38-year-old Britpop rocker MILES KANE delivered his best ever solo album,
to my ears, with last year’s 5th one, named ONE MAN BAND. Following the
release he took the road to promote the record, and he’s still traveling around
Europe.
Last Wednesday he hit my hometown Ghent (Belgium) as a one man band. Yes, he and
his guitar and all other music on tape. It felt awkward at the beginning, as if he cheated on us by turning up alone, but that feeling disappeared very quickly, as Kane got the whole venue on his hands after just a couple of riff-loaded killers.
And the euphoric ambiance got hotter and more sweaty along the way. His set was
a clever, yet short one (just one hour), meaning that he played all the firecrackers we wanted to hear (except forBaggio, the album’s exhilarated single. Damn Miles, why?
You played it on all of your previous concerts).
Kane is a vintage rock ‘n’ roll star who knows all the tricks to score a 5-star gig. He took
the stage to The Who‘s My Generation (with fans from three generations in the building)
left with Rocky’s anthemic movie theme on the speakers, and he interacted with the elated audience as if we were all one big happy family with one and the same goal, having a blast of a night out, which happened flawlessly (except for missing Baggio of course. Oops, I said it again).
The one man band ruled.
PICTURE THIS
SETLIST
Troubled Son
Better Than That
The Wonder
Cry on My Guitar
Rearrange
Coup de Grace
One Man Band
Heal
Dealer
Standing Next to Me
Colour of the Trap
Never Taking Me Alive
Come Closer
Don’t Forget Who You Are
An effervescent collection of riff-loaded, catchy power pop tunes.
Nothing more, nothing less, but oh so excitingly entertaining. It
features one of the best 2023 singles (in my book) with BAGGIO,
an ode to the former Italian football star Robert Baggio.
After a series of triumphant gigs in the past months, Kane announced new dates in UK/ Europe for 2024.
NME says: “Where he’s inventive and precise in directing his energy, he’s able
to make real uplifting and imaginative indie bops. It’s a shame this album’s not
full of them. The potential is there, but he’s not quite hit it.”
TUTV: As he said himself multiple times Kane loves the swinging 60s/70s pop, rock
and soul splendor. So again, you hear here those flamboyant influences from the past.
He hasn’t the same songwriting quality of his mate Alex Turner but he always comes up with upbeat tunes that stick and put a big smile on your face. The best example is the
splendid single ‘Baggio‘. A song about the former Italian football star
In order to not miss a beat Turn Up The Volume scans the musical
horizon daily (doing it for years now, actually) to stay in touch with
all new things sonically great and shares the results on a weekly
basis.
Check the 10 new rad cuts just
added to this rad 2023 playlist.
A punchy hard rockin’ song that is not afraid to shine its veneer with hints
of pop and catchy choruses. Think Cheap Trick meets The Undertones, with a
soaring guitar solo that lifts you up and carries you away to sunnier climes.
“This song began being written mid tearful phone conversation when I realized that I wasn’t being honest with myself. At the time it was just a statement written down but resulted in deep reflection, looking at where my desire to play something safe originated, where it came from to not trust what my body and mind were telling me.”
A smooth, electrifying groove, gripping vocals, and introspective lyrics.
Maddison Schreiber, aka Madam Sad is disabled person on ODSP. She had violent acts committed against her regularly. Things such as going without food, being threatened
with homelessness, watching rent rise as my income stays stagnant.
“This song specifically pulls from the idea that there’s a large group of people that are either apathetic or encouraging of extorting others. I feel like this is violent by nature, so to become violent within this system you then become accepted by that system”.
This stirring reverie will touch your heart and soul.
Following the lead single Troubled Son Kane dropped a second taster. BAGGIO refers to the former Italian football starRoberto Baggio.
Kane:“I was eight years old when I first saw Baggio on TV, it was during the
1994 World Cup. I was taken back by his presence, his look and his talent. It was
the first time I’d seen a man look so different and unique. Seeing Baggio led me to
e obsessed with that Italian football team for many years later. They made me want
to grow my hair and I think that was the start of getting me obsessed with clothes,
fashion and all things Italian. It was the start of me wanting to grow into who I am
today.
Baggio is one of those typical Kane tunes. Immediately recognisable with its
uplifting 60s/70s beat and infectious melody. But it’s a glorious guitar fragment
and accompanying harmonious, backing vocals that lift the song to a five-star
pop level. Goal!
