Dan Croll-Live Review at Bodega 24/3/14

"delicious pop nuggets not a well planned three-course meal"

A cold Monday in March saw Dan Croll return to Nottingham for the third time, and first time embracing the Bodega as a headliner. It’s a testament to Croll’s increased popularity over the last few months, to see as he takes to the stage, adoring fans fill the room wall-to-wall, awaiting the first summer tinged vibes we have come to associate with debut album “Sweet Disarray”. The crowd are willing but it’s not until “Thinkin Aboutchu’s” chorus that venue and Croll feel more comfortable with smiles peppering the chirpy organ that begins the first genuinely rhythmically movement from the crowd.

Last Thursday (16th Feb) The City Calls played at local Nottingham venue The Maze.

Many of us are familiar, at least in name, with live venues around the city such as Rock City and Bodega. The Maze is a smaller, independent live venue just to the North of the city centre on Mansfield Road. The Maze has the appearance of a regular pub on the outside and as you step through the door this first impression doesn't change. However, go through to the left of the bar and you discover an intimate performance area comparable to a room in Stealth or Bodega.

Tonight the order of the day is Punk/Pop Rock bands and The City Calls take to the stage just after 7.30pm and deliver an energetic set to start the evening off. Despite a couple of small technical difficulties their catchy and upbeat punk-pop songs go down well amongst the young crowd gathered at the maze, and the band are able to get right amongst them throughout their set. The performance is short and sweet, the band leaving the stage to applause - this was the band's first gig in Nottingham but we wouldn't be surprised to see them here again.

http://www.myspace.com/thecitycalls

http://www.facebook.com/TheCityCalls

http://www.themazerocks.com/

The Hand and Heart pub
Nottingham is a brilliant city for many reasons. One of which is its caves. In case you had not heard, Nottingham has an extensive sandstone cave network. More importantly, did you know that you can go to a perfectly ordinary looking pub such as the Hand and Heart on Derby Road and find yourself quenching your thirst inside a man-made 200-year-old cave? Nothing like a bit of cave exploration before heading into town, right?

In fact that is exactly what happened to us some weeks ago when we first ventured out in search of cider and stumbled upon this beautiful old pub, located on Derby Road just past the Ropewalk. Freshers, if you have not made it to the Ropewalk yet, get a bus into town and get off on Canning Circus (the top of the hill) and after a little walk you'll find it. Anyway, last night we ventured out to the Hand and Heart for their free music nights on Tuesday and have taken a few snaps to see if we can tempt you along.

Simon Wilson, the Entertainment Editor for the Nottingham Post, has previously described the lack of national recognition for Nottingham’s home grown music as something that could not be more of an embarrassment for the city. However this could be all about to change, as the Guardian reported in a feature on Nottingham music last Friday (http://bit.ly/rpcXCS). With Nottingham sporting one of the best live music scenes in the country – coming in third behind Manchester and Newcastle and beating London which only ranked fifth, it seems Nottingham’s reputation can only grow.

For new students (or even old ones who have yet to explore the smorgasbord of live venues our city has to offer) there is plenty to discover. The Capital FM Arena is the largest venue, playing host to household names and high ticket prices with both Bob Dylan and Tinie Tempah (though unfortunately not together) appearing in the coming weeks. There are also many smaller venues such as the Maze on Mansfield Road where you can see ‘Glastonbudget’ auditions this Tuesday (Europe’s premier tribute act festival held in Leicestershire) and Oxjam on October 12th – Oxfam’s month long music festival whose proceeds go to support the charity.