Monday 13 May 2013

Public Service Broadcasting



Ralph prefers unsigned indie bands but his man in Scotland, Malcolm Parry was heading to Public Service Broadcasting's recent gig in Edinburgh which co-incides with their debut album release 'Inform - Educate - Entertain so he's relaxed the rules a bit to bring you a review of the night.  Public Service Broadcasting are J.Willgoose and his wing-man Wrigglesworth so it's chocks away Malc!







Malcolm Parry's Public Service Broadcasting live Review The Caves Edinburgh 7.5.13





Having caught this band live just under a year ago in Edinburgh's Voodoo Rooms and hearing another local date was announced, I jumped at the chance to see this unique live experience again in The Caves.



The stage set up is all things vintage - Old T.V. systems stacked up either side of the stage, cabinet units up to tiny portables. The backdrop a large T.V. screen with a still of the BBC close-down picture from latter day with the young girl playing naughts and crosses on a blackboard with the freaky clown doll companion - remember? I do!



The visuals begin - A picture of Everest, we get a teaser snippet of the tune from their last EP as the two members, drummer Wrigglesworth and lead man J .Willgoose take their positions.  All eccentric looking and dressed like science teachers. 

Wrigglesworth in patterned shirt, tie and glasses and J in corduroy suit, glasses and bow tie.  J picks up a transistor radio and tunes us in to the start of their set, a medley follows.





He flits between banjo and keyboard riffs, looping together, twisting and turning all the tech toys - like Doctor Who in a musical Tardis.

The visuals take us back to old propaganda films for 'London can take it' from their 'War Room ' EP and it's spine-tingling stuff.  A new tune from their debut album 'Inform - Educate - Entertain' - 'New Dimensions In Sound' begins.  A more laid back intro with banjo until J swaps to his Rickenbacker for some thrashing riffs and we're in Mogwai territory now.







During the next tune their visual guy (who is later introduced to us) moves behind the drummer with an old wind up camera, transmitting the image through the stack of T.V's – a very cool touch.  The new single 'Signal 30' picks us up with full on guitar instrumental and tight drumming, while some mad vintage movies about drivers plays on behind, exhilarating stuff.



Back to 'The War Room' - 'Dig for Victory' gets a theremin intro.  There's no talking from the front man just electronic Stephen Hawkins sounding recorded messages "Thank you...Edinburgh...I’m so pleased to be back in...Edinburgh!" adds to the charm.

More new tunes, atmospheric soundscape until J grabs a Fender Jag and gives us a Morricone intro to 'If War Should Come',  very popular with this sold out crowd.  Then 'Spitfire' a Chemical Brothers /Golden Path intro with a melody that's impossible not to shake them hips to.



Last tune 'ROYGBIV' is all floaty electronica into banjo picking - like Air mixed with The theme From Deliverance - gently building to a epic climax, very hypnotic.  The guys leave the stage but the crowds going nowhere.  They return for an encore with a vocoder message - “You.. twisted ..our.. arms” - then comes the melancholic riff of 'Everest' .  The visuals showing climbers planning their onslaught at base camp up the Tibetan peak as we get Jean Michel Jarre keyboard riffs and the guest trumpet player building to a crescendo as the team conquer Everest, a totally uplifting finish.






They leave the stage to the theme from 'Last Of The Summer Wine'.  Why?  Who knows what is going on inside the musical genius brain of Public Service Broadcasting but whatever it is we like it!






LIVE TRANSMISSIONS -CLICK ON CITIES BELOW FOR TICKETS

13 MAY
LeedsBrudenell Social Club, Leeds, United Kingdom SOLD OUT
14 MAYManchesterSound Control, Manchester, United Kingdom
15 MAYLiverpoolThe Kazimier, Liverpool, United Kingdom
16 MAYSheffieldThe Leadmill, Sheffield, United Kingdom
17 MAYNottinghamBodega Social, Nottingham, United Kingdom SOLD OUT
18 MAYBirminghamHMV Institute Temple, Birmingham, United Kingdom
20 MAYSouthamptonRoxx, Southampton, United Kingdom
21 MAYBrightonThe Haunt, Brighton, United Kingdom SOLD OUT
22 MAYLondonVillage Underground, London, United KingdomSOLD OUT
23 MAYCardiffClwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, United Kingdom
24 MAYBristolThe Fleece, Bristol, United Kingdom SOLD OUT
25 MAYNorwichOPEN, Norwich, United Kingdom
26 MAYMeadowlandsLewes, Meadowlands, United Kingdom
27 MAYLondonVillage Underground (2nd date due to demand!), London, United Kingdom
28 MAYBelfastThe Stiff Kitten, Belfast, United Kingdom
30 MAYCorkCyprus Avenue, Cork, Ireland
31 MAYDublinThe Button Factory, Dublin, Ireland
1 JUNWychwood FestivalCheltenham Racecourse, Wychwood Festival, United Kingdom
6 JUNIstanbulBabylon, Istanbul, Turkey
7 JUNLondonBritish Library, London, United Kingdom
21 JUNHidden Hills FestivalLincolnshire, Hidden Hills Festival, United Kingdom
22 JUNHebden BridgeTrades Club, Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom
5 JULBlissfieldsHampshire, Blissfields, United Kingdom
6 JULFling FestivalCentral Park, Chelmsford, Fling Festival, United Kingdom
6 JULHop Farm FestivalHop Farm, Paddock Wood, Hop Farm Festival, United Kingdom
7 JULBeat-Herder FestivalRibble Valley, Lancashire, Beat-Herder Festival, United Kingdom
14 JULLeefestKent, Leefest, United Kingdom
19 JULTruck FestivalOxford, Truck Festival, United Kingdom
21 JULDeershed FestivalTopcliffe, Deershed Festival, United Kingdom
26 JULSecret Garden PartyHuntingdon, Secret Garden Party, United Kingdom
27 JULWickerman FestivalNr Dundrennan, SW Scotland, Wickerman Festival, United Kingdom
28 JULKendal CallingLowther Deer Park, Kendal Calling, United Kingdom
2 AUGY-Not FestivalDerbyshire, Y-Not Festival, United Kingdom
3 AUGStandon CallingHertfordshire, Standon Calling, United Kingdom
17 AUGGreen Man FestivalGlanusk, Wales, Green Man Festival, United Kingdom



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