The Living Room Sessions CD Launch @ The Liquid Ship (feat. Eve Bulloch)

The Liquid Ship is possibly the tiniest venue I've ever encountered in my life. It's lovely, however; there's something almost homey about it, and due to its size the gig was pretty intimate.

The Living Room Sessions is the recording made of the artists who played. Sadly I missed the last act, Brian Cunningham, because I had to get my last train, but a listen to the CD I received on my way in suggests that I should look out for him.

I arrived in time to catch the end of Stewart Ross (Holy Folks). The three songs I caught were charming enough, but his very strong accent put me off a bit. His lyrics were generally really good, but "you're a bad, bad lassie" made me cringe a little. He won through with other lines such as "everyone loves tuna but no one wants to see a dolphin die".

Up next was Rachel McLennan, who has a beautiful voice, and the lyrics of her songs were fantastic. I'm going to seek out some more of her stuff—she sang a couple of songs about a relationship gone wrong that I related to, and I just really enjoyed her set.

Eve, however, blew them out of the water. The last time I went to see live music that really made me grin like this was Devotchka, and I've been listening to them for quite a while now, so I was already quite attached to them. Eve's voice is nothing like anything I've ever heard before: at times beautiful, and, at its best, heart-wrenching. I got totally lost in it when I was listening—I've rarely heard anyone sing with such emotion. Think Kurt Cobain's rendition of Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, and that's the level of emotion Eve manages to convey when she's singing. Her songs are about issues she's clearly passionate about: her final song, Flesh and Blood - was just wow. "Your way to Heaven, is the right way to Hell" was spat so vehemently. Also, Joni Mitchell is disgustingly difficult to cover well. I've heard lots of people try, but very few actually succeed. Eve managed to make River completely her own—the lines "I wish I had a river, so I could skate away" were so sad and wistful.

Don't just take my word for it—I urge you to check Eve's music out for yourself. You can hear her here: www.myspace.com/theladyeve. I'll be waiting impatiently for the next time she plays.

Woolies · 22nd April 2008, 3:34pm

Stew Ross was guid.

Rachel person was fine but didn't hold my interest at the time for who knows why.

Eve (lucky for tact) was crackin', nice distinctive & powerful voice for performing herself.

Brian I didn't go for as much, maybe just my short attention span wearing away - I think I was critical of him being "too loud" at one point

Eryka I never realy took to, the tunes were fine enough but it seemed a lot of hassle for them to have a semi-acoustic set with full band just to do what the other acts had managed on their ownsomes for the rest of the night!

The CD is about to get it's first listen right now though so I reserve the right to change my opinions on the four featured on it

Warped · 22nd April 2008, 5:14pm

I have listened to eves band before they are fucking good. But do we really wanna have people review there mates bands/songs/gigs?

Seems pointless.

**Kenny Everett** · 22nd April 2008, 5:15pm

I was just thinking that. Eve's fantastic, but that review comes across a bit arsekissey and doesn't really tell me anything useful.

Woolies · 22nd April 2008, 5:33pm

My opinion is that altnation should feature any capable review that any of it's members write.

And due to the mixed membership, some reviews will be informative and some simpler opinion pieces. Some will be critical while others will be more gonzo in style.

Some will be negative but most - what with the reviews being unpaid & voluntary - will be positive, very few folks choose to go to or to listen to something they expect to dislike just so they can slag it in a review. Charlie Parker being the exception to that rule obv

In this particular case the question of gushing bias was raised beforehand when covering the gig was first suggested but no one else was able to commit and as no one else has reviewed the gig of their own accord, this is plenty good enough as an altnation feature on the gig.
I'd rather see a hundred reviews of "yer mates band" on altnation rather than no reviews at all - EVERYONE is encouraged to submit review style content, but very few do.

The review quality & style are purely down to the altnation membership, the site is oly what YOU make it and I personally love the fact that Ms Bunnylingus writes fuller commentaries on stuff than "they are fucking good" or "fantastic".

Posh · 22nd April 2008, 5:38pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnylingus

Think Kurt Cobain's My Girl

Kurt Cobain covering Smokey Robinson would be amazing, but I think you mean 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night?' aka 'In The Pines'

Warped · 22nd April 2008, 5:41pm

Just do you own reviews? I understand encouraging reviews, but encouraging reviews that there is no point in reading? Lets face it i knew how it was going to go before i read it.

Woolies · 22nd April 2008, 5:51pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warped

Just do you own reviews?

What/Who's reviews?

Bands can write features on themselves if they want as far as I am concerned - if any of them also wrote a review piece gonzo style of how a gig went, or a story blog of recording or touring, from their side I think it'd be good.

also note: I don't actualy have any more say in what content is featured on altnation than any other AN member, I'm just more vocal about it.

Warped · 22nd April 2008, 5:53pm

aye quote my typo you bastard.

Woolies · 22nd April 2008, 5:54pm

I quoted the new version after you fixed it?
Still not 100% certain if I got your meaning though, sorry.
I read it as "Just do your own reviews" - people reviewing themselves.

Warped · 22nd April 2008, 5:57pm

Aye that's what i meant. IMO it's the same if your pal does it. Actually you might be more harsh towards the gig if you do it yourself.

Foxglove · 22nd April 2008, 8:22pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Everett

I was just thinking that. Eve's fantastic, but that review comes across a bit arsekissey and doesn't really tell me anything useful.

I see nothing wrong with this review at all. Different people have differing styles of writing and, as Woolies says above, no one else stepped up to offer to write a review (and other than Woolies, no one else has said much at all about the gig in all the replies either). I don't think you meant to be so negative here, and hopefully your post has simply come across more dismissive than you intended.

This review makes me want to check out Eve's band, something I could have done before knowing she is in a band, but have yet to do. So, at least one person here has been inspired by this review alone to make an effort to listen to Eve's music.

Jaemi · 22nd April 2008, 8:28pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warped

do we really wanna have people review there mates bands/songs/gigs?

Seems pointless.

I typed that exact thing..
Then retracted it cause I thought i'd suffer THE BACKLASH.

fracture4 · 22nd April 2008, 8:42pm

i didn't even know they were mates, but when i was reading it i was thinking it sounded a bit too "OMGZ!

" to be totally impartial.

although that doesn't mean it's not true!

Bunnylingus · 22nd April 2008, 9:31pm

I love eves music.

Aye, she's my mate, but so? I've got her stuff on my ipod.

And sorry if it doesnt come across as having anything useful - Im not great at writing and I never pretended to be, I just wrote what I thought.

I'd be the same if I ever got round to my Devotchka review.