May 2009

An evening of Culture at the Victoria Rooms, my old department from the Before Time at Bristol University. I don’t see anybody I recognise from ten years ago, but we are not here to be nostalgic, we are here to see a young lady fall off her piano stool trying to play Rachmaninov's third piano concerto. Well, and to support some people the Wife knows.

The Brunel Sinfonia is a local orchestra which performs under the banner of enjoyment rather than clinical precision. It is a bit of a surprise to see them attempting such difficult pieces, but everybody does indeed seem to be enjoying themselves. There is no signs of craziness from the performer, apart from the virtuosity of the piece and the orchestra of performers from just about every walk of life, from students to lawyers, doctors to retired teachers gives a stirring performance.

There is a strange, meandering overture from Borodin beforehand, and Tchaikovsky's 5th Piano Concerto for the second half. This is a lot easier to listen to than the Rachmaninov, which is more of a player's piece but still, the orchestra is impressive and not THAT out of tune. Okay, not at all out of tune. Well maybe that French horn, but who plays those, anyway? (sorry mum)

One of they middle of the week gigs, I just know it's going to be over way to soon so I rush down to the Wankademy early. Indeed, Phantom Limb are already in full swing, a kind of laterwithjoolz easy jazz Big Soul band.

There is an air of uncontrollable excitement as the DJ gets out the old soul music, and when Candi Staton kicks off, the roof pretty much flies off the building. There is heartbreaking soul, uplifting funk, face-melting disco and much, much more. Each song is introduced as the song that made it into the top ten in 1969/70/etc with a little story and the whole event is just wonderful, especially the disco version of Suspicious Minds I have to tear myself away early, but the music bounces around for days.

Here's one just to prove I was there... The support band are a bit odd, I can't even remember who they were - playing a kind of funky studentbluesrock, very much a background kind of band and not at all in keeping with the music of the main act. I'm not begrudging them this, the people down the front were enjoying themselves, maybe I just don't pay them enough attention.

The Streets throw a party. We're all invited. It IS at the Wankademy but we think we can survive. It is also one of those Friday-night-before-Ramshackle ones that finishes way too early. Although I am a bit sceptical of this chav-centric messy garage hip hop, this is a surprisingly energetic and fun performance. He keeps on and on shouting Can you SEE me? Can you HEAR me? DO you UNDERSTAND me?1 and we all just sort of stand there, wondering.

Still, the show is lo-fi hip hop interspersed with dancey anthems that get the crowd jumping and the Streets' messy cockney sampling style transfers well into the full live band experience. I find myself getting more into the atmosphere than I thought I would, this music has grown on me like a scratchy jumper.

1. 1. Complete with silly hand gestures and macho posturing.