With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

Absolute Bowie – The Crescent, York – Friday 28th November 2025 November 29, 2025

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 4:10 pm
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This would be the sixth time that I have seen Absolute Bowie perform since my first experience back in 2017. Regular readers will know that I have never been a huge fan of covers bands, however there are always exceptions and Absolute Bowie are not just the exception they are exceptional. I have seen two other Bowie tributes, David Live, is slightly closer to the Dame vocally and the Bowie Contingent are better than all the competition musically. However John O’Neill’s Absolute Bowie blow everyone away for entertainment value. You get the costumes, the costume changes, the make up, a superb very tight band and the huge talent and charisma of O’Neill himself. Tonight’s set once again began with a Ziggy Fest with the main man making all the right Ziggy moves and rocking through some seventies classics.

The band kicked off with a wonderfully dark take of “The Man Who Sold The World” and delivered some classic audience sing along moments with “Starman”, “All The Young Dudes”, “Changes” and “Rock n Roll Suicide”. The latter was apparently included after many requests from fans online. Did no one request “The Laughing Gnome”? 🙂 The band wigged out and showed just how good a rock band they are as they stormed through an extended instrumental work out on “Moonage Daydream” while O’Neill took time out for a costume change. The band behind O’Neill are Andy Marr on guitar, Telegram Sam on bass, Danny Mattin on keyboards and Alex Face on drums.

For the second set they returned without the 70s wigs and glitter while O’Neill sported a jacket that kind of took us back to the 1974 American tour and he performed “Cracked Actor” and “Fame” back to back with an immense and superb sonic assault. After he dropped that jacket we were transported to the superstar pomp of the Serious Moonlight period. Inevitably “China Girl” and “Let’s Dance” were given an airing, but for me the stand out song of the second set was a hauntingly good “Ashes To Ashes”. The band returned for the now obligatory encore and stepped up another gear and set the scene with a fine take on “Space Oddity” before raising the roof with the double punch of “Heroes” and “Rebel Rebel”. If, like me, you are a Bowie fan with an aversion to Bowie tribute acts just put away you negativity, put on your red shoes and dance the blues to the magnificent Absolute Bowie!

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Lost Trends – The Crescent York – Friday 27th June 2025 July 2, 2025

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 8:31 pm
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This was another gig pulled together by music promoter extraordinaire, Simon P of Northern Radar and featured some of my favourite bands, notably headliners Lost Trends, but more of them later as I need to talk about the rather stunning support acts. First up it was Saliva Birds. If you are addicted to class A garage rock then this bunch will make you overdose on it. They have some great songs and they are one hell of a tight band. The backdrop visuals were weird, wonky and wonderful and featured monstrous impossible creatures and rather strangely Bjorn Borg! This was the first time I have seen them live and I am quite excited for the release of their new single now.

Next up it was the incomparable Apocalypse Disco. The duo are much louder and more spiritual than the Prodigy. From the opening bars of opener “Welcome To The Disco” the crowd were all ready to sign up to be members of the Apocalypse Disco cult! Keyboard and laptop maestro Ian bashes out more beats than an army could manage while front man Robin works the crowd wonderfully with his energy and madly, manic magnificent performance. There were many stand outs, particularly “Alive”, “Surrender” and “The Bridge”. This was the second time I have seen them live and it won’t be the last. In fact I will be seeing them again on 11th July!

Finally it was time to see the mighty Lost Trends. When I first saw the band back in 2018 they were seen as a dance influenced indie band. Now they have grown into something that is so much more. This was easily the most powerful performance I have seen from them. Recent singles “Antelope” and “Take Down” are masterful rock songs. Lost Trends classic “DJ” still raises the roof and the new hip hop influenced track is ace. Their progress in the eight years since I first came into contact with them is colossal. Imagine how the Who went from a relatively basic 60s R & B band into a humongous rock behemoth. It feels like Lost Trends have the potential to be on a similar trajectory! This was another great night from Northern Radar!

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Millie Manders and the Shutup – The Crescent, York – Sunday 30th March 2025 April 5, 2025

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:39 pm
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This was the fifth time that I have witnessed Millie Manders and the Shutup live. How good were they this time? I will tell you later, first you need to read about the excellent support acts. As usual Millie herself was in the audience to witness both support acts. First up was Wrex, a band from Brighton that have featured on these pages before (we reviewed their single “Take A Walk” last summer). They hit us with a humongous sonic assault which blew me and the rest of the crowd away, obviously in a good way. They are in possession of some incredibly powerful songs and set closer “Paradise” was definitely a highlight for me. How can they make so much noise with just three people? One of the two singers Mae Seaton at times prowled the stage like a caged lion and then smashed the bars into oblivion with megatons of passion and punk power. I love this band!

Next up it was Sally Pepper who I first saw at this very venue around two years ago. Sally was supposed to be on stage first, but she was delayed thanks to cyclists on the M6 motorway! Anyway thankfully she got to York safely eventually. Sally has gone electric since I last saw her and at this gig she was supported by the uber-talented Harrison Rimmer on drums. This powered up her already ace songs into something even more special, especially “Clickbait”. Sally is not just a talented singer songwriter she is also a supremely skilled and at times very funny raconteur. I bloody loved this set. I need to see Sally play live more often.

Finally it was time for Millie Manders and the Shutup to take the stage. For me they are still one of the best live bands in the UK, and possibly beyond these shores too. Millie is a perfect front woman and her energy, passion and performance never falters. She fires the crowd up beautifully and invites audience participation throughout the set. This heat a peak with the excellent singalong during “Rebound”. On the songs where her vocal borders on spoken I can detect an influence of Scroobius Pip in her words and delivery. There was not a single lull in this awesome set. “Me Too” was incredibly powerful and came with a warning that this kind of shit will not go away soon. The most fiery and electrifying moment for me was “Can I Get Off”. Millie received a rapturous reception when she called for freedom for Palestine, Yemen, Sudan and all oppressed countries. If you have not yet witnessed Millie Manders and the Shutup at a gig then you have to put that right in 2025! There are a few more dates left on the ‘Choose The Bear’ tour.

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Echobelly – The Crescent, York – Monday 25th November 2024 December 1, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 2:14 pm
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#It is hard for me to believe that Echobelly formed 32 years ago, how can that be? How are the 90s more than 30 years ago? Anyway enough ramblings from this old bloke, earlier this week I had the privilege of witnessing Echobelly playing live for the first time since I saw them at the Old Trout in Windsor back in April 1994. That doesn’t account for a number of times I saw them at festivals though. Are they still good? You will have to read on to find out, first I need to give you the low down on the rather excellent support band Blue Violet.

Blue Violet – Photo taken by me using my very cheap android phone

Blue Violet released their debut album ‘Late Night Calls’ in 2022 and their sophomore release, ‘Faux Animaux’ is scheduled for early in 2025. They have been championed by some influential radio stations including BBC 6 Music whose Steve Lamacq described them as “a cocktail of Iain Banks and Jane Austen”. I can see where Steve was coming from having witnessed Blue Violet for the first time. If I was remaining on a literary comparison theme I might add Douglas Coupland. Their music has a dark and mysterious pop rock style and is loaded with great hooks. Vocally Sarah McGrigor and Sam Gotley where on top form in York. The material from the first album has a slightly electro feel, but they add a rockier element to it on stage. There were, I think, three songs from their debut album in the set; “Undercover”, Hard Rain” and “Asylum”. The stand out of those older songs was “Hard Rain” for me. one of their 2024 singles, “Imagine Me” seems like a stalking song and has some synth riffs that evoke the Sisters Of Mercy in a pop goth style or even Kylie applying loads of Kohl eye makeup and going full on Goth-Kylie. The highlight of a set full of peaks was probably current single “Fire”. Although I loved “Human After All” so much I bought the t-shirt! The band were incredibly tight and Sarah is a great performer who seems to love engaging with the crowd, she does that like she was born to it. I think the new album could be a classy collection of songs and having seen Blue Violet live and frankly, on fire, I am looking forward to new music from them.

Photo by Eddie P – The man who puts the Eddie into Vinyl Eddie!

Finally it was time for Echobelly, let me say up front that Sonya Madan has aged far better than I have, does she have a Dorian Gray style picture in her attic? Whether she has or not the music is the main point here and what a point it was. You could sense it was going to be a great night as soon as the opening bars for “I Can’t Imagine the World Without Me” from 1994’s debut album ‘Everyone’s Got One’. The crowd were excited for every song but the buzz went up a gear when the band hit us with “Car Fiction” four songs in. This is one of my favourite Echobelly songs and comes from their 1995 album ‘On’. The whole audience was bouncing for that and the next couple of songs. Mid set Sonya announced that the band would be taking it down a little, to be fair I needed a rest at that point. We were treated to gorgeous and perfect acoustic takes on “Insomniac” from 1994 and “Worms And Angels” from 1995. There was a huge singalong element to the set which might have peaked with the magnificent “Great Things”, what a great song that is!

Another Photo by Eddie P – The man who puts the Eddie into Vinyl Eddie!

The three song encore was immense and probably loosened the rafters on the Crescent’s roof. “King Of The Kerb” just smashed it with everyone in the band firing on all cylinders and turning everything up to 11. A little more introspection was on offer with “Giving It All” (originally a part of Glenn and Sonya’s side project Calm Of Zero) and finally we were hypnotised into total submission with “Dark Therapy”. Echobelly have been around a while and they will be around for a hell of a lot longer too. A great show!

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Absolute Bowie – The Crescent York, Friday 20th September 2024 October 6, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 8:50 pm
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Many of you are probably aware that I have never been a huge fan of tribute acts and I have only seen a handful over the years. Some that were very good and many that, let’s say politely, weren’t. As far as David Bowie tribute acts went I really wasn’t interested, but then I went to Fibbers in York in January 2017, a year after David Robert Jones’ death to see Absolute Bowie. Let me be completely honest, I really didn’t want to enjoy it, but I did. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I have now seen Absolute Bowie five times including this 2024 show at the wonderful Crescent in York. To paraphrase the words of the Dame himself I had drunk a lot (well a couple of glasses) of wine and I was feeling fine and ready for a night of Bowie nostalgia. I was lucky enough to see the real David Bowie 13 times. That is never going to happen again, so I am happy to accept a classy show from Absolute Bowie, fronted by probably the best Bowie tribute in the world, John O’Neill.

This tour consisted of two sets. The first was an early 70s Ziggy fest, second was a a great selection of mostly 80s hits. The costume changes in the first set were truly spectacular and included facsimiles of many of Ziggy’s weirdest and most extravagant costumes. All the classic Ziggy period tunes were there. Every one of them a highlight for me “All The Young Dudes” was the best moment of the first set. The Spiders costumes were spot on too, especially Mick Ronson a.k.a Andy Marr. But it wasn’t just Marr’s costume that was perfect, so was his emulation of Ronson’s greatest riffs. The singalong opportunities provided by the second set were incredible and I reckon everyone in the house was singing. “Fashion” and “Cracked Actor” really tested my vocal chords. Ending the show with “Heroes” is always a good sign too. I would urge any Bowie fans who feel negative towards tribute acts to get yourselves along to an Absolute Bowie night. (There are a lot of shows still to come on this tour). We know it’s not the real thing, but it is certainly the closest you are ever likely to come. A truly maximum rock ‘n’ roll night and immense fun remembering the Dame in all his glory!

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Sherbert Flies – The Crescent, York – Tuesday 6th, August 2024 August 14, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 9:52 pm
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I always like it when I get to see a band that I have never seen before, so Sherbert Flies attracted me. But so did the mighty Soma Crew and Eugene Gorgeous. Eugene Gorgeous was first to take the floor, as it was a relatively small crowd the bands all played in front of the stage. They play funky post-punk sounds, does that make it post-funk? I don’t know, but in alignment with their name, they do make gorgeous music. I have seen them a couple of times before, back in 2016 I said of them “Imagine, if you will, the Velvet Underground meeting the Jesus and Mary Chain at a dive bar in Twin Peaks”. That description still stands, only they have got so much better too. This was a great set, the new song is damned good and would give the Strokes a run for their money, it also has a nifty Dr. Feelgood vibe. Sometimes their sublime garage rock has a bit of Nick Cave in it. A band for the ages. I promise not to leave it so long before I see them again!

Next, it was the turn of the magnificent Soma Crew. Let me be clear, absolutely no one does dark, dirty, psychy drone like Soma Crew. This is a supremely talented band. Frontman Si has more effects pedals than I have ever seen arrayed in front of one person. I think he must have a PhD in effects pedals mastery! All the songs were ace tonight, but it was “This Illusion” that reached sublime heights for me. If you haven’t already checked out the new album, ‘Confused OK’ you need to do it now!

Finally, it was time for Sherbert Flies who I had never witnessed before. Apparently, they formed in York ten years ago. They are grungy, punky, and highly original. The rhythm is hard and full-on in its delivery. The guitar sounds draw influence, but don’t steal, from fine classic rock. The vocals are laconic. lo-fi and, lush which both contrasts and complements the dynamic, Germanic, motorik rhythms of their awesome canon of songs. I want to give a huge shout-out to the drummer who feels like the engine room of this great band and he dominates his kit like a master sticksman! I need more of Sherbert Flies in my life! Incidentally, the band’s name is one of the best I have heard in ages. Does it relate in any way to the title of Alex Chilton’s first solo album from 1979, ‘Like Flies on Sherbert’? This night featured another great lineup pulled together by Joe at Please Please You.

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Everything After Midnight – The Crescent, York – Friday 19th April 2024 April 25, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 3:12 pm
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It is always an exciting night when a great York band plays at a fabulous local venue in their home city. This time it was Everything After Midnight at the wonderful Crescent in York. But before I tell you about Everything After Midnight I will tell you about the two support acts. First up it was Marnie Glum, known as Charlotte to her folks, she is most certainly not glum. She has a voice stolen from one of the Greek goddesses that entertained the deities of Olympus. Her voice is heavenly and has the pureness and clarity that few singers possess. She could harmonise perfectly with Karen Carpenter and Rumer. Marnie Glum is not just that gorgeous voice though, she is also an incredibly talented songwriter.

Rushbonds from Leeds were next to take the stage. They played some delightful soulful prog-jazz. Vocalist Robyn McLeod could make a living singing pop-styled blue-eyed soul songs but has chosen something far more challenging and so much more beautiful. They have an incredibly sparse drum set up and yet drummer Teruki Chan draws sounds and volume that would have impressed John Bonham. Nika Ticciati on keyboards and synth performed like a young Rick Wakeman or Keith Emerson. “Close But No Cigar” was my highlight of a set full of them. I love a band that defies being easily packaged into a genre box and Rushbonds cannot be pinned down to any one genre!

Finally, it was time to witness the obscenely talented Everything After Midnight. This band is always on fire but tonight it was on a super nova level. Steph gets better as a singer and frontwoman with every show and this gig showcased her at her most captivating and powerful best. I have watched this band grow into something special musically since I first saw them back in February 2022 when they supported Where’s Slater at the Victoria Vaults in York. They are still moving forward and despite how incredible they are I don’t think they have hit their peak. What do they sound like? Think Tori Amos and Wolf Alice backed at times by some really decent prog rock, but a band also well aware of what makes a great pop song. As far as lyrics go then Steph is the Priestess of poetry, her lyrics are not just clever, they are meaningful and add so much to the songs. The highlight for me was probably their new single “Little Hints”. This was a brilliant set which also featured a classy guest appearance from Louise of Pennine Suite. I love this band, and to cap it all they are all wonderful human beings!

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Goldie Lookin Chain – The Crescent, York – Saturday 16th March, 2024 March 20, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 11:01 pm
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The first time I saw Goldie Lookin Chain was at the Reading Festival, I think in 2004, or thereabouts. They were full-on comedy rap and as entertaining as fuck. I have seen them a few times since at festivals. Some of the stuff they released in the first flush of their success was absolute genius that finely blended great rap with sharp, sublime comedy. So I was never going to pass up the opportunity to witness GLC in full flight once again, twenty years later. This time it was at the magnificent Crescent in York and the gig was a sell-out! Were GLC any good? I will tell you later, but first I must tell you about the wonderful support act, Marx. I am not talking about Karl Marx, just Marx. He is a passionate and talented rapper from Hull spitting tales of real life in his biting, cutting, perfectly formed ciphers. He dishes it out to landlords, Rishi Sunak, and a whole host of other bad guys in equal measure. If Eminem had been born twenty-five or thirty or so years later than he actually was and in Hull rather than Missouri USA he probably would have sounded like Marx. He delivers his lines perfectly and struts across the stage like he owns it, and tonight he did! The beats supplied by his DJ were stunning and fitted the tracks like a Saville Row suit. I particularly loved the Roy Ayers sample. “Rent Money” and “Student Loan” (at least I think they were the titles) were my highlights in a set full of them. I am definitely a fan of this bloke Marx now.

It is probably fair to say that in the current more politically correct climate, much of what GLC has done in the past might not be acceptable to some. While this is likely to be true I still find them fucking hilarious. It’s comedy and bloody good comedy at that! It was just 5/7 of the whole GLC crew, but that did not spoil the night one bit! The crowd was up for a fun night and that is what the GLC Crew gave us in abundance. A large contingent of the crowd came dressed for the occasion in garish tracksuits, including a delightful Greggs trackie number and plenty of heavy gold chains. Despite the invitation to get shitfaced later in the set some of the crowd were shitfaced on arrival, probably as it was Saint Paddy’s day. All the classic GLC tunes were on show; “Newport State of Mind (You’re Not From Newport)”, “Soap Bar”, “21 Ounces”, “Baneswell Express” and “You Knows I Loves You”. Talking of the latter is there a love song with a finer lyric than “To prove my love, I gotta tattoo, on my bollocks. I was gonna have your name but I only got initials ’cause I couldn’t stand the pain”? Smokey Robinson never managed to describe the pain of love so well in any of his songs, did he? But the biggest reaction and party vibes came with “Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do” and “Your Missus Is a Nutter”. But frankly, nothing could compare with a wonderfully extended singalong of “Your Mother’s Got a Penis”. Is there a better way to end a getting shitfaced kind of night? probably not! I can confirm that Goldie Lookin Chain retains their hilariously filthy, Welsh comedy charm, you knows it!

I was actually there that day!

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The WJAHOM Interview Podcast – Harkirit and Joe (The Crescent, York) February 20, 2024

Filed under: Interview,Podcast — justwilliam1959 @ 8:57 pm
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It was an absolute pleasure and so much fun interviewing Harkirit and Joe who, if the Crescent in York was sentient would be its heart and lungs. Both are incredibly passionate about music and the venue. The interview is just under 30 minutes, but I believe that we could have spoken for hours and hours! Click here to listen to the interview.

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The Howl And The Hum – The Crescent, York – Tuesday 19th December 2023 January 15, 2024

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 5:49 pm
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This was to be the final Howl And The Hum Show. Frontman Sam Griffiths, Bradley Blackwell (Bass), Conor Hirons (Guitar), and Jack Williams (Drums) have decided to call it a day on one of the best bands to emerge from York. Will they ever come back together? Who knows, but whatever happens I am sure that each of them will continue to make music in one form or another and the canon of songs they leave behind will remain truly wonderful. But before I get to that final performance I must tell you about the fabulous support act, Bar Pandora. What a performance! A truly gorgeous synth-pop sound, a bit like Kate Bush and Siouxse Sioux arriving on the electronic pop scene in the UK in 1981/ 82. While there were influences this is very much a talented and original artist. I loved the glitter apparel, although the synth/ bass player didn’t get the memo on the glitter look. But to be fair he made up for it by looking like a cooler version of Graham Coxon. I bloody love Bar Pandora!

Finally, it was time to say a final goodbye to the magnificent Howl And The Hum. This was the final of a few farewell shows at the Crescent and it was an emotionally charged night for everyone in the room, myself included. Alongside the palpable emotion inside the Crescent, the songs, as expected, oozed emotion. “Hostages” always brings a tear to my eye and tonight was no exception, I witnessed many others leaking salty liquid from their eyes too. While “Hostages” was probably the peak moment for me both, “Godmanchester Chinese Bridge” and “The Only Boy Racer On The Island” were awe-inspiring. “Sweet Fading Silver” deserves a special mention too. The band even took us back to their days as a covers band with a rousing and rollicking rendition of AC/ DC’s “Highway To Hell”. I have been lucky enough to see the Howl And The Hum play live a few times and until tonight I had never really noticed the Talking Heads influence, but it is deep in their sound. So farewell you wonderful band and I am looking forward to whatever comes next from all of you!

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