Consistently one of the interesting British groups of the last few years, fantastic Eel Pie psych/alt-popsters Mystery Jets return in support of their fourth album Radlands. Plus Gentleman's Dub Club, Deaf Havana, Hot Club of Cowtown.
MYSTERY JETS
Waterfront, November 9
Consistently one of the interesting British groups of the last few years, fantastic Eel Pie psych/alt-popsters Mystery Jets return in support of their fourth album Radlands, which, in a tale of two cities, was recorded in both Austin, Texas, and Streatham, London.
Formed in the early 1990s, when the group's shock-headed frontman Blaine Harrison was only 12, the band was initially called the Misery Jets, in honour of the Heathrow-bound jets that habitually roared over their native Eel Pie Island. They were part of a west London scene that included Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale.
Later re-named they were essentially a family project, with Blaine on drums, Blaine's dad, Henry Harrison, on bass, and Blaine's friend William Rees on guitar. The group tried out a drum machine and a local kid named Max before finally latching onto drummer Kapil Trevedi.
Their second album proper, 21, was made with dance producer Erol Alkan at the helm and minus Harrison Snr for the first time. Signed to Rough Trade, their 80s electro-pop inspired 2010 album Serotonin saw them continuing to re-invent themselves, something they continued with the more rock-oriented Radlands.
t Further listening: www.mysteryjets.com
GENTLEMAN'S DUB CLUB
Norwich Arts Centre, November 12
Prince Harry is reportedly a massive fan of this Leeds dub reggae band. If you don't happen to be down with the Highgrove massive, let us fill you in. GDC are a super tight nine-piece have gained notoriety for being one of the liveliest of the new breed of British reggae and roots acts around.
White kids playing reggae has a very chequered music history, but this lot seem to be getting something right having won recognition from, amongst other, veteran reggae DJ David Rogan, a man who knows his way around the soundsystem echo fader.
Earlier in the year the band released their EP Open your Eyes on Ranking Records which has yet to leave the top 20 reggae albums on iTunes and has been supported by DJs and radio from Japan to Germany.
With a busy writing schedule this year, this date, part of a short UK tour, will be the first opportunity they've have had to play live, so expect even more skanking than usual.
As percussion and synth player Niall Lavelle puts it: 'As much as we like playing the big festival stages our roots are in the club. It's hard to beat the connection you get with the audience from some of these places. It's been too long since the 'High Grade' tour so I can't wait to get out there and test the new material alongside some of the old classics.'
t Further listening: www.gentlemansdubclub.com
DEAF HAVANA
UEA, November 15
Fast-rising Norfolk rockers Deaf Havana play their first UEA headlining show. The buzz has been growing at an ever-increasing rate for this post-hardcore outfit, formed in 2005 in King's Lynn.
The band are now selling out venues across the country (including a packed-out show at the Waterfront in April) and their recent album Fools and Worthless Liars topped the UK Rock Album Chart.
Having recorded and released an EP (It's Called The Easy Life) and album (Meet Me Halfway, At Least) the band amicably parted ways with vocalist Ryan Mellor, leaving new frontman James Veck-Gilodi, bassist Lee Wilson, guitarist Chris Pennells and drummer Tom Ogden to regroup - since then they've ticked off festival performances, BBC sessions and sell-out tours while reworking their old material and starting to showcase new songs (including the brilliant Hunstanton Pier) as the album took place took shape.
Support comes from Canterbury, There For Tomorrow and The First.
t Further listening: www.myspace.com/deafhavana
HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN
Norwich Arts Centre, November 14
From the bright lights of the Grand Ol' Opry to Glastonbury and regular appearances on Later with Jools Holland, The Hot Club of Cowtown have ascended from its unlikely beginnings in NYC's East Village more than a decade ago, to become the premier ambassadors of hot jazz.
This Austin-based trio, comprising Elana James (vocals/violin), Whit Smith (vocals/guitar), and slap bass player Jake Erwin, return to the Arts centre in support of their latest album Rendezvous in Rhythm.
Remaining wilfully out of the musical mainstream, they have created an international cult following for their sonic personification of joy.
Unfussy and unpretentious, their blend of down-home melodies and exuberant improvisation harks back to a lost era of so-called western swing, sub-genre of country with a jazzy, danceable up tempo beat.
In the past they've toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, and were invited by Bryan Ferry to reinterpret his back catalogue.
Their sly mix of hot licks and cool vocals remains equally driven by the twang of Texas roadhouses as the Gypsy string Jazz of Reinhardt and Grappelli.
t Further listening: www.hotclubofcowtown.com
SOUNDS IN THE CITY
NOVEMBER 9
Bellowhead (folk) — Open
Mystery Jets (indie) — Waterfront
DJ Fresh (dance) — UEA
Larry McCray Band (blues) — Arts Centre
Lowlands (rock) — B2
Pure Passion + Foolishwise (rock/pop) — Brickmakers
The Vagaband (blues/rock) — Brewery Tap
Mojo Kings (rockabilly/punk) — King Edward VII
The Leopard Trio (rock'n'roll) — Walnut Tree Shades
Mod One (Mod/pop) — Blueberry
Roadhouse (rock/blues) — Heath House
Lucas (soul) — Old Catton Maids Head
Bob Reeves (country) — The Lounge
Music House: feat. Graham Horne + Bill Downs + Lucy Sampson (acoustic) — Wensum Lodge
NOVEMBER 10
Rizzle Kicks (hip hop/pop) — UEA
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (rock/pop) — Arts Centre
Next Big Thing Final: feat. Raevennan Husbandes + Burn The Headlines + Darwin & The Dinosaur + Freya Roy, Kings & Crows + The Thinking Men — Open
Tilting Sky: feat. Lee Vann (acoustic) — Waterfront
Club Smith (indie/rock) — Waterfront Studio
Black River Falls + Wicked Faith (rock) — King Edward VII
Hemmingway + Newtons Apple (indie) — Blueberry
Aftershock (rock) — Brickmakers
Cyanide (rock/pop) — B2
Replica (rock) — Walnut Tree Shades
Chibber (pop) — Lakenham Cock
16th Minute (rock/ska) — Boundary
World's Apart (blues/rock) — Trowel & Hammer
Me, Myself & I — Keir Hardie Hall
Ross Mitson — Golden Star
Doozoot — Angel Gardens
Sirocco — Arkwrights
Lisa Marie — Heath House
Daaron — Bread & Cheese
Anna Marie — Robin Hood
Graham Stacey — The Champion
Tony Cann — The Windmill
NOVEMBER 11
Steel Panther (rock/metal) — UEA
Lucy Rose (folk/pop) — Arts Centre
3OH!3 (electronic/pop) — Waterfront
The Planks (soul/blues) — Brewery Tap
Keno Kings (blues) — Boundary
Sun of Cash (country/tribute) — The Stanley
Lee Vasey Big Band (12pm) — Brickmakers
NOVEMBER 12
Lostprophets (rock) — UEA
Gentleman's Dub Club (ska/reggae) — Arts Centre
Brickie Session (open mic) — Brickmakers
International Open Mic — Micawbers Tavern
Jazz Jam: feat. Rich Buddie — Walnut Tree Shades
Jazz Jam — Silver Road Cottage
NOVEMBER 13
Kreg Viesselman (singer-songwriter) — Bicycle Shop
Clock Date (indie/pop) — Waterfront
Lau (folk) — Arts Centre
[Spunge] (pop-punk) — Waterfront Studio
Cruizer (rock/blues) — Brickmakers
NOVEMBER 14
Lynard Skynard (rock) — UEA
Hot Club of Cowtown (swing/jazz) — Arts Centre
Yashin + We Butter The Bread With Butter (rock/metal) — Waterfront
Mumiy Troll + Echotape (rock) — Waterfront Studio
The Electric Ducks (rock) — King Edward VII
Pure Acoustic (open mic) — Brickmaker
Open Mic — Garden House
NOVEMBER 15
Deaf Havana (rock) — UEA
Port Isla + Polly & The Billots Doux (folk/pop) — Waterfront
The 45s (soul/funk) — Epic
Sheesh (rock/pop) — B2
Prog Night: feat. Mother Black Cap (rock) — King Edward VII
The Yow Yows (rock/soul) — Brickmakers
T-Bone & The Horn (hip hop/comedy) — Ten Bells
Electricity (blues) — Walnut Tree Shades
Crusin For A Bluesin (blues) — Rose Tavern
Johnny Jump Band (blues/country) — Micawbers Tavern
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