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Live
Reviews
London's
Lilygun were an act that's new to me. The group are fronted by
Anna-Christina on guitar and vocals. The group delivered an entertaining
support slot, producing dark rock with a bit of slap bass thrown
in for good measure, with the main duo charismatic and interesting
performers.
Read
the full review here
[19th
Feb 2010 - Scala]
We
didn't get to see all of Lilygun's set, but the 4 songs we did
get to hear sum up why this band deserve a bigger audience. Their
style swings on a compass somewhere between ephemeral, folk/rock,
intense, fusion, all with a darkwave twist and topped off by Anna-Christina's
lorelei vocals that draw you in and keep you there. No drums tonight,
just the addition of Adam B on guitar, but none the less powerful
for it. Intriguing and definitely worth checking out further.
Read
the full review here
[Lilygun
Unplugged set - Last.fm - Colchester Arts Centre 2010]
Lilygun
may not appeal to readers of this website but for the open minded
of you Lilygun are a name to remember. This London based band
played a unique set consisting of songs that lay somewhere in
between Sonic Youth and the tender moments of Bjork. Led by guitarist/vocalist
Anna-Christina, the band played grooves that took you on a rollercoaster
ride of musical emotions.
[Getreadytorock.com:
27th Nov 2009 - Purple Turtle with AJ & Robin Guy]
Next
up were Lilygun. Although not strictly goth, Lilyguns dark alternative
music presented the crowd with one of the most interesting sets
of the day. Influences from the likes of Smashing Pumpkins and
Skunk Anansie can be heard throughout the set, with dark versus
giving way to unobtrusive choruses, backed up by understated gothly
bass lines. Frontwoman/guitarist Anna-Christina is the main focal
point, with her vocals helping create an atmospheric sheen around
the music - music for a understated generation.
[Author:
DJ 6910th May 2009 - Islington Academy with AJ & Robin Guy]
Lilygun
were almost out of place on the bill today with their All About
Eve style hippy goth rock. The singer had a great voice and the
band sported another comedy bass player. What was really impressive
though was the fact that the guitarist and drummer quit the band
3 weeks ago and the two people playing today had stepped in to
fill the breach and you would never have known that they were
new to the band. It was nice to see a band really enjoying themselves.
[Author:
Keith Butland 10th May 2009 - Islington Academy with AJ &
Robin Guy]
I've wanted to see Lilygun for a while, since adding them on myspace
and the fact that for tonights show they had Robin Guy on drums
sealed the deal! Robin had apparently only one rehearsal to learn
the songs and you'd never have known as they sounded pretty tight
although less Goth live more punky goth and at times almost Emo,
but never less than entertaining and Lily has a great voice that
could have been helped with a touch more volume, still there was
plenty of variety in the set and the Bass Player whose name I
ought to know was great fun and a good player and they closed
with a great version of Diamonds which is the song of there's
I'm most familiar with.
[Author:
Simon Phillips 25th April 2009 - 333 MotherBar with AJ & Robin
Guy] |
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Music
Reviews
Conversations
Single Reviews
I
really like the verses on this single, with vocals from the Shirley
Manson school of singing and some fine rhythmic riffing, the choruses
are pretty powerful too – with hints of rock, goth &
funk packing a meaty punch sonically…
[Subba
Cultcha - February 2010]
Lilygun's sound retains a kind
of dreary and sombre elements with grunge-like guitars and down
tempo beats. The whole track reeks of a kind of self-made sound
that is tremendously organic and this lends itself well to the
form of this bands music. The sound is deeply alternative and
sombre and because of this it has a Goth feel to it, but the grunge
influences of the likes of Smashing Pumpkins are probably a more
fitting assessment.
Read the full review here
[Sarah
Angell - January 2010]
Lilygun
release their second single ‘Conversations’ following
up the highly impressive debut ‘Diamonds’ with yet
more imaginative, intelligent rocking music. The variation of
styles on the latest release just makes it a joy to listen to
and at just under five minutes long, you are still begging for
more.
Read
the full review here
[Neil
Richardson - September 2009]
Diamonds Single Reviews
The
new track is a masterpiece and on first listen, plays out like
a rock opera short feature.
They have developed a sound that will appeal
to a wide variety of listeners (Tool - PJ Harvey). We love Lilygun's
glamorous grunge-metal style and can't wait for more from these
amazing and edgy artists.
Read
the full review here
[Mary
Ann Naylor - Church of Girl 2008]
Anna-Christina
shows of her vocal prowess through out the song from the slow
starting then building up to the heavier chorus. Intelligent,
thoughtful lyrics do help to make this become a nice song to listen
to you when you are in the need for a bit of mood swinging indie
takes on grunge metal music. Sounds like Lilygun could easily
make a name for themselves and not just in the capital.
Read
the full review here
[Neil
Richardson - June 2008]
 While
originality is admittedly hard to come by these days, unsigned
London outfit Lilygun have no such problems. 'Diamonds' is five
minutes of densely layered heavy rock that succeeds in breaking
free from the pack without lapsing into indulgent territory.
[Mitch
Bain - June 2008]
 With
the rock scene a little bare at the moment, and the two extremes
of alternative indie and metal seeming to dominate the live scene,
its rare to find some good old rock, particularly female fronted.
But here we are; from London emerges pure alternative rock band
Lilygun with debut single “Diamonds” - a haunting
and atmospheric track with tinny drums and subtle guitar building
suspense on the intro. The sound builds, complemented by some
cool lyrics “Don’t let your past decide who you are
to be” ending in a final dramatic crescendo of a chorus
with a striking reeling ethnic guitar riff and a satisfyingly
weighty distorted guitar bit.
[Sarah
Rayner - Xtaster July 2008]
Indie meets Grunge complete with powerful vocals makes Diamonds
sparkle.
[Stick News International 2008]
Grunge-melancholy
with some nice harmonies, perfect for those who paint their bedrooms
black!
[Chris
Merriman - Subba Cultcha 2008] |
Lilygun set the standard for the rest of the evening - no fucking
around, these were serious musicians doing what they do best. With
their rhythm section missing, the band had called in some favours,
but the last minute replacements didn't cut them down. Anna-Christina
is a captivating presence, very much the core of a band she writes
as well as plays for. Playing the face, she is polite, self-effacing;
bordering on shy between songs. "Moonlight" and closer "Diamonds"
stood out - beautiful, melodic, with just enough fireworks to get
my Canarian tapas bar jumping. I left, sweat-soaked, and my neck resents
me a little bit today. This is the London I love.
[Author:
Ryan Cole 24th July 2008 - Borderline with AJ & Belle] |
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The sound of Lilygun, female fronted rock, fills the venue, and I
am struck by the penetrating power of heavy bassy drum on one track,
and an equally impressive rocky guitar section in single “Diamonds”.
[Sarah
Rayner - July 2008] |
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Click on the banner above to read reviews from SUF 2008 |
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The
vocalist, her hair extensions aswirl, has an easygoing charm and a
voice as powerful as it is meticulously controlled, she can peel a
mean lick off a hollow-body electric too.
[October 2007 - Bull & Gate] |
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A genre defying act, Lilygun offer an indie take on grunge-metal.
Lilygun's
female singer is strident about songs and messages, tunes punctuated
regularly by accusing cries. Like the singer, the rhythm section
dwells on the dark side, with full hooky bass-buzzing and stomping
drums that crack, pump and rumble. But the sunshine is not far away,
as rasping thrash guitar gives way to frills and jangles, delicately
mournful picking, a shimmering waterfall of strings.The
songs seem intensely personal and they're delivered with passion
to suit. "Give me my poison", "There were times when
all I wanted was some honesty", and "The many other masks
you leave behind". Not to mention the sweat-drenched t-shirts
you leave behind.
The Lilygun set is an impressively varied romp through distinctive
and individual songs. There are heavily strummed ballads, angry
punk belters, and juddering PJ Harvey blues-stomps that pull-up
refreshingly short. The last song is a tight popsicle, complete
with phaser fx and squealing climax. This is an array of sounds
you could use to create a new Skunk Anansie, Siouxsie and the Banshees,
Cure side-project The Glove, or a psychedelic reinvention of Hole.
Lilygun's music rains like a shower of petals and bullets. Just
like the snow in Summer.
[Author:
RF - Bull & Gate] |
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I'm
used to being surprised at Lilygun gigs. Either the lineup has changed
since the last show, or the set has, or the style and emphasis of
the songs and delivery, or the singer has recently survived a horrific
ordeal, but what caught me out at the Bull & Gate on the 7th December
was the fact that I didn't hear them start, and continued nattering
to friends in the bar for most of the first song.Wondering
if the Bull & Gate had installed sound-proof doors since the last
time I went, I lead my party hurridly in, only to find Lilygun sitting
around the front of the stage strumming their way quietly through
the final bars of their opening number. There was no drummer. At first
I assumed the drummer would be joining them after the acoustic intro,
but it didn't happen. There was no drummer coming from anywhere on
this night, and having brought some people along with the promise
of 'you must see this band, you'll love it', I was a very concerned
that I had dragged them out to see only three-quarters of the band
doing their best to improvise.
Luckily, Lilygun did a very good job of hastily adapting the arrangements
of whichever songs they could, adapting admirably under very difficult
circumstances, to deliver impressive-sounding renditions of both familiar
and unfamiliar songs.I should say that I'm not at all keen on 'unplugged'
stuff. I like rock music for a reason - three reasons actually, and
those reasons are guitar, bass and drums. On the whole, a genre of
music designed to be delivered through those instruments is not suited
to being deprived of the explosive rhythmic devices on which it rests.
Despite this, the quality of songwriting and instrumentation was generally
sufficient to entertain this hard-hearted old critic, with Anna-Christina's
excellent voice leading the line admirably.I look forward to seeing
the full product again in the future - once a new drummer has been
recruited. By a funny coincidence, I once played in a band where the
drummer failed to turn up to a gig at the Bull & Gate. If I correctly
recall the story I heard, the Lilygun drummer decided to go for a
meal somewhere instead of honouring his obligations to the paying
customers.
All I can say is - if that's true then I hope he got food poisoning.
[Ashley
Dreher, Diner] |
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 Lilyguns
sound has changed. I don’t mean radically in a different direction
or with new banjo solos but they just sound tighter and musically
as if they’ve stepped up a gear. It was brighter and more together
then previous gigs I’ve been to in the past. Granted there’s
been a year or so in there and that’s not to say they didn’t
sound very good in the past. I must admit I tend to put a lot of credit
to bands that incorporate the drums and bass into their songs instead
of just using them to provide the backing. At this gig both were exceptional.
The guitar playing was immense and the singer is a bright star. I
really enjoyed listening and the rest of the crowd did too, it had
a great vibe. My only complaint was they didn’t play ‘Mind
& Soul’ but that’s pretty minor considering!
[JM
Bravado International] |
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 The
first thing that struck me about Lilygun's gig at The Metro Club in
April 2004 was how professional and together they sound and look.
They open up with a bang and it left you wondering what kind of vibe
these guys were going to bring. The singers voice was soothing yet
powerful at the same time and the guitarist was playing loose and
funky yet could equally rock when needed!
The drummer was in the back but still centre stage and raised slightly
so she was very much involved with the audience and you could see
and hear her powerful playing. The bass player was spot on and kept
everyone entertained with great playing and the fact that you could
tell he was really into the music that was happening that night. The
gig left me wanting to hear more and to introduce more people to Lilygun's
own brand of rock action. The last thing I remember was a buzz about
hearing something new and watching a band that enjoys playing it.
[Jeremy
Moss, Sanctuary Records] |
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 "Lilygun
open the night - and once again it is a pleasure to have them play.
Now two boys and two girls, the line up has changed once more, and
the band seems more focused than ever. They are producing some really
great little songs - proper rock stuff delivered with real passion
and energy, with crunchy guitar riffs and a real strength to the songs.
These girls (and guys) are definitely a live act worth catching."
[John
Swaine, Neon Promotions] |
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| "...Next
up are Lilygun - with a new line up, the band are on great form
tonight, delivering brilliant rock/pop tunes along the lines of
early Bangles or perhaps Voice of the Beehive. The new guitarist
works hard, driving things along and filling the sound out, and
there is a genuine feeling of excitement in the bands performance
top melodic vocals ring out and this really is full on, frantic
fun all the way."
[John
Swaine, Neon Promotions] |
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