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GIG REVIEW TIME!!!!

We hope to bring you reviews of gigs played at the Bull And Gate. If  you want to contribute because a band has ‘moved the earth’ for you, feel free send us your review (Please mention date and you’re name or nick name for those of us who maybe shy).

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Band Venue Date
Club Giants (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London January 1999
Sniper (NME review)  The Bull And Gate, London March 1999
Hirameka Hi-Fi (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London October 1998
Coldplay (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London March 1999
January (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London November 1999
The Clint Boon Experience / Monsoon Bassoon / Max Tractor (NME Review) The Bull And Gate, London January 1999
The samurai Seven / Manatee (NME review)  The Bull And Gate, London November 1999
International JetSet (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London November 1999
Jumbo / Beatglider (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London October 1999
Seafood (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London January 2000
Pandamonium 1 (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London January 1999
Terris / Orange Can (NME review) The Bull And Gate, London November 1999
ASH The Bull And Gate, London November 1998
CHARLEY The Bull And Gate, London April 1999
DIARY  The Red Eye, London October 1998
FUNGUS The Bull And Gate, London October 1999
M40 The Bull And Gate, London 15th March 1999
TINY TOO The Bull And Gate, London 5th July 1998
THE VERTICAL SMILE ) The Red Eye, London 5th October 1998

Tiny Too (Bull And Gate, approx. 5th July 98)
Author: Mr T.T.
Tiny Too are a revelation especially since they were just an above-average shouty girl-band a few months back. Now they’ve somehow snuck a hypnotic element into the fierce fuzzy noise which makes ’em a unique cross between the riot and the Kraut. Just as I was thinking mambo Taxi and Bjork playing Can, my friend Tim claimed it was Nico fronting the violent Femmes which probably says it perfectly.

 

THE VERTICAL SMILE  – live at the Red Eye, London, 5th October 1998
Author: Fermat
Billed as the band “who calm things a little with music for Arizona
skylines” wouldn’t be so hard to fathom, but Arizona can have some
pretty ferocious storms sometimes. I’ll explain myself. When the
Vertical Smile started their set with the monstrously loud “Luke’s Tune”
and closed it with an intense wig-out, the calm was the three songs
in-between, and the sound of mellow jazz trip hop that followed their
stage exit.
All the guitarists shared vocal duties tonight which switched the
center of attention around for each song, while the Velvet Underground
and Yo La Tengo’s (and maybe the Telstar Ponies too) more famous
jam-noise moments seemed to have influenced the tremendous calamity of
noise, feedback and self indulgent on-stage behavior for their raucous
instrumental closer “If You Don’t Smile, I’ll Make You Cry.”
From where I was standing, the only object visible to me was the top
of the drummer’s head, who refused to acknowledge that he was performing
to an audience at all, and smashed his cymbals and drum kit around with
an energy that could only possibly be accomplished by either illicit
substances or a substantial amount of natural adrenaline. All I can say
is that either way, that must have been one hell of a comedown afterwards.
For the record, the songs in-between the storm were slow, thoughtful and
docile in comparison, and with regard to the subject matter in the lyrics,
a view of pessimism, cheated emotion and alienation seemed to be on the
minds of the writers. At the end of the night it seemed as if “If You
Don’t Smile…” was a kind of cathartic experience for everyone at The
Red Eye. I like that.

DIARY – live at the Red Eye, London, Oct. 1998
Author: Unknown
<
Will we ever stop going on about this band? Well, no, actually. Tonight the Red Eye is buzzing with anticipation as Diary take the stage. Center stage stands John Plant. He’s in his 50’s, an ex-Labour councilor, and looks like Lenin on his way to a job interview at Natwest.  Behind him stands the engine that powers the Diary mobile; Bassist Tomoko, Guitarist Nick and Drummer Tony. They pay little attention to the audience, though whether this is dedication or inebriation we’ll never know. They’re lost in their music, though, and that’s what counts.
It’s John that really holds the crowd. He writes and recites tales of urban subversion, presenting them in an unhinged, often evangelical and highly individual manner, and the others provide the sound track. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?
As the press release says: “Comparisons have ranged from an English Captain Beefheart Flavor cross fertilized with The Fall & Wire, with a nod in the direction of the improvisational skills of Can and The Red Crayola”. And that’s not even close.

Fungus, Live at the Bull And Gate
Oct 99
Author: Alex

Fungus rock ass! They surely do as good as any other band in the world. They managed to utilise the small expanse of the stage better than any other band I’ve ever seen there. Their first gig here was back in October – I think! and there was not many people there! Not more than twenty. That was to promote the single ‘I’d rather be a doll’. This tour was however to promote the much punkier, grunge rock ‘Over my head’ which is a truly great punk tune. They rocked ass! Sorry, I mean ROCKED ass! They arrived giving us the relative unknowns which I can’t tell you the titles of as they are unknowns. The crowd loved it but many people had probably chosen to spend all their money at Annie Christian because the place was only semi-full which showed in the moshpit. Anyway there was loads of crowd-surfing, stage diving and moshing during which they played all of the ‘Over my head’ CD, B-Side and all. After the gig talking to the drummer woman I asked her how she thought it went, she replied “I couldn’t hear a thing”. This just about sums up Fungus.

M40, live at the Bull And Gate, london
15th March 1999
Author: Chris Jackson

Young Oxford Band M40 make their London debut at the Bull & Gate tonight infront of a lively crowd. Drummer Oggy displaying his latest T-shirt design Matthew, Tonight were going to be a Motorway. I guess a reference to a recent Melody Maker comment. This really should have read Matthew, Tonight were going to be M40. Their 30-min set was very impressive to say the least. On this showing they have to be one of the brightest new bands on the scene. Indeed, future stars here, make no mistake you will be hearing a lot more from this outfit. M40 announced their presence in no uncertain terms. Singer Samantha’s voice is pure gold to listen too and hard to compare. Their music defies even the stoniest cynic combining impressive musicianship with startlingly mature arrangements you would be forgiven for thinking this band were not in their teens. Opening up with the rocky sound of Take me away they move through the dancy side of the street with Retro lover to the highlight of the evening for me the new song Arizona. At times I could feel the warm sunshine in the songs delightful melody. However, If there is one criticism and I’m being rather picky considering his age, Lead guitarist Jamie James has a tendency at times to overplay rather than settling on doubling up on rhythm which works better for me on the bands songs. A successful debut, I should say so. Chris Jackson Management UK

 

ASH (Bull And Gate, 1st Nov 98)
Author: Mr Stephens

Blimey! ASH played a secret afternoon show at the B&G last Sunday (1st Nov ’98). Opening with ‘A Life Less Ordinary’, the band played a forty minute set to an invited audience of 100 comprising mostly of fans who had won tickets through the London radio station XFM. The rest of the set ran as follows: ‘Jesus Says’, ‘Wildsurf’, ‘Girl from Mars’, ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Fortune Teller’, then finished with ‘Kung Fu’. Ash then spent time talking to the fans and signing autographs, before heading back to the Forum for the second of a three night residency.
 

CHARLEY(Bull And Gate, Saturday 17th April 1999 )
Author: Sheila

Charley returned to their “old haunt” after nearly 6 months absence and
played a frantic half an hour of old favourites and some fantastic new
material.  They have finally ironed out the creases of their sound and have
evolved into a monster of punk guitar based melodic bile.  The singer “Plug”
has lost a lot of his early nerves and now exudes confidence.  Backed by
Steve Foster and Steve Swain who are the rhythm section the Devil always
wanted, and Barry Evans and Chalkie on guitar, Charley are now adrenaline
fuelled and ready for better things.  From the opening salvo of “My
Fascination with your wife” to the great three-minute perfect pop of “I’m
Beautiful” they didn’t falter once, providing an enthusiastic, violent and
loud audience with the best way to spend a damp Saturday evening.  Special
mention must go to new song “I’ll never change” which has a killer chorus,
driving rhythm and frankly gorgeous words.  They came, they played and I’m
moist..Go and see them!

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