Tuesday 25th November 08 - DVA Studios Showcase featuring Timmy D, Frank Johnson, Alex Stork, Jamie Gray, Telenovela, Great Northern Hotel, Day In The City At Sharkeys George Street (1/2) by Michelle Dee

(1/2), (2/2).

Photography Gallery Gallery 1, Gallery 2.

Last night Dave Abbot of DVA Studios held his second showcase of artists he has been working with supporting and recording in his home studio. Dave set up DVA in order to support new musicians give them access to a studio do early demo recordings in order to give them something solid to market themselves with. Look out for a DVA Sampler CD from DVA Studios featuring some of the musicians from tonight's showcase event. The showcase held at Sharkeys is a chance for the acts young and older to get up on stage and play in front of a real audience. Dave wants to give them this chance because he feels a certain section of the music community can be overlooked somewhat by other live music nights.

Tonight was mostly a night for beginners, the two most accomplished acts were Great Northern Hotel and Jamie Gray but I will expand on them later.

First was a young guitarist Timmy D from Beverley playing tracks from his new album, I'm afraid his timid strumming and even quieter vocal didn't grab me. He is obviously passionate about the guitar, in particular the guitar solo, because halfway through his opener Just Tonight he embarks on a squelchy solo that does gives the overall performance a lift. The thing is the stuff in between has to be played with the same level of enthusiasm otherwise the whole will lack balance. Timmy will improve given more time and more practice; axe-swinging like one of his heroes Halen and Hendrix.

However he does need to find a singer, because the voice doesn't stand up at all.

Frank Johnson singer songwriter played second and delivered a mixture of covers and originals the highlight being a reworking of Redemption Song that, vocally, owed more to Morrissey than Marley. Frank runs an acoustic night at The Blue Bell Inn Cottingham every other Wednesday, where he encourages a relaxed atmosphere of busking in the bar with and commitment to providing a really good stage sound.

Alex Stork took to the stage in white jacket and looked something akin to a lounge act I half expected him to break into something a bit jazzy and slick, as it is, amongst a few self-penned numbers. He covered a few indie acts of bygone years such as Ocean Colour Scene and possibly but don't quote me on this an unrecognisable Avril Lavigne cover.

Not really sparkling but to be fair it was a hard room to try and generate interest from the noisy pub crowd.

Fourth were Telenovela one of DVA's new bands, with as yet no recorded material. Their performance was fairly bland they could do with a second guitarist to add depth and again more practice. They appeared reasonably confident on stage but the vocal was pitched at the same level as the guitar sound so was for the most drowned out. Perhaps if the voice was lifted an octave higher the songs would strand out more.

The final number was minimalist in structure two notes picked out as a melody played over the top with bass and drums joining in later on. Not the worst new band I've seen but nothing really outstanding.

Fifth, on a rather full bill, was Jamie Gray of Black and White Tango fame. He set up his keyboard the stage lights went down the glitter ball threw sparkles across the stage and the Jamie Gray experience began. Opening with a synth-dance number by way of a backing track, he overlaid his melodies and silenced the crowd for the first time tonight. Jamie is self taught and composes and arranges his own material. He has just produced an album Viaje del Agitado of evocative and engaging tunes exploring different genre types. He continues to engage the appreciative crowd with Salsa Jam and Fable.

His final piece Fiery Slumber (piano version) he plays entirely live, without the backing track.

As is always the way, the technology breaks down and proceeds with considerable ease to lift the entire evening. Talented in composition and performance he blends popular and classical styles justifying the press comment from the band's recent Manchester show at In The City. "Black and White Tango produced the surprise package of this years ITC official fringe showcase..."

Continued .... Next Page (2/2)

Photography Gallery Gallery 1, Gallery 2.

Photographs Copyright © 2008  Michelle Dee

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