Salford Star Awards
Best Band/Act
Dominic Carlton Jones
2018 was another great year for local music. Our venues hosted countless gigs, and the region's creatives continued to produce top music and gave spirited live performances.
Once again we were inundated with innumerable talent, and were tasked with comparing a disparate and vast array of artists. Aided and abetted by our readers, we were able to whittle the selection down to a handful of acts. While it can be difficult to compare a goth act with an electro band or an aggressive punk outfit with introspective indie, we felt that we have managed to find a worthy winner...
We believe that the standout moment of 2018 happened in October when a highly original and inspired album was released. Initially brought to our attention by a great title and top class artwork, we gave Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life, by Dominic Carlton Jones, a listen. Instantly, we were transported to Dominic's world.
The emotive album details the illness and passing of Dominic's father. Traditional songs, instrumental tracks and poems are all used on a diverse album...We went along to catch it live and present Dominic with the Best Band/Act Award.
It was a busy night at The Eagle with a top class line-up. Given the complex and poignant nature of the album, it was interesting to see how the tracks would work live. As expected Mark goes down a storm. It's an instant classic and a fitting tribute to Mark E. Smith. Given that illness and passing are key subjects, you might expect that the tone might not be upbeat. However, when played live, the tracks have a real unifying quality and defiance. Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life takes on a new life in a live context.
Once Dominic finished an emotionally charged set, I took to the stage to present him with a well-deserved Best Band/Act Award. We'd recommend everyone to get along to a Dominic Carlton Jones gig, and definitely get your hands on Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life.
The album is a simultaneously a moving lamentation and a celebration of life. There are lyrical elements reminiscent of I Am Kloot and a hint of The Smashing Pumpkins in the guitar sound, but the tone of the album owes more to Alfred Lord Tennyson's classic poem In Memoriam' or Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night. It is an impressive piece that is smart, honest and real.
Salford Punk Poetry Sadness Death New Life reminds us of the 'art of the album'. While the songs document moving and relatable issues, they also unify and offer hope and positivity. Congrats to our Best Band/Act winner Dominic Carlton Jones.
Find out about Dominic Carlton Jones here...
https://germanshepherdrecords.com/artists/dominic-carlton-jones/
Words by Ian Leslie
Photos by Michelle Leslie
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