, this meant we were first in: the floors still smelt of polish (I know, it surprised me too) and there were a lot more staff than there were of us.  All very surreal.

 

Kids Can’t Fly, as stated, were on first, and started off playing The Vicious Circle.. to five people.  It’s harsh on them, as an undoubtedly great band, to be put on so early, even on such an excellent bill.  Little matter, though, as knees and then shoulders and feet start to jig about straight away.  By the end of the first song the rest of our mates had shown up, and, all of a sudden, I’m not so shy.  I know, I know, only hard when I’m with my mates, blah blah blah.

 

KCF’s gloriously epic take on pop-punk is at once deliciously retro, loaded with vintage pop hooks, and yet bigger and more melodic in a way that is so much cooler now.  On record, the attention to arrangements and the sheer quality of their songs is uplifting, but tonight, in concert, even at 19:00 (or whatever it was when they went on) they are nothing short of formidable.  These melodies are infectious, and their harmonies just soar.  It’s also the loudest I’ve heard a “support” act play in the Underworld, and there’s still only about twenty people here.  That’s a crying shame, because anyone who got let out late or only turns up to see American headlining bands missed out on a treat.

 

Ryan cheekily asked us for a “two man circle pit”, and duly got it.  It was basically us sprinting around like loons, but, to these tunes, it almost felt like I was going to take off.  No pun intended.  It’s been a long week and, despite the falafel, I’m  pretty knackered.  Sometimes spinning even a little makes you feel like you’re about to fall over and it lasts for ages and ages.  That’s what this was like.  And the spinning thing did actually happen at one stage.

 

Tune In and She Called Shotgun from their newer EP Strength in Numbers are both in the set, alongside a few new songs that are just lush.  There’s a cover of Less Than Jake’s A.S. A.O.K. as well, in case they could get any more perfect. 

 

The room’s filled up a lot by the time Kids Can’t Fly finish off with She Called Shotgun, and us early birds are exhilarated, a little punch drunk from all the running, and, with lungs gasping for the musty warm air and eyes still looping the loop, it’s as much as we can do to stumble still and whoop a little bit in appreciation.  It’s the least the guys deserve.

 

Bananatown did want to have a quick chat with Kids Can’t Fly after their set, but, having resolved some personal crises and watched the JB Conspiracy, we didn’t get a chance.  Keep your peepers out for that interview soon..

 

 

Anti Vigilante are something of a contrast to Kids Can’t Fly, but seriously good fun nonetheless.  Josh Waters-Rudge last week called Random Hand “the UK’s premier skacore act”, but Anti Vigilante are on the up and deserve to be.

 

Like Random Hand, (and Nofx, sometimes, and a bit like Beat the Red Light, among others, Anti Vigilante are a four-piece, with just the one brass instrument.  Except in this case it’s a sax, so it’s woodwind, but you know what I mean, it’s a horn.

 

In places they’re peppy and skankable as well as snotty, and at times they’re dirty and full on and almost Oi, but really they’re a punk rock band at heart.  For me at least.

 

It’s the first time I’ve seen them, but of course, I’d heard the hype.  I do know Tabzy, after all.  It’s well deserved: Anti Vigilante are a very good live band: they’re tight and have a good collection of songs that they enjoy playing, and they’re a pleasure to watch.  Backing vocals are good, and nicely placed, riffs are just right, you can mosh and skank to them (but not at the same time) and they’ve got a sax.  It’s top.

 

That clutch of bodies in the empty semi-circle at the front whirl around happily throughout, as Anti Vigilante rattle through a good length set list with minimal fuss.  And then they’re gone.  Quick as that.

 

It’s a while since I’ve seen The JB Conspiracy play live.  I fell in love with them, at the Underworld, when they were Duff Muffin.  It was right after the Solabeat Alliance split up, so I doubt I was the only one looking for a new favourite band.  They seemed to sort of disappear, and came back as the JB Conspiracy.  They still play Pipe Down, but sadly On the Beer doesn’t show up any more.

 

Instead, the new-look band are bigger and noisier, sharply dressed, and altogether a bit more “serious”.  Pipe Down from the Eagle Eyes EP does get an outing tonight, but only as a sound check: van problems meant that the guys were late and had to soundcheck during the gig.  That must be what kept Kids Can’t Fly waiting until 7 to go on.  Good job, too.  After that, the only other real oldie is The Patriot, also from Eagle Eyes.

 

“We haven’t played that for ages”, says Leek afterwards.  “I hope it didn’t show”.

 

It didn’t show one bit: for a band with so many musicians and so much going on, the JB Conspiracy are ridiculously well-drilled, and super-tight at all times. 

 

Tonight we’re treated to a few new songs amongst set made up mainly from the songs on This Machine, though This Machine itself is a notable omission.  Rumour has it, by the way, that there’s a follow-up to This Machine on its way “soon”.

 

Tonight, though, it’s all fairly standard JB fare: horn driven, peppy, soulful ska punk with keyboards and that tasty old-school vibe that they’ve had nailed since pretty much forever.

 

The level they’ve practiced too means that live performances are often fairly similar to each other: the guys are a “serious” band these days, and focus on delivering a good, tight, super-danceable set.  They do it very well, and there’s full on skanking pretty much start to finish.  We are only a small crowd, but the extra space comes in handy, and we can make full use of it.  Those of us in early are pretty tired, by the end of this, but it’s the happily worn-out sort of tired, like a well walked dog stretched out on a rug in front of an open fire dreaming of running after sticks.

 

 

That cosy dog, all belly-out and twitchy-paws, would probably enjoy the smell of crumpets and some gentle Bing Crosby, cold jazz, etc.  We Are The Union would not hit the spot quite so much.  “If you haven’t heard them”, Kids Can’t Fly had written to us, “think Less Than Jake meets Four Year Strong”.  If that sounds ace, then WATU were not a disappointment. 

 

Not much for the sleepy heads, though, and there are a few tired bodies around by this point.  We Are The Union come out of the blocks fast: a bruising, straight-up take on the rock-with-horns thing more than a ska-punk band in my book.  They’ve got a horn section, but they’re not ska.  It’s more of an assault, much more in-your-face than a lot of the more melodic American stuff that’s around at the moment, but they’ve got the hooks, the songs and the level of ability that say that they could, and probably should, become as famous as major-label bands that sound similar, if not intense.  I like Falloutboy, for example, but they could learn a few things from WATU.

 

Refreshingly, though, WATU come across as thoroughly genuine, down to earth guys who are delighted to be touring and playing their music.  It’s the first time I’ve seen them, but they’ve brought a clutch of fans who clearly adore them and follow their every move.  On this evidence, that clique should expand in to a decent-sized crowd very quickly, and, for all of the at-times-intimidating power behind their music that could almost scare a few away, their sound is just right for them to be packing out arenas, I reckon.

 

Tonight they’re on fire, moving the pit around at will and entertaining those of us too breathless, at the back, and more intent on skipping.  As performers, We Are The Union dominate a stage and a room like bona fide rock stars: they’re totally in control, and yet as one with all of us, and take time to have a joke at the same time.  And then they slay us all over again.  I was pestering for a CD afterwards, put it like that.  And I’ll be at another show.  Phew.

DO THE DOG BANDS’ TOUR DATES

Posted by jamie on Jul 26, 2009

Guilfest Conspiracy

Posted by jamie on Jul 9, 2009

The JB Conspiracy play Guilfest in Guildford, Surrey tomorrow.  Amusingly, they’re playing the same day as Motorhead and You Me At Six.

Free song!

Posted by jamie on Apr 20, 2009

As they set off on tour with Catch 22, The JB Conspiracy have made the song “Start Listening” a free download from their myspace.  Ideas for “start listening” puns are arriving thick and fast.  Better stop posting..

Streetlight Manifesto, JB Conspiracy, Crazy Arm & Advantage

Posted by jamie on Apr 6, 2009

4^th April, 2009, ULU, London Bloomsbury.

Streetlight Manifesto, JB Conspiracy, Crazy Arm, Advantage.

To put this show in perspective: it could easily have been one of the best nights out in years, or, just as easily, one of the worst.  When a new summer first shows up, long days of sunshine-drinking (that’s drinking in sunshine, not actually drinking sunshine) usually ensue.  You know how it is, it’s either a perfect day, or you or someone near you in the pit, the gents or the tube, has one too many, gets a bit too hot and something goes wrong.  Thankfully, this one turned out good: so good that I’m two days late reviewing it and still redoing the ULU stamp on my hand in biro.  Yes, not just good but with that extra bit that puts it above your run-of-the-mill great show and makes it a deep-sigh-in-the-chest-remember-fondly-forever show.

We went for buffet next to Camden Town tube (all you can eat Thai for £5.50 and EVERYTHING vegetarian) and decided to add apple and raspberry juice to some bargain own-brand champagne.  That was a great idea, because £6 champagne is even worse than you’d think, but with juice it’s actually quite nice, and great for drinking out.

 

ADVANTAGE are the band that used to be Grown At Home before Nick left.  There are more changes to the line-up than that, though, and they are actually a very different band.  Bananatown isn’t one of those snooty “ska is immature/cheesy” sites, but the evolution that’s happened here is really, really impressive.  The melodies, in particular, are striking and different to what we used to see with GAH: more akin to the angstier end of American style pop-punk bands like Never Heard of It or New Found Glory, or even Failsafe.  Their harmonies have more parts, too.  I go “My Girl” slushy for a good harmony, and Advantage’s set is loaded with them, each underpinned by crunchy, dirty riffs.  They haven’t stopped being a ska-punk band, but have in fact become refreshingly broad and inventive, with a new and really exciting sound, yet still ska, and still punk, the sort of band that emos and metallers will try and claim because the only ska band they know is Reel Big Fish. Rant over.  Sorry.  You MUST see this band.  I wouldn’t have traded Grown At Home, given the choice, but now wouldn’t trade Advantage to get them back.  These guys are danceable, skankable, moshable, and impressively tight for what is only actually their third show with this line-up and material.  A must for the future.  I only knew “Never Say Never”, because it’s on their myspace, so apologies for the lack of songs.  Probably not too many people know them anyway.

 

CRAZY ARM take the crowd a little by surprise, and not just because they weren’t on the poster and we’re expecting the JB Conspiracy.  I haven’t seen these guys since they supported the Sonic Boom Six in 2006, but they haven’t changed too much.  Dirty, angry rock n’ roll with the feel of a classic metal or hardcore band.  They call themselves “roots punk”, but there’s more than just country added to their raw, dirty punk rock sound.  Another very short set, and a room of slightly nonplussed ska fans, still surprised, doubtless, to have seen an all out rock assault, let alone one at this speed, are left knocked back a little but impressed nonetheless.  These guys aren’t totally my bag, but they’re good, really good, at what they do.

 

THE JB CONSPIRACY, up next, play one of the best sets I’ve ever seen them play to a now packed room.  It’s been gradually filling up since doors, which is odd, given the size of the queues outside earlier on.  But we’re in.  This, now the room is packed, the walls are dripping with sweat, and the sun’s gone down, is where any of the aggro that usually comes with the year’s first hot days would start.  It doesn’t, but the JB Conspiracy manage to channel the rising anticipation and tension in the room to whip it up in to a frenzy.  Admittedly there’s a big posse in from Guildford (the band’s hometown), but the instant reaction these guys get is really impressive, and it’s full on.  A pit opens up during the first song, Pipe Down, and quickly spreads a long way back.  Two or three new songs are a welcome addition to the JB set, as we haven’t had a follow-up to This Machine,  but Be Aware and This Machine, for example, still sound fresh.  Tonight everything is played faster, harder and with more intensity.  Since the early days as Duff Muffin, these guys have steadily grown in stature and tonight look like a serious, intimidating punk/ska beast, a constant blur of movement on stage and a beefed up horn-section to back up Lank’s voice, tonight throaty, almost a growl at times, they chop between peppy, third-wave upstrokes and rock guitar riffs throughout and leave the place gleefully sweaty and exhausted.  For the first time all the plastic cups on the floor are flattened and we’re starting to look breathless.  In truth, the JB Conspiracy should really be packing out their own headline tours, and, especially now that Fandangle have split up, could and should go on to be one of the biggest punk/ska acts in the UK.  They surely deserve it on this evidence.

 

STREETLIGHT MANIFESTO.  What can you say?  It’d be hard for a lot of bands to follow the set we’ve just seen from JB, but Streetlight are something else.  Think of this as a “greatest hits” set, heavy on their most recent, but not really new, record Somewhere in the Between and you’re pretty much there.  From start to finish exhausted, baked bodies are flying around, and, in the aisles we’re skanking, dancing in circles and pogoing.  There’s a lot of girls lifted up on guys’ shoulders taking pictures on phones.  Actually, one flaw in the ULU, apart from the classic university venue problems (shiny floor, too hot, slippy, becomes a sweatbox) is that it’s just too long and thin.  By choice I’d be hanging out at the side (pit injuries, [spunge] tour) but there just aren’t any.  In truth, this doesn’t really matter.  A few drunks are angry by now, but on the whole the atmosphere in here, halfway back, is great.  It’s basically a love-in between a big, fervent hardcore Streetlight following.  They’ve clearly got a lot of very devoted fans.  And, in fairness, they serve them, and us all, very well tonight.  These guys are tight.  They rarely speak, except to announce that they’ll be back in August, but move through the usual set with practised ease.  A really tight band, playing great songs well is a great experience anywhere, but this is a great show for the sheer quality of the musicianship and songs as well as for the amount of love in the room.  Streetlight only had to turn up for the plaudits here, by the looks of things, but a race through their impressive back-catalogue leaves the air a sea of pumping fists and has a packed room shouting along giddily.  An encore of the title-track from “Somewhere in the Between” leaves us emotionally exhausted and physically drained.  Every last bit of energy sweated out and bruised.  But deliciously happy.