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Ellie Goulding. 3rd November 2010. Manchester Academy 1.

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The first time I saw Ellie live she played to around 200 people. Then it was to about 600. Tonight it was a few thousand. This was easily one of the most emotional gigs that I have ever been to, making it worth queuing in the rain for and risking pneumonia- or a cold.

 

The lights dimmed and her band took to the stage. Cue insane drumming, flashing lights and a couple thousand people going mental at the sight of Ellie next to her drummer, Joe. Her gigs used to be just her, Joe and Starsmith. Now she has a light show and backup singers. Thank goodness she dropped out of university to pursue her music career. Opening with Under The Sheets, her energy immediately projected onto the crowd.

On record, you’d imagine Ellie to be quite reserved on stage- this is not the case. The passion in her performance leaves you in awe. Every word that she sings, you can feel how personal it is for her. You can’t help but feel what she is feeling too, and that makes a truly great artist.

At the end of every song she thanks the crowd, the shock on her face as she is greeted by declarations of love and screams is astounding. So talented yet so humble.

It isn’t just Ellie who plays with such determination and passion on stage. Her band are incredible. Chris, Max and Joe are greeted with ecstatic cheers from the crowd as Ellie introduces them to the crowd. What made the gig special is that it was Max’s birthday.

 

Most of her début album, Lights is played. She has recently added a very old song, The End into her set which is just her and her guitar. The acoustic section of the set includes Wish I Stayed and a cover of Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap which caused a lot of us to cry. The purity in her voice when she sings this is stunning. Sweet Disposition is a gorgeous song anyway, but Ellie’s take on it has something about it that causes you to not sing a long but to just stare in awe at her, taking it all in. I could quite happily watch her sing acoustically for an hour and a half, and I’m sure everybody else felt the same. Although, there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the venue.

 

On the projector screen, a short video was shown of Ellie talking about how insane the past year has been for her. Going from playing venues where 10 people watched her to thousands singing every word back to her must be one of the greatest feelings a musician can experience. Watching her grow as a performer, and seeing how humbled she is by all of that has happened in the past year for her is inspiring. If her début album can create this, then who knows what will happen with her future work.

Although most of those on the front row were wailing 14 year old, her lyrics clearly mean a lot to them- and those older of course. From the way she stomps her feet on the ground during Your Biggest Mistake to the fragility in her voice during The Writer, the way she performs on stage is powerful. Especially when she takes to the drums, it just causes the crowd to lose it slightly.

 

The encore consisted of a brand new song, Human which she again worked with Starsmith and Starry Eyed. Human may possibly be her next release, although nothing has been confirmed yet. Even if it isn’t, it is a bloody good track. Obviously Starry Eyed caused everybody to go mental at the end of the gig.

The gig was so good that I may have got carried away and drummed on the barrier at the front, my hand is stupidly swollen and bruised. I do not learn. Anyway, you’ve not had a good time at a gig unless you’re a bit injured.

 

Every time I have seen Ellie live she just gets better and better. She wrote on Twitter after the gig that this was the best crowd she has played to. Out of all the gigs I’ve been to, I don’t think I have seen a reaction quite like this. There is something captivating about Ellie Goulding that just instantly draws you in, and it’s quite unexplainable- you just have to see it for yourself.

 

Marina And The Diamonds. 31st October. The Ritz, Manchester.

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As the lights dim, Marina’s band take to the stage. The stage is decorated in cobwebs and skeletons. She glides onto the stage greeted by her Diamonds (her fans) screaming. Opening with The Family Jewels then straight into The Outsider, Marina owns the stage. After waiting what seemed forever for this night, it fast became one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to.

 

Many critics have labelled her as “the new Kate Bush” and I suppose in some parts her voice is slightly like Kate’s- but Marina is nothing like anyone around now, or before. She doesn’t need to parade on the stage half clothed for anyone to pay her attention. The way she carries herself on stage is exactly how someone who’s career that has lasted decades would carry themselves. Every track off The Family Jewels was played alongside two old tracks, Seventeen and Jealousy. She declared her début album to be dead, “R.I.P. The Family Jewels!” She said she is finished promoting this record and has taken it as far as it can go. Her album is easily one of the best albums of the year and whilst it is sad that it’s her last UK tour for a while, I am sure her second album will be just as stunning.

 

 

As an artist, Marina has truly grown. Her live performances now involve costume changes and a brilliant light show. As it is Halloween, it was only right that Marina was dressed up. The night before in Dublin she drank 8 double Jameson which she announced, “R.I.P. Jameson” on stage telling us before she got to Manchester she was throwing up fluorescent sick. Lovely. With it being Halloween, it wasn’t The Family Jewels- it was The Family Ghouls. The Burger Queen tour became The Murder Queen tour, and of course it wasn’t Marina And The Diamonds. It was Marina And The Demons. Her face resembled a zombie, I’m sure she felt like one too after the night she had in Dublin.

Obsessions and Numb were played with just Marina on the piano, which was mind blowing. She had everyone in silence just watching her in awe. She ended her set with Hollywood wearing the most amazing sparkly American flag styled trousers. Only Marina could get away with this. Personally, Guilty was my favourite song of the night. It’s my favourite track off the album and to be able to see it live, finally was worth it.

 

A lot of artists claim they never thought they would make it. Marina however, knew differently. “I always knew I’d make it.” The self belief Marina has projects onto the crowd making them feel 100% part of this and that they too, can make it. It is artists like Marina that need your attention. Her music is vulnerable, hard hitting, happy and sad. Every emotion that you could possibly feel was felt tonight at the gig

 

I thought the night could not get any better. I was wrong. So very wrong. Around half an hour after the gig, a barrier was placed around were myself and fellow Diamonds, lo and behold- Marina walks out and greets us all. “Why is the barrier here? We don’t need it.” She spends as much time as she can with us, she is truly the loveliest person I have ever met. None of us could believe that we had met her- I think I’m probably going to be in shock about this for a long time. She truly loves her fans, and we of course, love her back.

Another Reason As To Why I Love Warpaint.

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THIS.

Everything about this performance shows exactly how a band should be. How a band should perform. The chemistry that these four wonderfully talented and gorgeous women have with each other is rare. Not many bands play with this much heart, soul and passion anymore. Listening to them inspires me. I don’t know what they inspire, but there’s something there.

Emily’s vocals go through you and cause your heart to beat double time. Theresa’s guitar playing leaves you wishing you could play the guitar like she does, sending you into some kind of trance. Jenny’s bass playing is so relaxed yet fucking powerful (I had to swear, I am not sorry) you lose yourself. Stella’s drumming makes you go sit with your mouth open and think “WHAT THE HELL.” It is out of this world. All together, these women leave you in awe. If you love them, you love them with all you have. There is no middle ground. You love everything they do. You realise that they have no bad song at all. You know that The Fool is THE album of the year. You know that this is the band for you. They are the band that own your heart.

I may sound like some dumb obsessive fan. So be it.

Warpaint-The Fool.

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Exquisite Corpse was a beautiful EP by Warpaint. Before I tell you about how stunning The Fool is, I must say, Elephant and Billie Holiday should be on this album- it’s not a band thing that they aren’t, it just means you need to go out and buy the EP. I heard Exquisite Corpse and instantly fell in love with Warpaint.

Earlier this year, I heard Undertow and my love for them just blossomed. I simply couldn’t get my head (or ears) around how brilliant Warpaint are.The album opens with the glorious Set Your Arms Down which, like every track on The Fool is hypnotic and you just want to please repeat on it- but you have 8 more tracks to indulge your ears in.I do not need to tell you about the wonder that is Undertow. Any decent radio stations will be playing this and any good music television stations will be playing the video. If not, you have YouTube.

I want to attempt to go into detail about how bloody mind blowing this album is. I want to tell you how stunning the guitars are, how haunting the bass is, how incredible the drums are, how gorgeous the vocals are. I don’t know how I’m going to do it because my words are quite simply not going to get my point across, but you do understand I love this album right? Good.

“You could have been my king” is such a haunting lyric. Lines like this make Warpaint. Simple lines like this make you just zone out and picture something in your mind. Something which you cannot describe. They recently said that this album is made for stoners. I don’t do drugs. Never have, never will – I struggle enough with paracetamol. But listening to this album makes you sit back and think you are on some mental trip. It catapults you into a place that you wish to never return from. I don’t think any album this year is going to top The Fool. I know it’s my personal opinion but I try my hardest to not write about something I do not like, and if I don’t- well I try to find something positive in it.

The album closes with Lissie’s Heart Murmur. The piano throughout this song is heartbreaking. If the piano was an emotion, here it would be sadness. It is a sad album at parts- but not in a self loathing kind of way. It is a vulnerable piece of art. There are no fillers, there are no weak tracks and there are no standout tracks. Each song on this album is as brilliant as the last. You may find yourself playing certain songs over and over, then moving on and doing the same with others. This album was made to throw you into a place that nothing or nobody else could send you. This album could probably fill any void in your life, in your heart. I am fully aware I sound like a freak or an obsessive fan- but I have been waiting SO LONG for this album. I am just happy to have heard it a week before- the wait was destroying me.

I cannot say what my favourite song is from the album, all I can say is- each song is perfect. It is not pretentious. It’s dark, haunting and emotional. I seem to like music like that. A lot. It is hypnotising, and quite frankly the best piece of music I have heard all year.

Jenny, Emily, Theresa, and Stella- I thank you. I thank you for creating a masterpiece.

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool-The Golden Year.

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Listening to this album has made me cry from start to finish. Listening to this album is heartbreaking. Every word that Charlie sings means more than it would if he was still here. On Monday (4th) I went to Chazzstock, and the album was sung by different bands. A moving, beautiful yet sad affair. It shouldn’t have happened, he should still be here. Attempting to review this album is one of the most difficultest (is that even a word?) things I have ever written.

Every song is brilliant, I am not just saying that because of what happened. I’m saying it because it is true. As far as debuts go, OELSP have out down themselves here. There is honestly no album filler at all on this album. The lyrics are quite dark, but the music isn’t. OELSP are a band that you just instantly love. It is a remarkable debut album, that us fans from the begining will find difficult to listen to. Every so often it will hit you what happened, and you cannot help but cry.

Opener,  You Started is gorgeous. Charlie’s voice on this track, Better and Outside is just beautiful. Part of me wants to do some in depth review, but I just cannot do it. I cannot tell you how amazing this album. I can only tell you to go out and buy it on Monday 11th October. Buy it for the sake of good music. Buy it because Ou Est Le Swimming Pool are a brilliant band.

I cannot write anymore, my words will not do this album any justice.

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