GIG Scene online has launched its latest live video of a local band especially shot by Harrogate Advertiser photographer Graham Schofield and recorded by BASH's Operations Director Jason Odle, writes Gig Scene Editor Graham Chalmers.
The latest Gig Scene Session at BASH Studios in Harrogate stars young, original pop band Kid October.
Singing one of their own, well-written songs, Do It Again (Everyday Girl), this teenage four-piece are influenced by Take That, Snow Patrol and Maroon 5.
With a professional maturity beyond their years, Kid October were runners-up at the AMP Awards at Harrogate International Centre earlier this year.
Bash Studios: contact: 0845 9000 686 – www.bashstudios.co.uk
BASH studios Harlow Moor Road, Harrogate HG2 0BA.
Link:
http://www.bashstudios.co.uk/videos1.htmCD REVIEW
Kid October: One Of Us Own
(mini-album)
IF I happened one morning to catch a track by these Rossett School teenagers on Channel 4's wise-cracking pop show Freshly Squeezed, I wouldn't be surprised and ask myself "why is Alexa Chung introducing this rubbishy song by some local band?", nope, I'd think "it's not my cup of tea but it's exactly the sort of thing that ends up in the top five."
Looking like McFly and sounding like a cross between Take That, Elton John and The Kooks, this piano-driven Harrogate foursome certainly know how to write, arrange and play a good tune.
Specialising in toe-tapping, piano-driven romantic pop, if it wasn't for the youthful nature of the lyrics (though they're far from dumb), you wouldn't believe any of these impressive five tracks were actually by 'kids'.
Kid October perform story-telling songs in the first person about girls and growing up in a small town delivered in a breezy and sophisticated but not bland manner by keyboard player Tom Bagley, guitarist Danny McGeachie and drummer Chris Hutchinson.
Throughout, there's a great feel for the internal drama of a song, the rise and fall of chords, the swell of emotion.
That's partly down to the superb vocal rasp of lead singer Josh Hall who combines a heart on his sleeve, soulful warmth with a sharp, pithy edge.
Although there are no bad tracks on this mini-album kicked off by strong opener The Hardest Part, there's only one I would personally play for pleasure.
Final track Dance With Me vs Umbrella is blessed, like the rest, by strong hooks but it's the unusual arrangement that really sets it apart.
A song in two, distinct halves, the way the band unnecessarily but cleverly repeat "ella, ella, ella, hey, hey, hey - under my umbrella" in the chorus to the accompaniment of a lone, pounding piano chord not only gets across the nature of obsession in a musical, rather than lyrical fashion, but it's impossible to shake from your brain for days after - just like all great pop songs.
Graham Chalmers
www.myspace.com/kidoctober
