The Imitation Game

A bloody excellent film, as usual Benedict Cumberbatch puts in a convincing performance as does and surprisingly, Kiera Knightley.
The post war treatment of Alan Turing was shocking beyond belief, and probably the one fault of the film is that it does not show what was dished out to him for being a homosexual. The queen's posthumous pardon in 2013 was the least this nation could have done.

8.5/10

The Gees @ The James Tavern, James Street, Oxford.

The Gees through a fog of a smoke machine

After the Chuck Prophet gig we wandered around to the James Tavern for a drink. From the otherside of the bar there emanated an amazing sound of another gig. When I heard bagpipes wailing away and a fog drifting over to our side I just had to investigate.
So there crammed into half the other side of the pub was then a 9 piece outfit. Consisting from what I could see as there were copious use of a smoke machine was...
Bagpiper
Percussionist No 1 (with a wailing siren)
Percussionist No 2
Drummer
Bass
Lead Guitar
Keyboards
Didgeridoo
Trombonist

Half the remainder of the bar was taken over by the audience dancing.
They were joined later by two trumpeters and another who I cant place. I overheard that over the course of the evening they totalled 16!

Their sound was a cross between Melt Yourself Down and Santana and when in full flow was a revelation. Must see again.

 Friends daughter at the same time was celebrating an 18th down the road at the Kasbah, my daughter was elsewhere out along the road, so it all goes to prove what an amazing place The Cowley Road is. Long may it continue.

Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express @ The Bully, Cowley Road, Oxford

After Dingwells and Islington Assembly Hall in London it was time to see CPATME in Oxford. A set of 105mins full of driving guitar solos from both Chuck and James De Prato, steadfastly held together by both Vicente Rodriguez on drums and Kevin White on bass, the odd sing along and Stephie Finch in the Linda McCartney role on keyboards and backing vocals. And of course the odd joke and banter from Chuck with the audience (and not all quite pc)
I forgot that he even had a cold which was evident from having to blow his nose. wish I could preform as good as that when I am not feeling brilliant.
Set List below but a mention for their version of Flaming Groovies's 'Shake Some Action' which I am reliably told by a affectionado of the song, was note perfect.

See Utube clip from gig taken right in front of where I was standing.

Thoroughly good gig. Thats how to entertain!
9/10

Set List
Countrified Inner City Technological Man
Wish Me Luck
Guilty As A Saint
Ford Econoline
Tell Me Anything (Turn to Gold)
I Bow Down and Pray to Every Woman I See
Where the Hell Is Henry?
Castro Halloween
The Left Hand And The Right Hand
Willie Mays Is Up At Bat
White Night, Big City
Temple Beautiful
Who Shot John
Little Girl, Little Boy
Summertime Thing
Encore:
Shake Some Action
(Flamin' Groovies cover)
You Did (Bomp Shooby Dooby Bomp)

Rufus Wainwright @Late Night Prom, Royal Albert Hall

Ooooooooh Soooooo Teeeediousssssss
The other half, working close to the RAH, was offered a pair of tickets earlier in the week, Curious I agreed although I had issues with his voice. I had been to what was possibly the first prom that featured a rock group, that being Soft Machine and some forty odd years earlier. Soft Machine, and the associated music was considered as avant garde at the time. That 'bill' also included music by Terry Riley, John Cage and Tim Souster. Modern indeed and challenging. This a generation later was anything but.
His singing is monotonal and dreary with just odd occasions of depth and power. The orchestration had it moments, the harpist providing odd highlights of rare sharp attacks as she plucked the strings. The huge percussion section was totally banal spitting out clacks and ticks, three flicks of the castanets and that was that. The drumming sounded like a grade four school boy, limp and middle of the road. And then there was a duet of some Rogers and Hammerstein song from Carousel that was frankly embarrassing.
After seventy five minutes of this we left.   After the second song the other half said he sounded like Barry Manilow, He didnt, but I know what she meant.
It was all emperor's new clothes, strip the orchestra down to a string quartet, keep the piano, throw in a double bassist, and a drummer who knows what he is doing. And yes an artistic director/producer. Then Mr Wainwright you will be able to elevate yourself out of your dirge of MOR banality.
And take a leaf out of John Grant's book.
Very very disappointing. Totally overated.

End of the Road Festival 2014 @ Larmer Tree Gardens

EOTR for a fourth time in five years, and for the first time ever, earlybird tickets purchased already for the 10th anniversary festival next year. Sold out already I notice. Another first for me was that I camped, and it was an experience that may be repeated next year.
Friday and Saturday were distinctly autumnal, but Sunday after the initial low clouds cleared was wall to wall sunshine. It appeared that everyone more than welcomed this as for the early afternoon attitude was one of sun bathing rather than going to see the bands.
Yet again it was the performers that I had never heard of that gave great pleasure, and two bands instantly spring to mind. A tip off in a Blandford Forum cafe whilst having breakfast with other EOTR's doing exactly what I was doing led to the first, St Paul and the Broken Bones whilst a wander down to the Woods Stage on Sunday afternoon led to the other, Lucius.

So here are my awards....

Best Performance by a Solo Artist: 
Richard Thompson.
Never seen him before, and was mildly disappointed when walking in through the gates to the Garden Stage, it was obvious that this was to be a solo performance. Made my way down to the front, stage right, and was totally blown away by the power of his acoustic guitar playing and the humour of the man and his songs. Great final number with his daughter Kami Thompson and James Walbourne of The Rails, and oh, could we have done with an encore. Acoustic Classics soon purchased on return to Oxford.

Best Performance by a Group
The Felice Brothers
Well who else could it have been? A packed Big Tent. One mass sing-a-long after the opener Cumberland Gap was out of the way and they went straight into What a wonderful World. Chanting at the end changing from 'One more song' to 'Two more songs', we only got Frankie's Gun, bugger this keep to the schedule especially when you are last on!
The band really appreciated the crowds reaction, James Felice whilst a big man, looking as if he has lost some weight, Ian Felice still looking a little ill with his voice appearing to be suffering. Greg Farley was as always, Greg Farley, Christmas now introduced by Ian as 'my brother Christmas Felice'
They were just totally loved by the audience, a garage band at its best!

Second Best Performance by a Group
St Paul and the Broken Bones
Not much in this between them and the Felices, the only difference being that the Felices are originals. However that should not take away how good this band was. No need to coax the audience into reacting, and with the audience getting bigger after every number as the vibe must have spread up the hill to those eating and drinking in the village area.And a huge number dancing.
Tight band with two horn players and one stunning singer in an Alan Carr lookalike Paul Janeway. Yes this man can sing. Another Vintage Trouble of a band. Superb!

Best Singing Performance
Paul Janeway
See St Paul and the Broken Bones above.

Best Visual Performance
The Flaming Lips
Huge backdrop of a LED screen, LED ropes hanging down from the roof pulsating in colour, large compressed air driven coloured ticker tape machine and then to cap it off, to a stunned reaction by the audience appears three inflatable characters, (the sun was good although unsure about the others) and then Wayne Coyne produced an inflatible message, 10ft high and which appears to say 'FUCK YEAH END OF THE ROAD'. Images on the screen colourful and artful, I recall someone runing on an endless tUnE-yArDs type loop, and then something that was probably soft porn but could have been harder but for the careful editing. Sigur Ros last year was quite something, this though was amazing and took your mind off the rubbish music they were pushing out.


Best Purveyor of Children's Music
The Flaming Lips
This was no better than children's music, if it was not for the glorious visuals would have left earlier for John Grant. Two songs from Grant and I was back again only to find Coyne up on a high dias, which covered in the same LED screens as the backdrop made him appear to float in mid air. Totally preposterous and I though punk had driven this level of absurbity away. Obviously not, and those British prog rockers of the 70's knew how to conjure up a melody or two. (probably more melodies in one song than the Flaming Lips managed to play in the whole of their set). I trudged away to my tent with the rather flat rendition of the Beatles 'Lucy in the Sky' in my ears.

Best Female Performance
Lucius
Matching dresses, matching hair, drum colour matching the dresses, somebody has being thinking about this, Even think their shoes were the same colour. And then great songs, well sung, and driven on by an infectious drumming rhythm where the girls are joined by their percussionist and lead guitarist. A couple of quiet songs thrown in and a reminder that they will be playing Islington's Assembly Rooms in October. A gig to go to.

Second Best Female Performance
Cate Le Bon
Walked over from St Paul's stupendous set and managed to order a coffee at the top of Garden Stage as she came on. From up there I was thinking that she reminded me of Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane, Not an actual voice copy but general overall ambiance. But as I made my way down to the front, that view had changed to a modern day Patti Smith with the songs, four numbers in, had got much harder and was the better for it. This was the first time (again) that I had heard her at all and loved the Welsh inflection in her voice.Another to follow!

Best Charming Performance
Gruff Rhys
Last year on the Woods Stage, I was singularly unimpressed, what happened in the meantime I am not sure, maybe it was that he had a concept to pursue in the form of the Welsh explorer John Evans. Rhys with the aid of a screen and simple projector linked to a tablet by his mike recounted the tale of John Evans (or when supported by the Spanish, Don Juan Evans) and his expedition up the River Missouri. This was all told with humour and the crowd loved it. Simple props, a four foot high manikin, and the use of zooming in and out on the tablet and we all knew about Evans by the end. Was it all a hoax was totally dispelled on Sunday night when driving home after the festival, Rhys was interviewed for Radio 4's film programme about the release on dvd, of his project, American Interior.
Musically, no great shakes, but taken as a whole, totally charming and rather English Welsh. What followed over on the Woods Stage, would be the brash American way of achieving the same end. That end being entertainment.

Best Rock Performance
British Sea Power
A much enlarged band since I saw them probably some five years ago. These guys had great control of the power of their music. Don't you just love the additions of vegetation to their set and the little LEDs twinkling in their midst. But then, some two thirds through, emerging near the front was a huge Polar Bear followed by a Brown Bear, dancing along the barrier to begin with and then into the audience, I should not have moved towards the rear, damn!

Best National Treasure
'Dr' John Cooper Clarke
Only saw two 'numbers' so to speak but we should have more of him, a national treasure indeed. A welcome addition to the weekend's bill.

Best Collective Performance
Gene Clark No Other Band
A mass group, I think I counted 16 for the encore consisting of lead singers Beach House, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, Matthews Southern Comfort and members of Wye Oak and Celebration performing so I am told as never heard it, Gene Clark's solo project No Other recorded in 1974. A notable project which culminated in a smile bringing encore of Eight Miles High.

Biggest Disappointing Performance
tUnE-yArDs
Opening number with the multi percussive rhythm  was excellent but after that her playing around with all the looping just did not come together. When I saw her here three years ago on the Garden Stage, with a 2/3 horn players I was quite taken with Merrill. Went off and secured a place at the front for Richard Thompson.

Biggest Pretentious Performance
St Vincent 
So good last year with David Bryne but this for me whilst sounding good in parts, as a whole came over as extremely pretentious.

Notable other Performances (which I must follow)
The Barr Brothers, Jenny Lewis, Benjamin Booker,


Less Notable performances
Deer Tick: 
Yes the guys can play but otherwise nothing special or original, reminded me of Richmond Fontaine, but lyrically not as interesting by a long chalk of the imagination.

The Horrors:
Horrible teenage music.

Yo La Tengo:
Lovely little question and answer set on the Singing Stage (to the right of the Garden Stage) two hours before their Woods set. However the Woods set was dreadful what I heard as I gave up after three numbers and went to get a decent position for the Felices and was duly rewarded by a place on the barrier. So at least I have something to thank them for. Can someone show their guitarist how to use all that discordant stuff properly. Can easily point him to Nels Cline of Wilco who graced the Garden Stage a few years back.

The Big Top: 
Can EOTR please do something about the stage lighting. It puts me off going  in there because you can see bugger all with hardly any light coming from the front onto the performers. Just look at the three Felice photos above.
Also it can get remarkably hot in there and John Cooper Clarke on Sunday was far worse than the 45 minute sauna I had in the morning elsewhere. I lasted through 'Guest List' and 'Hire Car' and had to leave, passing one unfortunate woman in one of the entrance vomitorys who had passed out.

Steven Malkmus and the Jicks:
Now I thought the guy could play guitar ok but he just could not sing. heard it all before.

Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit
Had the odd good moment, but generally rather dreary. Needs a decent producer.

Carolina Chocolate Drops @ St John The Evangelist, Oxford

Yet another great and enjoyable gig from a group that I never heard of at all until Mike Trotman of Empty Rooms promoted them in this iconic Oxford location. Sold Out notices outside on the Iffley Road bought a smile to my face and sure enough a packed church of some 400 souls. It was a shame that only three of the audience had black faces for what was  African American music: country and classic blues, early jazz and "hot music", string band numbers, African and Caribbean songs, with overtones of gospel.
Total acoustic set, fiddle, various guitars, a cello used as a bass, and some simple percussion instruments one which if I heard correctly were bones but played like maracas. Oh and a beat box.
Lead singer Rhiannon Giddens has a wonderful voice and she sure can sing. Big Hubby Jenkins is from new York but sounded like he was born and bred in the deep south.
Not surprisingly they won a Grammy in 2010 for their Genuine Negro Jig album.
A well deserved standing ovation and two encores. Catch them if you have the chance.

Boyhood

This simply must be the film of the year / decade / century.
Brave concept and execution.
It's not just Boyhood, its girlhood and parenthood all rolled into one.
Bravo

9.9 / 10

Mood Indigo

Whacky retro sci-fy French film with sad undertow. visual gags on visual gags, hints of 'stream of conscience' writing, a film that you won't forget about, although rather thin story line.

8/10

The Felice Brothers, Bushstock, Shepherd's Bush.

The James Felice Show.
Ian looking unconcerned, Christmas (now bespectacled...bad luck mate, I know what it feels like) looking at the audience thinking why is this hall only a third full...what's going on?... Farley was just Farley, but it was James who led the show, taking most of lead either singing or Keyboard/accordian.
A truncated 50 minute set closing Bushstock on a Saturday night with England playing at the same moment that the gig ends, and taken at a pace of a runaway train. Songs from across the canon of their work, with a number of new songs being showcased from their new collection, all appearing rather sing a long. Did a version of Lonnie Donegan's Cumberland Gap near the end of the set. Last time they covered Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town, what next?
Not their greatest gig, somewhat on par with the Troxy show some years back. Come back fresh and inspired for EOTR in late August please.
New cd Favourite Waitress sounds like a half return to the early days...Punk Americana???
7/10

Locke

Another Saturday, and again another great film. Tom Hardy I had never heard of until today, I do know.
This is a brave film, could have made a gripping radio drama but with the camera fixed directly onto Ivan Locke, this became a real life drama unfolding in front of your eyes.
A must see film (two weeks in a row!)
9 / 10

Calvary

There are two biblical themed films to be seen this easter. One, which I have not seen, and have no intention of seeing is Noah, even though one of its stars has stayed with us. The other Calvary, is one of those brave films that every film lover should see.
Brenden Gleeson as always is tremendous, Oscar nomination possibility, but then this is a film that he was a natural for. Supporting staff, even Chris O'Dowd totally believable, the Irish landscape with the over powering presence of Benbulbin always in the background, another star.
A must see film.

9/10

Dreaming Spires @ The Art Room, Oxford

To begin with, an interest to declare, Robin of the Spires made me a coffee whist I was having earlier in the day a mid morning chat with his mother in law and our neighbour, a good cup it was too.
A quick thirty five minute (?) set with one number merging into the next showcasing both songs from 'Brothers in Brooklyn' and the yet to be released new album. The influences were clear to be heard, Dave Crosby, Jayhawks, Bryds etc but did I even hear The Zombies in one number? Mumford and Sons can get Grammys, with more exposure I do not see why the Spires can not achieve that level of recognition. To get there, they need that extra dynamic in their live sound, and like SoB who followed, a keyboard player could be the answer.
All the songs were strong, from their signature 'Not Every Song From the Sixties Is A Classic' through to the finale 'Dusty in Memphis' (I think I heard correctly), all well received and should be heard by a wider audience. Go see them if you get the chance.

Sons of Bill @ The Art Room, Oxford

Recommended by the guys that run the coolest hairdressing salon in Oxford (that's if you are a man of a certain age) a few weeks earlier this became a must see gig when I realised the Dreaming Spires were supporting. If it was not for illness would have seen them two days earlier in London, but Friday night it was to be down on the ever alive Cowley Road and The Bully in its new form of The Art Room (no real change except for the front of the building had changed from black to white).
So Sons of Bill, a band never heard of consisting of three brothers (unlike DS's two) and two others crammed onto the small stage with bass, keyboards and even the lead singer crammed stage left with the drummer and lead guitarist, with a rather large array of pedals and with twice as much space, stage right and centre. probably accounted for by the fact that they had four distinct followers whooping and hollering right in front of them.
Started impressively enough, but got somewhat lost in the middle to the extent that I went and sat down. Then two surprisingly very good ballads and a strong finish. The extra dynamic of the keyboard player varying between a church/gospel sound through to calm electronic patterns making all the difference to their sound.
And like the Spires before them, worth checking out.

The Lego movie

A very well made and funny movie, thoroughly enjoyed it even though laughing made my hacking cough worse.
This may appear to be a children's film, but it's message is clearly aimed at adults.

8.4 / 10

12 Years a Slave

More or less a perfect film if it was not for both Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt playing the goodies in the film.  Oh for unknown actors. Nevertheless, this is some achievement. I wanted to clap at the end

9.75 / 10