Creative Edge presents Sound of the Sirens + Sadie Horler + Stuart
Taylor live @ PSCA, Plymouth – 10/05/2017
 |
| Stuart Taylor (Photo: Marielle Newton) |
There’s something slightly punky
and surreal about walking in to a school at 7.30pm for a gig and being offered a beer from the pop up bar.Those innovative guys at Creative Edge have circumnavigated the lack of mid-sized venues in Plymouth by putting on a gig in the performance space of the relatively new Creative Arts school in Britain’s Ocean City. And what a space it is? Fully seated in lecture theatre style but with some of the most pin point and crisp sound I’ve heard in a long time – this is not just a pub gig my friend. Up first in this unique space is Stuart Taylor along with his co-conspirator
Bernie who created a warmth in a fairly cold space with their own take on acoustic
indie-rock originals. Some well-placed harmonies and delicately placed guitar
interplay set the tone for the evening with an attentive audience and a space
with little to distract from the music.
 |
| Sadie Horler (Photo: Marielle Newton) |
There isn’t so much a stage here
as a space on the floor marked out by guitars, microphones and a few cables. As Sadie Horler enters this space, like a sacrifice walking in to a pentagram,
it feels like we’re stepping back in time to see a young Janis Joplin. Dressed
in bohemian garb, Horler had a huge reputation to live up to and, I have to
admit, I was initially unimpressed. There was, I thought, a sense of naivety
about her performance and almost rehearsed links between the songs – her cover
of Pulp’s ‘Common People’ was nicely arranged and performed but seemed to lack
the essence of what that classic people’s anthem is all about. However,
something happened around mid-set that kind of clicked with me – I realised she
was just being honest. You see, Sadie Horler is just 16 years old and like most
teenagers is looking at the world with eyes that are as wide with wonder as
they are wide with terror. Her voice is cripplingly beautiful with a real Jazz
vibe about it and her guitar playing is delicate, subtle and well placed. What
set’s this Exeter songstress apart, however, is her innocent and unaffected
lyric writing that speaks with humour, pathos and a real honesty that is an
extremely rare commodity these days. Closing song ‘Why Should I Tidy My Room
When The World’s Such A Mess?’ is the perfect example of this songwriting talent
that some might see as teenage angst….because it is….because she’s a teenager.
Teenage angst performed to chilled out Jazz vibes, an intriguing and beguiling
combination.
It wasn’t long before the
anticipated headliners Sound of the
Sirens took to the stage space to whoops and applause – the Exeter duo have
been knocking on the door of sustainable success for a while with the backing
of pretty much anyone that has the pleasure of hearing them. Looking like a
pair of folk troubadours frozen in time since the 1950s with a new hair do upon
defrosting, the pair set about working through material from their new debut
album with their trademark vocal harmonies and rhythmic guitar work. Songs like
‘The Voices’ and ‘Grow’ show of the hard work that Abbe and Hannah have put in
to perfecting their art as the vocals intertwine around each other and the
guitars bounce off one another. An unexpected Madonna cover crept in due to
their need to rehearse for a TV appearance (‘Like A Prayer’ if you wanted to
know) and some of their more up tempo material caused a conga line to break out
which would surely be disapproved of during assembly the following morning.
 |
| Sound of the Sirens (Photo Marielle Newton) |
Aside from the music, the
chemistry between to the two is absolutely enthralling and I’ve never heard so
much laughter at a gig that isn’t a comedy gig – stories around impulse
clothing purchases in Brighton, Jane MacDonald, an oversized banner and men in
drag have the audience in raptures, cementing their relationship with the band.
Then again, Sound of the Sirens have the ability to bring a tear to the eye and
a lump to the through with some of their more tender material. All in all, what
we have here is a pair of musicians who have found success with expertly written
songs, hugely engaging performances and the kind of personalities that just
draw people in. The tour goes on, the album comes out this month and TV, Radio
and Press appearances are gathering pace - the time of Sound of the Sirens is
now, are you coming along for the ride?
More information:
Sadie Horler – https://www.facebook.com/Sadiehorler/?ref=br_rs
Sound of the Sirens – https://www.facebook.com/SoundoftheSirens/
Creative Edge – https://www.facebook.com/creative.edge.events.uk/
Marielle Newton Photography - https://www.mariellephotography.co.uk/