On Monday we saw Kal Lavelle headline a charity show at The Boiler Room, Guildford in aid of Tuk Tuk Travels.

Tuk Tuk Travels is an educational charity (tuktuktravels.com), promoting Education for All and raising money for development education along the way.

Kal is a stunning Irish born singer songwriter, now living in London. Her songs are instantly captivating, with a voice that generously oozes each mouthful. Kal began playing guitar after winning a thousand pounds in a Mars Bar when she was 10 yrs old. With that money, she bought her mother a washing machine and for herself, her very first guitar.

Her single ‘Breakfast At Tiffanys’ was recently chosen as ‘Single of the Week’ on iTunes, which in turn, saw her debut EP ‘Shivers’ climb to #5 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter album chart. The iTunes US & Japanese stores also featured her in the ‘New & Noteworthy’ section.

Three of her tracks have featured on Tom Robinson’s BBC RADIO 6 show & her song ‘Downstairs’ was selected for the BBC Introducing Podcast. She was recently asked as a special guest on the show, which was broadcast Nationwide.

Kal spent last year supporting her friend & last year’s REDFEST artist Ed Sheeran.

Here are our favourite Kal Lavelle songs:

‘Shivers’ spirals downwards like a whirl-y-gig out-of-control. Then faint thunderclaps of power and energy loom onto the horizon and the ‘Don’t Let Go Of Me...” lyric becomes nightmarishly real. This song (and this girl) may appear, upon the surface, to be fragile... but be warned, they have backbones of steel.

‘Downstairs’ trembles like a faltering candle. Vocals are redolent of the kind of fragrant nostalgia employed, perhaps, by Lana Del Rey. The gentlest of notes pick out the route for the dainty steps of each meaningfully sung word.

‘Gypsy Blood’ - sighs and breathes a veil of harrowing misty anxiety around you. The aura of this simply beautiful song gently grows until it fills a room.

‘Disaster’ has a heart of despair beneath the black robes of its own making. ‘We don’t even touch .... anymore’. Loss and emptiness is drawn in charcoal and uncomplicated repetition of symbols and ideas.

We urge you to seek out KAL LAVELLE as soon as you can.

 She will be headlining this year’s Acoustic Stage at Redfest

© Neil_Mach July 2012

Links:
http://www.facebook.com/kallavellemusic

http://www.facebook.com/RedfestUK

Attention Thieves on Rampage

 
Attention Thieves operating in Staines was the stark warning. And an ominous bucket of ear-plugs greeted the audience members flocking to The Hob to see these amazing Reading based rockers. We were at The Hobgoblin Staines for an exciting evening with the band, and we were already anticipating a pretty unforgettable time. “This is gonna be loud!” Said one grinning patron as he checked over his ear defenders. ”But we are fortunate to have the boys in town.” He smiled.

The four-piece band recently opened the new ride - Swarm at Thorpe Park - giving them some great exposure- and also providing a link to the riverside town of Staines. Big Cheese magazine said ““There is no doubt that the coming months will see (the band’s) popularity sky rocket.” And given what we saw of the band at the Hobgoblin, we are inclined to agree. With numbers like ‘You’ll Be The First One’ the boys entertained the lively crowd. Stitched together with grizzled ebony-tinged guitar sounds, and rhythms of the most incredible intricacy, this is one hellishly hypnotic song. The verse is gradually unfurled by Alex (vocals and guitar). And the scintillating chorus is a jamboree of colours and textures, as ear piercing sounds ( Hag on Guitars) rush up and fly, like streamers in the sky.

‘Can’t Say’ has bruising bass notes provided by Ryan (bass guitar) located inside a maze of tantalizing rhythms and textures, packed full of mystery and false direction. Masterly percussion by Sim (drums) are interrupted by moments of quiet introspection, allowing the stunned audience to take a quick breath before another monster guitar assault. This song peaks in a thundering climax. It is astonishing and strident stuff. No, it’s not for the fainthearted. But this is the kind of sum and substance that legends are made of.

Attention Thieves are now on an extended tour of the UK throughout May and into the summer.

Check their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/AttentionThieves/ to find a date and a venue near you.

The band can be seen playing live at Redfest of July 20th..... So we recommend that you catch the band there, before they embark on their European tour in September.

© Neil_Mach April 2012

Links:

http://redfest.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/AttentionThieves