Live Review

Jim Noir – Nottingham Trent Students Union Bar

• 11th Apr 2008

Never heard of my fellow Manc’ Jim Noir? No, me either! So, how does he go and land a support slot with headlining act The Breeders (live review here [link]) you might well ask. Maybe the exposure he’s accumulated between his songs ‘I Me You’, ‘Tell Me What to Do’ and ‘My Patch’ which all featured on Grays Anatomy, with the latter also being used by both pasty giants Ginsters and Target department store in their TV adverts. Maybe it was the remix of ‘Eanie Meany’ which featured on an Adidas advert or maybe it was his Cat Stevens cover of ‘Here Comes My Baby’ for the Chase bank advert that cut it. And yes, maybe I’m using the word maybe too much!

Whilst I’m sure that those tracks did no harm, JNs 7 previous releases to this Mondays release of his self titled 2nd LP, will have undoubtedly pleased those in the know who went out and bought them. So, JNs certainly not below the radar, he’s just not attracted the full-on exposure he’s surely worked so hard for. Well, I’m doing my bit for the cause Jim don’t you worry!

After humbly taking to the stage, the clothing chameleon Alan Roberts AKA Jim Noir (JN) and his merry minstrels take to the stage. Before JN gets chance to open his mouth to introduce the 1st song, an interruptive blurp of feedback cuts him off, which is then referred to as the 1st song. And then, comically, it happens again, warming the 70 strong (approx of course!) audience a little more to their keyboard playing lady (I may refer to her as Lady Casio!), 2 guitar laden lads and their man drummer.

Right from engaging opener ‘Eanie Meany’ to the pulsating closer ‘My Patch’, JN touches upon many vastly varying sounds, predominantly in mind at least, the brilliant and all too obscure Future Pigeon, though the likes of Beck, The Jam, Funkadelic and a generic handful of grunge city suburb bands can fleetingly be heard too. And it’s not just the music that draws you in. Their combined down to earth sensibility and enviably relaxed stage presence makes them all the more accessible and appealing. Some girls might say something like ‘bless ‘em’.

As for tonight’s show well, it’s a small scale, short lived but sure shot success, reaching a crowd that ultimately, have come to see the headliners. But the morphing construct of ‘All Right’ and its dominant synth’ vocal and subtle Casio sounds (despite the Karen Allen lookalikes ongoing battle with a loosened mic’ stand) which wonderfully underpin the track, make it irresistible. These elements, combined with the abundance of harmony and a reliable rhythm section, go quite some way to illustrate JNs worth.

‘Same Place Holiday’ admittedly ambles, but only between catchy choruses that simply outshine the perhaps less impressive impact of the verses. A psychedelic outro serves as an all too short treat to close. And I feel compelled to include tonight’s additional coughing from the lovely Casio jockey.

‘Look around You’ and its ‘Ghost Town’ synth’ sound follows, but I’m distracted by the sheer stealth of a photographer who ’s come to my attention as he languishes for a shot behind the solid front row of spectators. Sorry folks…’Ghost Town’ is all I got on this track!
After the band debate whether the unscheduled sound coming from the speakers is more like a cats purr or an eagle fart, ‘What U gonna Do?’ and its 60s lounge act self simply slinks its way in through my ears and down to my heart. Yes, it just might be my favourite of the night as tiny rock jams intercut its schmooveness. I’m thinking it’s something close to Neds Atomic Dustbin covering ‘Fever’!

Anthemic ‘Day by Day’ follows JNs £2 hotdog recommendation! With more gorgeous keys, midway moments of mayhem and the superb breakdown that makes the song towards the close, it’s another great track under JNs surely satisfied belts.

Lady Casio momentarily takes over the PR role as Jim intelligibly and somewhat surprisingly mumbles and fumbles his effort at raising CD sales, before she sneakily continues in the cover of her keyboard, picking up and playing a mini guitar or ukulele on ‘My Patch’. Was it any good? Well, the gyrating freak next to me (notably 1 of just 2 in the room) who’s practically slapping me in the head at every turn could serve as a pointer. It’s what I call pussycat music, music to smugly slink along to, that is before it escalates into oblivious overdrive. Jim lifts his guitar and drops his head back; almost laughing it off head off as he thoroughly relishes his tongue in cheek rock star moment! Their time is over and after a few sincere farewells and a Breeders big-up, they’re gone!

All in all, JN are inarguably kickass and you should go buy the CD if you like the sound of it; you won’t regret it (I promise?!). Whilst the bass and percussion excellently serve their purpose and forgivably not too much beyond, Jim and lady Casio are by far the shinier elements of the four piece, bringing diversity, quirkiness and an all important sense of unpredictability to the proceedings. Listen; just check ‘em out! At least, should the opportunity arise, go and see JN live at any of the dates listed below.

12 Apr 2008 – The Leadmill, Sheffield (supporting The Breeders)
13 Apr 2008 – Academy 2, Birmingham (supporting The Breeders)
14 Apr 2008 – Academy 2, Manchester (supporting The Breeders)
16 Apr 2008 – Koko, London (supporting The Breeders)
17 Apr 2008 – Koko, London (supporting The Breeders)
24 Apr 2008 – The Water Rats, London
25 Apr 2008 – The Roadhouse, Manchester
17 May 2008 – Firegathering Festival, Nr Horsham, Sussex