Mr Elephant favourites Munchbreak, (this time with multi genre skills of Home Cooking djs) & the mighty Jam Jah once again showed us why Birmingham is packed full of flavour with 2 inspiring live performances and 4 dj sets which kept our last live and free event of 2009 nice and toasty all the way until the 4am close.

Here’s a little video of part one of Munchbreak where they took us back to their seminal jam session days.

Despite being probably the wettest, coldest night we’ve had thus far, nothing seem to hinder a whole pub full of revellers. Robin from Jam Jah kicked things off with their unique blend of roots, reggae, and dancehall.

Followed by some choice genre hopping funk style crowd pleasing cuts from Maxwell from Home Cooking

Then it was time for the headline live act of the night in the first of two sets. First the Jam session you can see above, and then their full live set. Here’s a little more footage this time from their 2nd set.

and if you want more, do go check out their album. It’s well recommended

P.s there are more photos here and our mr elephant facebook group is here.

Rich Batsford’s 40th Birthday / Free Control – 1st B’ham Date / Mark Smallman / Dj Chromatouch

For this month’s Live and Free at the Adam and Eve we saw a very special concert with two of the finest midlands artists, a great chillout dj and a some special guests

Rich Batsford celebrated his 40th Birthday as well as his debut UK album and album relase and peformed a great crowd pleasing set with some new material and 2 special guests. Great talent and brilliant audience rapport. If you havent already head on to his website and get yourself a copy of Valentine Court. You wont be disappointed.

Free Control were up next with their first Birmingham appearance, and they were quite simply awe inspiring. The room was packed with people and like most mr elephant gigs, there was a wide range of people. Aside from the roaring response during their set, they also were congratulated by so many people throughout the night, they are already wanting to come back. Big shouts also to some truly inspired live visuals from The Lab (as he’s the resident visual maestro with Free Control, and their very cool management.

On the decks this month there were 3 great sets from Mr Elephant regulars. Mark Smallman, Vj Chromatouch and our resident Marc Reck. The room was still dancing at closing time, but despite the clocks going back we didnt get an extra hour.

Next month we are well excited to be welcoming the return of Munch Break and their home cooking djs back and Mr Elephant favourites Jam Jah will also be returning.

This month we are very excited to be welcoming a tasty funk and reggae casserole from our city’s favourite chefs!

If your on facebook here’s the invite page – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148068927896&index=1

Headliners of our first Live & Free, the fabulous Munchbreak are back!

They truly rocked it last time so we well pleased they’ll be back (if you missed you can hear some on the radio show, or check the vids from the last event)

Home Cooking is amongst others Munchbreak on the decks – real turntablists with a classic selection of funky hip hop, classic funk, and proper ass shaking grooves. As the rest of the band are there – expect some live jamming action similar to that of the classic sessions they used to pioneer in Moseley and the weekly Home Cooking sessions they fill the yardbird with each month.

Jam Jah – If you know Mr Elephant, you must know jam jah by now. If you like reggae or dancing or just pure uplifting vibes Jam Jah are serious delivery men. They rock crowds from whole tents at shambala to their weekly parties at the bulls head and of course their hugely respected monthly events at the hare and hounds which have bought so many great names in roots and reggae to our city. They also release great music with their live bands and talented artist roster and to be fair are just simply, brilliant. They can rock it with roots, ramp it up with jungle and chill it out with dub. Great men on a musical mission with music that truly inspires.

All of this is FREE and is on til 4am with all the usual venue treats like pool table, nice drinks, friendly staff, and nice smoking area and really cool late night vibes.

Last night in a  cosy 160 people live music venue in Digbeth called the Adam & Eve, 3 live Birmingham Artists, and 1 alternative dj gathered together to create a night to remember, going by the names of Black Heart Generator, Geordie Blake, Andre Aristotle & The other woman club dj. (Unfortunately Barnesy had to cancel at the last minute due to a broken guitar.)

This was our first rock and indie Live & Free event, and with the mighty Supersonic Festival just around the corner we really weren’t sure how it was going to go. What followed where 3 inspiring live performances & 5 hours of quality djed music, which left our souls touched and our ears ringing!

Cassie from the Other Woman Club djs was introduced to us by Carlo from 444, two individuals who are key in our live music scene. Cassie is one of the leading djs on the local indie scene and has a wealth of experience from promoting the Barfly to writing for the N.M.E. What was special about her djing was that she can work a crowd, has a vast selection of great music, and really knows how to use it. Effortlessly hopping genres, Cassie both engaged the dancefloor, whilst also leading beautifully in and out of each live act. Most definitely someone we hope will be appearing at future events, and you can keep up to speed with her own appearances and projects via this facebook group.

First up on the live stage, was Mr Geordie Blake from Shana Tova, who was performed his first solo set in the history of his impressive career. What followed was a powerful and at times moving display of great musicianship, impressive vocals, and beautifully crafted tracks, which left the listener locked and moved at the same time. Pop hooks with rock guitars and a brilliant voice (even with an apparently sore throat)… Geordie Blake has songs that you want to hear again and again, and i feel is one of our cities hidden gems.

Next up was Andre Aristotle, another artist with a truly great voice. Vocal melodies were hit each time with pitch perfect accuracy, and members of the audience were notably surprised that the whole performance was one man a mic, and a roland 505 groovebox, Dark indie electro pop is the best i can describe it as. which told of tales of ketamine spiked experiences, and portrayals of life in Sheldon, all of  which took you to a place which could have very easily existed in a film, (and probably further exemplified by the nice use of lighting courtesy of the top venue sound engineer.)

Last up were our headliners Black Heart Generator who absolutely blew the roof off. The power generated by only 3 people was immense, and the hooks, musicianship and synergy of the 3 individuals created something raw, and energy fuelled. A perfect balance of punk rock and alternative indie hooks, with a sound that seemed inspired by bands like the Pixies and Nirvana, through to Joy Division and at times even Napalm Death. They finished their set with a great cover of Nirvana’s Molly’s Lips, leaving the crowd hyped and happy.

The photos above are courtesy of a new member of the Elephant collective who joined us for the evening. Mr Will Marsden, son of Keith & Diane (who you may recall as hosts of our first home at Epic Skate Park, or our 1st family event at the Prince, has recently finished a photography course, and was keen to flex his skills and new slr camera, so we were most chuffed that he was down with the eve. You can check out his work above, and he’ll be appearing next at our 2nd Cinephonic event at the Hare & Hounds on Sat 8th August.

Huge thanks to everyone who came down on sat, and our next live and free will be with none other than Mama Matrix and Laura Louise on Sat August 22nd @ Adam & Eve in Digbeth.

UPDATE : Mr Rich Batsford has written this great write up on website -

Following sensational sets from the Heels, Hidden Half & Flame of Fervour last month, its almost time for our 4th Live & Free event @ the Adam & Eve in Digbeth – this Saturday 25th July.

This month we’re on an alternative, indie, and rock tip with 4 great brummy live artists, and some top alternative djs

Black Heart Generator are our special guests this month, and no stranger to tearin up the live circuit, with each member being in some Birmingham’s best alternative bands on the local scene such as Baxter, Egososo, Koala Grip and The Starries. -
http://www.myspace.com/blackheartgenerator

Geordie Blake from Shana Tova, himself as a legend on the rock / indie scene, sharing a history with members of Black Heart Generator back when the Starries toured with Idlewild, will be performing a special one off acoustic set -
http://www.myspace.com/shanatova

Also performing will be the inspiring Barnesy who be showcasing his unique blend of acoustic music and street poetry – http://www.myspace.com/barnesyboy86 …Really someone not to be missed!

And to keep things diverse, we are also welcoming the front man of Recall 34 in his solo guise of Andre Aristotle, with his very cool one man and box electro style outfit. -
http://www.myspace.com/andre48k

And joining us on the decks this month, we are very pleased to welcome The Other Woman Club who are taking a night out of their busy schedule to come and host between the bands and keep you all dancing and a-singing until 4am. -
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48705022394

There’s a load of festi’s on this month, but if you’re not already booked up, come down between 9pm – 4am for bouncing, singing and merriment for what promises to be a great night of live and djed music.

This sat @ the legendary live music venue – The Adam & Eve in Digbeth, Birmingham – http://www.myspace.com/theadammusic

Free entry all night long til 4am.

Next month we’ve got Mama Matrix & Laura Louise on Sat August 22nd 2009!

Massive elephant noises to everyone who came down and filled the Adam & Eve with appreciative sounds to the great array of talent on show from our 3 special guests this month.

Flame of Fervour were dark, gritty, acoustic with a very cool sound and great musicianship, the flamenco & latin fusion of the Hidden Half ignited a huge response from the audience, and The Heels, once again, set the whole place on fire, with one hour of inspired musicianship, and plenty of crowd pleasing ska….literally a band so large the brass section wouldn’t fit on the stage!

Also very special shouts must also go out to Jack for coming to video, Tony the sound sound man for rockin the last two hours, and   Tony from TheLab who came down all the way from Leicester to Vj all night long.

Not only did he perform with an unprepared selection of material (not that we knew til he said!), but he also used footage from the 2nd Birthday made in the kids animation workshop in his vj set!

…plus he also gave 2 workshops to our resident dj Marc Reck, and our guest Paulo Riddle, both of whom got to perform live as a vj on the night! Nice work Tea!

In what is deemed to be Birmingham Music Month, it was refreshing to see so many multi instrumentalists in one room, and experience so much diversity of music, all of which generated a  real warm crowd response.

Our resident videographer Jack Brabant, will be posting his video of the evening and we also have more photos taken by Marc on his flickr page here. Marc also recorded some of the audio which will be featured on Mr Elephant radio in our new monday night residency next week on rhubarb radio – 6pm – 8pm, and check out his own set from the night, which was as wonderfully diverse and crowd pleasing as the live music.

For now we’ll leave you with a little footage of the Hidden Half. Our next Live & Free event is on Sat 25th July 2009, and as always it will feature great live music , a range of dancing music, and is free all night long til 4am.

One love

Mr Elephant x