Independent Venue Week is such a good idea. It's really important to support the venues that keep the music world ticking and are keeping the industry plants from ruling the albums charts like they do the singles. Unfortunately, I've only been able to get myself down to one gig on Independent Venue Week but what a gig it was. The front man of britpop band, Supergrass, has been nothing short of magnificent since the band split and it was a pleasure to see him live.
Tunes from his first two albums were performed with ease, especially those of the Mercury Prize nominated Matador. Gaz's voice pulled him through and all of those years with Supergrass have clearly helped. The songs from his new album, Worlds Strongest Man, are sounding polished, extravagant and a step forward for Gaz. But what made this gig extra special was that it was just Gaz Coombes, a guitar and a piano up on the stage. Something that isn't respected half as much as it should be in the music business. Gaz was charismatic, energetic and inviting. What better way to spend Independent Venue Week? I can't wait for the new album, it's shaping up to take a high place on my year end list.