Play Clip

Rattlesnake Remedy + Cage at BarCo, Solihull - 23 April, 2003 On a fine St. George's Day evening, what better than to celebrate with two outstanding local bands at the best live venue in Solihull? The Cage / Rattlesnake Remedy double-bill now seems to be a permanent feature of the Barco calendar. Each time, they swap headline/support roles, so this month, Cage were on first, with Steve Giles' ominous keyboard intro launching the superb opener "Hush" (if only he had a real Hammond B3 for that riff!). They played a set packed with the absolute cream of 70s British Rock, along with Van Halen's "Jump", some AC/DC and the Monkees "I'm a believer". No originals this time round (shame), but the sheer energy and musicianship they put into classics like Highway Star, Whole Lotta Love, Wishing Well and the rest really shone through.
There were some PA problems, which led to an overall murky sound, but workaholic singer Matt kept tweaking it through the night and worked miracles. At least we got to hear Rich Wellings' guitar loud and proud this time. While most guitarists are renowned for their huge egos, Cage's axeman really needs some persuading to crank up his amp. He did some first-rate stuff, too. So now we know what we've been missing. Go on Rich - give it some welly! Of course we got the Cage trademark "co-operative bass duet" as well, with both Matt and bassist Grant Cowdrill simultaneously playing on the same neck.This doesn't just look impressive - it sounds great too. It's worth seeing Cage live just to witness this feat of fretwork. The name of the game as far as Cage is concerned is "fun", and we got shedloads of it this evening.
Just one criticism: I couldn't hear the snare drum at all. This was particularly noticable during "Burn", where all Rob Palfreyman's nice Paice-esque snare-work just disappeared, taking the bottom out of the sound. Maybe that one can be put down to the PA problems, or maybe it was where I was standing.

Just before Rattlesnake Remedy came on, the audience (already sizable) swelled to almost the capacity of the room, reflecting the huge following of these local heroes. They got off to an unusual start with just drummer Dave Ballard on stage laying down a solid beat. Then in came the guitars from somewhere or other as the rest of the group converged on the stage - making full use of their radio links. The set was largely similar to the last time they played Barco. Until I get a proper earful of the CD (on sale for the first time tonight), I'm a bit vague on some of the song titles, but the almost entirely self-penned set was first-rate. The impressive thing about this band is that they not only sound excellent, but also pay attention to the visual dynamics. Lee Stone punctuated his vocal performance with expressive moves and gestures that reminded me a bit of Magnum's Bob Catley (but Lee seemed more natural, less choreographed). The singer and guitarists Ben Bartlett and Mark Buckler were winding through the crowd and all over the room thanks to their radio gear - at one point Ben climbed on a table and struck a pure Jimmy Page pose. Then there was an impromptu slide solo (using a beer glass that happened to be nearby), some nice blues harp from Lee, and near the end of the set Lee joined in a manic percussion fest. So that was why one of the toms was turned round 90º - kept me wondering all night! All this razzmatazz added to the whole Rock'n'Roll experience - something that most of today's glum, shoe-staring bands seem to have forgotten - and made me wonder what impact these folks will have when they get a whole concert stage to to strut their stuff on.
	As a bassist, I should also mention that the bass and drums were really solid and tight. Nothing too flashy, but then with that twin Les Paul axe-attack, anything else would have been just too much. They laid down the grooves and it all flowed effortlessly. A lot of bands don't seem to realise that without a rock-solid, dependable rhythm section as a foundation, the best guitarists and singers will just flounder. Take a bow, gents!Once again, an impressive performance from two of Solihull's finest.
Hopefully Neil's photos will convey a bit of the electric atmosphere that night. One downer was that some of the younger members of the audience seemed reluctant to cough up a measly £2 for the night's entertainment when Matt went round with the pot. C'mon you tightwads - these bands can't survive on air, and that's less than the price of a pint these days! John Pierpoint

THE KLOPEKS + THE DHOBIES + DAYS WHEN I + BREAKER + 62 PENNIES
@ACADEMY 2 Birmingham - Thursday 17th April
I couldn't get to Academy 2 till late so I missed the first three bands which by all accounts was a terrible shame. Needless to say I will try and get to see them all in the not too distant future. So with Guinness in a plastic glass (eeuuch!!) I stand in the appropriate place to witness the entertainment remaining.

I'd seen THE DHOBIES a while ago and was impressed with them then.
THE DHOBIES have developed into a cracking punk band. With no subversive elements they bang their way through some great tunes with a purpose not all bands can achieve. Strong vocals, grinding guitar and powerful beats. What else do you need? Loads of action on stage as they all slowly get hammered while doing their stuff. If a PR company had seen THE DHOBIES before The White Stripes then the world would be an entirely different place. THE DHOBIES provide exactly what I need from a punk band and also do it with a fair bit of class. See you again soon.
For information visit www.thedhobies.com

THE KLOPEKS stunned me when I saw them at Scruffy Murphy's and I was looking forward to them really flying on a bigger stage and a decent PA. THE KLOPEKS are a tight outfit playing their version of Ska that reminds me of Madness, their visual style is definitely along those lines. THE KLOPEKS tonight were fast and furious and I think lost a little as a result. Maybe a little over excitement with having their name out front of The Academy. THE KLOPEKS are so very good, it was a shame a lot of what they do so well was lost. Yet they did not lose their enthusiasm and still showed the quality that they have in abundance with what ended up being a great gig. This did not deter me from seeing them again at all as they are too good to miss.

Special Thanks to Rob Frost of Wagdog Records for the effort in putting on this event. See www.wagdog.co.uk

Neil A. Bromley

Fred Zeppelin at Barco in Solihull - Wednesday 16th April
Hi Neil, I know you don't go a bunch on tribute bands but this gig was really very good. I have been to Barco before to watch them and they really do do a good "turn". Barco is not the best venue music-wise as the "stage" is the same level as the floor and there are pillars everywhere. However, the atmosphere is good - very friendly and good bar service. The Hibernian is a far better venue - stage-wise but this was a welcome change slightly nearer to home.

Anon

FEAR OF STRING + MCFLY 88
@ BARCO, SOLIHULL - 9TH APRIL 2003
As always a warm welcome at BarCo on a Wednesday evening, the word seems to be getting round and there are a few punters in to share the evenings entertainment. Guinness in hand I say hi to a couple of Strings and settle down.

MCFLY 88 had an extra person with them, adding guitar, keyboards and vocals to what was already a full sound. MCFLY 88 seem to be growing in confidence every time I see them. Their sound became more 'indie' if that is a genre (who knows) with the other band member returning and made the melodies and songs sound far stronger than before. As yet there does not seem to be a definitive style to MCFLY 88 but as they progress they become more and more enjoyable and are definitely getting there. Find out for yourselves at: http://www.mcfly88.com/

FEAR OF STRING already impressed me when they played at Edwards No. 8 a while ago, their funk based rock seems to work on all levels. With such a young band you would expect to hear a lot of holes in their music but FEAR OF STRING have managed to rehearse them out of their overall sound and make it complete. With such a mix of beats FEAR OF STRING keep the listener on their toes and despite the poor sound again at BarCo the performance balances the scales in their favour. The lead singer adopts a djembe (African drum) that amusingly was worn with braces and accompanies what is already excellent drumming, much to the enhancement of the songs. FEAR OF STRING have rearranged some of their songs proving that they are not going to stand still. With the broad section of styles that are already included in a FEAR OF STRING set, and the sheer quality of their music, they are going to progress to greater heights. It is hard to compare FEAR OF STRING to anyone else so just go see them live and judge for yourself. www.fearofstring.co.uk

Neil A. Bromley

DAVE CELIA AND BAND
+ PETE SMITH AND JOHN BUCKLEY + RUTH ROBERTS AND MALCOLM EVANS
@ THE RUNWAY, Solihull - APRIL 4TH 2003
Firstly, The Runway has the greatest atmosphere that you could wish for in a venue of this sort and only because of other Friday evening commitments that I do not get there most weeks, as it is ALWAYS a great night out. Particular thanks, to Tony Ware of Transmusic www.transmusic.co.uk for the hard work that goes with a successful venue. So with Newcastle Brown Ale in hand I settle down with friends to what was guaranteed to be a superb evenings entertainment.

RUTH ROBERTS sat at the microphone with a guitar a though spoke of nerves, played and sung gloriously. When there is only a microphone to hide behind, you must have something, RUTH ROBERTS certainly has. Not only did she sing clear and pure some wonderful songs, she looks wonderful too. Accompanying herself on the guitar that was simplicity itself. No frills, just a clarity that warms the soul. RUTH ROBERTS was joined by Malcolm Evans who sung and played exceptional guitar to a couple of standards.

PETE SMITH AND JOHN BUCKLEY grin their way onto the stage, or to the front at The Runway and play guitar brilliantly. Brilliant is not a word to use too often but with these guys it fits. They chatted, laughed and had fun. Plus brilliant guitar playing. Some excellent arrangements of familiar tunes that had been taken apart and used to fantastic effect only added to PETE SMITH AND JOHN BUCKLEY's own material. It is difficult to explain how two acoustic guitars can produce so much rhythm, melody, pace and excitement, but they do. PETE SMITH AND JOHN BUCKLEY must be seen again and again to really appreciate how good they are, and they don't even need to plug anything in either.

DAVE CELIA and BAND
Dave Celia's band mates include Michael Holt (Keyboards/B.Vocals), David Headon (Bass/B.Vocals) and Adam Warner (Drums/B.Vocals). You cannot really appreciate the quality that DAVE CELIA and BAND can produce.

The likes of The Eagles got to be famous because of their great songs, tunes and harmonies. Well Dave does it all equally as well and with the support of such fine musicians in their own right he manages to wow audiences wherever he plays. Just too good to be playing small venues. Michael Holt himself has got three CD's of his own available which says something about the quality, and Adam Warner shows off his skills by getting off the drums and playing excellent guitar. Go buy Dave Celia's CD Organica. It will be worth it. Deserves so much praise that I have not got the words for it. Check out the website www.davidcelia.com

Neil A. Bromley

Electric Eden + Court Jester + Limousine
@ Wolverhampton Little Civic - 5th April 2003
After seeing two other heats of this years BOTB competitions in Wolverhampton, I set out to see the first night of the 2nd round. Having missed the first two bands, I arrived mid set to find LIMOUSINE. Competent vocals, and three guitarists made a huge sound. The melodies were close to that of Radiohead, but the songs were heavier. An all round good performance. Check them out. Next was COURT JESTER. Now...this may sound mean but I don't think the venue did them justice at all as they sounded lost, which was a shame as there was definitely something in the songs. A mixture of early Ash/Stereophonics type riffage and vocals, and another good band. Lastly was ELECTRIC EDEN. Previously, I had heard of this band only through this website and a friend saying they merely put style over substance...this is not true- deservedly, they won this nights proceedings. A mixture of the Cure/Smashing Pumpkins/King Adora/Nirvana and Placebo made a refreshing change to the primarily heterosexual looking bands of the evening. The songs were raw, vitriolic outbursts of adrenaline, and the three piece made a huge sound. Well done lads...a very well spent £4.

Chris Smith

FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS + TRIGBOY + FIREFLY
THE GOLDEN CROSS, REDDITCH - 28th March 2003
Fat Cats CD launch gig promised to be interesting as The Golden Cross is not set up for live music, so with at least a hundred people at the bar I get a double Guinness and look for familiar faces.

FIREFLY let fly with their set which as before is riddled with dropped microphones, mad dancing, standing on tables and disrobing. Musically FIREFLY do not try and hit the audience with any subtlety. They drive a punk beat into you with outrageous vocals that sometimes border on singing. The sound check (had there been one) would have highlighted the fact that nothing was set up properly. Thankfully this did not put FIREFLY off in any way and they jumped about and screamed wonderfully in all the wrong places without a care in the world.

Great Stuff. Long live FIREFLY.

TRIGBOY I thought were going to struggle with the appalling acoustics that were obvious but it seemed that they managed to adjust it enough to get their superb sound out to the masses. TRIGBOY are a tight and fast punk outfit that just ooze quality. Each time I hear them even with the dodgy sound, they get better and better. I have their 7 track CD ‘Time Talk and Falling Over’ which is brilliant and getting enough plays on my stereo that my neighbours can sing along with it. Neat ska beats and a short reggae diversion add to what TRIGBOY can do. With excellent vocals and quality musicianship TRIGBOY manage to take a genre that is rife with mediocrity and blow it all out of the window. Real enthusiasm, real talent. Go see TRIGBOY play and enjoy for yourself. http://www.trigboy.co.uk

FAT CAT and the BACKHANDERS have a trumpet player and an unfortunate hat. They also have a great sound that is fun, fast and brilliantly executed. The terrible sound did not do the FAT CATs any justice but they had a ball anyway. A punk band that has more than the average talent, some great songs and the perfect attitude. With this being their CD launch night it was good to see plenty of them liberally being distributed as part of the entrance cost. Entitled ‘...And Monkey Tea For All!’ which I am sure has some deep philosophical meaning to it sums up what the FAT CATs do nicely, although missing the wonderful punch and power of the live performance.
www.redditchbands.co.uk/artists/fatcat/band.htm

Neil A. Bromley

TEAM ROCKET + CIRCADIA + JIM GOUGH
HARE AND HOUNDS, KINGS HEATH 21st March 2003
Park up outside and meander in, grabbing a Guinness from downstairs first as there is no draught beer upstairs. Scott was flogging anti-war CD’s which I forgot to buy, sorry. I will get one next time.

JIM GOUGH I had nattered to before this gig but did not realise who he was until he was on stage with his guitar and camera crew. I did not have any idea as to what JIM GOUGH was going to be doing until he actually started. Well he can sing, and he certainly can play the guitar. I was concerned about being bored after a minute or so but the warm and cosy feeling that emanate from his songs was so nice I was drawn in. There were no catchy hooks, there were no singalong verses they were all lovely songs performed wonderfully and with such feeling that I reckon everyone felt all warm and cuddly afterwards. A little chat between songs made the transition from one to the other perfectly. What else do you need? JIM GOUGH started the evening off beautifully.

CIRCADIA I had not heard before and was pleasantly surprised to see someone I recognised as the lead singer. Well CIRCADIA have a particular sound that is mournful and moody without being depressing. It is rock music that becomes secondary to the overall sound that is produced. It is a whole sound that engulfs and fills you as you listen, the quality of the sound and musicianship was extremely high. The vocals seemed clipped slightly so you feel that there is something more to come. CIRCADIA are insidious in their style appearing to be bubbling beneath the exterior they portray in anticipation of breaking out. Anyway, forget trying to think of words that can evaluate CIRCADIA and go and make you own mind up. Great performance, excellent sound and well worth £3 to see them.

TEAM ROCKET are fun. I like the way they say “Hi, this is what we do and its FUN”. TEAM ROCKET have got the balance right, they play good pop/punk with just the right amount of beat changes, great vocals and a healthy dose of talent to pull it off without being tacky. I cannot see how anyone cannot enjoy TEAM ROCKET play whether you are a punk fan or pop fan.
TEAM ROCKET do both well and mix it up perfectly. No pretentiousness here, just damn good fun www.rocketcity.co.uk
Special thanks to Scott of Solar Creations for making the effort www.solarcreations.net


Neil A. Bromley


BACK SABBATH + KINARO @ BARCO - SOLIHULL - 19th MARCH 2003
A splendid evening for live music, so off I go to BARCO to see the excellent KINARO. Sound problems are obvious even with the sound check but I lovingly sip my Guinness and have a natter with the KINARO family while the audience meander in. BARCO is not yet pulling in hundreds of Solihull’s live music lovers but it is getting known gradually which of course can only be good news for everyone.

KINARO have a new base player, who for a youngster was actually very good. The familiar tunes were great to hear again and having listened to their four track CD a number of times it is nice to hear them as they were meant to be heard. Some new stuff was done on the evening so KINARO are not planning on standing still while they learn the ropes. The usual crisp and clear vocals were missing this gig, more to do with the sound not quite being sorted rather than anything else so it took a little away from the performance. The enthusiasm of KINARO is unmistakeable and the punters here to see the other band were very appreciative. KINARO have got something, still indefinable but its definitely there. KINARO are a bright and lively pop band with rock aspirations that does not spoil some great melodies, excellent songs and always a very high standard. The base player needed a shove to wake him up but as he is new to the line up, he could be forgiven. Lead guitar is always entertaining even when the buttons don’t go as planned so you could even just watch him and have a great night. Effective and positive, the drumming that I watched properly for the first time was also excellent particularly when he can stay on his seat. Buy their CD, only £2 at the gigs, it is worth it. Find out when their next outing is at: http://www.kinaro.co.uk

BACK SABBATH are a Black Sabbath tribute band, this was their debut gig after 12 months of rehearsals, and they were very loud.

Neil A. Bromley

FINCH + BRAND NEW @ WULFRUN HALL - 17th MARCH 2003
It had been a while since I honoured the Wulfrun Hall so I was looking forward to a return and see what the US has been doing all this while. This great venue should be full every night of the week with good local bands making the most of the facilities and learning what its like playing to 700 and not 7. Dream on. Not riding tonight so I hit the Little Civic for a Guinness first just to see how old you have to be to drink in Wolvo. (Not very).

So I have my Guinness in a plastic glass and BRAND NEW start up, never heard anything by them before so this should be interesting at least. Well to be honest, it wasn’t that interesting at all. The audience that was assembled at the front didn’t seem to care. BRAND NEW are a rock band with youth and talent and seem to be doing all the right things yet were not raising the hairs on the back of my neck with that something that justifies putting them in front of a decent audience. Competent. That is the word for BRAND NEW.

FINCH followed shortly afterwards with more of the same with a more defined style and performance, their enthusiasm and quality could not go unnoticed they obviously had practiced what they do. What they did felt like they were riding the coat tails of Linkin Park and had not quite cracked it. Each song was blasted out with feeling and intensity yet missed all the bits that make a gig memorable. FINCH had some songs that I enjoyed at the time but forgot immediately, which says something. I did get the feeling that apart from the faithful at the front that a lot of the audience felt the same. FINCH – Linkin Park undercard. Competent. a good word for FINCH.

Neil A. Bromley

Electric Eden + Gen +Flik - 13 March 2003
A very cold evening started me off not wanting to leave the house- how glad I was that I did.
The first band on tonight, FLIK, made a lot of noise for a three piece, making a sound similar to any American nu-grunge band at the moment...however, as the set progressed a bigger sound that was definitely their own. Keep up the good work. Secondly, GEN. I have seen these before and i loved every minute back then- they make a post hardcore/nu metal sound that could sell them millions of records. I believe the PA was playing up at this point as the vocals were not that clear. This is a band to keep an eye on- every sound was spot on and they have a very strong religious ideal that shows their passion. All good so far then...
Last up was ELECTRIC EDEN. Now these guys seemed slightly out of place. I had never seen them before but I had heard a lot about them from friends. I think they are the kind of band you either love or hate. They look like the offspring of the birthday party and placebo, but make a hell of a lot more noise.
The whole set lasted only about half hour, but this included a broken lead change, and the whole thing was a bundle of energy. This band will go far. The songs and stage presence were perfect. Overall, the best £3 I have spent in a long time.
Rich

CD Review
SCREAMING FROM THE CAPITAL
SOLAR CREATIONS COMPILATION (SCCD1)
From the onset I was concerned about reviewing this CD as I had seen some of the bands perform live and already had opinions formed about them. Saying that I listened a few times to the whole CD to try and get to grips with the CD as an entity in itself. There are twelve tracks each from a different artist and are as different as any could be without bridging an abyss of genres.

If this compilation was trying to give a taste of some of the quality of artists in Birmingham at present it certainly does that. It is a carefully chosen dozen that is meant to be enjoyed in the mellow, laid back sense and not to necessarily to be cranked up and blasted out. There are some fabulous song writing and beautiful tunes on this CD that truly deserve a wider audience. The Jason Ensa track particularly is a lovely piece of craftsmanship and Mike Bethel cannot ever do anything wrong as far as I am concerned. Mike Bethels’ own CD, OPAQUE is brilliant. Songs and melodies are what SCREAMING FROM THE CAPITAL provide and to a high quality. There is an underlying mood to the whole CD that is melancholic without being morose and it is actually quite pleasant. I warmed to the mixture of styles eventually this being a ‘singer/song writer’ compilation rather than an indie, pop or rock CD even though there are artists that err to the pop/indie style. Despite the easy listening feel, I must confess to cranking up both Helicon and Silver Suit tracks as both are great heard with some volume. To conclude, I would say that I am glad I have stuck with SCREAMING FROM THE CAPITAL as it does offer a good cross section of what is happening and shows just how much quality is out there. A worthwhile addition to every CD collection. c/o http://www.solarcreations.net

Neil A. Bromley


360 + THE INSTIGATORS + RAIZER
Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath - 7th March 2003
Not having been to the Hare and Hounds for so long I forgot how bad parking was there but I managed to find a space in Cotteridge and walked back in some high quality drizzle that only Birmingham does so well. People were already queuing up the stairs so I got my Guinness and waited till they went in and followed. Only £3 and three bands is a good bargain and the promise of the superb facilities at the Hare and Hounds only adds to the value.

RAIZER started the show with real songs. Delivered with so much refinement it was a surprise to hear that they have so few gigs under their belt. The four piece were solid and tight with the emphasis on the vocals that were of a high quality. An electric acoustic guitar helped the mellow sound that they produced with the vocals punching over the top. Rhythm guitar was turned down so much that I occasionally thought he wasn’t playing at all. So this made the overall feel of RAIZER to be one of music, melody and songs and not of a rock band. When RAIZER played a song called ‘The Train’ all that changed and the restraint was lifted showing that RAIZER had another element, allowing themselves to let rip, much to the delight of the audience. A great start to the evening, unfortunately a good number of their fans arrived too late for the performance. I hope they can get to their next gig earlier as it will be worth it.

THE INSTIGATORS are another unknown quantity and when a mournful reggae beat started up I thought wonderful. Unfortunately, a tape, including keyboards, provided ‘the mournful reggae beat’. This turned me off straight away and despite some unbelievably great lead guitar work I was left hoping to see them when they have a drummer and keyboard player. The electronic drum machine that was being played onstage did not appear to be switched on and it was probably a good thing as I am not quite sure what he was playing. THE INSTIGATORS could have the basis to make an extraordinary reggae sound but until the tape goes right into the background I am not so sure. Still it was great to hear reggae being played in a pub, a rarity indeed.

360 were quality when I saw them support Yoot Club at Academy 2 a while back, so I knew I was in for a good end to the evening. A decent amount of punters were in, just enough to constitute a crowd and no one had left after the support bands had finished which is always nice to see. Straight in with some ska, 360 have a fine array of skills to pull of whatever they seem to play and the change in beats adds to the overall feeling of being entertained by true professionals. Ska, reggae, soul and even some blues thrown in for good measure. I cannot define what 360 do that makes them stand out from the crowd, yet they do. Excellent vocals and brass section, well all of them are excellent. There is a great vibe given off by 360 and I would defy anyone not to enjoy it. They are tight as a unit yet are relaxed on stage with some good to watch mucking about which shows how much they are enjoying themselves without being detrimental to the quality of their sound. Too good to be playing to small audiences. Go see them and buy the brilliant CD.

Big thank you to Scott of Solar Creations for making the effort and allowing all of these bands to show us what they can do. www.solarcreations.net
Neil A. Bromley

Mr Nobody - Live at The Jug Of Ale
Originality, psychedelia, insane, genius, crafted, mind blowing, pick and choose my friends, pick and choose! I struggle to describe this...music? I don't know what it is, but it's amazing! You have to think to yourselves, how long were these four lads locked away in a bedroom for, slowly and delicately crafting these master pieces. From the haunting vocals to the off beats, every second is a joy to listen to, this gig was about 30 mins of influence, Mr Nobody lay everything on the table, they say this is music, this is the lot, now draw from it what you will, I dare you! Now I dare you to find a comparison, the easiest thing to do when reviewing is to take the easy way out and say they sound like this, they sound like that, but seriously now, there's not a one! I saw the gig with a good mate of mine, the only thing we could come up with was "He sounds like the lead singer of Manson", however true, it's clutching at straws, I haven't seen originality like this since I first saw Helicon, it's that same kind of feeling, drawing emotions, pains and joys! However don't get me wrong, they aren't perfect, however near to it, they are not what is considered to be mainstream, after listening to them, they're the kind of band that makes me think to myself "Thank god I'm in the band I am", simply because of the hard work and emotions they must go through, it isn't easy listening so be warned, but if you aren't sucked in by them, then more fool you, this is about the love of music, this is a statement that can clearly be heard, so learn from them while you can! 9/10
Paul Hampton

LAST UNDER THE SUN + DAMN DIRTY APES + GREBO + REDJACK
At THE OLD RAILWAY, CURZON ST. BIRMINGHAM - 26th February 2003
Excellent weather forced me away from BARCO in Solihull and the ride into Birmingham to see what the Old Railway had to offer for the evening. Thankfully the trip was not going to include any detours. I was expecting to see Bristol Punk Supremos, ONE TOO MANY with LAST UNDER THE SUN supporting but that was not the case and apparently GREBO had made the trip at the last minute to fill the void.

REDJACK I had not heard before and I was pleasantly surprised to hear some high quality rock. Excellent musically they seem to manage not to quite sound like others yet were not so well defined to be able to carve themselves directly into your psych. Highly polished performers with solid vocals and plenty of power they seem to go through their set so smoothly it was enjoyable to watch. They chose to do a Nirvana cover that was performed well but unfortunately it made my ears tune out a little and the following songs seem to sound too much like Nirvana. I know it must be me, as they were so good that I will presume I missed something. I will see them again and not dwell on who they sound like and just enjoy what they do.
I must also say that they have an excellent website: http://www.redjack.org

GREBO are a young, fresh-faced trio from Bristol who play punk. Punk in the pop/punk genre sort of!! I say sort of because the genres don’t usually help much in real life but merely point you in the appropriate direction. GREBO gave off a hint of Blink 182 before they were arena food. The lead singer has a similar sounding voice. that is where the similarity ends really as GREBO have a real edge to them. There songs are clear and strong with supporting vocals that add to the punch.

You are definitely listening to a punk band without the anger but plenty of aggression. They made a phenomenal sound for a trio and still remained tuneful. Best of all was they were having a ball, performing each and every track like it was the first with such energy that they finished each track to tremendous applause. I am glad they made the effort to come all the way to Birmingham. Find out what they are up to at: http://www.grebo.co.uk

DAMN DIRTY APES are a group within a group without a group and a band as well? This is completely true as some of them play in lots of other bands, so to say that DAMN DIRTY APES are a band or a community or even an actual society is probably more accurate. Anyway, DAMN DIRTY APES are a loud, rowdy, brash and brilliant Hardcore Rock band. They are crazy, unpredictable, explosive and Superb. Don’t buy their records, just pay double to see them live. It will be worth it. Everyone needs a healthy dose of DAMN DIRTY APES at least twice a year to keep them sane. DAMN DIRTY APES are not sane and that is probably why I like them so much.

LAST UNDER THE SUN played at The Old Chapel in Northfield and got my attention. I was a fan of The Hot Tortoise, so with Mark Sampson leading this new trio you knew that you were going to be in for something worthwhile. With the Base Player and the Drummer nicely warmed up from playing with Damn Dirty Apes, LAST UNDER THE SUN fired into their set. Immediately you are in the midst of something strange, you are listening to hard rock that is heavy and punchy yet at the same time keeps a punk edginess to it that complicates your senses. LAST UNDER THE SUN are lyric orientated and angry, each song feels like a protest. Musically they seem to be experimenting with each song and evolving with it. You very rarely heard a base string played yet the sounds that were coming from the base player were continuous and unmistakeable adding more of a mood than a beat. Impeccable guitar work is fundamental to the sound of LAST UNDER THE SUN and the sound is an excellent one. I was a fan of The Hot Tortoise and now I am a fan of LAST UNDER THE SUN. I wonder what qualifications are required to be a groupie?
Check out Why? at: http://www.lastunderthesun.co.uk

With Special thanks to Scott of Solar Creations for putting on this gig
www.solarcreations.net

Neil A. Bromley


Cage + Rattlesnake Remedy at Barco - 26 February 2003
This was my third visit to BarCo, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the place full to the rafters with punters for the first time. It looks like the word is finally getting around!

I arrived at Barco just in time to see Rattlesnake Remedy fire up their first high-octane number. My immediate reaction was "They're too good! They must be using tapes!" They weren't though - every note of their perfect twin Les Paul sound was real and authentic, and crafted with a precision that was mind-blowing. In looks (the long hair, flowing stage costumes, low-slung guitars, bags of attitude and swagger) and sound they were like one of the great Southern Boogie outfits of the late 70s. There are plenty of acts out there who emulate that style and sound, but the difference is that these guys delivered! They oozed confidence and stage presence, as though they've trod the boards for 20 years or more. They should be playing the NEC, not a pub in Solihull! (Although I hope they continue to grace the Barco stage for a long time).

The only initial problem was with Lee Stone's vocals - weak, muddy and indistinct. We later found out why - one of the radio microphone channels was dying, and it packed in completely on the seventh song. While this was being attended to, we were treated to an impromptu extra-long Ben Bartlett guitar solo which was very tasty indeed.

Once the singer was on a different mic, the power and style in his voice was excellent (Good diction too - something that's often ignored by rock singers, but essential for getting over those sensitive lyrics you've spent weeks putting together, right?). I've just got to see them perform again in order to hear those first six songs in their full glory.

I didn't catch many of the song titles (mostly due to that manky microphone), but the first two in the set were great G'n'R-style crowd-pleasers. The couple of ballads they did had lush but spacious Rush-like rhythm guitar and bass lines which flowed nicely.
There were some oddities too - "The Flame", with it's "Oh yeah"
call-and-answer sections, sounded like a 70s Glam anthem. "Dance with the Devil" followed this, with lyrics that wouldn't have been out of place in an AC/DC or Whitesnake (or Spinal Tap!) set.

After a short break, Cage took the stage. I'd seen them at BarCo a few weeks before, and was suitably impressed. Tonight, though, they easily surpassed that previous performance.
Their set was all covers this time, apart from a single self-penned song "Cake". I'd have like to have heard more of their own material, but this disappointment was made up for by the sheer quality and excitement they put into their covers. We got treated to a veritable Who's Who of classic rock, from the opener Hush, via Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild (featuring the Cage trademarked co-operative bass duet!), Zep's Rock And Roll, Free's Wishing Well, Jumping Jack Flash, Highway Star, Paranoid. . .all good solid stuff.

The sizeable crowd was lapping it up, and there was a real party atmosphere. Singer Matt King's cheeky presentation was a refreshing change from the usual po-faced posturing or shoe-staring of yer average pub band frontman.
With the aid of a strategically-placed chair, he even managed to do a Dave lee Roth aerial split in the middle of "Jump". They did a souped-up "I'm a Believer" (complete with "Oi" chorus), and a monster "Whole Lotta Rosie".
Highlights for me were the totally spontaneous but perfectly executed vocal team-ups of Matt King and Rattlesnake's Lee Stone on "All Right Now" and massive closer "War Pigs". Their different vocal styles and stage personas meshed together perfectly to create something bigger than the sum of the parts.

Easily the best £2 I've ever spent (no mince pies from Cage this time round though) - with acts like this it looks like BarCo is the place to be on Wednesdays from now on.

John Pierpoint
Thanks for posting this review John, keep em coming m8

STOP THE WAR Charity Gig - THE OLD CHAPEL, Hollymoor Centre, Northfield
To start with, any excuse to see some fine bands playing is a good one. The extra incentive was that the money raised would be going to the local community and the Stop The War Campaign. Excellent weather, bad signposting and having been there before, I knew there was no Guinness. So it was going to be an interesting day for sure. I got into the Cider on tap nice and early and thought it best to pace myself with all the bands due to play so I was at least mildly coherent at the end of the evening.

Very few people arrived for the afternoon performances, which was a shame but the hope was the excellent facilities at The Old Chapel would get some use as the evening drew near. Sadly that was not the case, so as the evening progressed it was obvious that the excellent turn out of bands was not going to be equalled by the audience. All of the bands did their best to put on a good show and much respect to them all. With almost no punters there, the room seemed like an aircraft hanger and it did not help to create an atmosphere that all bands thrive on. With the effort and organisation that went into this gig it was a very sad indictment of modern society that despite all efforts; apathy on behalf of the public seemed to reign supreme.

I would like to thank Badger promotions for the extraordinary effort to produce an excellent event that unfortunately was not supported as it should have been. Feel guilty and do something about it. http://music.mercia.org/badger/.en

Neil A. Bromley

ELECTRIC HEROIN + TEAM ROCKET + 6TH NOVEMBER
All at the FLAPPER AND FIRKIN - 21st FEBRUARY 2003
I couldn’t resist the zero visibility and freezing drizzle to take a ride into Birmingham City Centre for a trip round the detour signs and the chance of a good gig. So I pay my £3 willingly. Why do people make such efforts to avoid paying? Only £3, just a pound a band. As always a jovial welcome at The Flapper and I even managed to get there before the first band came on. A pleasant change, so with my lonely Guinness I relax in anticipation. Have a short natter to Pete, of Pete the Pix and start humming Team Rocket tracks to myself.

6TH NOVEMBER murmured onto the stage and began. It was not I have come to expect from the first act at The Flapper yet 6TH NOVEMBER managed to quiet the audience. 6TH NOVEMBER play a style that could only be compared to what Pink Floyd were doing in the early days. They are definitely a rock band with some of their music being right up there with the heavy/progressive rock genre. More esoteric than your average band 6TH NOVEMBER are obviously aiming to produce music to get you in a mood. They are actually moody, barely an acknowledgement to the audience, but I don’t think that the audience cared as they were carried with 6TH NOVEMBER and their trip into the altered state of consciousness that is a 6TH NOVEMBER gig. You will have to be in a particular mood for 6TH NOVEMBER which is not a bad thing at all. I really enjoyed the performance and would like to see them again when their confidence is higher and the sticky tape is cut in advance. Without using vocals 6TH NOVEMBER will probably struggle at these venues to attract an appreciative audience but with the effort that went into the music they will find their audience and they will stick. They really played some great rock that was only helped by the ambient style and tempo of most of their material, that was eclectic without being jazz and atmospheric without being ‘whale’music.

TEAM ROCKET takes the stage with a different buzz around the crowd that had increase significantly during the 6th November’s set. I knew what to expect from TEAM ROCKET as AJ from Easy Listening Record Shop in Shirley, B’ham had given me a demo to check out. So nursing the end of my Guinness I look forward to some live versions of the tracks that I have already heard. Well TEAM ROCKET gets straight to it, with energy and punch. TEAM ROCKET are not doing anything new, yet they shine so bright that you cannot help but feel invigorated. A quality band that show that they have done some proper work in the rehearsal studio which makes their fun pop/punk high energy style all the more endearing. Lively and tight the whole band seem to enjoy themselves and as usual it rubbed off on the crowd.

Plenty of heads bopping to the beat and the change in tempo from ballad style to reggae helped to keep the audience listening. There is only one dimension to TEAM ROCKET and that is for you to enjoy yourself, and that they are there to help. They certainly did and I felt all the better for it. Great fun to watch and great to listen to. Lead vocals are clear and shrill with occasional backing from the lead guitar player, which was good. Definitely a Revillos feel to them without being pop fodder. A lot more complicated musically than you first think yet not playing to impress musical aficionados they put on an excellent show. A must to see them again. Brilliant. No pretensions, just damn good at what they do, I reckon I will just have to get myself a T-Shirt. TEAM ROCKETs’ four track CD is a brilliant addition to the collection too.
Go see them. www.rocketcity.co.uk
I missed Electric Heroin due to some sad, old person fawning over Abi of TEAM ROCKET which is shameful but true.

Neil A. Bromley

Electric Eden @ Edwards No.8  - 20th February 2003
After reading the above review I decided to spend a couple of quid seeing Electric Eden at Edwards. I thought they were headlining but they were on third out of four.
Quite simply the most exciting live band I've seen since Nirvana.
Three songs in and the singer jumped headlong into the drum kit and still continued to play. The large crowd went crazy for every song played - 'Dead Flowers', I believe one song was called, made the room go into a frenzy and set closer 'ABT'
(my personal favourite) was perfect. What does ABT stand for?
M*A*T*T

TINY BLUE CHILDREN + ELECTRIC EDEN
BARCO Solihull - 19th FEBRUARY 2003
Sad to say that virtually no-one had made the effort to see live bands play at BARCO in Solihull. I was so thrilled to see a venue in Solihull making the effort, yet it seems that there isn’t anyone in Solihull that is bothered about live music on their doorstep. Hopefully it will all change and the spring will bring punters flocking to BARCO on a Wednesday evening to watch their favourite up and coming bands.

ELECTRIC EDEN despite the lack of audience tried their best to put on a show. Unfortunately it was a little lack lustre and the meagre audience noticed. ELECTRIC EDEN play a sort of grunge type rock which is changing its shape the more they play.
Not quite excellent, they usually manage to force the audience to enjoy them, as they enjoy themselves playing.

ELECTRIC EDEN are getting there but I think they will have to get some definition to their stuff to really grab the listeners attention or just get better at what they want to sound like and hope for the best. I still would not hesitate to see them play, wherever they are at. ELECTRIC EDEN are evolving!!
It will be a joy to see what will develop www.electric-eden.com

Hey Neil.. I was at that gig mate and I thought Electric Eden performed with terrific energy - If you you could bottle that you'd be made for life! Lack lustre? - not in my book!... Ian

TINY BLUE CHILDREN seemed to have got the atmosphere from the scarce audience but their professionalism and sheer quality still made their set a performance worth watching and listening to. TINY BLUE CHILDREN have got a sound which I think uses all of the members qualities to the best advantage and produce a complete sound that is welcoming and hard hitting at the same time.

The vocals as always are impeccable and become stronger each time I hear them. The Pearl Jam reference before is a good one and if you like the style, you will love TINY BLUE CHILDREN. They have the same feel to them, of a rock band that has taken heavy rock and put some mood to it with some quality melodies that carry the beat and the edge with each song. There is something about TINY BLUE CHILDREN that I really like. Exactly what it is I am unsure but I am convinced that they are so good that they will be around long enough for me to suss it out. Do yourself a good turn and find out when they are next playing live: www.shotguncharlie.co.uk/tinybluechildren2.htm

Neil A. Bromley

TUULI
THE WAYRIDERS
DOUBLE STANDARD
TRIGBOY
THE ZATOPEKS
PEATBOG MAN
TEN PIN B*STARDS
FLY BY PILOTS
All at EDWARDS No.8 - 15th FEBRUARY 2003
I couldn’t get to Edwards any earlier so I managed to miss most of the support bands, arriving just in time for Trigboy to take the stage. The Guinness was awful but I was going to have a good time anyway.

TRIGBOY are an outstanding punk band, billed as Ska Punk I missed much of the Ska vibe and was taken over by a great punchy Base driven punk sound that got some of the kids out of the playground and into the front, jumping around like good’uns. The lead singer is so lovely to look at you almost forget she has a cracking voice that flies over the hard edge of the music. She dances and jumps around continuously proving that there is no shame in really enjoying yourself. There is just enough of a variety of tunes and beats to keep the non-punk fan interested and definitely keep me in the room to watch. TRIGBOY do enjoy themselves, all of them looking like it was a gig worth doing and the audience thought so too. The base and drums are to the fore of the overall sound and it is a good move, as they are both of high quality and they just all sound great.
Go see them and check out where at www.trigboy.co.uk

DOUBLE STANDARD I missed most of the gig, but they are a great lively Punk band that I have seen before. They seem to be able to put on the Gig of a Lifetime, every time; that shows a lot of class. The audience liked them and I only wish I had not missed most of their set. Always exciting stuff from DOUBLE STANDARD. It was a travesty to not be there to fully appreciate them.
www.redditchbands.co.uk/artists/doublestandard/band.htm

THE WAYRIDERS seem to do loads of stuff with well-established punk and ska undertones. I failed to get to grips with anything they did. It was not the style, or the quality of the performance as they all appeared to be pretty good at the job. They were tight, the vocals were clear, all the music was of a high quality. Yet for some reason they left me a little cold. It was a shame really.
Find out if it was just me at www.wayriders.com

TUULI from Canada with a bullet. Not quite playing all the prestigious venues but a UK tour nonetheless. I checked out their website before the gig and downloaded a couple of tunes. Not particularly excited by the MP3’s but live I was hoping for more. Unfortunately they sounded just like the downloads which to me, was not particularly interesting. They had obviously rehearsed well and were a very tight outfit indeed. The music seemed to grind just in all the right places with great beats and guitar work emphasising how good they all are as a band. The vocals, both solo and harmonies were so well performed it would be wrong to criticise yet I could not get Toni Basil out of my head for every track, which took the edge of some great punk sounds. Form your own opinion by seeing them yourselves on tour, you can get details from www.tuuli.com

Neil A. Bromley

FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS
THE KLOPEKS
AT A BLANK
FIREFLY
@ SCRUFFY MURPHY’S - 8 February 2003
A mild and dry evening was great for a ride up to Scruffy Murphy’s. The threat of rain was not going to spoil the enjoyment of following diversion signs around Birmingham City Centre for half an hour before I got to Dale End and to what promised to be a great gig. I had seen Fat Cat in Redditch last week so I knew at least, that the night would finish on a great buzz. I parked up with the usual paranoia that accompanies City Centre parking and put down a bale of hay for the beast in full view of the doors of Scruffy’s hoping it would deter minor tampering. So onwards and downwards to the cubicle that is Scruffy Murphy’s and to my delight I was greeted by a beautiful young woman, who called me darling when she took my £3.
I was going to have a very good night indeed.

FIREFLY were already doing their stuff when I arrived and this was as good a start as you could wish to have. They were loud, they were fun and they were going for it. Punk music in its most basic form and I love it. No great musical barriers were being broken but better bands that think that music comes before the craic would have envied the performance.

FIREFLY were entertaining the excellent crowd that filled Scruffy’s with the lead singers’ trousers around his ankles and his chest signed by the following band it was a show to be remembered. Nice one FIREFLY. Keep up the good work.
Find out where else you can see his underwear at
www.geocities.com/fireflyrule

AT A BLANK almost took the stage with an apology, they were a lacking a little in confidence but soon changed that as they got into the swing. AT A BLANK are trying very hard to get it right and they are definitely going about it the right way.
AT A BLANK play a montage of hard rock with a punk edge and a proliferation of ska beats. All this in nearly every song they did. Each track was an epic, flying in and out of all genres with no respect to what has gone before. The quality of the musicianship was very high considering the age of the band and delivered with an enormous amount of energy, which is what will give AT A BLANK an edge. AT A BLANK are experimenting and will no doubt find what works and what doesn’t as they gig more and more. A great band that deserve some support, particularly the lead singers trousers. So if you see them listed to play somewhere, go spend a couple of quid and get out there. You will not be disappointed.

THE KLOPEKS took the baton from At a Blank and ran with it. THE KLOPEKS play like seasoned professionals. I had not seen them live before and was astonished by the quality. Undeterred by the kind of thing that they were doing has been done before THE KLOPEKS seem to take the style of punk and ska and rock and merge them into something of their own. The songs were worth hearing and the tunes were designed to stick in the mind. More pop punk than hardcore meant that you did not feel that you were watching merely a punk/ska band but watching Madness (Madness the band, not Madness the pop sensation) taking birth all over again. There was such an excellent atmosphere to THE KLOPEKS gig helped in part to the great support acts that you could not help but be affected by it. Excellent stuff and it was only £3 with Fat Cat still to come.

FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS are good. That is a given and their performance in Redditch in not the best circumstances was anything to go by, then we were in for a great show. Firstly it must be said that FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS are a punk band, yet they have a trumpeter? It does not seem to fit theoretically but works brilliantly when live. FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS play punk with a hard base edge that separates them from the others and with a fanaticism bordering on lunacy. You could sing along to most tracks and just bounce around to others, quality and fun and still only £3. The singer from Lil Sumo joined in for one song, that was great to see and the set just carried on getting more bizarre with broken strings and the single-handed sex life of band members??? Despite the fun and frolics of FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS gig there is a serious side to them that they hide very well. FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS are an excellent band. They play tight and powerfully with experience that shows in their performance. Brilliant; will have no hesitation in seeing this band again and again. A guarantee of a gig worth going to. Oh! Yes; the lead singer of Firefly stripped naked on the base amp during FAT CAT AND THE BACKHANDERS last song! Who needs encores?
A great evenings entertainment, that could only be improved if I can get home without being drowned in the impending downpour.

Special thanks to Rob Frost at Wagdog Records for making the nights entertainment a possibility. www.wagdog.co.uk

Neil A. Bromley

BLUE NATION + BLUE SKY BAND at BarCo Solihull - 29th January 2003
BARCO opened its doors again to a couple of The Midlands finest and to show that the last few weeks were not a fluke there were a great pair of bands to play this evening. he icy weather was not encouraging to a ride out but I put on my winter woollies and decided it was all going to be worth it.

BLUE SKY BAND are the support act of this evenings entertainment and the trio sat quietly waiting for the football to finish in the other part of the room. My lonely Guinness went down far too quickly but I was content with the knowledge that BARCO do an excellent coffee. BLUE SKY BAND started off with their own style of music that conjures up ‘The Everlys’, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys. It is that kind of mood that they are able to produce. Despite the sound not quite doing them justice and they did not seem to be firing on all cylinders, this remarkable band seem to bring something extra with them when they play. Their three way harmonies are always exceptional and punchy base lines that add that little bit extra.