Gone Fishin’
The genre “bossa nova” translates to “new trend”, which has become an ironic and antiquated term seeing as the style first emerged in the late 1950s. However, what was old is now new again, and if anybody is capable of bringing legitimacy back to the moniker of “new trend”, it is Gone Fishin’. Speaking for myself, and what I assume to be a mindset of many others who have dabbled in songwriting, the temptation to try bring a modern twist to a style of music that has stood the test of time is a strong one; Gone Fishin’ manage to feel like they are paving a new path solely by sticking to and respecting the musical traditions of what came before.
There is no star of the show in Gone Fishin’, in the most positive sense of the phrase. With every instrument played to a high level of expertise, and with no member of the band underutilised, it is a stroke of good fortune for us, the audience, that five endless talents ended up on the stage together. Gone Fishin’ manage to meld together into a singular experience in a way most bands could only aspire to, and it cannot be overstated how impressive it is to become bigger than the sum of your parts when the parts you’re working with are already so high quality. Talent within young artists often come with the welcome rawness native to early expression, so I defy anybody to not be left slack jawed in awe upon hearing the sophisticated sounds of seasoned samba veterans emitting from this disarmingly fresh faced group.
After a smooth and soothing set, Gone Fishin’ opted to end their time with us with a rendition of Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. In what I cannot decide was an act of brilliance or cruelty, Gone Fishin’ decide to reveal they have more tricks hidden up their proverbial sleeves, ending their set on a high note that almost demands your continued attention in following this band’s future career.
Good Boy Nikko
I don’t believe its possible to do a fully objective review of art. My roots are in punk, I like my music made by angry people. I would never click to listen to a band that describes themselves as “vanilla-flavoured bedroom pop”. It took Good Boy Nikko one catchy chorus for me to realise that I am a fool, and by the end of a full set of what I would have previously disregarded as music too saccharine for me to swallow, this act had me wondering if I have ever really known my own music tastes at all.
While I may have been dealing with my own identity crisis, that is certainly not something that can be said of Good Boy Nikko. This is a band who know exactly what they have set out to make, and knock it out of the park in effortlessly delivering the sound and aesthetic promised to you. It is always a pleasure to see musicians who are having just as much fun as the audience while performing, and in that respect the band were a blast.
My personal highlight was the track Nintendo Loverboy, a track that perfectly summarises this band’s ability to package a universal good feeling in an endearingly goofy way, with samples and references that harken back to the simpler times of our 16-bit childhoods. Performing with a playful sense of humour that paradoxically deserves to be taken very seriously, I only hope Good Boy Nikko continue to spread further from their home of Lancaster to deliver more vanilla-flavoured wake up calls to stuck in the mud misers like myself.
Shabbah
After my foray into the unknown, Shabbah felt like home. Raw, and played with an unapologetic ferocity, this set was a stark contrast to what came before. Shabbah would have to put everything into capturing the hearts of a crowd still left in a dream-pop haze, and the aching crick in the neck of an experienced headbanger says mission accomplished. The crowd were receptive to the sudden switch in energy and the whole room was moving by the end of the first song. Vocals in the band are divided up between two of the members, one of which can sing and the other can shout. This shared responsibility is a small insight to the work ethic behind the band, the strengths of each member are utilised as they should be and everything comes together without ego.
Shabbah are another younger-seeming band, but already one can hear the potential in how they have blended the tried and tested fury of hard rock with the writing and sensibilities of local indie scenes. Definitely one to watch.
Closing words
This review alone showcases the eclectic lineup that In The Clouds opted to host all in one night. I’ve dabbled in throwing gigs myself, and from personal experience and from conversations I’ve had with others, I know that making sure each band fits the ever elusive “vibe” of the night is a concern shared by many. While all three bands excelled at their style, convention dictates they should have never shared a stage. Yet, they did, and the crowd maintained the same appreciative faces the whole time.
This show was a testament to the fact that good music trumps all, and any good modern audience can appreciate art of any kind as long as it is delivered with sincerity. Overall a breath of fresh air, Nottingham needs more nights like this.