bodixa reviews and press
Live @ City Varieties with Roddy Frame - Leeds Muscic Scene review June 2006
City Varieties
Roddy Frame + Bodixa
Tuesday, 30th May 2006
Words by Ben Smith
To some artists, the City Varieties would be a venue to avoid; its arcane stylings and intimate surroundings make it a much more unconventional settings for music in Leeds. However, in certain circumstances the venue comes into its own. Tuesday night was one of these instances.
Bodixa, a Leeds-based act were on first. With their mix of acoustic lullabies and melodic harmonies, they came across like Beth Orton with a lot of easy-on-the-ear charm. They looked genuinely pleased to be performing, and appeared comfortable and relaxed with the audience. As first-hand recommendations are often the most valuable, the fact that the band were praised from staff who had heard their sound-check earlier in the day speaks volumes for the band. Bodixa's soft sound will quickly win many new fans of their countfrified folk-pop.
Roddy Frame reached the pinnacle of his fame and commercial success
in the 1980s as founder of Aztec Camera, but is perhaps producing
his most affecting work now. His last two albums, Surf and Under Western
Skies feature mainly solo acoustic work. Tonight he was at his charismatic
best, twirling around the stage unaccompanied and seemingly free of
any expectations to revert to knocking out renditions his 80s classics.
Joking with the audience and telling anecdotes, Frame delivered and
emotive and varied section of his back catalogue. Songs such as Black
Lucia, Crossing Newbury St and Reason For Living gathered the most
enthusiasm as he upped the tempo and delivered some virtuoso playing.
By the end the crowd were demanding more, and he looked delighted
to be in his element while performing songs, that although not necessarily
what the crowd had gone expecting and wanting to hear, but enraptured
by his own enthusiasm and passion for his music.