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[Reviewage] Beyond the Veil IV
Apr. 19th, 2006 09:06 pmIt started well - we didn't get lost in the most impenetrable one-way system in the world, and found the hotel and the car park right away. Leaving plenty of time to eat, get ready and watch Dr Who before ambling downstairs (yay for staying in the official hotel) for the special Black Veil club night.
It was ace - ran into people we knew, met some new people, heard music we normally only hear in our own home. Despite feeling great and having fun, I called it a day just before midnight as Sunday was set to be a big day. Then I had a visit from the insomnia fairy, cancelling out all my good intentions.
I suppose this year's venue, the Cockpit, was a better venue than last year's, but the great thing about the ballroom in the Metropole is that I was able to sit down and see all the bands, whereas the Cockpit being a proper venue has no seating in the bands room. I could easily see this turning into an endurance test.
First up were Trauma Pet, fronted by an impossibly glamorous blonde with shoes to die for. My only complaint is that some of the slow numbers didn't seem to go anywhere, but they were a pleasant enough electronic act.
I wasn't entirely convinced by what I'd read about Uninvited Guest, and when they took the stage, the "rawk" poses adopted by the guitarist and bassist had me scouting for the nearest exit, but I needn't have worried. The singer has a nice line in banter with the audience, and overall the performance was loads of fun. I wasn't even offended by their cover version, Double Dare - it worked surprisingly well with thrash-y guitars. I'm not convinced I'd buy the album, but I'd certainly see them live again.
A quick trip out for some food followed, so we missed the beginning of Deviant UKs set (whose website seems to be down at the moment). Essentially they're trying to be Gary Numan by way of VNV Nation, but it was all bouncy and fun and they put on as good a show as 3 guys and 2 sequencers really can. I might buy the CD, because I need more bouncy music for walking to work, and I'd be happy to see them live again.
Next up were Violet Stigmata, the main reason for my being there. Last year they totally blew me away. They were equally excellent this year, but I felt a bit let down as there wasn't the element of surprise. I stand by my description of them as "early Christian Death crossed with the Young Gods". I now have their CDs, which are excellent too.
I have long suspected that Neo folk in its various guises is Not My Thing. What little we saw of Sol Invictus confirmed that. I'm sure they're good at what they do, but it fails to press any buttons for me, except "depressing". This coming from someone who owns the complete works of Joy Division in multiple formats.
So we took a break to Buy Stuff, and go back to the hotel to change into my trainers (I was wearing the boots I bought in Argentina, which were reasonably comfortable, but my feet were starting to hurt by then). We were both tempted to crash out then, but Jason wanted to see the girls with gas masks, so we dragged ourselves back to the Cockpit.
I'd never heard of Ardor before, and what I read in the programme did not set my pants on fire. In fact, I was fully prepared to hate the whole thing. There's a little rational part of me that would like to state, for the record, that it was bad. And I suppose it was, but it was FUN. Stompy Teutonic electronica with - wait for it - electronic bagpipes!!! Which are probably as unpleasant as the idea suggests, but worked oddly well in the circumstances. The cover of White Wedding is inspired. I ended up bouncing around and grinning like a loon like everyone else in the first two rows. I'm not 100% sure I'd buy a CD (but probably would), but would definitely be up for the "live" show.
By that time, even though we'd gone to the chill-out area to sit down between sets, both of our feet were seriously sore, so I'm afraid we gave up on The House of Usher after 4 songs. They're very trad, and again probably good at what they do, but plain old gothic rock has never got me that excited, and I was nearly dead. So we stumbled back to the hotel.
Jason took some fab photos, which are available here.
Once again we had a truly super time. It's like Whitby, but on a less overwhelming scale, with better bands, and Harvey Nicks around the corner. We will totally be back next year.
We have also some to the conclusion that we need to get out more. More on plans to that end later.
This time, we also had time to explore Leeds a bit so I could have a nostalgia trip ("this is where I got drunk and fell down...."), though not as much as I'd have liked, which was interesting for all kinds of reasons and will be a post of its own at some point.
It was ace - ran into people we knew, met some new people, heard music we normally only hear in our own home. Despite feeling great and having fun, I called it a day just before midnight as Sunday was set to be a big day. Then I had a visit from the insomnia fairy, cancelling out all my good intentions.
I suppose this year's venue, the Cockpit, was a better venue than last year's, but the great thing about the ballroom in the Metropole is that I was able to sit down and see all the bands, whereas the Cockpit being a proper venue has no seating in the bands room. I could easily see this turning into an endurance test.
First up were Trauma Pet, fronted by an impossibly glamorous blonde with shoes to die for. My only complaint is that some of the slow numbers didn't seem to go anywhere, but they were a pleasant enough electronic act.
I wasn't entirely convinced by what I'd read about Uninvited Guest, and when they took the stage, the "rawk" poses adopted by the guitarist and bassist had me scouting for the nearest exit, but I needn't have worried. The singer has a nice line in banter with the audience, and overall the performance was loads of fun. I wasn't even offended by their cover version, Double Dare - it worked surprisingly well with thrash-y guitars. I'm not convinced I'd buy the album, but I'd certainly see them live again.
A quick trip out for some food followed, so we missed the beginning of Deviant UKs set (whose website seems to be down at the moment). Essentially they're trying to be Gary Numan by way of VNV Nation, but it was all bouncy and fun and they put on as good a show as 3 guys and 2 sequencers really can. I might buy the CD, because I need more bouncy music for walking to work, and I'd be happy to see them live again.
Next up were Violet Stigmata, the main reason for my being there. Last year they totally blew me away. They were equally excellent this year, but I felt a bit let down as there wasn't the element of surprise. I stand by my description of them as "early Christian Death crossed with the Young Gods". I now have their CDs, which are excellent too.
I have long suspected that Neo folk in its various guises is Not My Thing. What little we saw of Sol Invictus confirmed that. I'm sure they're good at what they do, but it fails to press any buttons for me, except "depressing". This coming from someone who owns the complete works of Joy Division in multiple formats.
So we took a break to Buy Stuff, and go back to the hotel to change into my trainers (I was wearing the boots I bought in Argentina, which were reasonably comfortable, but my feet were starting to hurt by then). We were both tempted to crash out then, but Jason wanted to see the girls with gas masks, so we dragged ourselves back to the Cockpit.
I'd never heard of Ardor before, and what I read in the programme did not set my pants on fire. In fact, I was fully prepared to hate the whole thing. There's a little rational part of me that would like to state, for the record, that it was bad. And I suppose it was, but it was FUN. Stompy Teutonic electronica with - wait for it - electronic bagpipes!!! Which are probably as unpleasant as the idea suggests, but worked oddly well in the circumstances. The cover of White Wedding is inspired. I ended up bouncing around and grinning like a loon like everyone else in the first two rows. I'm not 100% sure I'd buy a CD (but probably would), but would definitely be up for the "live" show.
By that time, even though we'd gone to the chill-out area to sit down between sets, both of our feet were seriously sore, so I'm afraid we gave up on The House of Usher after 4 songs. They're very trad, and again probably good at what they do, but plain old gothic rock has never got me that excited, and I was nearly dead. So we stumbled back to the hotel.
Jason took some fab photos, which are available here.
Once again we had a truly super time. It's like Whitby, but on a less overwhelming scale, with better bands, and Harvey Nicks around the corner. We will totally be back next year.
We have also some to the conclusion that we need to get out more. More on plans to that end later.
This time, we also had time to explore Leeds a bit so I could have a nostalgia trip ("this is where I got drunk and fell down...."), though not as much as I'd have liked, which was interesting for all kinds of reasons and will be a post of its own at some point.
