Newcastle 02 Academy
2nd December 09

It is always great to discover a band in amongst support slots. I had heard great things about the main act, Pains of being pure at heart and there was an air of expectation when the main support arrived. The Depreciation Guild were not on my radar and I was blown away by their electro fuelled shoegazing. It was a refreshing blast from the NYC based trio and made me want to search out more about this outfit. It is always good when you are taken by surprise by a band and you are facinated by their My Bloody Valentine mixed with Warp records electronica undertones. It is rare to say this but I felt they outshone Pains of being pure at heart and they must be tip for crossover success in 2010.

www.thedepreciationguild.com
www.myspace.com/thedepreciationguild

The Cluny, Byker
August 7th

After some terrible indie by numbers local acts, we were treated to the main attraction and they didn't disappoint. They were here to support the release of their second long player. The Welsh quartet have been on the fringes for a while and now they are starting to get noticed in the mainstream. They pull you in with their noisy off kilter alt indie. Top marks for weird titles such as ‘Bored in Belgium’ and ‘Periscope Envy’. They are strangely addictive and catchy but still inherently eccentric indie pop. Sadly it would have been better with a bigger crowd but the band played a great set and one which can only push them into bigger and better things.

myspace.com/thevictorianenglishgentlemensclub

Live Videos: youtube.com/user/IanTodd82

For two nights in May, the Newcastle Upon Tyne based quintet took over the 02 Academy. They are on the road to promote their third long player, ‘Quicken The Heart’. You have to admire them as they have survived the recent cull of mid noughties bands and pushed onto different levels.

After the amazing success of their debut, the band built on it with a good second album but the third album may be more successful but has it got the tunes? In my opinion it hasn't and live gigs only highlight the gulf in pop class between their third album and their debut. Tracks like recent single 'The Kids Are Sick Again' and 'Wreathlike' are highlights of their new material. Sadly there aren't many moments of brilliance in the new songs. In terms of their live performance, they are brilliant as ever with Paul Smith jumping around and posing like its his final day on this earth. They end the night with ‘Apply Some Pressure’ and the crowd went home happy after an energetic and engaging set.

www.maximopark.com

Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/IanTodd82