I'm really quite behind and this hasn't been helped by being out of the country for the last week. I've got 5 gigs to blog on so I'll make a start on it with The Project: Chase HQ Allstars at WA1 on 31st May whilst I'm still successfully fighting off the jetlag. Apologies if they're quite short but I'll learn and try to be more prompt, plus I've decided not to take notes at gigs as, for a start I look like a right geek and secondly, it's harder to enjoy yourself if you're fumbling around for pen and paper.
There's two things that are immediately obvious about Chase HQ Allstars tonight and that's that the regular gigs they're playing has made them a lot, lot better and more cohesive-sounding and that this sort of music does sound a lot better when it's warm and it's been sunny out. However, please note that if you're off to WA1 in the sun, don't wear shorts as they won't let you in!
CHQA's music is hard to properly define. I'd always stuck it in some dub-ska box without really thinking about it, but they've got samples, brass and guitars a-plenty and as they progress they're starting to get their own style more. Singer Dave's grown in confidence since we first started seeing the band (I've no idea how long ago that was - couple of years?) and holds the crowd's attention a lot more. Please excuse me not knowing the exact setlist or song names - again, I'll learn! The set leaned towards the more summery songs they play and we had a call to missing bassist Matt who was detained somewhere in the south and not able to get to the gig. I have threatened bad things to people who mix brass and guitars but the brass section is developing into a more integral part of the band rather than an add-on and it seems like the new songs written to include Sara and Jon show a more organic way of the band growing together.
In short, it's cheerful, happy music, perfect for a Saturday summer night and a band on the rise. Those picnic benches are really uncomfortable though and Scottish vodka is as bad as it sounds!
7.5/10
Showing posts with label wa1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wa1. Show all posts
Monday, 30 June 2008
Friday, 29 February 2008
Chase HQ Allstars
Just realised I have another gig to blog before 
I forget. Last weekend was supposed to be gig-filled but due to extenuating circumstances, we only got to one. We always get lost in Warrington, to the point that all of it looks familiar as we've been past it at some point. Luckily I had the gps in my bag, so we made it to WA1 in the end. It smells of rubber gym mats, but don't let that put you off. The picnic tables aren't a good idea either as I really wanted some cheese sandwiches, a bag of crisps and a drink with a straw in it. Anyway, I digress. The purpose of our tour round Warrington was to see our friends' band, Chase HQ Allstars. We haven't seen them for a while and they have grown further - there is more brass, but I am ok with that,
honest! Anyway, they are friends so I'm not inclined to tell them where to shove their trumpet mutes.
I think last time I explained that I'm not a fan of dub or ska so I won't go into that again. What I will say though is that I was really surprised at how much better they have got since the last time we saw them. Singer Dave seems a lot more confident on stage and his voice has more range. The songs are more varied and more complex too and any band who can randomly pull out the Countdown music have my respect. The last song they played (again, I am awful at setlists and song names) had shouting in it, which is always a good
thing, and sounded really good. More shouting please, boys and girl!
The brass parts seem to fit in better now, probably a reflection that songs are starting to be written incorparating them, rather than adding brass parts later and I'm always impressed if someone can get straight off a train from London and start playing, like one of the bass players, Matty.
I might even have to change my mind about my ska-dub-phobia, but keep those Reel Big Fish albums out of my face or there will be trouble.
Oh yes - and I got a chip naan on the way home, which adds a point onto the total score: 7/10.
I forget. Last weekend was supposed to be gig-filled but due to extenuating circumstances, we only got to one. We always get lost in Warrington, to the point that all of it looks familiar as we've been past it at some point. Luckily I had the gps in my bag, so we made it to WA1 in the end. It smells of rubber gym mats, but don't let that put you off. The picnic tables aren't a good idea either as I really wanted some cheese sandwiches, a bag of crisps and a drink with a straw in it. Anyway, I digress. The purpose of our tour round Warrington was to see our friends' band, Chase HQ Allstars. We haven't seen them for a while and they have grown further - there is more brass, but I am ok with that,
honest! Anyway, they are friends so I'm not inclined to tell them where to shove their trumpet mutes.I think last time I explained that I'm not a fan of dub or ska so I won't go into that again. What I will say though is that I was really surprised at how much better they have got since the last time we saw them. Singer Dave seems a lot more confident on stage and his voice has more range. The songs are more varied and more complex too and any band who can randomly pull out the Countdown music have my respect. The last song they played (again, I am awful at setlists and song names) had shouting in it, which is always a good
thing, and sounded really good. More shouting please, boys and girl!The brass parts seem to fit in better now, probably a reflection that songs are starting to be written incorparating them, rather than adding brass parts later and I'm always impressed if someone can get straight off a train from London and start playing, like one of the bass players, Matty.
I might even have to change my mind about my ska-dub-phobia, but keep those Reel Big Fish albums out of my face or there will be trouble.
Oh yes - and I got a chip naan on the way home, which adds a point onto the total score: 7/10.
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