May Day Calling | Blind Tiger Bolton | 30/04/17
- May 4, 2017
- 7 min read
This past bank holiday Sunday, Blind Tiger Bolton hosted a 'May Day Calling All Dayer', to celebrate the weekend. The gig involved a number of great bands from across the North West, including Boltons very own "The Jade Assembly", who were the headlining act of the night.
Carnival Club
A band I have seen a few times now, Carnival Club, started the event early on at 4 in the afternoon. At this time the bar wasn't too busy, which is unfortunate because the band really did perform brilliantly and I wish more people could have witnessed it. The young, Manchester based, quartet launched their first single, "House of Cards" in 2016 and will soon be launching their debut EP on 12th May. Their music gives off great rock and roll vibes but has a definite appeal to fans of other genres with catchy sequences and relatable lyrics. Find Carnival Club on 12th May at 'The Deaf Institute' Manchester where their EP launch will take place, I will also be attending and reviewing the event to cover the band in more depth. Alternatively, find them online here.
Maruja
The four piece Manchester band, Maruja, really are a bit of everything. With 3 guitars, 2 vocals and a saxophone, the music they create is highly original, and according to The Inspiral Carpets' Clint Boon "Maruja will be the next big thing from Manchester". Their upbeat sound consists of a mixture of rap with alternative rock and has a distinguished reggae feel to it, as well as incorporating aspects of pretty much every genre that’s ever existed. Performing an engaging set, they filled the relatively quiet bar with enthusiasm as people were just starting to arrive. The band have released a number of songs on Soundcloud, all of which you should take your time to listen to. You can listen to Maruja online or find them in July at 'Kendall Calling'.
The Twisted Dolls
With a gripping dynamic as a group, the two piece band really do bring something new to the table. With a female drummer and male guitarist/vocalist, the band has something original to offer the rock genre and they do it wonderfully. In a way, their sound reminds me of one of my favourite bands, Cream, but with a more heavy approach to music and they give off vibes similar to that of T. Rex. Since they are a small band, their music isn't too over powering and no aspect of it ends up being drowned out, therefore a everything can be heard, forming a pleasant atmosphere in the room. I will be seeking out The Twisted Dolls and hopefully watching them live again very soon, but for now they've made it onto my Spotify playlist. You can find them at 'Zanzibar', Liverpool on 6th May, 'The Globe Inn', Glossop on 13th May and at 'The Jacaranda Club', Liverpool on 2nd June, or find them here.
Factory
The four piece Runcorn based group have a strong alternative rock sound but also echo similarities to music strongly associated with 90s culture, I feel that the mixture works very well especially in the current music scene. The band have 2 singles available online, the most recent, "Step A Little Closer" reflects psychedelic rock much more than their previous single. In my opinion, this is a great direction the band have taken and demonstrates how they have adapted and grown as a group; I really enjoy being able to see that in their progression and hope to see them advance further. If I had to compare them to a band it would be The Doors with a little of The Clash thrown in there as well, a very unusual yet surprisingly brilliant mixture. I definitely recommend you listen to Factory, they had a lasting impact and memorable performance. Find Factory next at 'Dot to Dot Festival', Manchester on 26th May, but in the meantime I recommend you look them up online and keep your eye out for when they're near you.
Cabezudos
Taking over from Factory, the Liverpool rock band, Cabezudos, took to the Blind Tiger stage. Their mellow rock sound has an underlying touch of blues to its structure which works beautifully both live and when listening to their studio tracks. Their striking performance grabbed the attention of the music enthusiasts in the bar as it was engaging and they were well connected with each other and the audience when on stage. The frontman of the band came forward into the audience and made the performance a more intimate experience for the crowd that was now building up in the bar. Cabezudos have released one EP and a single so far, both which can be listened to on Spotify. I really hope to hear more coming from them soon as they continue to expand and explore the music they create, especially as they are such a strong band already. You can find Cabezudos at 'Double Denim Live' across various locations and at 'Hope and Glory Festival' Liverpool in August, but you should keep your eye out as they aren't a band to miss. look for them online.
Sly Antics
As the night got busier, the up beat band, Sly Antics, kicked off their set. Their catchy songs captured the attention of everyone in the venue and in no time at all the dance floor was flooded with fans singing along to every lyric. The band released their debut EP, "Captive City", in 2016 and it has been very successful for a first taste of their music. In the future I imagine they will develop their style as they gain experience and I imagine they will do very well as they already have a strong fan base, from what I saw, and are receiving fantastic press - but this is just the beginning. I would describe the Manchester trio as and indie rock group with aspects of pop in the mix as well, this generates a more recent and relevant sound and creates an uplifting, lively atmosphere through the whole venue. You can find Sly Antics next at 'Warrington Friars Court' on 6th May, 'Sheffield Rocking Chair' on 20th May, and 'Manchester Deaf Institute' on 20th May for the launch of their new single "Motion", or find them online.
No Hot Ashes
Another band to start ther set with a bang, No Hot Ashes are a group I really enjoyed watching. Their performance was full of energy which radiated through the bar and drew people in to watch their set. The four piece from Manchester performed a good number of songs, some older releases and some more recent. Their 2017 single "Bellyaches" is a fab new song and one I will be listening to more often, however their older tracks certainly don't let it down. Their music incorporates alternative pop with a definite hip hop aspect, producing a positive and lively mood. I feel that No Hot Ashes will go onto something much bigger in the future and they are a band I would love to see again. You can find No Hot Ashes at many venues across the North West in the coming months and more information can be found on their Facebook page. They are next in Manchester on 19th May at 'Sound Control' along side The Ordinary Boys, find more info here.
Kashmere
I really did love this Kashmere's performance, and despite hearing of them in the past I have never gone out of my way to listen to their music, but I will be doing from now on. The band offer an alternative, energetic take on rock. With catchy songs plus a strong guitar feature, the young group have released some top class tracks, their most recent being a single titled "Porcelain", which is available online. I really enjoy their inventive riffs and how every aspect of what they create stands out. The quartet performed a passionate set with confidence and it won me over, as well as many other people who were at Blind Tiger on the night. It will surprise me if you don't hear much more about Kashmere, the group got extremely involved in their music, reflected by the eager crowd - who were also buzzed about the local football team being promoted earlier that day, but that didn't prevent the band from having a lasting impact on the evening. You can find Kashmere next at 'Jimmy's', Manchester on 19th May and at 'Blackthorn Music Festival', Stockport in July, or find them here.
The Jade Assembly
Bolton favourites, The Jade Assembly, were the headliners of the night. Their sound is similar to the traditional Manchester groups, with very a strong quality to their music. Drawing in a massive crowd, the bar was overwhelmed by the number of fans who had arrived to support the local group. Opening with "Feel The Reign", to start their packed set. The powerful tune got fans on their feet, dancing and singing along with their hometown hit. The band have a variety of songs which comment on their hometown of Bolton, including a song titled "Our Town" which was a favourite of the night, the lyrics were perfectly relevant to the atmosphere in the bar with the lines "Bolton boys until the day we die" and "no one can stop us now", especially as Bolton Wanderers had just been promoted. Fans of both the football team and the band filled the bar singing along to every word and having a brill time. Additionally, the band incorporated their version of "Walking Down Manny Road", a classic football chant which was recorded a few years ago with the bands own twist. This song complemented the mood in the venue perfectly and at one point everyone was singing along. The lively atmosphere would undoubtedly fill a much larger stage than Blind Tiger, while also working brilliantly in the intimate venue. The band continued to play their set which was full of positive, lifting tracks and they gave an unbelievable performance. Interacting with the fans was something the band did through the entire show, this only added to the already enthusiastic vibes in the bar. When their time on stage came to an end, The Jade Assembly closed with a timeless cover of The Beatles song "Come Together", another tune that emphasised the atmosphere filling the venue. During the song, the band encouraged as many fans as possible to get into the stage and sing along with them - an unforgettable ending to the night. I had a brilliant night and hope to be seeing The Jade Assembly around soon, you can catch them at venues across the North West, more details can be found on their website here.
Another event at Blind tiger to end with me not wanting to leave, every single band was a hit and you should definitely check them all out, or if your local keep your eye out for killer events hosted by the bar and get yourself down there.
Liv X
Comments