Review - Ghost Signals - The Common Room

Ghost Signals

The Common Room 

14th Jan 2023

I am in awe at how stunning tonight’s venue is. Backdropping the stage is a huge stained glass window. Perfect for much loved local band Ghost Signals.

Kicking off this sold-out rescheduled gig, the band give us ‘English Fiction’: a foot-stomping anthem inspired by Brexit and the inevitable fallout.

Lead singer Rick looks so happy to finally do this gig. His emotionally charged vocals are faultless. Bringing the gorgeous indie hooks and riffs are guitarists Eve and George. Locking in the rhythm are bassist Jackson and dep-drummer Conor.

Flying through tracks from their debut album I can hear shades of The Cure, Bloc Party and The Futureheads. ‘Trauma Trauma Trauma’ is a rousing song with some pretty mean rock guitar solos. ‘Kill the North’ has a real 80s vibe: menacing vocals and pounding drums make this stand out musically.

I witness a lovely moment during fan-favourite ‘Start Families: Avoid Shit Parties’ as Rick takes the mic into the crowd for a singalong.

Closing this incredible evening Rick leaves the stage, sitting on the spiral staircase just marvelling at the band as they lock in at the end of the album title-track ‘Lives Defined by Winter Skies’. 

Tonight was well worth the wait.

Kim Blu

Clear White Light -Review- Live Theatre

Clear White Light Live Theatre - World Premier 23^rd October

Joe Caffrey and Bryony Corrigan (Live Theatre)

Clear white light is named after a Lindisfarne song and is a cross between a gig and a play. Music  is played by a live band, most of whom are also characters in the play. It’s set in an all male hospital ward, with patients having a variety of mental health difficulties. The main characters are Rod - a male staff nurse in his 50s played by Joe Caffrey, - and a student nurse Alison, played by Bryony Corrigan, who recently stared in Live’s My Romantic History.

Bryony’s ability to convey angst and horror are incredibly impressive and Joe brings a well rounded characterisation to Rod. They both feel very believable. I have personal experience of being a patient in a mental health ward and I can say so much of this play rings true. The Gothic and spooky elements don’t convince me as much as the emotional intelligence of the characters. I can relate to both the experience of the patients and the realism of the nurses. We always wondered if some of the nurses belonged as patients more than we did at times, and this comes across in parts here as there are various meltdowns.

This play was written by Paul Sirett and he has done an excellent job with it. Charlie Hardwick of Emmerdale fame played Maddie (not sure if this was a play on words or not). She also did the majority of the singing in the play, which was great. The remaining cast were also in the band and consisted of Phil Adele (Aaron patient), Alice Blundell (Jo nurse), Dale Jewitt (Charlie), Billy Mitchell (Barry patient / Lindisfarne) and Ray Laidlaw (percussion / Lindisfarne).

I found both the musical element and the play enjoyable, however I am not convinced both elements belong together. A lot of the time the songs seem to have little relevance to that particular part of the play. I found the play element to be the stronger of the two. My friend remarked it was Lindisfarne’s version of Mama Mia.

This play is based on a cross between Edgar Alan Poe’s short story the Fall of the House of Usher and Alan Hull’s music based on his own experience working for the NHS.

Alan Hull had worked in St Nick’s hospital in Gosforth, which at the time inspired many of his songs, many which are used in this play. It’s kind of like a love letter to the NHS and stands very proudly behind the now seventy year old institution, at the end it conveys a very unsubtle message about the NHS, but one that many agree with. I would definitely recommend this, especially if you are fans of Lindisfarne, and don’t worry Fog on the Tyne and Gazza are nowhere in sight.

A solid 7/10.   

Clear White Light it is running at Live until November 10.

Frank Cromartie Murphy

Fans - Review - Live Theatre

Fans

Photo from Live Theatre

Live Theatre
4th October 2018

So I was a bit apprehensive about going to this as this is what I do as a day job.
But......OMG!!!!!
Fans, presented by The Six Twenty is a gig/play that isn't a sit down shut up theatre show and should be enjoyed at maximum volume.
Phones are allowed and you can take photos and videos, they even have #hashtags.
The show takes you on a journey along with the characters.
Chris Foley who was Musical Director in the show played Chris (I think he played himself)
He likes Green Day and has seen them a few times.
Someone hopefully woke up the band a few days ago.
Charlie Raine, plays Charlie is the lead singer of the band and had many phases emo, goth, but she's always had one person who she absolutely loves - the legend that is Madonna.
Charlie is a style queen, or so she thinks!
Andrew Bleakley, plays Andrew the drummer of the band. He's a fan of the Indy/unknown bands but can also do a good rendition of an Elton John song on piano.
And Alex Tahnee (who stared in Byker Grove - it took me a while to remember where I had seen her face) plays -  can you guess??
Meghan! That's right! Now Meghan is like myself, she likes every kind of music and can't choose who she likes. Much like a lot of people. She plays bass in the band but Alex Tahnee can sing! She has one of the purest vocals I have heard.

The play is written incredible well by the talented Nina Berry and is directed by the equally talented Melanie Rashbrooke.
It's hard to explain the plot of the play as it's not really a play but the audience is taken on a journey with songs from all ages and from many different artists such as Oasis, Green Day, Elton John, Beyoncé and many more.
The 4 actors are great and have real chemistry on stage playing their instruments really well. The production team need to be praised for getting the casting spot on. It's not just all loud music, there are some fantastic quiet moments that make this a remarkable show for everyone.
The Set, created by Luke W Robson, is fantastic - it reminds me of the old unit I used to get the sound gear from (I'm a sound engineer) and it was spot on.
Production Management and Sound and Lighting by Craig Spence is excellent he made it feel like a gig and a play at the same time even adding haze into the mix (us lighting guys love haze).
Co-ordinating it all is Steven Blackshaw.

This show had me laughing most of the way through, and the guy next to me was nearly crying with laughter. If you go to this then you are not going to be sitting watching you will be getting involved in many ways. You even get a glow stick to take home.

Before you come to experience this show, take yourself back in time to your first ever gig, remember how you felt, then come to this performance and relive that feeling.

A great show that will have you singing, laughing, crying and just having a good time.
On until Saturday 6th of October and you CAN go and see this show more than once.

Reuben Hiles

Morrissey -Review- Newcastle Metro Arena

Morrissey
Newcastle Metro Arena
Friday February 23rd 2018

I love Morrissey. Three decades later and still going strong so I make no apologies for what therefore may or may not be a totally biased account of the night.

I never got to see The Smiths live.  Gutting yes, but maybe for the best as I'm not sure how my young mind would have coped with the enormity of seeing my idol in the flesh and surrounded by the devoted, passionate and demonstrative throng that made up the audiences. I'm pretty sure I would have been among the many who tried to get onto the stage for a hastily grabbed  touch of the man himself and never washing my hand again.

In the 90’s I was lucky to see Morrissey twice at Newcastle City Hall and I managed to get tickets right near the front. I was close enough to see his belt (I know) and what an atmosphere that was. Yes it was a seated event but the seats only served for people to stand on and shout and scream his name. I can only liken it to being in a cult with everyone trying to meet their leader. No, I didn't try to push my way right to the front and get on stage such was the frenzy that surrounded me.

I never went to see Morrissey live after that, preferring instead to appreciate him and his music from afar until the opportunity arose to go to Newcastle Metro Arena. I was to be in the standing area. Immediately I thought do I want to join the many, the still die hard fans, queue early and try and find a place as near to the front or do I hang nearer the back where the vibe maybe slightly less maniacal.

I'd read on forums and reviews beforehand that security, as well as outside for obvious reasons, is also tighter inside too so stage bombing was no longer the norm or even possible at the current gigs.

Whilst listening to the latest album Low In High School, I poured over set lists of the last few gigs he played, read reviews and commentary about song choices and atmosphere, soaking it all in building myself up before the night of the concert.

When the day arrived my excitement was off the scale, I arrived at the arena stood in the foyer and heard many people give a heartily and happy woo hoo we are here and will soon be seeing Morrissey as they entered the building. Was great seeing people of all  different ages in attendance and the variety of Smiths and Morrissey t-shirts and quiffs was amazing.

An announcement came over the tannoy that the show would soon be starting so for people to make their way into the arena. This was my cue to find my spot for the night and what a brilliant one I had, right next to the sound man so the metal barriers gave me somewhere to rest my elbow and I had a great clear view of the stage with no one in front...perfect.

I knew there was no support band. Instead, and as with more recent Morrissey tours a video is shown, a compilation of videos and film clips ranging from The New York Dolls The Sex Pistols and a very questionable cover of How Soon Is Now by tatu.

Then as soon as that finished away went the curtain and there he was, YEEEES,  Morrissey opening up with ‘I Wish You Lonely’ to a huge cheer from the crowd. I was surprised that he didn't open up with the Elvis cover ‘You'll Be Gone’  like he had on other nights but there you go.

With regards to his setlist, yes there was a lot from the last album but this was an album tour having only been released in November. It wasn't a Morrissey sings The Smiths or a greatest hits tour either. I personally enjoyed the mix of songs he played and we still got to hear a few Smiths songs ‘I Started Something I couldn't Finish’ and ‘How Soon Is Now’ (one of my favourite of the night and received one of the biggest cheers)

Great cheers and a full crowd singing along with gusto to every word came when Morrissey's first single ‘Suedehead’ was played, as did the beautiful ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’

Songs from the current album included ‘When You Open Your Legs’ along with  single ‘Spent The Day in Bed’ were well received as was the jokey comment from Morrissey about after the concert he was going to a nightclub in Darlington and along the way he might be killed to which he'd say this to them then began the song ‘If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look At Me’

Morrissey's voice seems to get better with age and certainly didn't disappoint, on stage he owned it along with his mic lead whipping dancing technique and the crowd on his side when he said “Whatever Happened To The Likely Lasses”
He also reached out and quickly  grabbed a few peoples hands whilst performing too (I wonder if they'll ever wash again)

The screen behind showed either film footage or a picture which changed with every song, from the character Jason King, the Meat Is Murder cover to THAT picture of Margaret Thatcher a policeman on a horse and a baton and along with a spectacular light show (part of which someone described as the shape of Blue Peter badges) all added to great visuals.

The sound is apparently never great at the venue and infamous for its poor acoustics but I found there to be no major problems that night. I could hear everything I needed to and the whole band was mixed well.

He introduced the band members and long standing guitarist Boz Boorer got a huge cheer. The show finished with ‘English Blood, Irish Heart’ as an encore and a flurry of scrummage at the front when Morrissey whipped off his shirt and threw it to the crowd (I wonder how many pieces it was shredded into) and that was it, a topless Morrissey exited the stage

I had a fantastic night and it was the best I've ever seen him, a brilliant atmosphere and I could see all around me people dancing singing along and enjoying it all whether first time seeing or a veteran of Morrissey shows.

Being vegetarian I appreciated and welcome that Morrissey makes his shows meat free i.e no meat allowed to be brought in or served at the venue
(even Lady Gaga wouldn't have been allowed to enter in that dress)
After all it is only for one night, but I can't help wonder how many people got a dirty kebab on the way home 😁

Till next time (which I do hope there will be)

Belinda Bekki-Winter