Gig Review: Sleeptape, Motherland and Uncle Dudeman at The Westgarth

Last night, I went to The Westgarth Social Club to see Sleeptape, Motherland and Uncle Dudeman. The gig was organised by Famous Last Words, and they did a great job of making sure everything ran smoothly.

Uncle Dudeman

First up were Uncle Dudeman. From the very start of their set they bopped about, although they certainly seemed to gain confidence as the set went on. They had two singers, who both played guitar. Their music was upbeat and memorable, with some funky rhythms in a fair few of their songs, so it was quite easy to get into it. They kicked the night off well, and got everyone ready to have a good night.

Motherland

Next were Motherland. They were very energetic, and their lead singer spent the entire set standing on the floor in front of the stage, moving around quite a bit. They were quite interactive, too, chatting to us between songs. They also announced that they’d be recording new music this weekend, which I was quite excited to hear. During their last song, their vocalist went off to the drinks table to grab himself and one of the guitarists a beer. They got the crowd moving around a lot, with their contagious energy, it was hard not to dance along!

Sleeptape

The last band to play were Sleeptape, and if the room wasn’t already packed, it definitely was now. They were very lively, and there was a lot of movement from their bassist, Elliot. The band had a very good dynamic, it was clear to see how close they were, all looking very happy to be there. They were very chatty between songs, too, giving everything a kind of relaxed feel to it. I noticed that there was some crazy fast drumming at times, particularly in ‘I.D.B’. They put on a good show, and everyone there seemed to enjoy themselves, I know I certainly did!

To listen to any of the artists listed, click their name.

All photos belong to Music Mayhem UK. Please do not use any photos without crediting Music Mayhem UK.

Album Review: ‘User Dreams’ EP

On 08/03, Teesside’s User Dreams released their self-titled EP to Bandcamp. The EP is made up of 8 songs, and is around 17 minutes long. It’s almost fully instrumental, with the only words within the songs being soundbites from other things. The EP has a pretty much constant pace throughout, being at about a medium tempo right the way through the EP.

The songs themselves are very unusual, with lots of different sounds mixed in. Some of the sounds might not usually fit into music, but in the context of the EP, they work quite well.

I personally like the guitar riff used in ‘Plain Zero’, as it sounds really cool, and I like the fact that it gets more complex as the song progresses. I also like the way that ‘A Brand New Experience of Living’ sounds, as it sounds like spoken word poetry set to music. This gives it an unique sound, making it feel much more noticeable.

It’s a really good EP, but don’t just take my word for it – click here to listen to it yourself!

Gig Review: Charlea B – Breathe Album Launch

Last night, Charlea B held the launch party for her upcoming album – Breathe – at The Westgarth. It was a fantastic night with a fine selection of talented artists. Here’s how it went…

Katie B

The night was started off by Katie B, who played chill inducing covers by artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Shaun Mendes and Oasis. Her beautiful voice went well with the keyboard that she was playing, and she had members of the audience joining in by the last song.

Andi Grainger

Next up was Andi Grainger. His voice was powerful, yet not overpowering, which I quite liked as it made for easy, pleasurable listening. He played mainly originals, with a few popular covers mixed in, so that there was something for everyone within the set.

Marie Marx

The next person to play was Marie Marx, although she wasn’t alone. She was joined by ‘her boys’, who played bass guitar and cajon whilst she played acoustic guitar and sang. She played a full original set, and encouraged us to join in with some songs. She even had people up on the dance floor during one song!

Charlea B

At last, it was the moment we’d all been waiting for, and Charlea B came onstage ready to play her set. To begin with, she played a few songs alone, switching between playing guitar and singing with a backing track. After a few songs, her band, The Little Mysteries, joined her onstage to play some livelier songs. Every single song she played was packed full of meaning, and she explained the meaning behind almost every song before playing them. Towards the end, Charlea disappeared offstage, and returned less than a minute later wearing a beautiful white dress, ready to sing ‘Breathe’. The audience loved it so much that they demanded an encore, which Charlea happily obliged.

The night was brilliant, and very well organised, too, with lots of helpers running around handing out badges and keeping everything running smoothly.

To listen to any of the artists listed, click their name.

All photos belong to Music Mayhem UK. Please do not use any photos without crediting Music Mayhem UK.

Single Review: A Years Time – The Balcony

Teesside’s The Balcony released their single ‘A Years Time’ today, and it is brilliant.

The song has a pop-rock sound and sounds like it could be found on Kerrang or MTV Rocks. It’s upbeat, and made me feel like dancing from the get-go. Not only that, but it’s got a really memorable chorus that is easy to pick up and sing along with.

The rhythm is consistent throughout the song, which I like. The bridge is a bit quieter with less guitar, but then it builds up to an awesome guitar solo.

It’s pretty fantastic, but don’t just take my word for it, go listen to it yourself here!