by Lucinda Parker
Last Wednesday I was luckily enough to buy tickets for this gig which took place at Hoxton Bar and Grill in Hoxton Square, it’s a bar/restaurant but at the back of the place has a small space for live music, which is perfect for those intimate, ‘starter out’ gigs, it’s a great size and has a low stage setting so you really get a good view no matter where you are standing, the sound carry’s well around the very small square room, it also has a little bar at back… which always helps! Although I didn’t even think about a drink once Miles got started…..
Over the past year I have kept an eye on Miles Kane, having read blogs, articles and interviews about what people were saying and what he was saying about himself. I knew great things were coming to the music scene in 2011 and he would certainly rip it up. When I heard some of his demo stuff last year I absolutely loved it, just my cuppa tea and thought right ‘lets keep an eye on this lad’. I saw him support The Courteeners at The Forum in Kentish Town late last year and even then I thought he is ‘one to watch’.
Just a brief little intro on Miles from Liverpool he was part of The Little Flames (his first band), then frontman of The Rascals and then went onto a partnership with Alex Turner in The Last Shadow Puppets. He has come a long way on his own as a solo artist since those days of being in a band and this gig most certainly proved it.
Again, I did actually get to the venue late about half 8ish and missed the support band, I did ask a few people though and they said they were good. Sounds lame but I just got time delayed! Apologies!!
Miles and his band then came on stage and immediately had the crowd going. His array and use of lyrics is incredibly captivating. It was strange but I actually felt so engrossed in his performance that I felt like I knew the lyrics and the beats of the songs but I didn’t. He and his band play really well together, you can tell they got a tight little unit going on and have an extraordinary flare to their music.
We managed to wiggle our ways down to the front with the ‘Excuse me’ and ‘Sorry’ and got a good plot to the side of the stage next to this couple. When Miles was about 3 songs in I turned round and said to this couple who must have been in their 30’s “He’s good isn’t he? Really good, he should have done this ages ago!” and in a noticeable scouse accent he said “He wasn’t famous enough….” I then said “He didn’t have to be famous, the boy has got talent”, he said “He couldn’t have agreed more!” (Between you and me – definitely a relative!).
Not only is Miles really exciting to watch, the look on his face once he had done the gig was priceless. He belted out top tunes Inhaler and Come Closer and even did a fantastic cover of ‘Bulldog’ by The Beatles. You could tell that he enjoyed every single second of it and I don’t blame him. He knew he had performed with a superior class that night and with passion in his heart. His smile made me smile, not that I weren’t in the first place! Me and my friend were just really pleased for him – everyone went mental and to have your friend’s front row watching you and getting up on stage to sing the last song with you must be a bloody good feeling. You really could tell he put his whole heart and soul into this gig, it really was astounding. I wish you had all been there to witness his performance.
When Miles came off stage, he gave the man (who was in the couple) a quick little hug….knew I was right, ha. Relative….Bless.
Before Christmas I brought some of his EP’s along with signed lyrics, turned up the day after the gig so was well happy, got a little bit of treasure now which will be treasured and hung up on my music wall of fame!
My next gig is BeadyEye on 10th March at The Troxy (which I can’t wait to blog about!) and guess who is supporting him!! The one and only Miles Kane, so I will definitely be getting there before the doors open to see him play….are you lucky enough to be there? I hope so!
He has also been confirmed to support The Arctic Monkeys, which unluckily enough I didn’t get tickets for but never say never!
Miles Kane solo debut album has been confirmed it will be entitled ‘Colour Of The Trap’ which will be released on either 25th April or 9th May 2011. No doubt this time will fly by. I really can’t wait.
If you join his Facebook page Miles is giving away a free download so check it out! www.facebook.com/mileskanemusic
I just hope it is not too late for him to get involved in some summer festivals so the crowds can hear its music because it really is something special. Come on festival organisers sign him up!
Miles Kane is simply addictive………and quite handsome if I must say so myself!
For further information for his latest gigs, tours, albums and free downloads visit www.MilesKane.com which is updated daily with all the juicy updates on his solo career
Please feel free to leave any comments about my writing or if you went to the gig, let me know what you thought to!
Reviewed by Lucinda Parker. Visit Lucinda’s personal blog!
