Drink after work then lonely Japanese organic veg meal (no J products since the radioactive fallout – does that invalidate organic?) then wander to Scala to meet the boys. Been a long while since I ventured in here… but rush in for the unlikely named
CHAD VALLEY. Yes, does sound like the Woolies (RIP) kids brand and unpromising looking knob twiddler with dodgy hair (ain’t all the kids these days) starting off with a couple of low key tape loops with weird live singing. But then he starts growing on me. Very self effacing but at least he chats to us and tells us about his tunes. The beats get more upbeat in a trancy way. Sounds like LCD Soundsystem (there again everyone does to me?) but as if they’d never heard of NY disco. But then just as I’m thinking that thought the boy Chad finds his funky tape and everything picks up a gear. His voice gets really good – from fairly histrionic thru low weirdness and shouty into tape loops. Finishes on a high – not a mad audience but I’m interested in more. Field very late at festival? The boys are not so impressed as I and we retire to an empty hidden bar to compare notes, bar prices with Koko & I marvel like the yokel I am at the youngster’s iPhone music recognition app.
Then down to a packed hall for the main man TWIN SHADOW. Prepped myself by listening to him on Spotify and his stuff grew on me so some anticipation… unfortunately not satisfied. Sounded like Duran Duran but not as energetic. Crowd loved it for some unfathomable reason including the youngster. The Twin talked crap as well. Told us we were special as the first date so would play new tunes – as if he won’t the rest of the tour? And the drum solo at the start of the encore could’ve been bettered by Sid Vicious. And he was never noted a drummer. And dead. RIP.
Getting outside pushing past overexcited kiddies. Promised myself to put geeky knob twiddlers over geetar heroes. Must be an age thing. Postscript is that this week’s NME has Chad Valley as one of the overplayed songs on their decks and is this year’s ambient dance hope leading the cheesy house revival. Can’t wait to be in that field! PPS is that Chad Valley is a small area in Brum very close to where I used to live and would’ve gone drinking there. Welcome to the weird world of Chad…
