James Blake @ Nice n’ Sleazy 27/02/10

Two dates at Nice n’ Sleazy’s separated by a month for James Blake is very surprising, firstly considering the small gap between the shows and also considering the stature and hype the London composer has been receiving. As a result all pre sale tickets for both dates went in no time at all, but the lucky few that got down early grabbed the last few on the door.

Tonight’s gig is surprisingly early too, with Blake taking the stage at half nine and finishing way before a headliner has usually taken the stage at Sleazy’s. Despite the venue’s sold out status there is plenty of room to move at the back of the room but seeing Blake as he sits low over his keyboard proves difficult for anyone past the first couple of rows.

Still, what Blake doesn’t have in stage show he more than makes up for in his music as he plays out an almost perfect set of glitchy electronic gems, with vocals reminiscant of Antony Hegarty. His self-titled album released just earlier this month sees a full airing tonight and it’s easy to see why it is getting the praise it has been receiving.

For the full set there is barely a movement from the crowd, as they all stand transfixed at the sounds on offer. His first single and brilliant cover of Feist’s ‘Limit to Your Love’ is easily the highlight of the set, as the bass seems to be lifted to an extraordinary level almost dragging you backwards with sheer power.

Another cover forms the other end of Blake’s musical spectrum tonight as he plays a version of Joni Mitchell’s ‘A Case of You‘ in the most stripped down song of the set. The performance plays the most on his accent and is played over a straightforward piano sound, almost abandoning his usual stylings both musically and vocally.

James Blake plays Sleazy’s again on the 27th March, all the ticket are sold out but there will be limited availability on the door so if you’ve not got a ticket yet get yourself along early, this is the last chance you will get to see him at such a small venue.

Cut Copy interview

Ben Browning, bassist in Cut Copy sat down with us shortly after the bands recent show at the Arches, Copy Copy’s new album Zonoscope is out now on Modular, the band return to the UK over summer for the festival season.

How is the tour going so far?

This tour has been great. There is some real excitement playing the new tunes, and we’ve been as far as Russia already. The cold weather has been only negative.

How have you enjoyed playing the UK with Holy Ghost!? Do you guys get on well?

Yeah of course. We’ve known those guys for years and we love their music. It’s great to see them as a live band. We’re about to do a heap of shows with them across the US. There could be some wild times ahead.

The Arches seemed like an ideal venue for you guys to play, how did you feel it compared to previous shows in Glasgow?

Yeah there was a great atmosphere in there. It was a very unique place. I think the last place we played in Glasgow was at one of Optimo’s nights, and I remember the stage in there being so tiny. I don’t we would have fit on that stage this time around.

This European tour has a lot of dates, do you get to see much of the cities you play in while on tour?

We aren’t getting much spare time on this particular tour. We often arrive in cities early in the morning and have time to grab a coffee and perhaps check out a few record stores. The best coffees we’ve had so far have been in Scandinavia.

Any interesting/amusing stories you’ve got to tell us about going on tour?

I threw a snowball at Mitchell our drummer in Oslo. And our tour bus left Tim and I behind in Copenhagen after our show. Seriously.

You’re playing a number of festivals over the summer, any you’re particularly looking forward to, acts you’re looking forward to seeing etc?

I haven’t had a chance to look at all the shows we are doing yet. Obviously we are looking forward to being in Europe and USA over summer. We are doing some shows in South America in June as well, that should amazing.

You’re albums are charting impressively back home in Australia, are you guys big celebrities over there, if so how is that?

We are not celebrities. My mum thinks I am cool though.

After another great album and a huge tour what is next for Cut Copy?

Lots more touring. After that we will start making our next record, which hopefully won’t take long to record and put out. I can’t wait to start it.

Finally, when are we likely to see you again in Glasgow, hopefully soon?

I’m sure we will be back this year.

Cut Copy w/ Holy Ghost @ The Arches 03/03/11

NY DJ duo Holy Ghost! appear in a jolly mood this evening as they kick off a UK tour supporting Cut Copy. With Alex Frankel acting as frontman drenched in blue light, Holy Ghost! in their full band format launch a drum driven assault on this Glasgow crowd. The crowd is more than in the mood for tonight and you couldn’t ask for a more suited venue for tonight’s events, except possibly the Subclub although you’d struggle to fit this many people in, the DFA duo clearly have high views of the the place: “We usually play Subclub which is our favourite place to play in the world, as DJ’s.”

As a support act Holy Ghost! don’t let down, they may not be in their most comfortable surroundings as a live band but they do more than enough to enlighten the taste buds for what Cut Copy have to offer.

With new album Zonoscope gaining just as favourable reviews as In Ghost Colours did a couple of years back Cut Copy find themselves in that position where people have caught a glimpse of them near the mainstream. Certainly the band’s new wave and disco tinged electronica has it’s eyes on a more popy corner of the market.

As the heat from a brimming Arches hits boiling point the Aussie four-piece cruise through the early portion of there set including track like ‘Nobody Lost, Nobody Found‘ and ‘So Haunted‘ before the tempo is upped with ‘Lights and Music’ as the crowd join in on mass to provide backing vocals.

A quick birthday wish for bass/guitarist Tim Hoey gives the band a quick breather before hitting back into a set of every growing tempo. Vocalist Dan Whitford is visibly drenched in sweat by the time they hit into the bleepy, cowbell adorned house brilliance of ‘Pharaohs & Pyramids‘.

As debut album classic ‘Hearts on Fire’ reaches for the ceiling and the crowd now in full on dance mode it appears tonight can’t get too much better. Unfortunately the band have to be off, a quick encore of ‘Out There On The Ice’ lift every once more and sends them off into the night to find someplace else to dance, sadly there’s no afterparty which is shame as both acts are just as good, if not better, in DJ surrondings.

Words: Iain Dawson
Photos: Stewart Fullerton