19 May 2010 (gig)
22 May 2010
Having never been to the Union Chapel before I was very surprised to hear that it is still a 'working’ church with services on Sunday and everything! Once inside the surprises kept coming, as the place is astonishingly beautiful. As I grabbed a coke (no alcohol allowed in the chapel although there is a bar in a separate room) and sat in my pew (right near the front) I knew this was going to be a great evening.
First up are 'Misty’s big adventure’. I vaguely remember the name but I know very little about them. As they take to the stage it is apparent that guys have been plying their trade for years and know exactly how to warm up an audience.
Their sound is quite unique mixing folk with psychedelia and lounge with a heap of fun on top. The lead singer – Grandmaster Gareth – has a very dry almost melancholic voice, which juxtaposes nicely with the bouncy, upbeat rhythm and horn sections.
After a couple of songs a character called Erotic Volvo appears looking like a Dr Suess Super Hero. All in blue he has a red cape with loads of stuffed blue gloves attached. If you think I have gone mad Google him! My favourite songs of the night were the Zoo song, 'Serious Thing’ and the amazing 'Fashion Parade’. Check them out, as they are my new favourite band!
When the main act amble to the stage 'bundled up’ in warm clothing you know you are in for a treat. For the uninitiated among you, the Bundles are an AntiFolk super group comprised of Jeffery and Jack Lewis, Kimya Dawson and Anders Griffin. They have been playing for the last few years. They first got together in a cold German bar around 2002.
They have finally released an album and whilst it is excellent, their energy humour can only be discovered when seeing them live, so I have been looking forward to this gig for some time. Unfortunately, some things are too good to be true and the wonderfully talented Kimya Dawson is unable to join the guys due the Vocancic Ash cloud we have been hearing so much about. Jeffrey decided to carry on the tour without her but judging by the number of times he apologised for her absence (They were offering a full refund if you had come just to see her) the band miss her as much as the audience.
A huge strength of the bundles set night is the witty stripped down song writing that Jack and Kimya do so well but just as important is the very amusing anecdotes in-between songs and the very relaxed manor which seems to ooze from them.
The theme of tonight in 'Supergroups’ and we are treated to some fine supergroup covers including The Raconteurs 'Steady as she goes’ and 'End of the line’ by The Traveling Wilburys . They also pay tribute to Kimya, doing an impersonation of Wooden Ships covering 'Being Cool’ which was very amusing.
Even without their star attraction the bundles were a very entertaining band tonight and let’s hope this isn’t their last tour as has been speculated recently.
