Imelda May Concert Review

Oh my gosh...I couldn't contain myself although I'm currently swamped in a pile of assignments and research reports to be finished by sunrise tomorrow; I just had to blog this!

On my previous post called 'RHCP Concert review' I mentioned briefly that I had an opportunity to do a live review for Imelda May. I'm done writing it and it's now up on our University's SHUlife magazine website!! I feel awesome!! I rock! (Errmmm excuse me >_<)

I do hope you enjoy reading it though it's a bit short due to the limit on 'no. of words' by SHUlife.

With the queen of rockabilly performing, you can’t really stop your pulse from racing especially when she stepped onto the stage wearing a tight tiger print dress. The crowd was a bit on the older side but the vibe in the room by the end of the show was sizzling all the same.

Imelda May is of Irish descent with musical influences from Gene Vincent to Billie Holiday. She has made rockabilly her main genre with a mix of blues and jazz in her music which gives it that unique twist, and got a voice that can pull off this blend.

Stirring up the sombre crowd with a touch of her earlier popular songs like Johnny Got a Boom Boom and Love Tattoo, mixing it up with new Psycho songs which positively did Mayhem, she had the crowd chanting for more while the band took a short break. The musicians showed enthusiasm for their music by jumping right into entertainment mode the moment they’re back on stage; certainly did not disappoint the crowd.

The witty humour in her lyrics combine well with her style and music, for instance take these lines from Whatcha Gonna Do?

“….Count my fingers
One two three
One in the middle's
To you from me”

Those did inspire a few laughs from the cheering crowd. Apart from this, her band-mates support her well which includes her English husband and guitarist Darrel Higham. A song inspired by their love story Kentish Town Waltz is beautifully out of the ordinary from her 2010 album titled ‘Mayhem.’

I went to the show with one of my friends who hadn’t even heard of her and by the time the show got over, she was gushing about how amazing the music is! I gather her rockabilly music attracts likability, after all what’s not to like- she’s got hair like candy!

Alright, excitement over for me...whew! Now, I'm burying myself right back to my deadlines.

26/11/2011

Metaphorically speaking, it's like a single cold fine needle being pushed through the outermost layer of my heart and being left to stay there lodged in the core to slowly deteriorate me from inside.

RHCP Concert Review

A month before D-day, I was already bragging about it. Sorry but I haven't ever been to a big concert before with world renowned artists performing and I was just showing my enthusiasm for it! Hehe. I wasn't a big fan of Red Hot Chilli Peppers per se, but if I'm gonna get to see them live..sure I'll go!

An indie rock band called Fool's Gold from L.A. opened for the band, and ummm to be honest they nearly spoiled my mood for the night; the fact that I don't much like indie rock had nothing to do with it.

By quarter to 9, light's dimmed and guitars blared out to Monarchy of Roses which I thought was a good choice for opening. We were in the sitting lane but it was hard to keep still in our seats, so we basically ended up standing to dance most of the time.

I thought it was their new album I'm with you tour but guess not since we found ourselves dancing to a mix of new and some of those old songs we listened to while growing up in high school. Nostalgic rather...sigh! Their music is consistent and I like their new songs but nah not all of 'em; The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie and Look around are nice though. Dance, dance, dance do not want to make me dance, dance, dance.

But yeah we had an aweeeeesome time, the whole concert (excluding Fool's Gold) was for about 2 hours I recall but it felt like we just zoomed from the beginning to end. We really didn't wanna go home and seriously wanted more head-banging (and jumping!!!) And no we did not drink :D

And finally let the music speak for itself, well errrmmmm...for 39 seconds:

That's all for RHCP! 

Oh and I got an opportunity to do this review for our university magazine SHUlife on Imelda May. [In case you haven't heard of her yet, then you must! I love love love her voice, and oh-so-good-hard-to-find-nowadays music]. So I got to go to her concert in 'Sheffield O2 Academy' for free with +1, how cool is that?? Haha! She's one of my favourite blues artist; excited would be an understatement. It was on 22 November and I haven't written the review yet; when I'm done with it, I'll post it here. Although I admit that lil' sentence I wrote in brackets is a bit of a give-away, but I promise I'll try to critically analyse ;)

I Couldn't Sleep Last Night

Yet sleep eludes me
I've toiled much and need my rest

But you hold me
I'm benumbed you lie across the sea's crest

Though robes warm me
I'd rather a hint of your wind blown nest

Thus sleep embraces me
I've toiled too much and I do need my rest

Pain

Dug through my past files to find something to post for it's been long since I've updated my blog (and no time to have a brain-wave to create something new), and this lil' piece stood out from the pile.


Where were you my darling
When I laid crying
This heart longed for you
My mind in-spite of rationalities desired you

                  Why didn’t you come take me

                  How could you not come to me
                  Happiness and sorrow
                  I braved them alone till morrow

                                       The pain remains entwined my love
                                       With the gentle velvety softness of love
                                       Failed attempts at sweet reminiscence
                                       The thorn still pricks in persistence