Gig Review - Notts In A Nutshell 03/03/2014

Written for Nottingham Live, original article here.

Notts in a Nutshell is a regular night at classic Nottingham venue The Maze, where local bands are able to showcase their material, and try things out in a comfortable environment. On 3^rd March I ventured down there to see what was going on, and it turned out to be a very interesting night.

First on stage was SHAMAN ERGINER, who donned his acoustic guitar, and performed a varied set, consisting of mostly covers and a few originals. He has a good grasp of the guitar, he mainly strummed his way through the songs, and I would have liked to have seen some more fingerpicking too just to add some more spice and variety to his set. His vocal delivery is emotional and passionate, and carries all the songs well. He varies his covers from the originals, giving them his own stamp, but some stay more close to them than others. He has a nice stage presence, and is a warm character who the audience can feel close to, which serves him well. It was a good performance, and started the evening off nicely.

Taking things to a whole different game was the Derby based THE ORAMICS MACHINE, whose songs were interesting, and had some excellent sections. The first number they played began quiet and slow, gently rocking out, but then it just drops into seat trembling heavy sections which are full of angst and pain. The guitars are heavy, and the vocals are vulnerable whilst still retaining some power. What drew me to them was the pure intensity of their music, it's in your face, it's painful and heavy, whilst having quieter, softer sections where it almost hurts after the angst fuelled noisiness beforehand. They utilise their instruments well, taking careful consideration into the soundscapes of their songs, with nice uses of varied time signatures to make some numbers kind of trippy, whilst others use dischords to shake things up. They're off kilter and it works for them, and I hope they continue to gig down Nottingham way in the future.

Next up were newly formed band BAYBO SQUAYBO with their first ever performance. Considering it was their first gig as a freshly formed band, they were very focused and in tune with each other. Opening with a track called Disease, the lead singer's vocals are strong and clear, and display vulnerability over a powerful rock ensemble. The song is constructed well, and is nicely balanced with guitar fills between the powerful vocal lines, it packs a punch but is also emotional. The next number Self Aware has some beautiful vocal melodies which carry painful, heartfelt lyrics over a more chilled musical atmosphere. It has some really interesting chord progressions into the chorus, and some excellent backing vocals from the second guitarist, who takes the reins for the next number. He has a really passionate delivery, and is very different from the other lead singer, and shows another side to their band. The instruments are layered well with some really nice solos going on, and the drums are really tight and keep everyone together. Although all the members were in bands already, it's surprising how well they are working together for their first gig, it's very professional. The next song with working title Jazz Ting-a-Ling brings both vocalists together, where they throw the vocal melodies between them, sharing the role Their vocals are different, but merge well on stage, and add new layers to the music. The guitar melodies are very progressive in this one, with some excellent lead guitar solos and it's obvious this band has a wide variety of influences which are shining through here and there, such as jazz/blues elements. Next they played a very good cover of My Hero by Foo Fighters, which was followed by their last track of the evening, an original called Life. This song is really passionate, with heavy sections that are deep and intense, but that are followed by lighter, spacious sections too, which still retain the memory of the heavy parts, which makes them really poignant. Their are some excellent drum solos too, and the changes of time signatures in this and their other songs provide some new elements to latch onto. It's a fantastic performance, especially considering the circumstances, and can only see this band improving and I hope they gig a lot more.

GREEN HILL ZONE followed, with their more traditional punk rock sounds. They were heavy and played with direction and passion, and the vocals were strong and forceful. Although the songs were melodic, the vocals were still often shouted, being reminiscent of heavy metal music, which seemed a bit out of place for the style they were going for. Although when the melodies were present in the vocals, they had good progressions. There are some well structured songs, with good bass driven sections, which gave the songs a focus and a drive. The songs were fairly similar, and emulate a more overarching umbrella of the sound they're going for, and some more variation and experimentation, and travelling away from their comfort zones would be really interesting to hear in the music. Despite the lead singer losing a capo for one of his songs, he manages to pull it off well, and despite the inconvenience, he still produces some really nice guitar melodies which support the vocals. The harmonies were sometimes slightly out of tune, which is a shame, as they could be really powerful. However, the haphazard style of the music, and the punk rock genre does tend to lend itself to off kilter vocals, and vibrant performances, so it does work on some levels. The band seems to put a lot of emphasis on their stage presence and how they come across as a band, sometimes more so than the music, with the vocalist and bassist going in for a kiss at a couple of points, and frequently playing their instruments to each other, but it seems like in these moments the music gets forgotten, rather than it stemming from the music itself. I do have to say though, that the lead guitar and the drums were really tight, and displayed some great musicianship. The set was lively, energetic and fun for sure, and definitely the kind of music you wanna hear if you're up for having a good old boogie.

CUT THE HEROICS follow on with a similar classic punk rock sound. The songs have some good melodies in the vocals and the instruments, with the vocal melodies often being mimicked in the other parts, showing some consideration to the song structures. The bass is really strong, and a little too heavy, as it booms around the room, and in my skull, which throws the balance of the other parts, and is a little overwhelming. It's a shame the bass is so loud, as it does effect my enjoyment of the performance because it's just too much. The vocal performance is strong, with some great melodies coming through, but again they can be quite forceful, which may be just stylistic of the genre, but it means I miss the lyrics which is a shame because I love hearing what people are actually singing about. Also, the bassist joins in with the vocals in some lines, and they sing in unison, which works, but trying out some harmonies in the vocals could work really well, and add extra layers to their music. They play well together though, and are musically tight, with the drums keeps things in check, and they navigate their way through the songs well and with ease. They seem comfortable on stage, and are understated, which is appealing, and warms the audience to them. They utilise the punk -pop/rock genres well, and employ classic chord structures for their songs. They're upbeat and fun, and with lighthearted chords and song structures, which can be a bit repetitive, and would be even better if they had some variations, as the chords tend to say the same throughout the songs. Their performance is commendable though, as they seem to be enjoying themselves and they're performing well.

My evening was varied and interesting, as all Notts in a Nutshell gigs are, as they display some of Nottingham's less well known music for your eyes and ears, and who knows, you could discover a new favourite band? At only £3 a pop, it's a great way to spend a weeknight, so pop down one week, and see what this city has to offer you.