Northeast Music Guide

Hazel O'Connor: Breaking Glass Live Duo Pony and Trap came mob-handed with a busload of ‘poolies bolstering the already healthy sized crowd at the Cluny. The songs were way catchier than the   MacBook and   guitar setup promised. Sally Rafferty’s (the Hartlepool contingent) vocals filled unexpected niches in the vocal space of songs in that she has a style that adds notes around the central one. Think Delores O’Riordan of the Cranberries and you’re almost there. This makes for interesting listening as did Tom Meyer’s skilful use of the guitar. I liked them enough to visit the merch stall and buy a CD. The band had had Pony and Trap beermats made, a good little marketing idea I thought. Hazel O’Connor came onto the stage to storm through Give me an Inch and didn’t let up the momentum through several Breaking Glass favourites, and these still have a relevance now. Big Brother, Black Man  and Monsters in Disguise were written in the time of Thatcher but the s...

Review: Toyah “Love is the Law Tour” first date Newcastle Legends 18/10/2013 Toyah was supported by Alexa de Strange, a dramatic old-school rock band. Their style was indicated by the name of their new album Tits of Death which was performed with great passion by the 4 piece from Yorkshire. Alexa certainly has an impressive set of lungs on her, belting out those songs like a the pro she is. Toyah is on tour to reanimate the 1983 album Love is The Law , and this she did. She expressed in her interview with me on NE1fm this week, her love for the album, and the fact it represents one of the best years of her life. She said this again tonight.         Toyah is a natural performer. Decades of acting, performing music, voiceover work, interviews and taking whatever the showbiz world threw at her has given her an amazing ability to present these songs in the way only she could. Her voice has, if anything, become stronger, more resonant a...

Promising Beginnings This was only Anna Leigh Middleton's and Richard Champney's second outing on stage in the form of "Denature". Already familiar on the northeast music scene as "Anna and The Kings" the duo have added an electronic element to their sound and a bassist, keyboard player and drummer to enhance both the visible and audible aspects of the live experience. The night started with a set from Tony Bengtsson . Tony is deservedly respected in the northeast for his incisive songwriting and his "amazing voice" (lost count of how many people said that last night). With an Americana edge and a personal warmth that won over an already appreciative crowd, Tony had a great set last night. These were real songs that go somewhere. I'm looking forward to seeing his career take off.   Tony Bengtsson ©Jowheretogo PR Second to take the stage was Sophie Watson , a product of the Sage Gateshead music education system and purveyor of what I c...