Beach House, Manchester 271015

This has been a hard one to write.

The problem was I'd been to see Simone Felice in Leeds the night before and had been totally blown away.

Beach House, from Baltimore, Maryland, a band I've liked for a few years now, and had wanted to see for a while, just happened to rock up at the wrong time, as I was still caught up in the previous night's music.

After an intimate gig in a small, cosy venue like the Brudenell Social Club, in front of maybe 150 people at most, where we were able to chat and pose for pictures with the musicians for a while, and then going to a sell-out event with 1,500 people at the Ritz in Manchester the following night when the band kept themselves remote and in the dark with only the backdrop being illuminated was not really where my head was!

Which, with hindsight, is probably not a fair reflection. I managed to get a good space on the top balcony, at the front with a good view. The band came on, played a lot of tracks off their new album 'Depression Cherry', a few older tracks from albums like 'Bloom', but not my favourite of theirs, 'Lazuli'. Their musical style had changed, the sound was more guitar-based, less of the shimmering keyboards and dreamy vocals I was expecting.

So, I wasn't as favourably disposed to the band as I had been before. But, that's probably a bit unfair. I asked myself if I hadn't gone to a gig the night before, would I have enjoyed it more? Would I have taken their sparser, more guitar-based approach as a positive new direction? Would I have accepted them not playing 'Lazuli' when they played a few other favourites from the last album and some good ones I'd not heard before? Did I enjoy the clever use of lighting to accompany the band? Well, I suppose, the answer to all of these questions would have to be a 'Yes'.

To be fair to Beach House, they obviously have a much bigger following than I realised and they went down really well. The fact that nobody I mentioned the gig to before I went had heard of them gave me the view they were still very much on the fringes, although I found out today that Scarlett from work really likes them. So I do know another fan!

I have a copy of their new album which I will be listening to over the next few days. And I am probably going to enjoy it. But, as this wasn't played at the gig, here's a link to my favourite track of theirs....

Update: Just listened to their latest album, 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' and it is brilliant! This is a band that took ages between albums and then release 2 in 2 months! But as it's really good - and better than 'Depression Cherry' - I can forgive the little tinkers!

The new album by Beach House, 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' is out now on Bella Union records.

Visit beachhousebaltimore.com for more information.

Comments

A Calder Valley Ale Trail - UPDATED December 2023

The essential guide to the pubs and bars that line the railways in the towns and villages of the beautiful Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, an area which has a lot to offer and captivate the visitor. Here's the latest, updated version.... The original Rail Ale Trail heads through the Pennines from Dewsbury through Huddersfield to Stalybridge, or vice versa, depending on your starting point. Made famous by Oz Clarke and James May on a TV drinking trip around Britain several years ago, it reached saturation point on weekends to such an extent that lager and shorts were banned by some pubs and plastic glasses introduced to the hordes of stag dos, hen parties, and fancy-dressed revellers that invaded the trans-Pennine towns and villages. There are some great pubs en route and whilst things have calmed down from a few years ago, they can still get very busy on a summer Saturday in particular. However, only a few miles away to the north, there is another trail possible which takes in s...

1872 And All That....

News has broken over the past few days that Elland Brewery, famous for their 1872 Porter which was voted the Champion Beer Of Britain in 2023 have ceased trading. And with other breweries also struggling, the upheavals I wrote about last month are showing no signs of letting up.... I was out with some friends last Saturday afternoon, celebrating one of our number's birthday. With the drinks and conversation flowing as we enjoyed a most enjoyable catch up, we were joined by another friend who mentioned that he'd been out a little earlier and had heard a story from a good source in one of the local pubs that Elland Brewery who, a mere 6 months ago had won Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival for their flagship 1872 Porter, had gone bust. During a break in the conversation, I scoured Google for news about Elland Brewery. Nothing, apart from that win at the GBBF last year. I mentioned it to a couple of people when I was working at the Meandering Bear in Halif...

North Westward Ho! Sets Sail Again....

A visit to a brand new bar in Manchester, which has just been opened in the city centre by Pomona Island, and the fascinating story behind its unusual name, plus a visit to the brewery's original city centre bar.... Pomona Island started brewing in Salford, close to Media City, in 2017. I remember there was quite a buzz about them when they made their debut at the 2018 Manchester Beer and Cider Festival ( nudge to the relevant people - could really do with another one of those! ), and I remember enthusing about the two beers I tried from them that day, both on cask, a porter and a 5.3% NZ Pale. Over the years they have continued to grow and develop and produced a wide range of modern-style beers and whilst they have tended to major on craft beers, they have always produced cask ale. They got into canning their beers, and during lockdown they were regular visitors to my fridge. Today their web shop is stocked with some delightfully-named beers, all canned in a distinctive house-styl...

Real Ale, Real Music

Search This Blog