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| Edinburgh : A&E : Festivals : Fringe Reviews |
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Rating Guide None = Unmissable 
= UnwatchablePage number refers to the Fringe programme
Drams None Date 2 August 2005 Venue Medina (Venue 205) Address 45 – 47 Lothian Street Reviewer Shona Brodie
There was a great feeling of musical respect, people happily appreciating the passionate performances - particularly from Rich Davies who was almost (actually literally) jumping out of his seat he was so up for it. Styles ranged from jazz and folk to country and rock while inbetween acts DJ Si played tracks from local artists and other unsigned talent adding to the ethos of the night about promoting exciting new acoustic music.
Gecko, the opening night’s headline band, summed up the eclectic mix of music on offer with a style that is hard to categorise and unbelievably difficult to describe without feeling like you’re not doing them justice. To put it simply: groove music. Billed as ‘lyrical wizardry and acoustic grooves’ this local trio started with a laid back jazz feel which quickly develops into a full jazz fusion - funk, hip-hop, swing, bebop, Southern-American influences all working there way through. Marty Philip’s lighting speed vocals are magnificently suited to an undefinable sound, phrasing uniquely his own and with a distinctive dry lyrical wit. Paul Gilbody had great attack on the double bass with satisfying sustain and a rich warm groove and the rhythmic percussive force of Hugh Martin’s emotive but amazingly controlled movements proved that these guys are all highly talented musicians in their own right. With an intense creativity, this is a band that clearly enjoys each others company. Engaged and focussed, like nothing else anyone out there is doing just now. Their raw unpretentious and generally fun attitude to playing wins over the crowd immediately. Fellow musicians in the room must have been left thinking that they must go home and practice more. Acoustic Edinburgh evolved from a number of ‘Acoustic Extravaganza’ evenings hosted by KT Tunstall in 2001 before her move to London. With a lovely living room feel, as if some of your mates had just popped round to say hello and play a few songs that they thought you’d enjoy or would surprise you, a lot of Acoustic Edinburgh’s character is probably the fact that the evening is still relatively undiscovered. But it shouldn’t be. Make sure you check it out for yourself, from 8.30pm every Tuesday in the Festival and all year round on the first Tuesday of the month. © Shona Brodie. 2 August 2005. Published on www.edinburghguide.com www.acousticedinburgh.com and
www.geckomusic.co.uk
Alabama 3 (page 86)
Tumble weed blew past the Corn Exchange as someone shouted "You looking
for Alabama 3? They've gone and moved it". A young man was jumping up and
down in the road squealing excitedly "Gilbert, Gilbert they’re coming."
And sure enough a long line of sleek silver trailers came round the corner;
a grisly looking man stuck his head out the window and drawled "You've
missed the last train to Nashville".
Crammed onto the tiny stage, just inches away from the audience, clouds of
smoke billowed out over the faithful masses. Not created by a machine but the
combined effect of the band's cigarillos (What's going to happen when they ban
smoking in venues?). This was the only special effects going on. No fancy stage
set or flashing lights to hide behind. We were ‘witnessing’ at the
church of Elvis and if this is evangelism, let’s all go back to church.
It’s raw and naked in that surreal land, somewhere between Brixton, Nashville
and Oklahoma. Thursday 29th September 2005 © Bruce Darby 23/08/2005. Published on www.edinburghguide.com
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