Support act The Creek Cats
This weekend, I travelled back to my home town of Hull, with the intention of seeing one of my new favourite bands – The Musgraves - play live.
It’s not often I enjoy bands of the folk/pop genre, however there was something about The Musgraves I was instantly drawn to when I first saw them on The Graham Norton Show. When I found out that they were playing in what is also band member Lesley-Marie’s home town, I knew I had to be there.
Fruit is a venue located, naturally, in the old Fruit Market part of the city, amongst abandoned buildings down cobbled streets. Although having lived there all my life, I wasn’t privy to places like this until now.
I was allowed early access to the venue and even during their sound check, I could tell that The Musgraves were going to be a fantastic live band – flawless, even.
When the doors opened, the venue became scattered with middle-aged couples, which, for me, made for a better gig. This was a very welcome change from my usual scene.
The first band on the set were Creek Cats, a local country band. They were very fun and talented performers; I particularly liked it when the lead vocalist climbed on top of his band mate’s double-bass mid song!
Creek Cats were suitable support for a band like the Musgraves and certainly knew a lot of about the genre they were trying to re-create, despite being about as far away from the Deep South as they could get! Although I wasn’t a huge fan of the music, I did enjoy their song about alcohol – a must-have topic in a country band’s repertoire!
Such huge praise cannot be given to the second band. Called Young Jack – correct me if I am wrong - this was their first ever ‘proper’ performance. They had brought with them what seemed like an entire sixth form for moral support, blocking everyone else’s view entirely. I gave them credit for the fact that they had never played a gig before, but to me, they were nothing special.
They played their instruments with competence and seemed confident enough, more so than a lot of kid bands in this day and age. However, I hope that one day they play songs with lyrics that actually mean something to them, maybe then they will impress a room that isn’t just full of their mums, dads and potential girlfriends!
I welcomed The Musgraves like heroes saving me from the mediocre, as dramatic as it sounds. Their colourful appearance and impressive array of instruments was just as I expected it to be. From start ’til the very end, I was in love. As was the whole room.
(Check out my YouTube for more videos)
They played many of their original songs, such as So Sophia, Discover Me, Best of Me – which included an amazing keyboard solo - and Last of Me, closing with Fortune Teller. As well as this they treated us to their popular cover of I Need A Dollar by Aloe Blacc (which you can find here).
Their mixture of sounds made sure that everyone got what they wanted, and their cheerful, down-to-earth delivery was a massive bonus. They may not have been in the limelight for very long but they certainly proved their talent and were even able to get some quite conservative middle-class oldies on their feet for a good old shimmy!
Lesley-Marie and Matthew of The Musgraves
Usually, if I loved a band, I would say something like, “this band will be massive one day” or, “this band will play arenas one day”. Yes, I think The Musgraves have more talent than any of the arena bands around at the moment… but the longer they stick to their northern roots and play intimate shows the better!
Their kind of music is meant for places like Fruit. It is a travesty that this band are not the type of band that will make it to super-fame, but at the same time this is a huge blessing for people like me.
As you will find out in my next post – in which I interview The Musgraves and talk a bit more about the band - their friendly nature continues off-stage and I urge you all to find this out for yourselves!
Their next gig will be at The Manchester Roadhouse on 26th April. Get yourselves down there and take some money for one of their limited edition, cheerful Musgrave Mugs!
Luke
March 19, 2012
Your review of Young Jack obviously proves some kind of insecurity for yourself, as non of them were wearing Jack wills and if you took time to listen to the lyrics you may find they have meaning to the people who wrote them, and as for the Sixth form comments, without there ‘mums and dads’ there wouldnt of been half the people in there, so instead of writing reviews from the comfort of your cave, put down your Latte and read a book or something,
jack
March 19, 2012
hi first of all i would like to say well done to the creek cats and the musgraves, however when i read your comments regarding young jack you said they was from the posh out skirts of hull well i know the band personally and 75% where brought up and live in council houses, anyway it is hard for young bands to break through into the top flight music scene and they need al the support they can get with out being put down my reviewers and if you think the did so badly i will speak to the band and i am more then sure the will let you get up on stage at there next gig to see if you can do any better.
aranburton
March 19, 2012
Very poor effort, must try harder. See me.
Tom
March 19, 2012
This is such an unimaginative article. It is ironic how you try to berate Young Jack for being ‘generic,’ yet you seemingly ignore your dull and vacuous writing style that is derivative of so many useless blogs. I appreciate that you may not have enjoyed their gig, but don’t try to fill out a word count by including pointless references to their clothing or cheering fans.
However, I take great delight in knowing that your worthless opinion is of no consequence.
Katie
March 19, 2012
I would like to say that I 100% agree with everything this reviewer has said, regarding ALL of the bands in question. In my opinion, the Musgraves and the Creek Cats vastly out-performed Young Jack in terms of stage personality, lyric quality (literally the only words I heard above the mindless noise were ‘switch blade posse’) and audience interaction and would be happy to tell anyone this. As for previous comments to the reviewer about their post, such as suggesting that they have some sort of ‘insecurity’ about themselves and that they should ‘put down [their] Latte and read a book or something’ are unneccesarily derogatory and appear to be a product of your own issues with people daring to voice opinions which differ from your own. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and the sooner people realise that, the easier life will be for everyone. I accept that you both happen to like Young Jack as performers, myself and the reviewer clearly do not. That’s the way the world works I’m afraid.
This blog has posted many previously relavant and well constructed posts, and this one is no exception. Feel free to direct some hate towards me if you can’t handle my opinion.
aranburton
March 19, 2012
It wasn’t a Young Jack review, no-one but the band themselves would care to read it. You guys need to get used to people slagging you off and just take it on the chin.
Tommy
March 19, 2012
Wow, some people just can’t take criticism. It’s a review children, which means personal opinions can be given. You might disagree with the post but no need to slate it so much and be ridiculously insulting.
A good read Steph!
Luke
March 19, 2012
I, too, agree with the reviewer. Despite unfamiliarity with the band causing such debate here, I believe Steph is in a much better position to give a balanced review than many of the comment-posting folks here.
Luke has shown a lack of understanding of the purpose of understanding itself; lyrics having meaning to the band is meaningless unless they also have meaning to the audience, especially if said audience has little chance of being familiar with the band in question without personally knowing them. If no meaning to the audience is seen, the lyrics seem meaningless (no matter what meaning they may carry). To employ an allegory to better explain my point, it is entirely possible to write a brilliant novel, but if the novel is written in an indecipherable language then it has absolutely zero meaning or quality. A large crowd equally means very little if it is only the direct families of the bands that are there specifically for them as it shows that they are playing to a noticeably small audience, and are likely to be vastly overshadowed by other bands present (as they very clearly were).
Jack has made it apparent that he knows the band personally, meaning he is highly likely to have a biased opinion regarding them. Many of his comments seem rather pointless; the role of a reviewer is not to pass judgement on a band but to give readers an opinion of whether or not they would be interested in seeing the band in question, and CERTAINLY not to prove they are a better musician than the band. To break into the music industry in any lasting manner requires talent and dedicated fans more so than good reviews, and complaining to a reviewer will never cause them to change their opinion.
Tom, ironically, shows lack of imagination in his comment calling out the review itself for lack of imagination; if a style of writing becomes common, it is because it WORKS. Music is entirely different in this regard; to be generic is perhaps the worst thing a band can be, as with nothing to make them stand out from other performers they have minimal chance of success in the industry.
I take great indifference in knowing that your comment is of no meaning.
And with all that said, feel free to send some hate my way too.
Rocky
March 20, 2012
What the reviewer has said should be taken as nothing more than constructive criticism to the band. If they want to make it in music, believe me, they are going to have to get used to not everyone liking them. Cold hard facts hurt and while they may feel like what the reviewer said was a little close to the bone the stark reality is that they supported a band that showed their flaws.
The Musgraves are bright, bold, colorful and a seasoned gigging band with many years of playing shows between them. i’m sure they have had their fair share of bad press but i believe the difference here is that they have pushed forward, developed, taking things on board.
The hardest part of playing in a band when you are just starting out is impressing people and getting the truth from who you play in front of. Taking criticism from someone who is not a mate or family member is far more important than hearing “you were great” from someone who probably feels like thats what you need to hear because, it wasn’t great.
Its what you do with these remarks after the show thats important, not who made them.
Joe
March 21, 2012
In response to your review of ‘Young Jack’ I have to note numerous mistakes made throughout the review;
Firstly you complain about the large amount of support, which if you didn’t realise the music industry is a money-making business so without fans there wouldn’t be gig’s and for a large amount of people that would be a relief as they wouldn’t have to listen to your unjustified pedantic comments which prove arrogance, in some points are very ageist.
Secondly I know the band personally and have experienced them on numerous occasions; I have also given them constructed criticism throughout proving great improvement in the short period of time before this gig.
I’m sure the band will take any relevant comments on board however ridiculous comments that you have removed such as ‘jack wills wearing rock band’ when jack wills isn’t actually iconography for rock bands at all and the fact none of the band wear these clothes proves your lack of intelligence within the music industry.
You appear to have made numerous comments about the audience Young Jack had attracted; clearly the target audience of this band is that of the band member’s age which proved the same for the Musgraves who attracted middle aged couples which clearly proves how ageist you are to the younger crowd.
You also made a comment about the band trying to be from the Bronx however this just proves your uneducated comments again due to 3 out of 4 band members living within estates in hull however the band are not attempting to create a ‘youth centre’ band image.
Lastly you also happened to criticise the Kings of Leon’s lyrics from the song ‘Four Kicks’ I’m sure you’re so amazing at creating lyrics that you can criticise a song from a band as big as Kings of Leon.
Katie
March 21, 2012
Like other people have previously commented, the Young Jack section of this review is a considerably minor aspect of the article as a whole. The fact that so many of you seem fixated on this aspect and completely disregard all other aspects of this review clearly demonstrates your closed-minded attitude and complete immaturity in regards to accepting constructive criticism and people’s individual opinions! It’s not a Young Jack review, it is a review of The Musgraves. Young Jack are merely a minor support act. And quite frankly, if the band and their followers cannot cope with not everyone regarding them as the best thing since sliced bread, Young Jack are not really going to get very far in the music industry. Learn to take criticism on the chin! I’m sure the Kings of Leon have.
Curly
March 21, 2012
So which bands are “Special” on their first gig together? Criticising a band this strongly and unconstructively on their first gig despite the fact that they snapped a string a short way into it seems a bit harsh to me. No wonder there is such a shortage of young breakthrough bands when they are being criticised online, by people with nothing better to do, from day one. Also I don’t understand the part where you complain about people blocking other peoples view, did you expect everyone to sit down or something?
Luke
March 31, 2012
@Joe >implying someone is uneducated and making numerous grammatical errors and whatnot.
Also, your argument makes a lot of assumptions, disconnected conclusions and sweeping statements. It covers a lot of ground, too. Say, Say, you cover a lot of ground yourself. You’d better beat it; I hear they’re gonna tear you down and put up an office building where you’re standing. You can leave in a taxi. If you can’t get a taxi, you can leave in a huff. If that’s too soon, you can leave in a minute and a huff.
(Apologies for the slightly odd argument here, wrote the one below first and really couldn’t be bothered to write anything serious for this)
@Curly yeah, because one blog that criticizes them they’ll neeeeever make it in the music industry. And part of being able to make it is being able to just roll with technical difficulties. For example, Abney Park’s instruments break now and then on-stage and they’ll occasionally have a couple false starts, but they deal with it easily enough, and a guitar string broke at a Jonathan Coulton concert I was at; he dealt with it easily enough by switching to a backup instrument whilst the support act replaced the string and retuned the guitar.