Boxed In at the Boileroom Review

Not many bands can successfully pull off a live cover of 'This Must Be The Place' by the Talking Heads that I can agree with. My ultimate 'good day' track was given a new lease of life, but stayed loyally true to the original.

Oli Bayton, otherwise known as his stage name Boxed In, is a new, indie funk artist focused on live, crisp dance beats, heavily effected, delay drenched vocals and the addition of clean, bright piano cluster chords. Bayton is arguably a very talented keyboard player, playing immaculately syncopated chords that work so well against the ambient sound of their music, and receded vox layered over the top. This is by no means overshadowing the accompanying band, who effectively layer the complex chords and vocals with the addition of further bright keys, tight drums and bass to thicken the texture to create an ambient sound that still sounds so effortlessly funky. Tracks such as 'Mystery' and 'False Alarm' managed to create a dancy atmosphere that still felt cloudily intimate.

It may be his effective use of syncopation, or finally further use of that perfectly clean piano sound (which is horrifically underrated) but something about Boxed In is just so different and new that it really excites me to see what the future holds for them.

Here's a short video I took of their cover of 'This Must Be The Place'- don't try to tell me it's not brilliant. Sorry for not the best quality!!

-Squirete

Darwin Deez ~ Boileroom Review

If I were to describe Darwin Smith, from Darwin Deez himself, I would probably comment something along the lines of 'so ironically uncool, that he's cool'.

As for Double Down, their 3rd album, released in September, it really is much of the same catchy, upbeat, clean, guitar-driven tunes, maybe a bit more upbeat and a little less poetic and introspective than 'Songs for Imaginative People', and more of a developed, honed sound than the original 'Darwin Deez'.

Darwin really seems to have found his niche, which, whether you regard it more as pop or rock, definitely falls under the category of 'indie', with an instantly recognisable guitar tone, warm New York accent and a sense of sincerity: Darwin, although dorky, is unafraid to completely open up in his songs, they're transparent, inclusive and come from the heart. He really is among one of the most endearing frontmen currently on the scene.

What really serves as Darwin's niche, however, is the live technique- which is not only genuine, down to earth and take-it-as-it-comes, but the band don't hesitate to not take themselves too seriously. Their dance routines between tracks are not only charmingly and light-heartedly nerdy, but portray the playful attitude of the band towards their performance. Darwin's live guitar solos, moreover, really show raw talent.

Opening with 'Constellations', from the debut album, to get the crowd going, working his way through some originals like 'Bed Space', including the obligatory love song with the touching 'Chelsea's Hotel' and showcasing their new single 'Kill Your Attitude' and 'Last Cigarette', from Double Down. Whichever album was your favourite, it was an uplifting gig in a perfectly intimate venue.

Chatting to Darwin himself afterwards (consolingly, he really was as charming and endearing in person as he is on stage), we agreed on three things:

1. Dancing adds so much more to a gig, for both performers and fans alike.
2. An intimate venue creates a hugely better atmosphere, for both performers and fans alike.
3. My jacket was awesome.


-Squirete
             

End of the Road 2015 review

It may have been the moment when the crowd seemed absolutely silent and still during Laura Marling's hypnotic, stunning set, or when Dawes' 'When My Time Comes' shimmered with positivity and inspiration in the late afternoon sun...but for me, it was during Tame Impala, where I swear I saw a shooting star above the stage, and couldn't think of a wish to make as everything just seemed so gloriously happy.

End of the Road's 10th anniversary was nothing short of magnificent, with the artists seeming to have as good a time as the crowd- Samuel Herring of Future Islands couldn't seem to stop himself from admitting how much fun he was having between songs, Laura Marling described it as 'the most beautiful festival' and the War on Drugs expressed how they were so glad that 9 years after first being asked to play the festival, they were proud to finally have made it to Larmer Tree Gardens. The End of the Road crowd itself is revered for how calm, relaxed yet appreciative it is, so much so that artists such as Midlake in the past have referred to it as one of the best and most enjoyable festivals to play.

Andrew Combs' set was gorgeous on Friday afternoon

The War on Drugs on Sunday

The festival grounds themselves are something else- the forest lights up at night with a blur of origami birds and twinkling fairy lights underneath a canopy of trees... to wander through to the forest disco (a lit-up dance floor which is, quite literally, in the centre of a forest blasting absolute belters.)

The tiny comedy stage situated in the middle of the woods, surrounded by benches and hay bales, doesn't often disappoint with comics such as Robin Ince and Phill Jupitus creating waves of laughter among the trees.

Palma Violets kicked off the festival, headlining the Tipi on Thursday

The ambience of My Morning Jacket's reverberating harmonies inspired, Laura Marling's stunning vocal and guitar seemed to silence, Tame Impala's bassy psychadelic haze took us all to a different, colourful world of hypnotic backdrops and lighting. Nadine Shah's deep vibrato-heavy vocal filled the Big Top tent, which also housed the wonderfully weird Fat White Family. Mac Demarco's sliding guitars and sense of humour drew a large crowd to the Garden Stage, and Alvvays' pretty, lyrical songs of love drenched with reverb seemed to fit in so perfectly with the last of the afternoon sun before the punchy synth and highly entertaining dance moves of Future Islands hit the Woods Stage. It was a weekend of wonderful, new, alternative music.

End of the Road seem to be so ahead of the game in their line-up- there is no doubt that some of the bands further down the line-up are set to find exposure over the following year, predictions including Hooton Tennis Club, Crushed Beaks and Kevin Morby. Also working as a festival of discovery, the beautifully simple yet happy tones of Andrew Combs and his band and mellow easygoing guitar melodies of Ultimate Painting have already found their way onto my playlist.

Laura Marling had the crowd absolutely still

Future Islands was complete with the deep throaty tones and spectacular dance moves from their frontman

Tame Impala's set also featured a hypnotic light show

-Squirette

 {all photos belong to Ella Squire}