live review - Sounds Magazine

live review, thanks to Sounds Magazine:

One of the most exciting, long-lasting and innovative bands on the Manchester underground; The Speed of Sound open the night with a storming set. They begin with their signature tune “Shut All The Clubs”, lead single from their acclaimed 2016 album release “Everything Changes”, and a hit with listeners of Manchester and Salford’s numerous underground radio shows. With its lyrics’ biting attack on gentrification and the authorities’ shameless erosion of subcultural lifestyles, it is a real anthem for the culturally oppressed in this day and age. Lead singer and guitarist John Armstrong’s distinctive vocal delivery and guitar style get the music off to a swinging start, complimented by the infectious bass grooves of bassist Kevin Roache, percussion from co-vocalist Ann-Marie Crowley and drum rhythms from Anthony Edwards, standing in tonight for regular drummer Paul Worthington during his break from the band.
The band follow with a selection of tunes from the aforementioned album, Armstrong and Crowley swapping vocal duties between songs. Armstrong is a powerful frontman, his modest but lively showmanship and Bryan Ferry-esque vocal style guiding the band smoothly through a set that never becomes dull or repetitive. Their music shows distinctive traces of New York art rock and No Wave, often verging on the experimental and psychedelic while never losing its melody or infectious catchiness. Ann-Marie Crowley, herself an understated heroine of the Manchester underground with her previous role as lead singer of Poppycock, is an artist you just cannot help but respect, her vocals on songs such as “The Moment Is Now” at times evocative of Nico with traces of Chrissie Hynde, her stage presence modest and unassuming yet powerful in its very humbleness. This band is about great art and infectious avant-garde pop without the ego or posturing that often comes with bands obsessed with hitting the big time. The band’s sound is very strong on both new and old songs, as well as the two cover versions, of The Flirtations’ “Nothing But A Heartache” and their lively cover of The Primitives’ “Crash”. Their set is brought to a close by a striking performance of their 1989 song “Glide on By”. (full article link here)

All-Nighter

Zombie Shack in Manchester hosted the first in an irregular series of all-nighter gigs, with The Chords UK providing the headline and The Speed Of Sound playing a 50 minute set before them, 9pm doors, 10pm live and a bar licence to 5am with DJ's through the night. It might have been October outside but it was hot and bouncing inside. It all added up to great sound, great atmosphere and great people. There will be more.
Chris Pope & The Chords UK (photo Alan May)

The Speed Of Sound set list:
Shut All the Clubs
The Moment Is Now
Seen It All Before
Nothing But A Heartache
Tomorrow's World
Opium Eyes
No Kicks
Day In Day Out
Crash
Only Everything
I'm Real
I Don't Want Your Attentions
Glide On By

live at the market

Three songs played for the first time at the gig on 2nd September in the last of the summer sun, outdoor and live at the happening the is Levenshulme Market like playing in three bookshops at once with a vast selection of foods and interesting independent trader neatness, big thanks to Sean for the sound on the day and Christine for having us.

Set list:
Girl On The Roof
Tomorrow's World
Nowhere Man
Love
Femme Fatal
I Can't Say
The Wargame
Seen It All Before
Only Everything
Day In Day Out
Echo Beach
Opium Eyes
Brass In Pocket
Always Seems To Fall
Little Miss Restless
I'm Real
Glide On By

Fringe

It was a splendid at Ruby Lounge on Saturday, thanks to Greater Manchester Fringe Festival and everyone that turned out to witness Stuart's first outing in our drum chair and Lucy playing three gigs in one night plus terrific sets from the lovely French Boutik and the superb Kite Collectors

Set list:
Girl On The Roof
I'm Real
The Moment Is Now
Seen It All Before
Tomorrow's World
Karin B
Crash
Little Miss Restless
Love
Shut All The Clubs
I Don't Want Your Attentions

 

back at the Thirsty Scholar

Currently adding the bass line to a demo of a new song and removing a guitar part, it has just made a vertical take off.
Our first gig of the year was a fab hour long set at the Thirsty Scholar, with a hoopy and frood crowd,  its good to be back, thanks to everyone for coming out on a Sunday night and to Martin for putting us on

Set list:
Checkered Land
Maid Of The Grey
Seen It All Before
Crash
Uhrwerk
I'm Real
Glide On By
The Moment Is Now
Chalk Circle
I Don't Want Your Attentions
Karin B
Always Seems To Fall
Love
Shut All The Clubs
There's No One There

blink and you miss it

Time slips away alarmingly fast. It might have been a two month gap in posts but it has not been an empty chasm of nothingness; our Everything Changes album is now stocked in Clampdown Records and Vinyl Revival (filed under Manchester of course). We're working on some good looking gigs for later in the year and the next one is Sunday 26th February, an early evening hour long 7pm set, its free entry and followed by Ska Sunday, if you're in Manchester come down and say hello.

live at the Klondyke

The Speed Of Sound played two sets at the Klondyke club last night, opening for the first half hour and closing the night with another hour (and a bit) including six songs we've never done live before. In between there were sets from Troy Fridge, Nina Gerstenberger and President Ray-Gun. Big thanks to the Klondyke and we'll be back.
soundcheck photos:

setlist 1 

Checkered Land
Maid Of The Grey
Keep It Quiet
Walk On By
Little Miss Restless
I Can't Say
Karin B
Always Seems To Fall
setlist 2
Overlooked
No Kicks
Only Everything
Girl On The Roof
The Last Time
I'm Real
Love
Nothing But A Heartache
Seen it All Before
Day In Day Out
Shut All The Clubs
Brand New Cadillac
The Moment Is Now
I Don't Want Your Attention
Sit By The River
There's No One There

A tangle of wires

A tangle of wires at soundcheck, like the snakes on medusa's head. Turning it up again last night at a private function, keeping it live and real; spot the new ones in the set list:

I Can't Say
Girl On The Roof
Brand New Cadillac
The Moment Is Now
Maid Of The Grey
Femme Fatal
I'm Real
Glide On By
Substitute
Shut All The Clubs
Poison Ivy
Only Everything
I Don't Want Your Attentions
Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Sit By The River
There's No One There

acoustic and out of the ordinary

A gig with a difference - The Speed Of Sound and Turner are both playing an acoustic performance in the Drawing Room of Elizabeth Gaskell's House at 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester M13 9LW on   Thursday 7th April 

Ticket link : https://www.quaytickets.com/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=E21164D6-A427-4CAC-8500-9DE8ED429030 A song so new that it is too late to be on the next album will be unveiled and new LP songs will make their live debut. The recently restored Victorian Villa has hosted contemporary music since the 1850's house guests include Charlotte Bronte and Charles Halle, marinaded in atmosphere, steeped in time. 

Be quick!

WTA? November

We're live again on Saturday (14Nov) with Killamonjambo as our What's The Alternative? guest, seven piece hot ska funk to wake up the night. Ignore the chill in the air outside as Killamonjambo bring their raging hot ska-funk to Manchester.  August 2014 saw the release of their debut studio album “Fiesta Moon Landing” which reached number 16 on iTunes reggae/ska album chart. 2014 saw their Glastonbury debut on the Avalon Café and Croissant Neuf stages following which they were hotly tipped by BBC Radio 2’s Jonny Walker.

And The Speed Of Sound start the next five live shows of the solar year.

IndependenTs Day at the Fringe

It was a hot night at Kings Arms on stage and off at IndependenTs Day; the "What's The Alternative?..." acoustic special for Greater Manchester Fringe, ending with a grand finale of everyone singing Sympathy For The Devil in a completely unrehearsed and spontaneous closing shot.

The Speed Of Sound opened proceedings with an acoustic drum-less set

Love,
The Wargame,
Seen It All Before,
Day In Day Out
and
returned three hours later for the finale.

Troy Fridge played his first Manchester gig for 25 years and delighted with his beautifully quirky Diana's Kiss about building a time machine to visit Diana Rigg in 1966 and Wishing Boy... a song so memorable that it reminded Jason Edge he'd seen Troy at The Witchwood in 1989

and a rare treat as Rob Coleman was coaxed out of his reclusive-ness to play 
Luke Gallagher performed songs from his forthcoming EP as well as starting his set with the highly appropriate choice of Heatwave followed by Richie Syrett's remarkable blend of Anglicania 

 

Una Baines and her current band Poppycock gave a completely eclectic set ranging from flute driven incense powered floating gossamer lightness to jungle rhythm fuzz drenched menace.

 

Jason Edge of The Electric Stars did a solo set (partly accompanied by Louise Turner on backing vocals) giving an airing to new songs from the as yet unreleased second album as well as stripped away versions of Stoned Again and Isolation from the first.

Turner performed her own set with just piano accompaniment including new songs from her imminent debut album before the grand finale closed the night. Spectacular. A whole festival packed into one evening. And certainly in the words of The Electric Stars it was Beautiful Music For Beautiful People.

 
If you missed the acoustic special the electric Triple Bill is 25th July also at the Kings Arms.

ici Paris; ici Manchester

Paul made his Speed Of Sound debut drumming at our gig with French Boutik on Saturday, the next two gigs are acoustic so he will miss out on those and we'll be back loud again at the end of July. Massive thanks to Gabriela, Serge, Jean-Marc and Zelda (Icky couldn't make the trip) for coming over from Paris and filling the evening with Parisian smoothness, thanks to the Kings Arms and thanks to the audience that made it extra special.        

Set List:
I See You Everywhere That I Go
The Changes
Checkered Land
Sit By The River
Maid Of The Grey
Seen It All Before
Only Everything
Day In Day Out
Chalk Circle
Love
Girl On The Roof
There's No One There
French Boutik played a full set including their cover of The Clash's City Of The Dead , and the Kings Arms managed to look like the TopOfThePops studio for the night.