I’m getting a bit behind with my blogging because I’ve been so effing busy lately doing loads of stuff I want to blog about but don’t have the time to *vicious circle* – if you feel the urge to keep up to date (and I know you do) then follow me on Twitter

After spending Friday night seeing some art and pretending I knew what I was talking about, Saturday night was spent watching two bands.

Magnets played a rare London gig at the Wilmington Arms. This Folkestone band is great, the songs are strong and they are all very talented musicians. It’s core two members are the same two guys who run Club Buff and promote live gigs as well as club nights around Kent.

I really enjoyed their set. They have good onstage chemistry and aren’t trying too hard to ‘be’ anything. They opened with what should be their single release if they have one: Here Be Monsters. It is a storming track with a strong catchy chorus and is definitely my favourite of their current material.

The only downside watching them on stage was the layout of the band. This band stands out because of the distinctive lead vocals, lush harmonies mixed with solid songs and long jam sections in each track. I would place the vocalist in the middle of the stage and the newest member of the band who plays guitar with props such as a bow and a drumstick more to one side or further back – they wouldn’t have to do anything differently as performers. As an audience this would reduce any feeling that the props were a gimmick or trend and the band would seem more led by their strongest asset, the vocals.

Otherwise, the gig was storming. There’s a real current following for Kent based artists so I hope Magnets break out and let more people hear them.

Next was a dash to Pangea Project, it’s a tiny artsy cafe/bar in Stoke Newington (very poetry night/alternative artists kind of a place).

I was there to see John John Slave. This electro disco pop group consists of two guys doing electronics – a mixture of synths, laptops and other stuff – and a girl doing dancing and vocals. Their stuff is cool and fits nicely with the trend for upbeat electro pop. Their singer has a good voice which you can hear clearly when she’s not dancing (but I loved the dancing!) and I really like their tracks. The two guys are very skilled and rush about swapping from one bit of kit to another which creates more energy than your usual laptop musicians. I’d like to see them again in a different venue with a larger crowd and without any costumes or props.

Will tell you soon about the rest of my week…