Can You Gig It?: Christopher D Ashley/Joe Driscoll @ The Big Chill House, King’s Cross, London

Last night I went to The Rage Sessions, which is the new monthly event catering to members of The Rage, a new gig-going community. Originally Little Lost David was slated to appear, but he went and lost his little voice, so that put paid to that. The organisers got Joe Driscoll in to replace him.
This Joe chap is one of those there one man bands, and very cleverly uses live looping alongside a guitar to create the sound of all those other instruments people usually use. Now, I am very easily impressed by gimmicks such as this.

I think for the first song I was just marvelling at the looped beatboxing on display. Unfortunately it soon became apparent that Driscoll’s songs are pretty formulaic, following the amiable rap / beats / funky rhythm guitar path. It’s all very friendly and engaging, and would no doubt go down a storm at a spring break-type event full of weed-addled frat boys. Is it mean of me to ask that he does more with what are admittedly limited resources?
Joe Driscoll sure went down more successfuly than the next act, though. My mate who accompanied me realised he’d seen Christopher D Ashley previously, supporting Client not so long ago. He wasn’t impressed, and it soon became apparent why. Now, I’m a fan of electro-pop, even when it starts turning all housey - so I should like Christopher D Ashley, because he produces music pretty indebted to the likes of The Human League and all that malarkey.
Having listened to his stuff on MySpace I was quite enthusiastic about it - clinical but pop-inflected electro. But it’s the kind of thing that would work best in a big club, on a weekend, at 1am at the earliest. And if the crowd could be off their box, that might help also. On a Tuesday evening in a bar full of liggers… let’s just say that the lack of charisma on display meant it didn’t quite work.
The Rage Sessions will take place every month - click here for further details