Envy and Other Sins

29th April 2008
Birmingham Barfly

Winners of the T-mobile Act Unsigned and local boys Envy and Other Sins’ homecoming gig at the Barfly was likely to be something special and the inclusion of a small string section on the heavily cramped stage really made it. Teaming up with fellow Brummie band Deluka their quirky indie-rock has lost a lot of its power-pop elements and focused more on the popular British indie explosion. Deluka’s female front-woman is a nice change, but with an electro/pop/indie sound they come off sounding a little like Garbage’s beautfulgarbage album.

EaOS have evidently learnt a lot from winning but the victim is their quirkiness which has been tempered down dramatically since pre-signing. Sure the numerous lamps and period clothing are present, but the music whilst tighter, stronger and technically better, isn’t nearly as fun –perhaps its the fact they’re not longer a pub band. Their homecoming show also hears the pre-signing single ‘Prodigal Son’ being played, despite its absence from the album and most of the tour which is fantastic for the B’ham crowd, but a disappointment, as it really is a fantastically varied and upbeat song.

There’s no doubt that EaOS deserved to win, and they clearly care about their act. Their sound, whilst fitting in the indie genre, does vary from the skinny-jeaned norm, but edges more towards it that it did before. It’s just a shame they’ve cleaned up their sound, I liked their perfect pop-indie sounds a little bit unhinged.

City and Colour

8th April 2008
Birmingham Glee Club

Dallas Green’s side project City and Colour is a complete surprise. Gone are the screaming, thrashing guitars of the post-hardcore alexisonfire and replacing them is an acoustic guitar, introspective lyrics and a sort of stop-you-in-your-tracks simplicity. The fantastic Attack in Black support Green, both as a warm-up act and then later as his backing band, which really brings the songs to life.

I’ve complained about the Glee Club before (see Johnny Flynn) but this time it’s perfect. Playing the main room, the sold out crowd are packed in edging intimately forward to catch the secrets of the songs. Green is comfort is evident, as he banters with the audience, frequently making them laugh and calls out a Gollum-esque cheerer who croaks out his name.

City and Colour’s back-catalogue is played in equal measure, switching back and forward to both albums. Complete with two members of Attack in Black, City and Colour is able to extend some of the songs, including a fantastic blues addition to one of his songs, which really lifts it.

Green adds two covers; Rose Royce’s ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ and alexisonfire’s Boiled Frogs, which gets the best reaction of the night. Both covers fit fantastically with the set and highlight Green’s versatility.

Announcing that City and Colour should tour the UK again in the autumn is welcome news by everyone. Hopefully City and Colour will continue playing small intimate venues, as the rawness of the hits hard, and you’ll be in need of a seat.