The Chapman Family @ Plug: Sheffield

Having featured on the BBC’s Introducing stage at Glastonbury and supporting the 80’s electro diva La Roux on the NME Radar Tour, The Chapman Family have certainly got a lot of people talking. If not only for the blood and sweat dripping encounters alone, which many of the cult fan base will already have experienced. The fiery foursome kick start their Virgins tour with support from; Ketamine Kim and Jack and The Beanstalk, at Sheffield’s Plug. 

A mere 5 minutes after the 7.30 opening time the first of tonight’s support acts emerged. As the crowd was very sparse at this time, their entrance onto the stage merited little to no reaction. The five piece ‘Ketamine Kim,’ eventually after some time, launched into their first song. It was evident from almost the first guitar chord ‘Ketamine Kim’ are doing what The Libertines and many followers have done years before. Scatty guitar playing, fast drumbeats, and a distinctly average singer. It also came with weak backing vocals from the female keyboardist, and, putting the icing on a badly baked cake – corny jokes from the lead vocalist that even your best friend wouldn’t humour. In essence, this band aren’t awful, just fresh and inventive idea’s wouldn’t go a miss, to be able to create their own unique sound.

After a swift turn around, in which it enabled me, and many others for that fact, to buy an extortionate pint of larger from the bar, Jack and The Beanstalks took to the stage for another go at impressing the exceedingly muted crowd. They too, sporting a very dirty and unclear sound – similar to the previous bands attempts. However, this time, the inventive melodies and complex drumbeats featured where the latter bands had collapsed. The quirky and original idea’s in the tracks merited the credit they deserved from the ever – warming crowd. The overall charisma and stage presence of the band was almost a heartfelt disaster, with minimal movement and speech throughout the entirety of the set. The timings also, were poorly judged, with the beginnings of a song in the making, they quickly realised that time had surpassed, and sheepishly departed with a mumble of “Thanks, We’re Jack and The Beanstalks” under their breath. I’m sure many of tonight’s crowd felt the same empathy that I did for them.

The Chapman Family saunter casually onto stage, only to be greeted by a rapturous reception from tonight’s sparkly populated venue. With the introduction “Hello, We’re the Chapman Family” over in a matter of seconds, they launch whole heartedly into the first number. Lonesome screeching guitars, aided with powerful baritone vocals, create a build up that raises the hairs on your entire body. After a minute of musical bliss, ‘Hear Them Marching’ explodes into a noisy uncontrolled mess, which, for the majority attending, was the calling card they needed to go crazy.

With the best charisma of the night, and sufficient space to move around, the energy and passion – filled show is infectious. This, compiled with, strong and powerful music made for a close and sweaty encounter – for both parties. Launching into ‘Kids’ the party on stage, really begins – with hard hitting drums and fast paced melodies it gets the band diving around, the bassist and vocalist feeding of one another’s movements, creating a close and humid atmosphere. The music creates a superior mix of styles, the double bass on drums answers for the metal fans, and vocals – think Futureheads, speaks volumes for the Indie lovers. Completing a night of reasonable success, The Chapman Family conclude the night with new song ‘Million Dollars’. Bassist, Pop Chapman, informs the crowd “If you like Liberty X, You’ll like this song”, rather ironically it sounded nothing like Liberty X and no one laughed at his joke. Other then some awful jokes and a tough crowd to please, The Chapman Family gave a fantastic performance and some smiling faces were caught leaving. If your idea of a fabulous night is a mass of people in a sweaty mess, many of them intoxicated – go and see The Chapman Family, they will not disappoint.

NME Radar Tour @ Stoke Sugarmill: 2009

The checked shirts are out in mass tonight for the NME Radar Tour at Stoke Sugarmill.  On entry my ears are greeted by the sound of a southern voice saying “Good Evening Stoke, We are The Magistrates”.  On first look they are typically indie dressed, skinnies, shirts tucked in, and pointy shoes.  First track 'Make This Work' is a mix betweenJustin Timberlake on his album Justified and the vocals of Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, with the added bonus of an Electro synth.  And you can clearly hear the influences from the likes of Prince and Talking Headson the track 'Heartbreak'. The live sound is fantastic, very crisp and clinical.  The Magistrates are very much alive and kicking. Don’t Miss Out.

Penultimate band, Heartbreak take to the stage and first reactions are mixed among the crowd.  However, when first song 'We're Back' begins with an eerie synth and thumping drums, it’s very clear the crowd are taking a like to them already.  Despite sounding like something to come out of the Eurovision song contest, front man Sebastian Muravchix doesn’t seem to care what people think.  His ego fed by the thumping rhythms that make up Heartbreak and his stage presence dominant, it seems nothing is able to get in his way.  The bliss of disco music is back, courtesy of Heartbreak.  I urge you to see this band based on performance alone.  Whatever follows is a bonus.

Around 10.20pm the lights dim, there is a mass of shuffling and eagerly awaiting fans.  La Roux finally emerges, only to be greeted by an eruption of noise, you can tell this is what the fans have been waiting for the entirety of the night.  La Roux, real name Elly Jackson, sports a cleaner, sharper look then her usual in photo shoots for NME.  A blue fitted blazer, oversized maroon shirt accessorised with a gold medallion, and skinny jeans.  However, her real feature is that amazing red haired quiff, which so many of tonight’s crowd have attempted to replicate.

Opening with debut single 'Quicksand' to the reaction of a very lively crowd, it is hard to tell if La Roux is actually live as the opener is so perfect.  The synthesizers and sampled drums give the impression the 80’s sound is well and truly back, and it seems everyone is fully embracing it.  Hailed by NME as ‘The final word in synth – pop generation', they are 100% right, and by time the new single'Bulletproof' is belted out I have not even an inch of room to maneuver.  With a very hot and sweaty crowd enjoying the pure pop rhythms with the overtones of a stabby synth, 'Bulletproof' is going down a treat.  It seems to be turning into a rather fun filled night and at this rate we’ll all be wearing florescent headbands if we're not careful.  As for La Roux her confidence is growing with every song that passes, now jumping from speaker to speaker and raving like there is no tomorrow, it seems like she is enjoying herself.  Nevertheless to the neutral onlooker the songs appear to sound very alike and her flawless but rather shrill voice could get tiresome.  I was surprised however to hear a soft and angelic voice when the words “Stoke, Are we enjoying ourselves?” came out of La Roux’s mouth.  This was certainly worlds apart from the style in which she sings.  Final song 'In For The Kill'gets, by far, the best crowd reaction of the night, with the crowd reciting every word.  The noise was electric, so much so I could hardly hear myself think.  All I know is that addictive synth rhythm has got me moving like never before.  The crowd are actually reminiscent of what you would expect at a Metallica concert, diving around, on shoulders, and even crowd surfing topless. 

I’m sure everyone at The Sugarmill would agree this was one of the best atmospheres and performances to grace 2009.  I caught up with La Roux(Elly Jackson) after the show, and asked her how she enjoyed her performance.  “It was good, it’s hard on a Sunday night though, when everyone’s tired”.  She certainly put on a fantastic show that lacked any type of fatigue from all aspects.  I have a feeling if every show is like this for La Roux, she is onto a winner.  A definite live recommendation.