Ebb-Tone Reviews...

Change EP Review - Jamie Thunder

 

Review - Ebb-Tone Demo ‘Funny Thing’ by Unsigned Sheffield

I will admit that being introduced to Ebb-Tone as having a ‘versatile radio friendly style and sound with influences of country and indie mixed with rock and pop’ did fill me with a slight sense of fear. Country music would normally make me run a mile, but in this case, my fears were unfounded. Ebb-Tone are a pleasure to listen to. They have a laid back, uplifting sound which evokes the feeling of chilled out warm summer days, and as for their country influences, they are most prominent on opening track ‘Funny Thing’ but are never glaringly obvious. Ebb-Tone have been together for four years, and this is evident in their music which sounds polished and tight. Despite being together for so long the band as yet still have no management, thus meaning they have only a small fanbase, however as soon as the band get some contacts I can see their popularity exploding. Indie fans listen out. 

Vicky Cawthorne

 

Live Reviews.....

Live & Loud @ The Grapes (Sandman issue 008).

Ebb-Tone close the night for us and they don't let us down like the previous bands. It might have been something to do with the day that had went before (remember the day when Sheffield was hotter than Cairo) but the merry, self deprecating humour and jangle of Ebb-Tone conjured up feelings of hanging out in the Botanical Gardens or sitting in a sunny beer garden having a drink with friends. They have a similar sound to Pavement but with a more persistant bass player which becomes a bit tiresome by the end but overall the best was saved till last.
Craig Mcrindle



Sheffield vs @ The Grapes (Sandman issue012).

Ebb-Tone provided the perfect end to the evening. After Micawba their more mellow, country-inspired material, mixed with their up-beat performance brought a smile to my face, though no smile in the room could possibly have been bigger than the drummer’s - it was obvious he was having a great time! The highlight of their set - ‘It Don’t Work Like That’ had toes tapping and was an upbeat country hoe-down of a song. As the end of their set approached they showcased a new song described as ‘...probably a bit rubbish...’ A lack of confidence that proved unnecessary.
Jason Richford



The Boardwalk (Sandman Overspills).

Secondly Ebb-Tone a band with definite talent they were a youthful band with there root down in Memphis I was hooked from the start, sweet vocals, smooth music, and a charming song called Autumn Girl chilled me right out. I could have ordered a Jack Daniels taken my shoes off and just listened.
Kim Levick

 

Funny Thing......

Alt Country

EBB, I could tell by your request that your looking for constructive criticism. I'll be honest, you won't find much here. This song is absolutely incredible....

The song writing is wonderful. Intelligent lyrics full with irony and great observations on life. The chord structures are far from typical. Some of the accents are standard, but the feel of the entire song has a personality very much it's own. This is a great, original piece of writing.

Musically the song is EXTREMELY well done. Production quality by ANY objective standards. All the instrumentation is professional level. The reverbed guitar is beautiful. The vocals are out of this world. The singer has an unbelievable voice. One of the best I've heard in this genre. Full of emotion, bitterness, truth.... I hear it all in there.

On a personal level, I can really identify with this song. I've felt the same way so many times. This song took me out of my reviewers chair and turned me into a fan. Where do I hear more???????

Rating 9 of 10

EBB if the music industry weren't what it is, you would already be on TV and I would be listening to you on the radio. Thank god for the internet and finding great new music before the rest of the world. You've got something real. (You can hear EBB-Tone on the Unsigned Band Web in the alt Country genre, and you should go listen right now!!!!!)

 

Don't Feel Down...............

I listened to the song three times before writing my review. It's one of those songs that the more you listen to it, you get more and more of the message of the song. alt country/blues/pop......Very intelligent lyrics with a feel good chorus.

A song about being depressed and finding comfort in friends. Although the topic is certainly not new, Ebb-Tone finds a way to make the song original and their own. For starters, the vocals are incredible! David Hall's voice carries emotion as well as any voice I've heard. The vocals really bring such depth to the song, that it's easy to get lost in the storyline. This song is a bit more conventional than the last, but there are still enough trademarks in here to appeal to those abstaining from popular music. The blues influenced guitar will appeal to blues and rock fans alike. The lyrics are well written, and create a nice storyline for the song.

Rating 8 of 10

Ebb.... Another wonderful song. Thank you so much for posting the link here! I would HIGHLY advise a listen to all those reading this review. You won't be disappointed. (EBB.. would you mind if I add this song to your page here? Also we would love to have a picture for your page!!)

 

	Ebb-Tone (Autumn Girl) Reviewed by Stew on (30 September 2004) Rated 9.1 / 10
	Category Rating Track Structure 9 Interest 9 Melody 10 Performance 9 Lyrics 8 Enjoyment 9 Recording Quality 9 Commercial Appeal 10 Overall 9.1
	Bright, bouncy, Ballsy. Hows that for alliteration. Ebb-Tone have bucketloads of talent, and that comes over perfectly well in Autumn Girl. What a great love song, that could appeal on so many levels, and that everyone who has ever loved can relate to. Professional and polished from start to finish, the only flaw I can find in it is that the lyrics in the first verse were slightly unclear. Nice and memorable, singalongy, what more do you want from a song! Ebb-Tone are a band who have some blatantly obviously superb songwriting skills. They are one of the hardest working touring bands I've come across on this site, and have a knack of coming up with tracks which are simply delightful. More power to them. So when is there a purchasable album being released. We the people demand to know!

 

Boeing 747/Ebb-Tone @ The Grapes

What is the purpose of a gig? Regardless of size there is always one thing that as an audience member we require and that's entertainment. We all want to see a band that gives us a good time, that makes us laugh and that leaves us with that nice, satisfied, feeling that we've had a good night out.
At times it's too easy to forget this, especially if you start regarding the artistic implications of music. The thing is that Rock 'n' Roll is all about fun and those bands that understand this shall always be at an advantage. Thankfully Being 747 are a group that have the experience and knowledge to know that we want smiles rather than frowns and that an OTT performance is better than a downbeat one. Despite a small crowd, this is a band that is going to have fun. At times they come across as a modern day version of the Teardrop Explodes, at other times they have the comical grandiosity of Spinal Tap. This, along with the singer Dave Cooks' nifty footwork, results in a show that leaves your head nodding in agreement and puts a smile on your face.
Ebb-tone play on the other side of the argument about what a gig is about: Rather than entertain they attempt to portray a melodic soulful side that recalls many of the British indie groups of the last fifteen years. Compared to most of the other local bands that take their dues from bands such as the Verve or the La's, Ebb-tone are one of the better options on the market. Although there are plenty of rough-edges still there, time may see them become a decent choice on the local scene.
However, tonight's show belongs to Being 747, and goes to prove that you don't need to be clever to be a good group; you just need to have fun.

Mark Benn

Soundaloud.

Another three top tracks from Ebb-Tone who seem to have found a knack for song-writing recently. Some critics of the local scene had pinpointed the penning of decent tunes as Ebb-Tones achilles heel. What a difference six months can make.

One noticeable feature is three very short songs. Maybe a good thing in that if Ebb-Tone churned out six-minute epics, the type of music they play would get a tad tedious. Nothing tedious with either of the three on offer here though.

The opening track ‘Autumn Girl’ hits the right notes musically. All tracks are more country influenced than some of their indie predecessors. Although only lasting two and a half minutes ‘Autumn Girl’ is probably the most positive lyrically and musically. A very upbeat number.

‘Don’t Work Like That’ is a syncopated song that you were more likely to find on the set of The Woolpackers than that of the Sheffield four-piece. Lyrically very confusing. “I’ve been praying to Jesus, just about every night” and “I didn’t steal his money, I just f**cked his wife” just some of the lines which seems to draw the dong even closer to an American influence. Or it could be the American sounding accent?

Final track ‘You Caused Me’ is the slower number with a heavy swing influence. Probably the best thing about this track is the excellent bass part, given plenty of space for initiative in the quieter guitar parts. Also an excellent memorable vocal melody.

No sign of writers block here and a pleasure to review!

 

Lord Bishop / Atraiou / Ebb-tone / Fallout @ The Boardwalk.

First band Fallout generally fail to inspire. Their influences are mid-atlantic, and whilst they are good at their own particular brand of yearning melodic rock, the end result sounds very much like Nickelback being commissioned to write the soundtrack for Dawson’s Creek. It’s hard to concentrate on a gig when you’re constantly assaulted by images of Dawson staring into the middle distance, trying to decide between those two fit girls whose names escape me. Maybe one for the ladies.

Next band Ebb-tone are a much better proposition. Slightly fey, very tuneful and very nice, they’re not for everyone. If, however, the prospect of the Thrills and Teenage Fanclub having a gentle scrap whilst the Bluetones mumble encouragement sounds fun, Ebb-tone are for you.

Atraiou are purveyors of that sort of mid-paced angry rock that again nods to all sort of American bands and doesn’t really do anything for me. They are very competent and the singer’s voice is strong, but it seems that this sort of thing has just been done too many times by too many bands now and it makes me want to have a nice lie down.

Having a nice lie down is not an option when Lord Bishop, the self-proclaimed ‘king of SexRock’, takes to the stage. Currently on the road with the ‘orgasm tour 2004’, he must be 6’ 6’’ and he looks like a funked-up Carl Cox wearing crushed velvet trousers. This is a fully American, irony-free zone but when a Rolling Stone journo describes someone as sounding like ‘Jimi Hendrix on punk speed with the sexual discharge of Marilyn Manson fucking James Brown in the ass’, you’ve got the right to expect to be entertained. Hell, the description is so rock n’ roll it doesn’t even make any sense.
And entertain Lord Bishop does. Soul, funk, blues, hardcore, metal and rock n’ roll all smash together in a glorious pimp-chic explosion. The band are on fire, Bishop plays and sings like he’s sold his soul to a horny Satan, and an initially bemused Boardwalk is rapidly won over. The Rolling Stone quote is probably a bit overboard, but he’s damn good fun nonetheless. In a flash of inspiration,

A friend described Bishop as being ‘like Lenny Kravitz would be if he was any good’, and I reckon that nails it. And full post-ironic marks to closing song ‘great ass’, a homage to a woman with … a great ass (chorus: “you got a great ass / you got a great ass / you got a great ass / ooh, good crack !”).

words: Seth Tempo,

Devonshire Green Festival (Sheffield). 

Lovely day, wasn’t it? Always a bonus if the sun shines but you run the risk of the bands missing out as people will want to stay in the sunshine rather than get undercover in the band tent. Ebb-tone managed to persuade quite a few out of the UV and fair play to them.I first caught them at The Grapes a year or so ago and was bored titless, if plodding four bloke indie is the real lingua franca of Sheffield then the old Ebb Tone were fluent. The new Ebb Tone on the other hand were great – one of the most heartening improvements I’ve seen for a while. Simply put they’ve gone and written some songs, good ones too. The sound has changed a bit too, a nice laidback countryish vibe on some and the dynamics were better, the drummer’s got to be partly responsible one would have thought.


The Deepend (Sheffield).

Sometimes a bit of laid-back music is just what you need on a midweek night. Early mornings and hot sweaty, packed venues the night before are not what the doctor ordered when coming down with a cold.

Luckily The Deepend provided the perfect evening for a relaxing jaunt into the suburbs. For myself it was more a matter of rolling the car down the hill, sitting back and absorbing the friendly Hillsborough atmosphere.

Local acoustic solo artist Ken Bryant opened the show. Ken plays a warm feeling acoustic set that you cannot help but take a shine to his boyish charm and infectious charisma. A middle of the road songwriter who isn’t at all afraid to dilute his songs with the odd “Nah Nah Nah” or “Lah Lah Lah”. The highlight of the set had to be the catchy ‘She Smokes’.

Still on their comeback, The Haze put in yet another acoustic performance. They now have a full line-up and one by one new members seem to be flocking out of the wings week by week. Rob and Grif are now joined by Elie on Keyboards, who adds that bit of extra depth to their sometimes tearful and heartfelt tunes. Guitarist Rob Hirst mouths every word like a love stuck teenager in his very own boy band fashion. It also has to be said that Grif’s voice is now sounding a lot more meaningful and dynamic. The jury is out for when they return to the stage with a full band – whenever that may be?

Ebb-Tone have been described by some sections of the media as one of the most improved bands of the past year. They are by far the finished article but have the songs now to entertain a crowd and keep most peoples attention spans for the entire set. Their laid back county-rock approach adheres them across musical genres that allows them to be spread their wings over a larger target audience. The newer material such as ‘Autumn Girl’ and ‘You Caused Me’ are a tad more country than the older stuff such as ‘Reach Out’ and ‘Funny Thing’. Singer Dave Hall did his best to throw the hardened ‘Tone fans of course by introducing more than one song as being called ‘Ebb-Tone’. Now David – I think you’ll find that is the name of your band! They finish honouring the crowd’s pleas for an encore with a memorable and entertaining ‘I Hate Monkeys’.

The setting was more like a scene from Phoenix nights than Heeley green. Music on the back of a lorry, giant bouncy castles and a 50 feet three footed dragon were just some of the attractions on offer at the Heeley Festival. The weather can only be described as bloody cold for June 19th (particularly at the acoustic tent) but the bands made the most of the bursts of sunshine and kept a mixed audience entertained for the best part of the afternoon.
 

Heeley Festival Review.

The first band I caught were Ebb-Tone. As always a very professional approach from the boys showing why they have the respect from promoters some bands can only crave. My only regret was that they merited a better placed billing, playing at a time when the festival hadn’t really got going. Favourites such as opener ‘Reach Out’ and class number ‘Funny Thing’ warmed the select few who gave the ‘Tone their undivided attention. Ebb-Tone’s talent is really shining through right now and it has to be said they are looking mature beyond their years. Vocalist Dave’s voice as spectacular as ever and some excellent melodies on show today.