RAY-BAN ENVISION TOUR PRESENTS: THEME PARK @ WEST COUNTRY BOXING CLUB, BRISTOL

Ray-Ban Envision Tour: Theme Park

West Country Boxing Club, Bristol, Saturday, May 22

Ray Ban had set up a competition enabling a lucky few to attend private gigs after they had submitted their ‘Vision’ onto the competition website. Whilst my friend bothered and entered the competition, after noticing Theme Park had mentioned on Facebook that they had a few spare tickets, I was lucky enough to nab some through a gushy email to the band themselves. After the train journey in, we reached Bristol and hopped off. Knowing exactly where we were heading, we followed the gatherings heading into the city for the Dot To Dot Festival. A rowdy bunch of woman clutched Fosters' cans whilst posing in their wellies, unfortunately it seemed that they weren't aware that the festival itself, isn't your typical muddy field festival, instead they would spend the day crammed into small music venues and pubs across the city, whilst being sandwiched between sweaty men, regretting their choice of rubber booties.

Anyhow, we reached St Thomas Street, and after storming around the street and the area, we found no sign of a 'West Country Boxing Club'. We got desperate, and after approaching four people, we soon discovered that actually there happened to be two St Thomas Street's in Bristol. Typical. Feeling like a complete plank for being so confident with my day-plan, we caught a taxi and trekked over to the opposite side of the city. It soon became apparent that this cheap day out with a free gig, was actually turning out to be rather stressful and unfortunately pretty damn expensive, for a penniless me. Feeling as though someone had thrown me into a sea of relief, we FINALLY arrived and trundled inside the post-church, present boxing club.

After stepping inside, I noticed it wasn’t at all what I expected, but then again, I don’t really know what I expected. Mooching into a room filled with Ray-Ban stickers and plastered with posters, I almost forget this was a boxing gym, until I turned to face a stripy punching bag (is that what you call them?). We were then greeted by two over-friendly brand promoters, who flaunted a bright red Smeg fridge. Inside laid a variety of the company’s produce; glasses differing in colour, shape and size. The female of the two persuaded us to select a pair each, to wear for photos. My friend gladly accepted, picking out a tortoiseshell pair complete with round lenses, whilst I stood aside, muttering about my oddly shaped head. The lady chose to assist and pulled out a humongous set of black glasses. I plonked them onto my face and within a second transformed into a bug. Unfortunately they were way, way too big for my face and this resulted in my appearance becoming rather fly like, instead of the super-fly sunglasses model that I would of preferred. We posed in front of the brands backdrop whilst the (worldly) male promoter took horrific insect photos of us on my shitberry.

After all the fuss, it turned out that we had to participate in over an hour of standing around until, even the support band performed. We ventured into the second room which was styled so that the boxing ring was pushed to the wall and had adapted to a stage format, whilst a dj booth sat at the back, along with strobe lights, which let’s be honest was a little uncalled for giving that it had only just hit 3 o’clock in the afternoon (I sound like such an old grouch). Having the room fashioned this way kind of killed my dream of having the ring in the centre, whilst the fans squished around the edge, a different member of the band facing in a different direction. However, it turned out that there can’t have been more than 25 people there in total (including staff, shocking), so it looked like there wouldn't be any crazy dance-action happening.

The Portillo Moment were the support band; made up of three men (who covered drums and guitars) and a female vocalist/bassist. I'm not 100% sure where they were from, or who they are, but I'd take a guess and say that they were fairly local to the Bristol area and were aged late teens/early twenties. I'd probably class their sound as folk-grunge or pop-rock, but who knows? The girl had a very distinct voice and the songs were a mix of quietly-relaxing tunes and heavier, dreamy beats. After a pleasurable set, they left the stage and joined the humble audience and wait for the 'headliners.'

Theme Park waddled into the ring and placed themselves into position to embark on the show. They bounced through tracks from the album, whirling the bodies below the boxing ring into a cheerful, tropical adventure. Highlights came from the newish single Tonight, old track Milk and Wax. Their chilled, summer-groove lightened up the cold, damp day, that was fo'sure. The band finished their delightful set and escaped out. We finished up the event by spray-painting and customising some t-shirts, relating to the day's theme of 'Impact Resistant.'

I must admit after being a fan of all the past EP’s, Theme Park’s album was a slight disappointment. However, after hearing all the tracks live, you have a complete different perspective; maybe their next album should be a live album? Rough and unhampered.

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dimwn6rRQA

PEACE/SUPERFOOD @ THE FLEECE

Peace/Superfood

The Fleece, Bristol, Monday, April 22

It’s not often that I become fully obsessive about a new band, but Peace have joined my list of exceptions. I worry for some emerging bands that are over-hyped by NME magazine; often they later fail to produce the goods. However, after the release of Peace’s debut – In Love, it is clear, that they will not be disappearing anytime soon.

On Monday 22^nd, I yet again found myself at another of their gigs (my third in three months). I was once again filled with excitement and expressed this by babbling away and pissing people off with my great eagerness to get inside the venue. Whilst cueing outside, the sky was presenting us with some ‘fine’ British weather, but that couldn’t dampen the spirits of their beloved fans. As we waited outside in the cold drizzle, everyone was unexpectedly quiet, due to sound of the band’s warm ups. Riffs of Lovesick and melodies of Higher Than The Sun, trembled through each figure of the fan community.

I had been counting down for the past three months until this day, so when I found myself practically on stage, with my hands touching guitarist Doug Castle and lead singer Harrison Koisser’s guitars, I could hardly contain my emotions and was virtually in tears (this is not an exaggeration, as dramatic as it may seem).

The show started with the band’s support, fellow B’hamer’s – Superfood. Although the crowd failed to really make any attempt to respond, the band played a pleasantly explosive set. Their performance ran through pretty smoothly and finished off with their first single ‘Superfood.’ Having already heard and downloaded the debut track, I knew they promised a surprisingly grungy, punk-pop sound that pulled them away from the rest of the psychedelic movement of the big ‘B’town. After the last thirty seconds of the new song (that had been praised time and time again by none other than Radio 1 dj, Zane Lowe), Superfood’s guitarist leant over to our annoyingly energetic group and whispered “thanks for dancing.” The group trundled off stage with a couple of waves and awkward smiles, making way for the headliners techs.

With a rather unconventional beginning to the concert, this included Peace standing outside in full view of the crowd, helping to gee themselves up, the band positioned themselves on the tiny platform of a stage. Vocalist Harrison Koisser stood proudly at the centre wearing a rather funkadelic sailor shirt, giving a little hand-quiver to the audience. They began with Delicious, which isn’t to be confused with 1998, taken from EP Delicious. The track took off with its haunting intro and kicked into a product of full of carnage in the crowd. They left no room for 'a quick breather', as they headed straight into Follow baby, one of their slightly older songs. It's heavy guitar riffs and earth-rumbling bass lead to the crowd pushing and shoving so wildly, that the only way to keep myself upright was to balance my body on the stage itself. The newly announced single to-be, Lovesick lined up next. It's indie-pop vibes and lyrics, that see Koisser singing 'I wanna get lovesick with you' are so cutesy, but yet heartfelt that it evokes goosebumps and tears in my eyes. The band whisk the crowd away in a dream full of adventure and love, drifting through the album's chirpy but sultry echoes. Part one closes with Wraith (possibly one of the sexiest songs around) and the stadium sounding cover of Binary-Finary's1998. The audience continue to go wild as Peace wave and leave the stage for a very brief and pointless break. The foursome huddle behind the logo-printed backdrop, occasionally producing their hands out in front to wave and structure Peace signs with their fingers.

The "lads on lash" return to the stage, accompanied by more concoctions and beer bottles. Resetting themselves back in place, they take off once again with California Daze, a more delicate and slightly older song taken again from EP Delicious. It's tender harmonies and gentle, body-hugging guitar lines that aimlessly fade in and out, wobble through the crowd, as many audience members participate in gushy, youthful hugs and first-love stares, demonstrating hope and naivety. The song fades away, like many of these gropers romances will. "This is our last song, thanks for coming, this has been one of the best nights so far." Once again, the besotted devotees lose control, everyone in the sweaty horde knows exactly what's about to go down. Bloodshake. The song rises up with its haunting, psychedelic intro, until the band break out into full tropical rock. The song should be messy and all-over the place, but somehow it just comes together. Guitarist Doug Castle bobs around whilst carrying through the gritty guitar riffs, joined by the reverberating sounds of Sam Koisser's bass. As we arrive at the chorus, Harrison Koisser yells 'YOU VIBE SO HARD' but I think it's fair to reply, actually 'you vibe so hard.' Dom Boyce has now replaced the bongo sounding drums, by hitting harder and heavier than before. The crowd (including myself) are loving every second of it and going completely crazy, pushing and bouncing so continuously that I lose complete control of my legs. "WE'LL SPIT BLOOD IN THE SUN" the Peace enthusiasts shout over Koisser's vocals. Sam koisser and Dominic Boyce's voices join, providing beachy-melodies behind Harrison's harsh gruffle. The track trembles away, as the band float off in a mist of smoke and light.

Their shows share some similarities to those of Foals and Arctic Monkeys. Could sell out stadium tours be the future for the B'Town quartet? I think so.  http://peaceforeverever.co.uk/