Concert reviews

[EvaUnit02]

Live acts that I saw last week.

Rage Against the Machine - 5/5
Nothing short of outstanding. Tom Morello's guitar wizardry, Zack De La Rocha's vocals... the entire band was perfectly synergised and sounded on par with a studio recording. Zack De La Rocha giving one of his trademark "fuck the system" rants was the icing on the cake (A response to a Fox News panel, including Anne Coulter, misquoting him and calling the band terrorists).

The Police - 4.5/5
Sting and co. were in top form, performing all of their hits with terrific musicianship.

Fergie - 1/5
Horrible performances of horrible material. She did do one decent cover of Heart's Barracuda though. Really who thought that she would be a good support act for The Police?

Kate Nash - 0.5/5
Another no-talent "singer-songwriter" (cut from the same cloth as equal "talents" Natasha Beddingfield, Lily Allen and Sandi Thom) whom you poms seem to unashamedly lap up.

Arcade Fire - 0/5
Totally unlistenable and utterly pretentious hipster excrement.

Billy Bragg - 3.5/5
Channelled the very essence of the Punk and 60's folk genres. Had me smiling the whole way through.

The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello) - 3/5
The master guitarist from RatM playing unplugged and performing protest songs that he had written. The highlight of the gig was a surprise duet with System of a Down's lead vocalist, Serj Tankian (whose now a part-time NZ resident apparently).

[Markgway]

Kate Nash - 0.5/5[/b]
Another no-talent "singer-songwriter" (cut from the same cloth as equal "talents" Natasha Beddingfield, Lily Allen and Sandi Thom) whom you poms seem to unashamedly lap up.

What was the generous .5 for?

Did she get her tits out or something?

[bradavon]

Kate Nash - 0.5/5
Another no-talent "singer-songwriter" (cut from the same cloth as equal "talents" Natasha Beddingfield, Lily Allen and Sandi Thom) whom you poms seem to unashamedly lap up.

Not all poms for starters and those who like Kate Nash/Lilley Allen I guess like the "British White Trash Working Class" sound of their singing. Not being British I guess you cannot relate, not that I can either.

Natasha Beddingfield and Sandi Thom sound nothing like those two though, how can you even compare them? Fair enough you don't like them either but the type of music is completely different. As it happens I think both Natasha Beddingfield and Sandi Thom are talented, especially Sandi Thom (who btw had one hit then disappeared, nothing to be lapped up about).

The Police - 4.5/5
Sting and co. were in top form, performing all of their hits with terrific musicianship.

I bet they were great.

Fergie - 1/5
Horrible performances of horrible material. She did do one decent cover of Heart's Barracuda though. Really who thought that she would be a good support act for The Police?

I liked her in The Black Eyed Peas but her solo stuff is mostly awful. The same goes for Gwen Steffani too actually, her work with No Doubt is decent but my god her solo work is awful.

[Markgway]

Kate Nash is basically Lily Allen without the jaunty tunes. Their faux-estuary "singing" (and I use that term loosely) is grating to say the least. Of the two I'd rather listen to Allen, though.

I cannot stand that awful Sandi Thom 'Punk Rocker' dirge. I hope she stays 'lost'.

The Black Eyed Peas - whilst I'm on a roll - are also pants.

[bradavon]

Kate Nash is basically Lily Allen without the jaunty tunes. Their faux-estuary "singing" (and I use that term loosely) is grating to say the least. Of the two I'd rather listen to Allen, though.

As it happens I prefer Kate Nash, just. Both as you say are dreadful.

At least Kate Nash isn't bitchy in that oh so unattractive female way.

[Markgway]

Personalities aside: I can't listen to Nash. Her voice irritates me so much. The tunes take the worst edge of Allen's mockney affections.

[EvaUnit02]

One that I forgot:-

Bjork - 4/5
Put on a spectacular show (even had lasers towards the end) and she performed wonderfully. As expected the costumes worn by both her and the back-up band were bizarre. Bjork's in-between song banter (Eg at twilight she said "It's getting dark soon.") was charming and she regularly thanked the audience for their affection.

Natasha Beddingfield and Sandi Thom sound nothing like those two though, how can you even compare them?

They're singer-songwriters and all of them write horrible and insipid lyrics, of course they can be compared.

What was the generous .5 for?

Did she get her tits out or something?

Because Nash was better than Arcade Fire.

The Black Eyed Peas - whilst I'm on a roll - are also pants.

Agreed.

[bradavon]

They're singer-songwriters and all of them write horrible and insipid lyrics, of course they can be compared.

Okay but their singing style is entirely different.

Natasha Beddingfield in particular just sings pop sings which I'm sure their Kiwi equivalents of making your Pom point pretty pointless.

[EvaUnit02]

Care to offer some examples rather than speculation?

[bradavon]

Well no because obviously a Kiwi singer who has no international fame isn't going to be known outside of her native country but are you honestly telling me their are no Kiwi singers in the New Zealand pop charts?

That's all Natasha Beddingfield sings unlike Kate Nash/Lilley Allen who do sing differently, if pretty awfully.