gig – that lemon life

Live Music is Back (kinda)

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to a new post and a new week. I hope you’ve all had a great weekend and a fantastic Monday and that your Tuesday is going well so far. I, for my part, had a great weekend, which is partly thanks to the topic of today’s post that we’ve all gathered together for today. I’m here to share something very very very special with you guys and something that has made me more emotional and happier than quite a lot of stuff that’s happened the past few months. And yes, we’re talking about music. Good old live music. But let me start right at the beginning.

Those of you who’ve been following my blog for quite a while now will probably already know this, but for those of you who are new to this blog (welcome. thanks for being here.), let me tell you a fact about me. I freaking love Amber Run. And no, I’m not talking about some cool movie or a crazy online game, I’m talking about one of the best and most underrated bands of this current time. And this in itself could still be understood as a massive understatement. That’s how good these guys are. Last year in October, I had the absolute pleasure of not only seeing this crazily talented trio live for the first time, but also getting to interview them before their show in London. And let me tell you, they weren’t just three of the kindest and most grounded people I’ve ever met, but the overall night was one I will definitely never forget. The only way I can possibly describe the experience of seeing them live is by comparing it to stepping into pure musical heaven – check out the full review here. I mean, Joe, their lead singer, could sing me the alphabet and I’d quite certainly call that the best song of the century. It’s a voice I wish I could crawl into and surround myself with like a blanket. That’s what it feels like – a warm, cuddly blanket. And don’t even get me started on the other two guys, Tom (their uber-fantastic bassist) and Henry (the beast on the piano). All three of them singing together and harmonizing the way they do is what true heaven must sound like, for sure.

Okay, so, that’s Amber Run. I love them. I think you got that. But let me get to the point why we are really here today. This talented indie group just gave me the chance to attend my first concert ever since the Corona hell broke loose – but in a different way you would probably expect. Actually, I was meant to see them live in May, but thanks to the pandemic it fell flat. And in order to reconnect to their fans, the guys decided to still put on their show, just a bit differently than they are usually used to. Because instead of a crowd, there were cameras in the room with them and instead of being there with them, I was sitting on my couch at home. Sounds weird, but that’s what concerts look in 2020. And still, it was a concert, and every time I closed my eyes, I imagined myself there at Omeara with them and the feeling that gave me is indescribable.

During all these weeks and months without being able to attend gigs and without live music, I’ve been feeling like a part of myself, a part of my soul, has been ripped off me, like I haven’t been complete anymore. Which figures, as gigs are literally my life. There isn’t a place on earth where I feel happier than when I’m standing in the middle of a crowd, music blaring through the speakers and one of my favourite bands smiling down at me from the stage. That’s my kind of heaven. The heaven I’ve been missing more than anything else ever since our world got hurled into utter chaos. So when I saw that Amber Run would be doing a real gig, at a real concert venue in London and streaming it live to everyone’s homes, I felt like I had got some part of that heaven back. Suddenly I was able to buy a real ticket for a real concert again, have something I could get excited for, something I could count down the days for.

In a weird sense and despite not really being able to attend the concert in a way I would nearly do anything for right now, the show gave me something back I had been missing for so long. The happiness I can only ever experience while listening to live music, while being at a live show. Obviously, the streamed show can’t really hold up against the show I got to attend in October, but it’s the closest to a live gig any band has brought me to the past few months and for that I’m eternally grateful. Naturally, that is also because of the guys’ phenomenal talent that only seems to grow and improve over time. My parents watched the show together with me and I think my mum fell just as much in love with them as I did while seeing them live for the first time. Thankfully, we both still have our tickets for their unplugged show in December, which I’m hoping won’t have to be rescheduled again, and I seriously cannot wait for this special evening to finally come around.

And I know you’re probably thinking that live-streamed gigs can never be the same as actual live gigs, and I couldn’t agree more, but that show on Sunday also made me rethink my opinion a little. Obviously, it wasn’t the same, but I haven’t felt the excitement of going to a concert in so long and that show gave me parts of that back. For example, when they suddenly started playing ‘The Weight’, which is easily one of their most heartfelt and beautiful songs and one I discovered and fell in love with after seeing them live, I nearly jumped off the couch and shouted OH MY GOD THEY’RE ACTUALLY PLAYING THAT SONG!!!!!????!?! And whether that moment happened at home while watching a stream or live at an actual gig, that kind of shock and happiness I felt right in that moment would have always been the same. Even more so when Joe suddenly started singing a new, yet to be released song titled ‘I Hope It’s Not Like This Forever’ (very fitting for the current time), which I’ve still got stuck in my head.

What that show made me feel even through a screen is proof for the fact that music always has and always will find a way through all the hardships that will come its and our way. It will always be stronger than that and will always reunite us. Always. And I’ll always be in love with it. And Amber Run. Simply for making me feel at home when I’ve felt lost for so long.

So yeah, and that’s that. Here’s a very loving and very excited review of my first concert after four long months. I will honestly be forever thankful for Amber Run putting up this show and letting me experience live music again. I hope you enjoyed reading all about my experience and if you check the guys out, which you really should, I hope you fall just as much in love with them as I did – you can follow them on twitter and Instagram or listen to them on Spotify or YouTube. Please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below. And until then I wish you all a great week and, as always, thanks for reading. x

A night with the club

Hola everyone.

God, it feels like it’s been ages since I posted something. Probably because it literally has been ages. I mean, I know it only has been about two weeks, but it feels way longer than that. Also, I’m very sorry that it has been so long. I’m not even going to come up with any excuses, mostly because I’m currently working on not stressing myself because of everything, especially not my blog, because, in reality, it shouldn’t cause me any stress at all as it is my blog and I have the freedom to decide when I want to post something or not. So, there it is. But still, I’m sorry. I hope you had a great few days though and that you’re doing great.

Today, finally, I’d like to share something very very very special with you. Those of you who have been following my blog for the past few months and especially the past few weeks will know that I recently had the honour of seeing Bombay Bicycle Club live for the very first time. In, like, ever. But the even more exciting part was that while I was seeing them in this tiny venue in Brighton and later on writing about it on here (click here to read that post), I already knew that I’d be seeing them again shortly after that. Which is exactly what happened last Friday and I just have to tell you all about that fantastic night and unforgettable show.

First, let me just remind you of the fact that Bombay have been one of my favourite band ever since I found them in 2016, right after their breakup, and I would’ve never thought I would ever get to see them live. But now I’m sitting in my room here in London, with the experience of not only one Bombay gig but two. It’s been a week and I still can’t believe it really happened. That my friend Lauren and I went to Ally Pally and actually managed to get to the front row. That I got to talk to Liz Lawrence, who’s part of their live band, after the show. And that I felt like I had the biggest hangover the next day from all the excessive dancing, singing and screaming (I mean, I’ve never had a real hangover, but I feel like it might feel like how I did that day). That’s how good the gig was. I remember that I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time and that I never wanted it to end. Which, as far as I could tell, was something I shared with the band. They looked so proud and happy. I really loved every moment. And I can’t even begin to describe how happy, excited and damn thankful I am that they’re back. One of the best indie bands ever has finally returned and I couldn’t be any more thrilled about it.

If any of you get the chance to see these guys live, please do it. Even if you don’t know their old or new songs or any of them – just go for the experience. Maybe you’ll walk out with a new favourite band, you never know. And until then I hope you enjoy me babbling about them, which will probably keep on being a regular part of this blog – I apologise in advance (but really I’m not sorry at all, they’re too good for that).

As you’ve probably noticed, this would usually be the part where I either continue talking about the gig or end the post, but none of those two things are going to happen. As some of you might have noticed, I’ve recently been proudly sharing my reviews that I write for LDN magazine with you guys, which I also want to do now. As you can guess, I obviously had to write a review of Bombay’s show and I feel like it’s such a nice piece, I’d love for you to read it. So, here you go. I hope you like it (here’s the link to the original) and that you’re doing good, obviously. And yeah, please enjoy and let me know what you think. Until then, I wish you all a fantastic Friday and a lovely weekend and, as always, thanks for reading. x

Live Review: Bombay Bicycle Club @ Alexandra Palace

It was a sad day for the world of music when the British indie group Bombay Bicycle Club announced their breakup at the beginning of 2016 after many years of success and fame. For a very long time no one was sure whether they would ever hear from their beloved rockers again, but almost to the day, four years later, news was spread that seemed almost too good to be true: Bombay Bicycle Club are back.

In addition to the comeback, their fans, who had been waiting for their return all this time, were also blessed with the announcement of a new tour and their fifth album “Everything Else Has Gone Wrong”, which was released on the 17^th of January. Even I, who had been hoping for the Londoners to somehow resurface again ever since discovering them at the end of 2016, couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. Suddenly they were back. Hard to believe, since they had been the one band that I had been too late for, the one that I would never get to hear new music from and the one band that I would definitely never have the chance to see live.

And yet, on a cool Friday evening, I find myself in the big hall that is the ever so famous Ally Pally in London, knowing that Bombay Bicycle Club would be appearing in just a few minutes to play the first gig of their two sold-out nights. A thought that still seems unreal to me while standing in front of the barrier and facing the enormous stage.

Suddenly there is a loud uproar, followed by a sea of shining, flashing lights that herald the lively start of the evening with “Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)”. Their highly anticipated comeback single gives a clear signal that Bombay Bicycle Club still know who they are and where they belong, even after so many years – namely on the stages of this world. Despite the dark undertones of their new material, the live experience lights up the concert hall and is also reflected in the collective proud smiles of the Londoner stars.

Since this is their comeback tour and also, as told by guitarist Jamie MacColl, the closest they can get to having a hometown show, the crowd is not only gifted with fresh material from their incredibly loved new album, but also with a setlist that gleams through its certain touch of nostalgia. Throughout the whole night, the old is united with the new and in one moment even merged seamlessly. Hits like “Luna”, “Shuffle” and fan favorite “Always Like This” make the crowd bounce and shake like nothing else, while newcomers “I Can Hardly Speak”, “Good Day” and “I Worry About You” offer brief insights into the new record and showcase the growth the band has gone through during their break. Ultimately, the London boys are still the same, with their emotional lyrics, haunting beats, and addictive guitar riffs.

Given the quality of their show and the magnetism of the band, it comes as no surprise that loud, persistent screams fill up the venue before an electrifying encore and the Brits’ final goodbyes. It’s a special show that marks the beginning of a new era for Bombay. After all this time, they still remain one of the most progressive indie bands of the past decade, delivering every show as if it were their last. Let’s just hope that they really came to stay this time.

An evening with Tom

Hola everyone.

How are you all doing on this – at least here in London – grey and rainy Monday? I hope so far your Monday has been less grey and less rainy than mine. And if it hasn’t, oh well, at least there’s your reason to cuddle up in a blanket and watch a nice movie. Besides that, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you’re looking forward to the upcoming days.

Today, I thought, would be a nice time to talk a bit about the last Tom Rosenthal gig that I went to at the beginning of December last year – as promised – and share the review with you that I wrote about it for the LDN magazine (click here to check out our website). You all can probably guess that I absolutely loved every single second of the gig – and yes, I did. It was so beautiful and just straight-up lovely, I never wanted the evening to end. Tom never fails to excel even my biggest expectations, while still staying himself and just so down to earth. The crowds have become bigger, but he’s still the same Tom, with his dad jokes, strange concert outfits (this time, specially for the Christmas gig, it was a fluffy jacket that lit up like a colourful Christmas tree) and way too stunning voice. He’s definitely one of those artists that I will never ever stop being in love with and that I could see live over and over again without it ever losing its thrill and excitement. That’s just who Tom is. The perfect talent.

Because of this, it was an absolute honour for me to write a review of the gig for our magazine. He deserves all the attention he’s receiving and so much more. And I already can’t wait to write more about him. But until then, I hope you guys enjoy this review (see down below) – according to Tom himself it’s a good one, so there you go. And speaking of him, he’s currently doing another small EU + UK tour and you should all definitely go and see him. I’m not even kidding. You’ll miss out on one of the best, loveliest and nicest gigs of your life if you let the chance of seeing him live slip. Really. So, go and see Tom. You won’t regret it, I swear. And on my part, I hope you enjoyed this post. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below and I wish you all a nice week. And, of course, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy the review. x

Live Review: Tom Rosenthal @ Islington Assembly Hall (10.12.2019)

Tom Rosenthal has always gone a bit against the current. His special style of indie folk-pop has always been very self-contained to mainly acoustic songs that make you dream of long car rides under a starry night sky, but still, they have stayed on the right side of indie cheese. For the past ten years, Tom has continued to make songs that are ridiculously catchy but feel homegrown and more like a tight, warm hug than anything else. And until a series of small-scale 100 capacity gigs at the St Pancras Old Church at the beginning of 2019, most of them used to be cherished secrets, buried deep in the depths of Spotify & Co.

Today, a few months, a handful of new songs and a whole UK/EU tour later, Tom has come back to London, with an added zero to his sold-out gig at the Islington Assembly Hall. But this where the changes begin and end again. The banner below Tom’s keyboard is still the one made by his wife. His accompaniment still consists of only a single cellist and a guitarist, which again reflects his musical style perfectly: intimate, emotive, and wonderfully personal. And he is still the same Tom Rosenthal, moving seamlessly from existential sorrow to jolly comedy. The haunting harmonies of the oh so popular ‘It’s OK’ make way for the uplifting brightness of fan favorites‘ P.A.S.T.A’, ‘Watermelon’ and ‘Red Red Red’, also known as the ‘fun sing-a-long bit’, where the audience does actually sing along.

Through the usual dressing of overwhelming emotions, endless smiles and even the odd dance number to the sunny ‘Love Loosens Limbs’, it becomes clear that the true power of Tom’s talent flourishes in his live performances. He jokes that it may have taken him a bit long to finally play his own gigs and thanks the crowd for sharing the evening with him countless times. And as he leaves the stage to rapturous applause, everyone in the small venue silently agrees – Tom Rosenthal has finally arrived and he has come to stay.

The most aesthetic concert EVER

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to my blog and also another week. First of all, I’m so sorry for not posting anything last week. At the beginning of it, I was super busy with uni and interviews and going to concerts (which today’s post may or may not be about) and then, what a surprise, I got ill and have been carrying this damn ass cold around with me ever since. Can you feel my frustration through the screen? I’m so annoyed, honestly. But let’s not go there, let’s just focus on the good instead. I hope you’re feeling better than me, but if you’re ill as well, I wish you a quick recovery.

So, there’s that. Now, here comes to the fun bit – the story of the concert I went to on Tuesday, which may or may not have been the most aesthetic gig I’ve ever been to. I’ve never experienced anything like it, so I’ve got no other choice than tell you everything about it. First, the band – half•alive. If you’ve been following my blog for the past few months, you’ll probably know this indie trio from California. But if you don’t know them, please go and check them out immediately. They are so good. And their show was absolutely stunning as well, as you can probably tell by me not being able to even fully describe how much it blew me away.

I might have to add that Leni and I actually managed to get to the very front of the stage, which, I think, made it all even better because we could see everything. It’s probably also a good time now to mention that I actually got to interview these incredibly talented guys the day before for my uni magazine, which made the whole gig even more special. It kind of made me appreciate it all even more because they had directly told me how much effort they put into the shows and how much they mean to them. I’ve never met a band at the level they are right now that puts this much thought into the shows. According to them, they try to put as much of their music videos into their live shows as they can. Makes sense, thinking that their gig felt more like watching a theatre or art performance. It was that special.

They had everything. Colours, expressive dancers (also known as JA Collective), a very impressive light show, a live string duo and the most interesting stage set-up. They definitely used all the available space the stage could offer. And don’t even get me started on the music. If any of you have got the chance to check out some of their live performances on YouTube, don’t be misled – they are actually A LOT better live at their shows than you’d ever think from just watching those clips. Josh’s voice (the lead singer) is absolutely breath-taking live and Brett and J just turn the three of them into the perfect trio. I adored how passionate and happy they looked on stage and it made me so happy to see them enjoy the show.

If I had to choose my favourite parts, it would probably seeing the dance performance for the first time, which surprised the hell out of me, as I definitely wasn’t expecting that, and the moment when Josh literally threw his guitar over one of the dancers into the arms of their tech guy. It was way more thrilling than I thought because the guitar looked close to either hitting someone one the head or plain crashing onto the floor. Also, did I mention that they changed their outfits three times? In the span of one hour? How crazy is that? First I thought the clothes were meant to fit the background and the lights, but nope. They’re just that extra. But in the best way.

So, overall, it was one of the craziest experiences ever. The interview the day before was absolutely fantastic and they were super nice as well, and then the gig but the biggest cherry on top. Absolutely incredible. If any of you ever get the chance to see half•alive live, please go and check them out. They’re truly phenomenal. And until then, please give them a listen on YouTube or Spotify. You won’t regret it. Also, I hope you enjoyed this post. I would really love to hear your opinions and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to leave them down below. And until then I wish you all a nice week and thanks for reading. x

It’s never enough

Hola everyone.

Okay, let me just tell you about my current situation: right now I’m sat in my bed, it’s eleven minutes past 3 am. Yes, I should be asleep. But am I tired? No, of course not. Why am I not tired? Because I just got home from an amazing concert and I need to share it with you guys.

Right now I’m close to being deaf, my legs are killing me, I surely sound like the most extreme chainsmoker ever, so my voice is nearly gone, and I’m just overall so exhausted that I can already tell that it was an amazing night. I’m literally drunk on happiness and excitement. This was my second concert in a matter of the four past days and I couldn’t be happier, no joke. It may sound like I’m completely done, but trust me, this is like the peak of feeling perfect for me. There’s nothing better than concert exhaustion, I love it. And speaking of concerts, I’m of course here to tell you everything about those two past nights, that again showed me how deeply in love I am with live music and that there literally isn’t anything better than that. Okay, let’s get right to it.

Monday night – The Academic

Some of you may know these Irish boys, most of you probably don’t. And that’s a problem, a really really big problem, because these guys deserve far more attention than they are getting right now. I’m serious. I personally have to thank my go-to concert ticket platform for recommending this band to me, I would have never known that they were having a concert here without seeing it on my page. The funny thing was, I just saw their name and picture and immediately knew that they had to be an indie band – and of course they are. I even recognized them, so they are one of those bands, where I’m in love with one or two songs, but never really take notice of their names and so on. But oh god, that was a mistake. Because these guys are literally amazing and I’m so so lucky that I got to see them live, especially at such a small venue. I mean, I was literally about two meters away from the stage or even less, it was so cool.

Apart from that, the concert was really fantastic. You could really see that they enjoyed being there and that they were thankful for the sold out show and that so many fans and other people came to check them out. I mean, they are all pretty much at my age and right at the start of their career and you could see that. I seriously can’t wait to see them get more and more attention and become one of those big indie bands that sell out huge venues and headline festivals. I know that these boys got it in them, there’s no doubt. Especially after experiencing them live. Craig, their lead singer, really has an amazing voice and overall they were just so great.

Oh and speaking of the lead singer, here comes the crazy part of this night. So, I stood there in the crowd with my friend and the show had just begun. And suddenly she tapped me on the shoulder and was like “hey, doesn’t the singer look a little bit like Martijn?”. And I starred at her and was like “whaaat? No, of course not. No.”. And then I turned around and looked at him and then it hit me. This guy seriously – and I’m not joking – could have been Martijn, if his face was just a bit slimmer. Guys, I nearly went crazy. I mean, my brain didn’t know what to do. What do you do when there’s a guy in front of you who looks exactly like someone else, but you know it’s not him and still can’t handle it properly? I just starred at him, to be honest. My friend said that she actually watched the shock spread across my face. I’m sure it was a weird and funny sight. But hey, it was actually the biggest bonus ever, because now I know what Martijn would look like if he was the singer in a band – and holy moly, he would look good. I’m just curious whether anyone has ever told Craig that… Oh well.

Thursday night – The Wombats and Co.

And here we are again. A show that just ended four and a half hours ago and a show I still have to process. God, it was so so amazing. I don’t even know where to begin. Okay, I’ll just start at the Co.-part, their two support acts. Number one: The Night Café. And number two: The Magic Gang. Both were more than fantastic and I’m so happy that I got to see them both, as I adore their music. I gladly got to the venue pretty early and ended up in the fourth row, where I stayed throughout the whole show. It’s so cool, when you get a perfect spot at a concert without having to push past people and fighting for it. But I have to say, those two support acts couldn’t have been any more different. I mean, yes, they both played indie pop/rock music and they both were incredible, but besides that they were so different. The Night Café literally consists of four young guys, probably all younger than me, that looked so chilled up on that stage, that if I hadn’t known we were standing in a concert venue, I would have thought that they were playing at home in their garage. It was seriously that chilled. And they were all wearing lounge/sportswear, which just added up to that. But I absolutely love their music and their set was pretty cool too, so it was all good.

The Magic Gang were just as fantastic, but like I said, also different. Older, wiser, more put together and maybe a little more awake, I would say. Oh, and they are from Brighton, which just made it even better. Once again you could really see that they had fun playing on that stage for us and that made me happy too. I also have to mention that their music is even better live, it gives it another touch of coolness. And that pretty much sums up their whole set – it was just so cool. Really really awesome.

And now we’ve reached the main act – The Wombats. I actually have a little story with these guys, as it was my second time seeing them live, if the first time actually counts, which I’m not so sure of. It was at Reading festival in 2016, but my mum and I were far too late for their set, so we only got to hear like three songs or something like that. Does that count? I hope it does, but of course I had to see them live again, to experience the whole thing. And god, was it worth the wait. They were so so so damn good. It was like a huge party, one that I never wanted to end. I absolutely love that they had a great mix of old and new songs and that they could really show how talented they are. They truly deserved the show to be sold out.

There were also some funny parts during the show. The first when Murph’s, the lead singer’s guitar suddenly died and they had to stop in the middle of their song “Emoticons”. But instead of just standing there, we decided to finish the song ourselves and just sang the chorus for about two minutes until the problem was solved. What a great crowd, am I right? Oh, and the second funny incident happened closer to the end of the show during “Let’s Dance to Joy Division”, when suddenly two guys came up on stage, dressed in these huge wombat costumes, and started to dance and jump around. I’m still not quite sure whether it was a prank by their team or if it’s a usual part of the show. I hope it was a prank, that would make it even better.

But besides that, the whole show was truly incredible. Like I already mentioned, it was a huge party and just happy vibes all around. I loved the dynamic of the crowd and the overall atmosphere. And I’m so so happy that I got to see these English guys again, the full set this time. Oh and I also have to mention that their bassist Tord was literally the cutest ever. He was jumping around the stage the whole time with the biggest grin ever on his face. His happiness was so contagious, so thanks for that.

So yeah guys, there you go. Another two nights, another two mind-blowing concerts. I’m so so thankful that I got to experience these and that I’m able to see so many bands live. It’s literally my kryptonite. I also have to thank tonight for reminding me of why I am here and doing all this. Live music is literally the best thing ever and I know that I’m doing the right thing by moving to Brighton to lay the foundation for a career in that sector. As always, I hope you enjoyed this post and please don’t hesitate to leave your comments down below. Oh and I hope you’re all doing good and wish you an awesome weekend. And, of course, thanks for reading. x