St Patrick's Day Live

Event: St Patrick's Day Live (featuring Smiling Ivy, Chronicles of Graham and Nick Robin, Ben Webster )
Description: Gig
Location: 3 Spooner Road, Broomhill, Sheffield, S10 5BL

Address: The South Sea

Another day, another Chronicles of Graham gig.  Again, supporting the fantastic Smiling Ivy, and this time taking to the South Sea in student-central Broomhill on St. patrick's Day, this was surely a night not to be missed.

The night began with Ben Webster, a singer-songwiter on acoustic guitar.  Whilst he got a good reception from the assembled crowd, I felt he suffered somewhat from the early start time.  He ran through a blend of his own songs and some crowd-pleasing covers as well.  Adept on both guitar and harmonica, his folksy-blues/rock sound was the perfect way to start a St. Patrick's Day off.

Nick Robin (left) really impressed me.  Armed with an acoustic guitar, a kick drum and a cymbal, he was able to sound like a whole band on his own.  He ran through his all too short set with panache and humour, as well as just fabulous musicianship.

Chronicles of Graham came to the stage and filled it - literally as well as figuratively.  The round of applause they received just for their soundcheck was something to behold, before they finally launched into first track and all-round crowd pleaser "Spit".  They then rattled through what seemed like a greatest hits collection including "CoG TV Cribs", a funny take-off on MTV's Cribs, "Pick Up Little Teddy", and a bouncy rock/rap song featuring the wonderful Little of lead vocals and "Body in a Binbag", with Coxy's usual fantastic work on guitar generating whoops and admiring looks from the audience as well as the next band due on stage, Smiling Ivy.  "Gimmie da Fing" got everyone moving and swaying and bouncing, whilst "Here Come the" generated the usual skanking up in front of stage by an audience which was now swelling rapidly.  Just as last time at the Redhouse, The Graham finished off with a wonderful cover of "Lodi Dodi" by Snoop Doggy Dogg (AKA "La Di Da Di"), Little Teddy on lead vocals and Coxstardelux taking the ample cover by A Taste of Honey.  As last time, this was a brilliant finale to a great set.

Smiling Ivy were their usual amazing selves.  By the end of Chronicles of Graham, the floor was packed with people ready to watch Smiling Ivy.  I won't pretend to be well-versed on the tracks played by the band, but every one was a crowd pleaser, danceable, loud and fun, just as one would expect from them.  The drummer was, as usual, a failing mass of hair and arms, every inch look like 'Animal' from The Muppets.  The frontman owned the stage, whilst the band as a whole were tight, and clearly having fun, joking around with each other  between songs.  These are certainly a band to enjoy, and one I plan to watch again on April 6th at Penelopes - come join me please!

Dweam Babes // 60s Girl Groups-Ye Ye-Beat Chic and Sultry Soul

Event: Dweam Babes
Description: 60s Girl Groups-Ye Ye-Beat Chic and Sultry Soul
Location: The Washington
Address: 87 Fitzwilliam Street, Sheffield, England S1 4JP

It should have been a great evening  My sister was visiting, and a few of us were going to go out and have a bit of a dance in the Washington to Dweam Babes - in many ways similar to an old favourite night of mine, Be My Baby, a night which has been held at the Red House.

The music was great, however as it was a Wednesday, and towards the end of the month, sadly, there wasn't quitethe crowd that the organisers and DJ's would have wanted, or indeed as I've seen before on a Friday night, for example.

The Washington itself, is one of my favourite Sheffield pubs.  Abbeydale Moonshine is always on tap, and there was a lovely couple of malt whiskeys on the night as well.  The atmosphere is always warm, with friendly bar staff, and ample outside smoking area, and an interesting series of graffiti in the men's room.

Quiet though the bar was, the music was great, and there were the odd couple of groups dancing.  Sadly, for the most part though, it just felt as thought the either the music was too loud, or the bar too empty - too loud for a conversation, but empty enough that one could feel self-conscious dancing.  We even contemplated switching to the deep end on the other side of the bar to continue our chat.

This has the potential to be a really good night, but I think it needs to move venue, or night - I don't think that the Washington would be able to house it on a weekend, as it's generally rammed with rockers on their way to Corporation.  Nonetheless, it was a good night, and one which I would like to attend again.  So please, if you're reading this, head down to the next one - and bring a crowd!