Young Rebel Set, The Barfly, 29/3/10

Stepping unassumingly onto the stage wearing checked shirts and sporting the odd vagabond beard, Young Rebel Set are a long way off the rowdy demeanour that their name suggests. By the time acoustic guitars are hooked over shoulders and The Fly spots a harmonica, there is a flicker of doubt as to whether we're actually in the right venue. But sure enough, lead singer Matty Chipchase introduces the seven guys on stage as the band we were expecting and they launch straight into their self-described 'gritty urban folk'.

Young Rebel Set name The Pogues and Springsteen as two of their main influences, and traces of both these artists are incredibly evident in every aspect of their sound. Piano solos and guitar harmonies build into hearty choruses facilitating The Boss' renowned Heartland Rock style, and Chipchase's voice has a touch of the gravely, world-weariness about it that idol Shane MacGowan exhibits so exquisitely. Their songs live are faster than in recordings, and this creates a more jovial feel compared to the more melancholy tone set prior to seeing them on stage. Fast-paced folk tracks such as 'Down The Line' make feet twitch - we’re longing to burst into barn dance around some haystacks to this - and the thoroughly unpretentious nature of their stage presence creates the impression that they could really be playing for you in such a humble setting.

Talk of idealistic romances dominate, particularly in 'If I Was', but this is a refreshing change from woe-addled tales of love and misery that seem to be provided in abundance by many other bands these days. Their larger-than-average size (there’s seven of them!) means that there are more individual sounds to be woven in amongst each other and if you listen carefully you can hear how layers have been intricately slotted together. Positives aside, there are occasions whereby their influences seem to be on the verge of overwhelming their own sound, and this is something Young Rebel Set need to be wary of. That said, they always say it's the quieter ones you should look out for, and it's going to be these discerning young Yorkshire-men that live up to their name when you least expect it.


This review was originally posted on www.the-fly.co.uk

Bertie Blackman, The Barfly 27/2/10

When a young woman named Bertie steps onto the stage with cat whiskers painted on her face, you could be forgiven for not expecting an overly stirring performance. However, as this feisty, petite, Australian songstress picks up her guitar and starts singing, it is immediately clear that she is about to demonstrate otherwise. 

One thing that is apparent from the off is that Bertie's live performance is extensively more exhilarating and intoxicating than her recorded work gives her credit for. Her don't-give-a-shit attitude on stage is intriguing rather than clichéd, and she sings with such a purpose it sometimes feels as though her entire being depends on it. Breathy, violin-backed opener 'The Sky is Falling' lulls the crowd into a certain state of relaxation, yet from second track ‘Thump’ the set swiftly ascends into a myriad of electronica and pop-rock, which doesn't slacken in pace until Bertie and her band triumphantly depart the stage forty minutes later.

Strong electro drum beats pulsate through the set creating more of a dance feel as the evening progresses, though the lead singer's early childhood influences of African percussion are not forgotten, and shine through in 'Heart', which is founded around a series of tribal beats and claps. Slower verses are transformed into heavy, guitar filled choruses, and soft, raspy vocals become tormented, throaty wails, continually jolting the enthralled crowd into the unexpected.

With her ability to deviate from one sound to another without seeming laboured, and the nonchalant vibe that exudes from her every pore, Bertie is everything that a lot of female artists are currently striving to be. Yet after seeing Blackman and her band it's evident many of these other pretenders still have a long way to go.

This review was originally posted on www.the-fly.co.uk