Wednesday 12th April 06 - Tarifa at Quayside Quintessential Sessions By Michelle Dee

I have known of Tarifa since they opened the Renegade Writers Live Event at Ringside last year. Since then they have been hard at work practicing, writing and strengthening the ties within the band. Tarifa recently played at Music Man but tonight was the first time I'd seen them since last year. After a delayed start (they didn't take to the stage till nigh on ten) a ratatata of drums heralded the first song incorporating some rather good four part vocal harmonies.

Richard front man, and eye candy for the girls, announced a song from the bands recent demo From the lips of Lunatics.

Topic was apparently inspired by Jeremy Vine of all things. The chorus asks what would you give, but I would have given anything for a sound engineer at that moment. I don't know quite what it was but, for this number and this number alone, the sound was bass heavy, too deep, and it reverberated through the speakers drowning the rest of the instruments and at times the vocal. There was a fun fast guitar break after a mid section pause that managed to rise above the fug and the song was nevertheless well received by the crowd.

During the set the band members exchanged guitars for bass guitars and lead vocals seemed to be shared. I enjoyed Pete Coulam's guitar parts combined with the echoic keys on one of the numbers; it sounded like a track from a film, epic and searching. Tarifa mix it up all the way through their full and varied set, with fun blues/folk melodies giving way to more classic rock sensibilities on Underdog. Another highpoint of the set was a more mellow number, which created simple images of being sat safe somewhere looking out into the world.

The gentle chords gradually morph into a spacey dreamy sound, just right to off set the faster numbers.

It is only when the prog rock kicks in that Tarifa really come in to their own. An emphasis on dark and light, soft sweet guitar breaks, dramatic keys and menacing drums. Harmonising vocals from the ever shifting band members display their individual talents. The finale, a reworking of Another brick in the wall, by Pink Floyd is cleverly written exchanging the usual lyrics for chav on the dole. The song is a lot of fun and explores attitudes to current subcultures, much the same way the original song does. I think Gilmour and Waters would appreciate the modern twist Tarifa put on their seminal hit record.

Tarifa played an enjoyable set with lots of fresh ideas and exciting variations. The depth of musical ability within the group bodes well for them and will surely see them become a strong addition to the ever increasing musical talent coming out of Hull. See them next at the Sesh April 25th playing alongside City Ghosts and Mr. Beasley. www.tarifamusic.com

Music Reviews - Wednesday 22nd March 06 - Heat 8, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Eight - Sheriff Check, scenes from the exorcist and can't wait to be famous so I can get a guitar tech Callum Blackout! First on stage was Dressed for Stealing with lead singer Check Kilpatrick (great name!) on bass, sporting a smart full-western-jacket and tie. Looking like the sheriff who meant business he charmed his Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 15th March 06 - Heat 7, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Seven - Girls will be girls ... The night where Mr. Blake has, thankfully, recovered from his 'flu and is back on sarcasm and shirts. Good to see and hear, but beware the faint hearted. He never did tell us the Everly Brothers tale, by the way. Also a night for mysterious goings-on with the bands....two girls from Quick! went out shopping and never Read more...

Music Reviews - Mak's Birthday Sunday Sesh 2006 By Chu Nin
	Just come home from a top night at Sunday Sesh at Linnet and Lark pub. Unbeknownst to me DJ Mak decided to have a birthday (another one?). There were at least eighty to a hundred people in, maybe more. I walked in and caught the last of Matt Edible's set. I have experienced the intensity of his music before, songs that combine beautiful Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 1st March - Larrikin Love at UTI at The Adelphi By Emily Photographs by Mo
	Larrikin Love playing at Adelphi was a very interesting idea for everyone that turned up to the gig: they're known to be a very fresh and promising new band, yet although they have a wide internet audience, they still have quite a lot to prove. Me, I'm not so sure that they won everyone over. Park and Ride did their best to rouse the crowd, and put in a lot of effort with their Read more...

Music Gig Gallery - Republished with unseen pictures - The Ordinary Boys at Sweet N Sour at The Welly Monday 4th October 04 by Darren Rogers
	Checkout this incredible 7 page Photo Gallery of The Ordinary Boys at the The Welly Monday 4th October 2004 by Darren Rogers. Darrens photographs are brilliant, almost as good as being there and too good to miss so I'm republishing it with unseen pictures for all the music fans to enjoy... and thanks Darren. Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 3rd April 06 - Abrasive Wheels, Slander and Certified at The Ringside, Hull By Dick Spring Photo Gallery By Mo
	Tonight had all the promise of being a giant of a gig, and was eagerly awaited by the punks of Hull young and old. But, sadly due to a family emergency, one of the billed headline acts, Discharge, had to fly back home to the States where he now lives. Understandably there was massive disappointment at this bad news, though front man Rat turned up at the show (he was Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 27th March 06 - Raw-UK Launch at The Welly By Joe Hakim Photos by Darren Rogers
	So the night starts with me getting my wires crossed and spending twenty minutes standing outside the wrong venue. It's freezing cold and it takes two cigarettes to make the correct synapses in my brain fire up, and then I realise my mistake. Somewhat sheepishly I make my way to The Welly, my face half paralysed by the wind. Once I get there I have the task of actually Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 2nd March - HULLucinations Launch at Silhouette - Dirty Dreamers, 10,000 Things, Your Vegas and The Johnsons By Michelle Dee Gallery by Darren Rogers
	Tonight was the first night of the latest live music night to hit Hull. Organised by a team of dedicated music fanatics and not shadowy, uncaring corporate faces Hullucinations promised a top night of quality musical entertainment. Paul and Dave the men behind the project had used all tools at their disposal to start advertising the night well in advance. Along with the usual flyers and posters, they had a half Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 1st March 06 - Heat Five, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Five - A test for The Bonnitts This proved to be an interesting evening's entertainment between The Bonnitts, who were strong contenders in the final of BOB 2004, and two bands that are pretty new to the Hull scene. Secretly Soulmates, who traveled from Scunthorpe - yes there is a thriving music scene there and it isn't very far by car and Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 31st January 06 - The Sesh featuring Kill Surf City, Rednite Strip, The Chase and John Copley By Michelle Dee Photographs by Darren Rogers
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Music Reviews - Wednesday 8th March 06 - Jethro Tull at Hull City Hall By Dave Fox
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Music Reviews - Thursday 2nd March 06 - Mr. Mojo, Arcade and Mr Big at The Mainbrace By David Smith
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Music Reviews - Wednesday 22nd February 06 -Heat Four, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston Photos By Jane Foster
	Everyone anticipated a busy night. Both Steve Fulsham and Meg Williams are very popular bands in these heats. The Gig Shop team flew in hot from a sound engineering course in Liverpool run by none other than 'Big Mick' Hughes who has done a massive 1340 gigs for Metallica. ('Glutton' and 'punishment' spring to mind). Also engineers from Scissor Sisters, Texas and Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 25th February 06 - Dirty Dreamers, Viper 88s, They Died Too Young, When Saturn Returns and Cat - Islington Lark In The Park By Michelle Dee
	A small crowd gathered outside Debenhams, the usual meeting point for these band jaunts, on a chill Saturday morning. Some were carrying an array of provisions for the long journey to the capital. Our group was made up of Danny, Matt, and John Paul from The Johnsons, Me, Jo and Rachel, Uncle Dave and Paul from the Hullucinations team, Begbie, Ash Dreamer, Darren and David. Read more...