First band tonight are young thrash metallers M.A.D. which in true metal style stands for 'Minky Against Dermatitis' or 'Mums Allowed Diggle' or something like that. The usual metal clichés apart (studded wristbands, deep satanic pronouncements doubling as song introductions), they were quite good. Their set was tight and well played without being too indulgent with the guitar solos. They could probably do with a second guitarist to help lead the attack and flesh the sound out. Questionably, the venue's management kicked the band and their fans out after their set as they were under eighteen thus helping to debunk the myth that the music industry is full of heartless twats. Well done.
Local band Gordo started off well but ruined their set mid - way with a pointless Savage Garden ( ! ) cover. They never really recovered from that which was a shame as they were technically very good. The singer lobbed his mic stand off the stage, bastard just missed me.
Brighton's McQueen were superb, by far the best band of the night. Vocalist Leah Duor has one of those pure rock 'n' roll J.D. soaked voices. She screams, she taunts, she commands and gets right in your face. You get the impression that nothing (particularly a hapless bloke) intimidates this woman. Forget bands like Girlschool or The Runaways, they pale in comparison to McQueen who not only look fantastic but are one of the tightest bands I have seen for ages regardless of gender. Guitarist Cat De Casenove leans back like Slash and tears off some fine riffs. This is exciting stuff, Les Pauls, Marshall stacks and amazing presence. Tonight, I think we may have witnessed a band that are about to be massive.
I managed two songs by the Doom Valley Drivers. Their extreme, grinding metal was innovative about eighteen years ago when Napalm Death and Carcass were fresh on the scene. Tonight it just hurts.
Nobby Bobson
A new Thursday night spot for local promoters INDEPENDENT, one that they intend to use for launching one - off events such as this, the return of Darwen rock band AVALON WAY (formerly known as If All Else Fails).
First up, MF ULTRAS from Darwen. This lot used to be known as Swisher (named after the rubber scented mats you piss on in pub toilets) but tonight are playing only their second gig under their new moniker. My feeling is that they are not quite ready to be playing live yet. They get a good groove going in a Kasabian kind of way but spoil it by sounding under - rehearsed. The songs are full of good ideas but as a band they play them with trepidation. Another problem lies with lead guitarist Chris Davis (from Metro Riot) who whilst being a shit hot riff player, overplays the lead lines on all the songs; a case of less is more. Apart from the singer's seriously dodgy stagewear they do have enthusiasm and some good tunes on their side, all they need to do is tighten them up in practice.
Chris Davis' own band METRO RIOT are on next and what an improvement from the first Independent night back in September 05. Then they sounded a bit clunky and stop start. They have obviously put the effort in, the songs are sharp, the playing tight. A lot of what they do harks back to classic early Jam, Chris has the Weller machine gun guitar pose off to a tee but they reference more up to date Arctic Monkeys type stuff as well.
AVALON WAY'S special guests tonight are Manchester four piece HURRICANE STATE who pointed out to me that they are a 'true' rock band. They weren't wrong. They throw everything in to the pot; metal, early seventies rock, funk, blues, disco (probably not), lots of audience interaction. The singer is a hybrid of Paul Rodgers and Bruce Dickinson (bit of Percy Plant in there as well), full of power and soul. The Best Tall Guitarist Award goes to Paolo Fuschi, eight foot six and plays like a (tall) demon. One of the most entertaining bands I've seen down here for a while.
By inviting such a good support band, AVALON WAY left themselves a real mountain to climb but they did it.
From the opening chords of the first song they never let up. They played all the tracks off their e.p. (see review here) and treated us to a few new numbers as well.
Avalon Way are a great live band but tonight they were on fire. They had obviously prepared well for the gig (lager) and were in fine spirits as were the audience with impromptu mosh pits breaking out all over. The Cheesepress says' check 'em out....now.
Another excellent Independent night at The Cellar Bar and this time enhanced with surprise special guests.
Show openers THE MARBLE INDEX from Hamilton, Ontario were an unexpected delight. Signed to Universal Records Canada, the band are currently in the middle of a mini U.K. tour and kindly opted to treat us to a set of fantastic punk and new wave inspired rock n roll. The band have recently supported The Pixies and confidence wise, it shows. Brad Germain is an engaging and energetic frontman, all jangly punk guitar and stiff legged dancing with George Daws lookalike Adam on drums and bass player Ryan holding it together at the back. Quite easily the best band I have seen in The Cellar Bar for some time. They showed their appreciation by spending the remainder of the night getting hammered with the audience and the other bands.
THE SCAMPS from Preston were up next and luckily weren't fazed by the previous performance. They played a fine set. Their songs are in the same vein as The Libertines, lots of catchy, chaotic tunes and clever lyrics. My only criticism is that they probably played too many covers, a couple by the aforementioned Libertines, the odd Babyshambles track and I think one other. Not to worry, the crowd loved them and I expect we'll be seeing them again.
INDIA MILL from Darwen were next, making their second Independent appearance. This band grow on me the more I see them, all the right elements are there; Simon's deranged spaced out guitar heroics, Alistair's jaw dropping (literally, I didn't know humans could open their gobs THAT wide. I obviously go to the wrong parties) howl and with Dean (drums) and Rik (bass) making up one of the best rhythm sections around, I don't see how they can fail. The Pixies influences are still there but they seem to have become even heavier and more experimental, the quiet / loud sections getting quieter and louder, the guitar parts more freaked out. Suits me just fine.
With the night overrunning by more than an hour, Bolton's THIRTY ONE LINES were really on a hiding to nothing. Any kind of crowd still hanging around had drunk themselves into a blurry oblivion, "....and for the benefit of the band, I'd like to introduce the audience." Big shame, they were entertaining in a dark, rumbling kind of way. The guitars are heavy without being metal, the lead lines remind me of early Sisters Of Mercy, catchy but simple. Singer Karina commands the stage well, seemingly lost in the music and often quite menacing. Pity hardly anyone saw them. Hopefully we'll get to see them again and this time a little earlier.
Strange goings on at the Witchwood, it is the middle of a freezing February, it's a Sunday night and they are having a barbecue....outside. Stranger still, inside two of the North West's best hard rock bands are playing to a near empty room. What gives ?
Shallowface kick off the night as if they are headlining the Apollo and that is exactly what I like about both these bands. Offstage they are an unassuming, ego - free set of blokes; onstage they do the full rock star thing.... and why not ? This is what separates the men from the boys, the ability to own the stage and more importantly to entertain. There's no shoegazing here, this is balls out rock n roll. Shallowface did all the tracks from their debut e.p., the highlights for me being 'Drowned in sound' and 'Pick up the gun' which they dedicated to Bill Hicks and for that they get top marks as well as for Bjorn's astonishing guitar shredding. Shallowface are a band that won't be playing to empty rooms for long.
Stone Sole River have a bit of a dilemma tonight. Only the previous day they had dispensed with the services of their bass player but had managed to bring in his predecessor Lee Buckle at the very last minute and without proper rehearsal. Tonight's show was planned as a further launch of their debut album 'Terra Mama' but bassist Jon Walsh's departure had obviously put the mockers on that one.
This upheaval oddly seemed to work in their favour. They were much more relaxed than at the album launch at the Bierkeller in December. Considering that this line up hadn't played together for many months, the fact that they pulled it off was not only a minor miracle but a testament to the musicianship of this band. Old numbers such as 'Black on White' mixed effortlessly with newer album tracks like the ultra - heavy 'Made of stone', 'Tapestries' and Cheesepress favourite 'House burning down'. The epic 'Tannhauser Gate' was replaced with a lengthy jam based around Pink Floyd's 'Time' that explored the wilder reaches of prog for a good ten minutes before coming back down to earth.
Guitarist / vocalist Michael and drummer Carl obviously enjoy playing alongside Lee, their common musical understanding was very much in evidence. Shame so few people saw it.DSG
Another good if somewhat depleted Independent show, now firmly established as Blackburn's best regular band night. MF Ultras had to withdraw at the last minute due to illness leaving no time to find a replacement. They have been lined up for the next Independent on February 24th.
East Lancs six piece FUNNEL kicked off the night's proceedings with an excellent set of homegrown songs. Stylistically, they are a hard band to pin down and their influences rush in from all directions. I have had a copy of their debut e.p. for some time now and to be honest, I don't know how to review it. Don't get me wrong, it is very good but also very different. The drums, bass and especially the guitar are classic indie but the flute and saxophone turn it into something quite extraordinary. Add singer Jo Jo into the equation and you have a mix that defies rational description but I'll try.
Funnel are a very visual band. There is an obsession with the colour yellow that has yet to be explained and Jo Jo being a video artist in her own right, provides some captivating video backdrops.
Tim from Semihere likened the music to 'Toyah fronting Siouxie and the Banshees' or something along those lines. The flute and the sax reminds me of Gong at their most straightforward (is that a contradiction in terms ?) or possibly Martha & The Muffins though the flute was unfortunately inaudible for most of the set. Jo Jo's vocal style comes from that classic eighties period of Siouxie, Toyah and Debbie Harry.
For a band that haven't gigged much they were incredibly tight and they got a great reaction from a fair sized crowd especially for their cover of 'Antmusic' which was good fun. Highlight for me was 'Stupid McCupid' which they played twice....and why not.
MORNING CALL were, by their own admission, not at their best. Perfectionists that they are, I think this was a night that they would rather forget.
Personally, I thought they were pretty good. These Independent nights get better and better. Sticking to the ethos of booking unsigned bands regardless of type has given us some very diverse gigs. Tonight was no exception.
First up were THE ENDORPHINS, a young four piece from Bolton. They have an endearing early Jesus & Mary Chain raggedness that I hope they never lose. Singer / guitarist Ashley White is an unassuming looking fellow who can turn on the screaming lunacy at the drop of a note and does, often unexpectedly.
Young as they are, thankfully they couldn't give a shit about the regular conventions of performing especially in front of an alien crowd, they just went at it head first, lots of experimentation, Radiohead - style guitar thrashes, off - kilter solos and Black Francis shouts.
The playing and the vocals are a bit erratic but therein lies the charm. Just when you think it is all going to collapse, they step back from the brink and calm it all down; then again, sometimes they just collapse but what a wonderful noise they make doing it. 'Spells Dead' was stunning and they got a good reaction from the audience. Check 'em out.
Clitheroe's AMNESTY were at their raucous best and their set saw the introduction of the first Independent moshpit and crowd surfer (very brave, the Cellar Bar has a low rough brick ceiling).
Their second Independent appearance, they set out to make the night their own. This is the third time that I have seen them and the second that proceedings have ended in a near riot. Egged on by a mainly partisan crowd, instruments and bodies were trashed (sometimes quite by accident) and whilst it makes for great viewing I just hope the same crowd can handle it on the nights that Amnesty can't afford to wreck their gear or just don't feel like doing it.
Saying that, it was a stunning end to the gig, guitar and drums slamming out 'One Armed Scissor' by At The Drive - In whilst the other two bounced around totalling guitars, keyboards and themselves.
FALSE - VE took the third spot and aided by some stunning projected visuals, the trio pumped out some fantastically sleazy instrumental jazz - funk grooves. Serious chin strokers wouldn't have approved, the band were enjoying themselves too much. This was their first gig, amazing considering their near telepathic playing. My favourite song was 'Oi knobhead, have some respect for the kit,' the only tune that required a microphone (for the drummer, no less). All three are accomplished musicians but they played with the exuberance of teenagers. Jazz at the Cellar....nice.
A freezing cold Sunday night in Manchester and a good hundred or so souls have braved the bitter weather to attend the launch of 'Terra Mama', the debut album (read the review here) from Bury trio Stone Sole River.
I missed Atlantic Front, the first support but caught Shallowface who tonight are pushing their debut 5 track e.p. An odd choice of support at a record launch as they were so bloody good. To best describe them, think Rage Against The Machine fronted by a Michael Hutchence / Roland Orzabal lookalike with a voice like Bruce Dickinson. The band were technically superb but the standout was the singer who never dropped a note. When he hollered, he hollered good, long and loud.
Stone Sole River have an excellent live reputation and their debut album 'Terra Mama' should further add to this. SSR's music is a mix of riff heavy rock, prog, psychedelia, acid fried sixties folk and west coast country. In order to pull off this kind of complex and exacting music, SSR need to be quality players and these three most definitely are. Carl's drumming is tight and bloody loud; echoes of John Bonham. Bass player Jon Walsh slots in perfectly with his inventive almost jazz style of playing.
Using the first track on the album 'The Rising' as intro music, the band took to the stage and went straight into the Sabbath inspired 'Heavy Stone.' Guitarist Michael Parker has the full guitar hero set up, sunburst Les Pauls, twin stack 4 * 12 cabs and bags of effects. He plays and sings like a demon as well. Third song 'House burning down' is destined to be a classic and reminds me of The Mission at their Led Zep - loving best. The only thing missing was the backing vocals of Michelle Caddick whose performance on the album version of this track is a major highlight. Strangely, she joined the band on stage for their acoustic set. They dug into their back catalogue pulling out old favourite 'Black and White' before moving on to 'Tapestries' with its Frampton Comes Alive vocal effects.
Next up was the aforesaid acoustic set, Michael donning what looked like a twin necked Ovation and as mentioned was joined by Michelle Caddick. The standout for me was an excellent version of 'Comanche Rules'.
Unfortunately, I had to leave at this point. I won't lie to you that I saw the whole set and that they did a bastard rocking version of 'Tannhauser Gate' and ended with a spellbinding version of 'The Shape I'm In'. I'm sure they did and I'm pissed off that I missed it. Get the album. The Cheesepress recommends it.
DSG
INDEPENDENT 05. Friday 11th November 2005. The Cellar bar. Blackburn. |
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