WEDNESDAY MAY 15th
The bedroom hour
The Bedroom Hour will melt your heart with their melodic vocals and acoustics, while still possessing the power to get your toes tapping and your body swaying. There’s something very soothing about this five-some from Uxbridge’s raw talent; haunting vocals and intricate lyrical prowess leave them standing out in the current sea of indie / alternative bands. No other current band I can pinpoint is able to create such a perfect mix of ominous undertones to simply beautiful songs.
I first took notice of The Bedroom Hour upon hearing an acoustic version of their song ‘Nocturnal.’ I find with many songs that, upon the first listen, there are certain lines or refrains that grab my attention and cause me to listen again. With ‘Nocturnal’ every single word had me transfixed as it poured gracefully from lead vocalist Stu Drummond’s mouth. Their studio version of the song is also very poignant, but there is something painstakingly delicate about the stripped-back, acoustic rendition that will have the hairs on your arms stood on end.
This eerie magic centres every song, and makes The Bedroom Hour without a doubt the most delicately charming band I have heard in a long time. Individuality is often lost amongst the masses of indie and alternative bands who try so hard for it, but not these boys. If there was only to be one word to describe them, individual would be the most fitting.
The Bedroom Hour are determined to make 2013 their year, and they are definitely going about it the right way! Stu Drummond (lead vocals), Dan Rider (bass & backing vocals), Mark Dudley (keyboard), Rob Payne (guitar and backing vocals) and Lewis Cosham (drums) release their debut E.P, ‘Themes’ on Friday May 17th and you would be foolish not to take note! They will be launching the E.P this coming Friday at 229 the Venue, Great Portland Street in London and I would highly recommend that everyone who wants to be part of a very special evening of beautiful music (and who wouldn’t?!) gets themselves down there. We at Hear the Buzz will most definitely be attending, so brace yourselves for what is bound to be a very positive review next week.
Don’t take our word for it though, get a taste of their tremendous talent on their website via the address below; once you do, your Friday night plans will be sorted, and if they’re already sorted, I guarantee they will be changing to involve this enchanting five-piece.
I first took notice of The Bedroom Hour upon hearing an acoustic version of their song ‘Nocturnal.’ I find with many songs that, upon the first listen, there are certain lines or refrains that grab my attention and cause me to listen again. With ‘Nocturnal’ every single word had me transfixed as it poured gracefully from lead vocalist Stu Drummond’s mouth. Their studio version of the song is also very poignant, but there is something painstakingly delicate about the stripped-back, acoustic rendition that will have the hairs on your arms stood on end.
This eerie magic centres every song, and makes The Bedroom Hour without a doubt the most delicately charming band I have heard in a long time. Individuality is often lost amongst the masses of indie and alternative bands who try so hard for it, but not these boys. If there was only to be one word to describe them, individual would be the most fitting.
The Bedroom Hour are determined to make 2013 their year, and they are definitely going about it the right way! Stu Drummond (lead vocals), Dan Rider (bass & backing vocals), Mark Dudley (keyboard), Rob Payne (guitar and backing vocals) and Lewis Cosham (drums) release their debut E.P, ‘Themes’ on Friday May 17th and you would be foolish not to take note! They will be launching the E.P this coming Friday at 229 the Venue, Great Portland Street in London and I would highly recommend that everyone who wants to be part of a very special evening of beautiful music (and who wouldn’t?!) gets themselves down there. We at Hear the Buzz will most definitely be attending, so brace yourselves for what is bound to be a very positive review next week.
Don’t take our word for it though, get a taste of their tremendous talent on their website via the address below; once you do, your Friday night plans will be sorted, and if they’re already sorted, I guarantee they will be changing to involve this enchanting five-piece.
http://www.thebedroomhour.com/
Ben parcell
Well, this review has had some tweaking before being uploaded today, mainly to apologise to Ben Parcell and all of you reading it for how late it is. Bi-weekly has, due to a number of technical problems with my computer and internet, become almost bi-monthly after the first review. So, once again, my greatest apologies; barring any major catastrophe Hear the Buzz should be back on schedule from here on in.
Ben has been touring the country, since going solo in 2010, trying to get his personal folk sound out there to the nation, and I for one was ready to listen. He has supported many reputable acts since starting, from Ben Marwood to Alice Gold, and Edwina Hayes to Chris Helme of The Seahorses. His tantalising guitar sounds perfect against a raw voice singing even rawer emotions.
It was in 2011 however, when his E.P ‘Painted by Numbers’ was released that Ben really came to my attention and I noticed just how talented he really is. There is a definite shift in song and style from his debut album, ‘Humble Beginnings’, and it couldn’t be more welcome. Everything is still there; tantalising guitar melodies and emotive lyrics, but there’s also so much more. The whole E.P just screams out brilliance to me; the rhymes and the beats all gel perfectly with one another at the hands of impeccable timing on the upbeat, faster tracks, ‘Painted by Numbers’ and ‘Stay in Touch’. Slower songs, ‘Love Song’ and ‘Too Late to Say Goodbye’, become less about the music each time you listen to them and all about the poignant lyrics; the skill of a talented wordsmith. As far as an E.P is concerned, ‘Painted by Numbers’ is closer to perfect than most have even dared reach.
I was probably destined to like Ben Parcell from the moment I heard him as we share a common interest; Frank Turner. Ben lists Turner as one of his main influences, along with the likes of The Beatles and Greenday (both of whom I also love, particularly the former), and there is something of Turner found in Ben’s sound. Yes, they are both pop-folk / folk-pop (whichever way you want it!) artists and so, of course they will have similarities in sound; but it is not the music alone where the comparisons can be drawn. It is honesty. It is integrity. It is passion. Those three things that run through the heart of Frank Turner’s music are also apparent in Ben’s, and are what make him such a captivating artist.
Ben Parcell is definitely worth checking out, if you haven’t done so. He is constantly touring and trying to get his name out there, and people are listening and liking what they hear. He was invited to play acoustically on BBC Introducing and is frequently played on a number of other stations, including Radio Yorkshire. He is on twitter and Facebook, has his own website and youtube channel; you would be hard pushed to miss him, and that can’t be anything but a good thing! This young man from Yorkshire has talent pouring from him, and it is about time you went and lapped some up!
He has asked that his new music video, ‘Expectations’ be put on the website with the review, which we are more than happy to oblige to as, quite frankly, it is fab. It is also the least we can do having promised this review for over a month now. It is no one’s fault but mine, for a lack of computer literacy , and my computer’s for deciding to break then never again connect to the internet; but don’t despair, all is back to normal so we will be hearing the buzz every other week from now on in!
Ben has been touring the country, since going solo in 2010, trying to get his personal folk sound out there to the nation, and I for one was ready to listen. He has supported many reputable acts since starting, from Ben Marwood to Alice Gold, and Edwina Hayes to Chris Helme of The Seahorses. His tantalising guitar sounds perfect against a raw voice singing even rawer emotions.
It was in 2011 however, when his E.P ‘Painted by Numbers’ was released that Ben really came to my attention and I noticed just how talented he really is. There is a definite shift in song and style from his debut album, ‘Humble Beginnings’, and it couldn’t be more welcome. Everything is still there; tantalising guitar melodies and emotive lyrics, but there’s also so much more. The whole E.P just screams out brilliance to me; the rhymes and the beats all gel perfectly with one another at the hands of impeccable timing on the upbeat, faster tracks, ‘Painted by Numbers’ and ‘Stay in Touch’. Slower songs, ‘Love Song’ and ‘Too Late to Say Goodbye’, become less about the music each time you listen to them and all about the poignant lyrics; the skill of a talented wordsmith. As far as an E.P is concerned, ‘Painted by Numbers’ is closer to perfect than most have even dared reach.
I was probably destined to like Ben Parcell from the moment I heard him as we share a common interest; Frank Turner. Ben lists Turner as one of his main influences, along with the likes of The Beatles and Greenday (both of whom I also love, particularly the former), and there is something of Turner found in Ben’s sound. Yes, they are both pop-folk / folk-pop (whichever way you want it!) artists and so, of course they will have similarities in sound; but it is not the music alone where the comparisons can be drawn. It is honesty. It is integrity. It is passion. Those three things that run through the heart of Frank Turner’s music are also apparent in Ben’s, and are what make him such a captivating artist.
Ben Parcell is definitely worth checking out, if you haven’t done so. He is constantly touring and trying to get his name out there, and people are listening and liking what they hear. He was invited to play acoustically on BBC Introducing and is frequently played on a number of other stations, including Radio Yorkshire. He is on twitter and Facebook, has his own website and youtube channel; you would be hard pushed to miss him, and that can’t be anything but a good thing! This young man from Yorkshire has talent pouring from him, and it is about time you went and lapped some up!
He has asked that his new music video, ‘Expectations’ be put on the website with the review, which we are more than happy to oblige to as, quite frankly, it is fab. It is also the least we can do having promised this review for over a month now. It is no one’s fault but mine, for a lack of computer literacy , and my computer’s for deciding to break then never again connect to the internet; but don’t despair, all is back to normal so we will be hearing the buzz every other week from now on in!
Carlito @ New Slang kingston
I have been fortunate enough to know the boys from Carlito since the band formed in 2011, and it is wonderful to see just how far they have come. I remember watching them rock it up in local pubs and bars around Kingston, in the student unions, and open mic nights, and all the while unable to ignore that nothing shone so prevalently as their passion for what they do. This passion never dwindled; following them around the London circuit, the crowds getting bigger, the venues more established, it was clear to see that Carlito were, and still are, destined for stardom.
Last Thursday Carlito returned to where it all began, in Kingston Upon Thames. However, two years on, they were no longer playing to a sparse audience on the first floor of a dark pub. Carlito were supporting Palma Violets at Banquet Record’s popular ‘New Slang’ night, hosted by McKluskey’s Club and Venue. Substantially larger than many of the venues the band has played, they took to the stage with the same urgency and energy they always do; but with something new too. For the first time, of all the gigs of theirs I have attended, I really began to notice a professionalism in their performance. It’s not that they were ever unprofessional as such, but they have always had an air of being the new-comers on the scene; for the first time I looked at them and saw that these new kids have been around the block a few times since they started, they’ve grown in popularity and success, and now they were back in the town where it all began, and they meant business.
Carlito have not stopped growing as a unit since they formed, and taking to the stage at ‘New Slang’ this was obvious to anyone who has seen their progression. What I found to be the most remarkable thing, however, was that as they have grown, matured, and progressed, they have maintained the same raw, fervour for fame, the eagerness in each word, the excitement in every movement, that captured fans and critics attention at the beginning. To have grown so much, whilst never compromising their enthusiasm or integrity, is an admirable trait that reinforces the belief that Carlito cannot, and will not, be stopped.
It’s wonderful to see the same dedicated fan-base show their support at every gig, and Thursday night was no exception. However, what was truly magnificent to observe was what happened next. As the first song of the set kicked-in, the crowd began to thicken. People began to take notice, moving from their spots at tables, or by the bar, to join the usual ruckus on the dance floor. I, perhaps far too negatively, was expecting to see what has been the case far too often at the ‘New Slang’ gigs I have attended; that a majority of the crowd are disinterested in the support act, having only attended to see the headline act. Carlito proved me wrong, and in doing so, proved they hold the power in their microphones, their guitars, and their drumsticks, to make people take notice. And take notice people did.
Carlito went on to deliver yet another high-energy performance, showcasing some newer tracks along with the older ones that get the fan base singing along their support. The crowd continued to grow throughout the set, and barely anyone watching could keep from dancing along. One thing that keeps Carlito’s shows buzzing is the connection they have with the audience. A lot of bands, however good their music, perform with a level of disconnect that leaves their gigs a little dry. When Carlito take to the stage, not a single member of the audience can avoid being drawn in by their interaction with the crowd, and the charisma that radiates from their performance.
Look out for Carlito at a venue near you; this forcible foursome are not to be missed!
Last Thursday Carlito returned to where it all began, in Kingston Upon Thames. However, two years on, they were no longer playing to a sparse audience on the first floor of a dark pub. Carlito were supporting Palma Violets at Banquet Record’s popular ‘New Slang’ night, hosted by McKluskey’s Club and Venue. Substantially larger than many of the venues the band has played, they took to the stage with the same urgency and energy they always do; but with something new too. For the first time, of all the gigs of theirs I have attended, I really began to notice a professionalism in their performance. It’s not that they were ever unprofessional as such, but they have always had an air of being the new-comers on the scene; for the first time I looked at them and saw that these new kids have been around the block a few times since they started, they’ve grown in popularity and success, and now they were back in the town where it all began, and they meant business.
Carlito have not stopped growing as a unit since they formed, and taking to the stage at ‘New Slang’ this was obvious to anyone who has seen their progression. What I found to be the most remarkable thing, however, was that as they have grown, matured, and progressed, they have maintained the same raw, fervour for fame, the eagerness in each word, the excitement in every movement, that captured fans and critics attention at the beginning. To have grown so much, whilst never compromising their enthusiasm or integrity, is an admirable trait that reinforces the belief that Carlito cannot, and will not, be stopped.
It’s wonderful to see the same dedicated fan-base show their support at every gig, and Thursday night was no exception. However, what was truly magnificent to observe was what happened next. As the first song of the set kicked-in, the crowd began to thicken. People began to take notice, moving from their spots at tables, or by the bar, to join the usual ruckus on the dance floor. I, perhaps far too negatively, was expecting to see what has been the case far too often at the ‘New Slang’ gigs I have attended; that a majority of the crowd are disinterested in the support act, having only attended to see the headline act. Carlito proved me wrong, and in doing so, proved they hold the power in their microphones, their guitars, and their drumsticks, to make people take notice. And take notice people did.
Carlito went on to deliver yet another high-energy performance, showcasing some newer tracks along with the older ones that get the fan base singing along their support. The crowd continued to grow throughout the set, and barely anyone watching could keep from dancing along. One thing that keeps Carlito’s shows buzzing is the connection they have with the audience. A lot of bands, however good their music, perform with a level of disconnect that leaves their gigs a little dry. When Carlito take to the stage, not a single member of the audience can avoid being drawn in by their interaction with the crowd, and the charisma that radiates from their performance.
Look out for Carlito at a venue near you; this forcible foursome are not to be missed!