Lazywall + Rémember + Mangalica @ ReadiRockRevolutions, Purple Turtle, Reading

Site updated:
02/02/2008

Lazywall + Rémember + Mangalica @ ReadiRockRevolutions, Purple Turtle, Reading - 14 April 2005

The ReadiRockRevolutions line-up this week at the Purple Turtle really did the trick: people who had been drinking in the lower bar or outside and who hadn’t really planned on watching any bands tonight began to be pulled magnetically towards the stage as soon as the first notes were strummed – and they kept on coming. It’s easy to understand why they were so enticed: you’d be lucky to have heard such an eclectic group of bands anywhere else in Berkshire tonight.

Any of the three bands who played tonight could have easily headlined this or most other venues, and probably have many times before. Nevertheless, someone has to go on first, and Mangalica were an excellent choice.

Have a look at this for an impressive list of instruments between 6 people: Mangalica features a hurdy-gurdy, mandolin, tambura, accordion, acoustic guitar, double bass, zither, collection of recorders, djerbuka and female vocals on one track.

The majority of that list was played by their very talented frontman, Zarand, who puts on a thick accent and announces “tonight ve play you music ov Serbia”. And music ov Serbia it may well have been – to be honest I didn’t have a clue as I can’t say I’ve heard anything like this in my life. I did recognise their first track as being from the theme music to Jean Pierre Jeune’s Amelie, but the rest sounds like Eastern European folk crossed with a cult band like Estradasphere, for example – traditional pieces arranged in innovative style.

The arcane folk rhythms played on such a diverse range of instruments is enchanting – as wooden floorboards reverberated with people stamping in time and Dracula played silently on the video screens, the Turtle was transformed into a surreal Transylvanian Inn for 30 minutes. Their last track, led by a hurdy-gurdy spiralling faster and faster, accompanied by a high pitched recorder, left the audience shouting for more. But how could they top that? Off on another musical tangent, Zarand borrowed his band mate Nikos’ guitar and played an excellent cover of ‘Deep River Blues’. Apart from one track which had been sung by the lovely Heidi, all tracks had been instrumental tonight, so this was the first time we heard Zarand’s vocals – and they were a treat – as dark and bluesy as the song itself, and as tuneful as his performance on any of the other instruments he had played tonight. A fitting finish to an excellent set.

Mangalica had drawn in a sizeable audience by the time Rémember appeared on stage we were hungry for more. Tonight was the third date of Rémember’s 6-month tour over here. They are clearly very big in their native Hungary - the video to their track ‘Pigriff’ is now regularly featured on MTV’s Alternative Nation, so it must have been a treat for the Hungarian fans that had followed them over to see them in a relatively intimate venue.

Rémember were a big change from the first band volume, style and attitude-wise. Their choice of instruments was more conventional too, comprising a very skilled drummer, slap bassist and guitarist who played with the catchiness and temperament of Greenday, but the power and solidity of Rage Against The Machine. Their singer, who wore an oversize orange beanie that permanently sloped drunkenly to one side, reminded me vocally in places of Crispian Mills from Kula Shaker, but went for Rage style vocals elsewhere, singing in English but with a Hungarian accent creeping through. He reminds us “We are Rrrrrrrrememberrrrr” four times tonight, just to be sure.

It was really the bassist and drummer who did it for me though – towards the end of the set the guitarist and vocalist stepped aside and let them take the limelight with a drum and bass solo that blew the audience away. They are very comfortable on stage even in front of an unfamiliar audience and play with such tightness and energy you can tell they have been together for such a long time – over 10 years I understand. I really recommend you check out their website www.remember.hu and try and catch them at a gig while they’re over here. Judging by the queue for albums after they played I can imagine after this tour is over they will have secured themselves a large British fan base.

Lazywall, the headliners tonight, might be a familiar name given that they have gigged widely in Berkshire. I have seen them play several times before, but their set tonight convinced me that they have really earned their place at the top of the bill, having markedly grown in confidence and developed their performance since the last time I saw them. They are definitely the most commercially viable of the acts tonight. Past comparisons to Nickelback may have stemmed from their similarity in catchy verse-chorus-verse style rock.

Their best selling point must be their vocals: 3 part harmonies are a regular feature throughout the set, with backing from the drummer that seems to come very naturally to him. The frontman Nao’s quiet address of the audience contrasts with his intense, evocative vocals. Despite his confidence and energy during the songs he seems to withdraw and shrink away from being the focus of attention when the song is over.

They don’t leave us hanging between songs though, each one quickly following the other, and at one point a cover of Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved” slips seamlessly into their own “Blame Me”. It was a superb choice of cover, although only recognisable in the slight reggae off-beat of the drums and brief glimpses of the original lyrical melody. They play a new one tonight, “Dead and Unknown”, which features Readirockrevolution’s own Laz on vocals on the CD version currently being sold.

They modestly begin to disassemble their instruments when their set ends, despite the crowd calling out for an encore, but in the end they can’t ignore the demand and treat us to just one more. As the live music comes to an end we turn to the juke box instead, and the party continues until 2am.

Next week: Jason Manners Blues Experience + A World Asleep + Suburban Fuss. Free entry, music to kick off at 9pm.

Katy Donnelly
Copyright Josaka
15 April 2005

Reading Arts Venues

Reading Arts run The Hexagon, South Street Arts Centre, Rivermead, 3Bs Cafe/Bar and The Concert Hall. They have a full calendar of events including a strong programme of live music across all genres. Visit www.readingarts.com to find out more.

The Corn Exchange

Newbury's Corn Exchange provide a wide variety of entertainment in West Berkshire. They also host the final of one of the best organised Battle Of The Bands contests in the south of England. See www.cornexchangenew.com

Useful Websites

BPI bpi.co.uk :: The British Phonographic Industry is a trade body and an authoritative source of industry information.

MCPS mcps.co.uk :: The Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society Ltd represents composers, songwriters and music publishers.

Musicians' Union musiciansunion.org.uk

PRS prs.co.uk :: The Performing Right Society administers the performing right in musical works.

More useful sites >>> music resources on Josaka

Features

Shure SM58...is it the right microphone? Mic technique by Pete Davies

Top 50 Music Quotations by Danielle Hollister

Modal Theory for Guitar Players - Part 1 by Simon Duff

What is Guitar Tablature and Can I Find It Online? by Dean Erickson

Key Signatures - reference chart and list

How to Organise a Gig or a Live Music Event - the Budget by Kevin Harrington

Guitar Buying - The Pros and Cons of Vintage vs. Reissue by Michael Casamento

A Brief History of Gibson Guitars by Michael Casamento

A Brief History of Fender Guitars by Michael Casamento

Guitar Players...Get a Balanced Practice Diet by Craig Bassett