Vanity Project Extra Live

Gig Reviews

Friday, September 16, 2005

Good Time Charlies + Surfless + Contra + The Skuds - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. 09/07/05

A hastily arranged gig to cover a cancelled Saturday night reggae event means that the crowd is small tonight but the Charlies have managed to get the devoted out. But first we have to suffer the band that is The Skuds; second rate basic punk with put on gruff vocals and plenty of swearing. Funny for about two minutes before you realise they are for real and destroy a couple of classic covers, they look like kids pretending to be glue sniffing bad boys and it really doesn't work.

Contra on the other hand are the surprise package of the night; they make an impressive noise, angular guitar attacks blending with the sweetest melodies to build a wall of dense music that is enough to flatten you against the back wall. They also have a frontman who who has 'that' look about him, he doesn't move much or over act to get attention he just has that feel about him that makes you want to watch them...it must be something to do with the eyes, they draw you in, wrap you up in Contra's world and I know I'm not the only one who thought this as at least two other people made the same comment to me after their set. Very impressive and a band I want to see again as soon as possible.

Poor old Surfless, looks like their mates have stayed at home and nearly everyone else has retreated to the bar. They battle on in true 'the show must go on' style; tonight they are tight and play a decent set that sounds good in a bigger venue but one has to wonder how long they will keep going if people carry on ignoring them.

What can you say about the Good Time Charlies? Portsmouth's best Rock N Roll band continue to sound fresh and urgent despite being three albums old! There's no mucking around with these boys as they kick out the jams and inspire a pit of very drunken dancing. What I love about the Charlies is their knack for writing such damn catchy tunes that just pop into your head and then just stay there with their infectious choruses abusing your already alcohol drenched brain cells. And in true rock fashion they look good, not in that glossy styled way but in a real way, they look like a gang of best mates living out their rock n roll lifestyle without a care in the world. Long live Rock N Roll!

Manniquin + Rotating Leslie + Dregs Of Society - Messclean, Portsmouth. 08/07/05

The Dregs see themselves as some kind of metal gods stuck somewhere between AC/DC and Guns N Roses and they do a pretty good impression of both when they rock out. This is pumped up manly rock with solid riffs and beats; shame the singer looks like he's just rushed in from his office job but if you look away you'd think Bon Scott was back. They are far too much like established bands to really break away from opening slots but they are a good warm up band and get the blood pumping.

Roating Leslie have arrived from London town and the NME have been sniffing around and with good reason judging by tonights set. They have that wonderful eclectic shambolic feel about them; jangly indie breaking down into almost dub rhythms and then jetting off into delicious space prog rock before returning to tightly played masterpieces. There is a nice wave of throbbing bass going on and two wonderfully textured guitars weaving their magic though it's a real battle to win over the local crowd who are here to see their mates, as is always the case when a visiting band invades Messclean. An excellent band worth catching if they venture your way and a name you may well hear more of in the future.

Mannequin seem to have shifted from a metal band into a full blown alt-rock beast that steams through a set of high paced groove laden songs. They have that nice loose feel about them and manage to combine a nice feel for melody and pure noise. A step in the right direction and it will be interesting to see how they develop from here.

Surfless + Fallout + 2 Shots Scarlett + Fingerless Hoodlum - Messclean, Portsmouth. 01/07/05

Fingerless Hoodlum is just one man and his acoustic guitar hiding behind a wave of nerves, at times he his barely there such is the delicate nature of his songs. Admittedly, the chattering at the bar is in danger of wiping him out completely, but for those of us straining to hear we are rewarded with some fine tunes; think Johnny Cash doing sad sailor laments so fragile a gentle breeze could break them. A captivating set for those interested.

2 Shots Scarlett are also working as an acoustic act tonight but are far more in your face and screaming for attention. They start with a cover of 'Wicked Games' and it's clear that the female vocalist packs a fair punch, luckily their own material holds up well and comes across as good rock songs stripped of all the unnecessary thrills.

Another indie band mining the same vein as Verve etc. Fallout aim for that epic rock sound but in all truth they are a little dull; I find my mind wandering as nice melodies float past but don't take root. The problem I have with this type of music is that it is very safe and just not challenging; sure it's played well and would probably sound fine on the radio as background music but for me there is not enough interest.

Unfortunately by the time Surfless take the stage half the audience has gone but they give it their all anyway. Surfless have a big alternative melodic sound that is quite uplifting when it works well but you get the feeling it just isn't clicking tonight and at times some of the band look bored apart from the frontman who is his usual bundle of energy. A good band on their day but tonight is a bit of an anti-climax