SpideWriter

New Album: Gavin Bowers' Cheap Therapy Upfront, I have to declare an interest.  I met Gavin Bowers soon after lockdowns became history and we have kept in touch ever since about any new music in town, his projects, always promising to meet soon.  We've both been busy adapting to changing circumstances, just like everybody else, so the 'soon' has been stretched a little.  We both came to Norwich with our respective plans, but Life happens and priorities get reconfigured.  However, we are both still here and keep making that 'catch-up soon' promise, whenever our crazy-paving paths cross.  So, I was delighted to hear from Gavin that he had been working on a solo project, in which he has been relaying his path into some semblance of order, or least trying to make some honest sense of it. His debut solo album Cheap Therapy is the result. It is now available on all digital platforms, as well as in a limited run of vinyl pressings. I reviewed the single release of Our...

To Speak From Experience: Ross Stewart, Live at The Holloway This album was brought to my attention via an Instagram post from @rossstewartofficial  I had not immediately realised that I had heard it all before, but that was no bad thing, as I was in the audience the very, very warm evening when Ross Stewart and his band showcased the launch of the EP Purpose . This latest release from Stewart contains no new material, but it does demonstrate the continuing artistic progress of the Long Stratton based singer-songwriter and is an enjoyable, high quality recording of a great set performed in the sweaty confines of The Holloway, in September, 2025.  This release underlines the developing quality of Stewart's song-writing.  He paints vivid pictures taken from life's joyous and difficult moments.  His poetic lyrics say all that is needed to broad-brush experiences, use imagery sensible to the story and he takes pleasure in working in different song structures. Having cut ...

This article was first published on Grapevine Live! 1st May 2023 A Breath of Fresh South Coast Air from Hot Wax Hot Wax carry a creative energy that the tedium of battling through winters in English coastal towns often provokes. Second on the bill at Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom on the Spring Bank Holiday, Hot Wax from Hastings, turn in an excellent short set. Casting aside traditional song structures, in the way Patti Smith, Sonic Youth and PJ Harvey brought poetry into art rock, Hot Wax use pace and variation of tone, pitch and rhythm to net listeners. Choruses are used sparingly, but when launched, these are delivered with the fury of winter breakers smashing onto the shingle shore. I felt myself step back a little, not wanting to be pulled off shore by the emotional backwash, as the power surged and fell back into another pulsing bass line, a line hung with fascinating vocal lures to keep me hooked. Hot Wax have the edge like the jagged teeth of a double-handed timber saw. The sharp gui...

The Pearl Harts: Voodoo Daddy's Showroom - June 2023 This article was first published on the Grapevine Live Website, 1st June 2023 by Chris Perry | Jun 1, 2023 | Music, Reviews Presaged by a (insert your own collective noun here) of photographers,  The Pearl Harts  are attracting a lot of media attention right now. At one point, early in the evening, the paying punters only just matched the number of paparazzi present. I was intrigued to hear what so many lensmen had come to capture, (I saw no lenswomen). I pondered on the name. Pearl, (a precious, rarely-formed jewel, found in oysters) and Harts, (females of the deer species, an animal kept for hunting for sport and venison, idealised as strong and free-spirited), which is an aural pun on ‘hearts’, suggesting a precious sensitivity too; a poetic and interesting band name. Promising. Are the Pearl Harts the future of 21st Century rock? How far can duos take rock music?  Listen to local band  Whiskey  Lover Bass ...

BRIGHTEN THE CORNERS – IPSWICH 9TH & 10TH JUNE 2023 Words and Pictures by Chris Perry 14 June 2023 This article was first published on Grapevone LIve! June 2023 Waking to find a heavy sun beating down on the ancient city, warmth in the air at last, I hauled my old limbs into the shower, steeling myself for a long day. I was to be travelling south to trudge around the old port of Ipswich trying to make sense of Brighten the Corners. This multi-venue festival, has a name that misleads aurally, (Brighten, or Brighton?). It has artists listed appearing at six venues, plus talks at a seventh. It attracts musicians from as far distant as Los Angeles, CA. The whole event brings together the resources of the local university, the post- 16 college, BBC Su ff olk and venues, of vastly di ff erent styles and a range of capacities. My initial impression was that this is an ambitious event, o ff ering stages for over forty bands and acts, several of them possibly only known to each other. But f...