After months in the planning, East End Live, the musical partner to the East End Film Festival, got underway last Saturday - on what transpired to be one of the hottest days of the year. As the sunburnt and foot-weary sought aural solace away from the sun's glare, artists took to the twelve designated venue stages to provide a diverse mix of sounds across the genres.
Despite technical sound difficulties at Red Gallery and several other venues suffering minor delays, all in all most would agree that the chance to catch a raft of up-and-coming artists, as well as the more established, was well worth the money.
HAPPY FAMILIES, playing their debut show at the festival, were one of the bands affected by the severe delays at the Red Gallery. A much later than planned start time may have not helped with nerves. Sadly one felt - and from hearing their debut release 'New Forgetting' - that here they were not at their best; vocalist Lucia sounding out of tune at times and vocally submerged beneath guitar and effects.
SHOPPING proved positively riotous with a set that waved the banner for girl power on the basement belly of Zigfrid von Underbelly. They had the punters rocking and even their own little mosh pit. Watch them perform 'Santa Monica Place' here.
LOOM are always worth waiting for, and on this occasion it was just the mere three hours! Without doubt one of the most exciting, adrenaline charged bands out there right now. Whilst I don't think we have seen even half of what they are capable of, they brought in the dancing bodies and lifted the weary and sun-exhausted in the Red Gallery.
GRASS HOUSE displayed true professionalism and turned in a late afternoon set at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen with their unique crafting of rich textures and melody exploration.
SKINNY GIRL DIET are looking like serious contenders for the Teen Riot Grrrl crown. Brash young attitude with cuteness appeal, and songs that...well, see for yourself with the video below
FILTHY BOY have developed a name for themselves over the last year, both as live artists and in their cleverly crafted lyrics. They obviously had their fans in the Hoxton room as they sailed They play a free London show at the Old Nun's
Head on July 27.
GOOD THROB - another female dominated band with balls to kick the hell out of any apathy with sharp-toned ferocity.
NEIL'S CHILDREN float somewhere in the middle between pop and shoegaze, and 'Dimly Lit' could well be the album that makes their mark. Check out the band live again at Siamese Cats Club @ Tipsy Bar, London, on August 1; Shacklewell Arms. London (w.Dark Horses) on 2nd; White Heat @ Madame Jo Jo's, London (w.Dark Bells) on 27th. Listen to tracks from the album here.
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