POLLY SCATTERGOOD – Live @The Talking Heads, 19/04/09
Posted: April 21st, 2009 | Author: Matt | Filed under: Reviews | Tags: Andrew Foster, Light Effect, Loz Bridge, Matt Merritt, Polly Scattergood, Stiff Promotions | 3 Comments »
Stiff Promotions have a strong reputation and steady following in Portsmouth, but when they decided to venture into Southampton we at Call Upon The Author decided we had to be there! The Talking Heads is a real spit & sawdust venue, a stage in the large back area of what is essentially a pub. It really works though, there is a ton of atmosphere here. First up on stage were Loz Bridge and the Box Social. Bridge and his band have really grown in the past year from a bunch of guys with good songs into one of the most impressive bands in the south. Tonight they played old favourites like ‘Witches’ and China and a couple of new tracks, most notably ‘Brazen Bull’, a departure for the band musically with it’s much more uptempo vibe. Andy Foster was on form tonight too, layering bluesy guitar over the songs in ways I’d not heard before from the band. Next up were Light Effect. You may remember these guys as Beau Monde, but their former front man is gone, replaced by rhythm guitarist Austin. It seems to have worked in the bands favour, shaping them into a much more cohesive unit. Of all the bands that regularly ply their trade locally, these guys look most suited to mainstream success. When Polly Scattergood took to the stage I really wasn’t sure what to expect. Speaking to her before the show she seemed a little shy and withdrawn and I’d heard tales of stage fright, but when she began performing she held the attention of every audience member. Swaying and gesturing like Kate Bush, she put me in mind of a British Paula Cole with her interesting song structures. She is already picking up plenty of media interest and judging by the crowd reaction when she attempted to leave the stage, she’s only going to get more popular with the public too!
check out Stiff Promotions at: www.stiffpromotions.co.uk
check out Polly Scattergood at: www.myspace.com/pollyscattergood
check out Light Effect at: www.myspace.com/lighteffectband
check out Loz Bridge & The Box Social at: www.myspace.com/lozbridge




YEY !! I was there and I’m a massive Polly Scattergood fan. I think she is going to just get bigger & bigger. Very much between Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Bjork and Radiohead. Just an amazing new talent. Spread the word. Loubeylou xx
Nice review Matt! I especially love the “spit and sawdust” line. Classic!
Thanks for the comments folks, much appreciated!