The Waysters + Red Letter Day + Stoner + Dregs Of Society - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 24/02/06.

A buzz is in the air tonight as Messclean re-launches itself into the stars and beyond and all that is missing is the late license but it's on the way. That's not going to stop the excitement from growing as a decent sized crowd gather and word spreads that a member of The Kooks is here, along with members of Earl and local bands Carmen Rosa, Nitrate and Sweetedge are all represented and I'm sure there were more that I missed. Could it be that Portsmouth is suddenly the place to be?!

Down to business then with the metal fiends in leather trousers that are Dregs Of Society, thrusting their crotches in any face that happens to glance their way. Yeah they sound like AC/DC slipping a big one to that little Axl Rose chap and his Guns N Roses but sometimes that is all you need; big classic riffs, flailing hair and the chance to rock out. When the vocalist leaves the stage you realise he has one of those mics without a lead and you spend the next half an hour watching him climb around the building, order drinks at the bar and generally get in peoples faces but it's only rock n roll and you've got to love it but there is that little bit in the back of your brain praying he won't make eye contact with you. What you see is what you get with The Dregs, no deep messages, just songs to get drunk to while another guitar solo whips off your head and you resist the urge to go headbang. The Dregs leave a smile on everyone's faces and they have warmed up the ever increasing crowd nicely.

Down from old London town are Stoner who boast to being influenced from everyone from Led Zep to The Police and the trio deliver a near perfect set of indie-pop-rock that does indeed draw on their many influences. Whilst trading in memorable tunes your mind picks out various sounds, a bit of the 80s flew past there, perhaps a bit of Duran Duran followed by some Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and some sweet northern soul vocals that soar and impress greatly with their range. They really are a tight unit, powerful yet hugely melodic and some damn fine tunes that should see them get radio airplay if there is any justice in the world, keep an eye out for a forthcoming single and I have no doubt that we will see them back down this way before long.

Another chapter in the life of Red Letter Day as they reveal new bass player Lisa and announce that this will be the last Pompey gig for guitarist Chris Perrin who has decided to move on. On tonight's show, the Day are in danger of becoming a bit glamorous with Lisa adding sparkle to the old boys set and Chris knocking out the riffs that I'm sure the band will miss.
In terms of performance, they produce another set of classic tunes filled with chant along anthems that Ade spits forth in his Pompey boot boy voice while the music side of things continues with the new rock element kicking the hell out of the street punk to wonderful effect while the dedicated followers let loose at the front of the stage.
Ade does his now expected turn of high leg kicking and generally cuddling every band member within striking distance and getting in their faces before pacing the stage like a hyperactive child bursting with energy. There is an energy and passion about RLD that many younger bands cannot match, they are a gang doing what they love and one hopes that after delivering one of the best albums of their long career, that they can replace Chris with someone who can continue to deliver the goods and if they fit in as well as Lisa then we should see plenty more action from these mainstays of the punk scene.

Are you ready for The Waysters? You'd better be, because if tonight is anything to go by these four 15 year old lads are going to explode all over the place very soon. I've heard a lot about these boys in the past couple of weeks but you kind of think, how can a group of schoolboys be any
good? Well, I have to say,that having met them that they seem like a decent set of blokes with their feet planted firmly on the ground and pleased to be in Portsmouth to do a gig and even more excited that the guitarist from The Kooks was here to check them out. I really didn't know what to expect when they hit the stage, the tracks on MySpace sound decent enough but nothing quite prepared me for the tunes that sprang forth when they hit the stage.
Demonstrating a maturity beyond their years, The Waysters delivered a lesson in perfect modern indie tunes that compare favorably with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party etc. as guitars slash and weave against a solid rhythm section that keep things tight but flowing. There is a good cutting edge to the sound and they possess a vocalist who can actually sing pretty well and whom sounds a lot older than he looks which can only help their cause. While there may be a certain lack of finesse to their stage presence as one might expect from a band just a few gigs in on the road to rock n roll and when talking seem a little embarrassed at being up there but I have no doubts that come the end of the year and a few more gigs they will develop into a force to be reckoned with.
So yeah, The Waysters lived up to the hype I had heard; they have appeared on the scene with a bag full of fantastic songs, the confidence to deliver them live with ease and a crowd eager to see what they can do as the full house at The Frog shows. They already have some decent support slots lined up and I predict that the name will be on many peoples lips in the coming months, so remember that name and if you were lucky enough to be at the gig tonight then you will be one of the lucky ones that can say you saw them first at a small venue.

So then, a terrific end to a fine evening and great to see Messclean full of eager music fans to witness the old and the new and we say welcome to Lisa and The Waysters boys and cheerio to Chris although I have a feeling he will pop up again very soon; just a shame that the young chaps couldn't join the after show party being held in a bar across the road but we downed a few beers for you!

Kuru + The Masters + Hybrasil + The Kundalinis - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 17/02/06.

A good sized crowd have turned out to catch trio The Kundalinis, whose name invokes images of Kula Shaker and 60s throwbacks drowning in a sea of pyschedelia. In reality they combine funk and rock to varying degrees, some verging on commercial appeal but where they really hit the spot is when they go off on psychedelic tangents, flying off on big guitar riffs and soaring instrumentals accompanied by hypnotic beats. These heavier sections point the way forward as the lighter funk rock just pales in comparison and I can imagine then drifting off into the direction of the mighty Loop, all soundscapes and extended workouts; on a personal level a set that left me half cold and half gobsmacked.

Irish band Hybrasil turn out to be something of a revelation, the five piece delivering a quite spectacular mix of hooks, noise and beats.

From the bio on their website it would appear that they have a good deal of previous band experience and tonight it shows as they drown us in sugar coated pop hooks submerged beneath a flow of 80s inspired guitar noise that made the likes of My Bloody Valentine & The Jesus And Mary Chain spring to mind. Add into the mix some driving beats and bass and you have some fine foot stomping material that will no doubt reach a wider audience in the coming months. The keyboards are slightly lost tonight in the twin guitar attack, a shame as the recorded material features them quite prominently and adds a nice pop sheen to the tracks but this time they take a back seat.
Hybrasil are another of those bands that really deserve a bigger audience and unfortunately they suffer the recurring problem of being the outside band playing on a local bill and while they get a good response you feel that really they should have a mad little pit going in front of the stage but they plough on regardless and I for one thoroughly enjoyed their noise soaked pop and firmly recommend them to anyone with an interest in good indie music and if they don't get to play bigger gigs soon I shall be very surprised. All credit to the band for hanging around a while and especially drummer Neil and synth player Joe who stayed to the bitter end and forced themselves to do extra drinking at a local club with the Messclean mob; it was a pleasure gentlemen and I hope you got back to the hotel OK!

The Masters deliver their usual solid set of indie/rock/funk/ska and there lies the biggest problem, it always appears they are trying to cover too many bases. It does show that they are accomplished musicians and they are good at what they do but you always feel it lacks a focal point for the audience and that they are not going to attract any one type of fan which is OK if you like that general foot tapping experience while you down a pint but is hardly likely to inspire eternal devotion. And it does appear that people are generally drifting away during their set which is a shame for the last band who have ventured down from Essex.

Not that it appears to bother Kuru who take to the stage with a sparse remaining crowd to watch them and once again, another fine band that deserve a larger audience.

Kuru play epic alt.rock with hints of progressive mellowness and hardcore aggression, at times happy to slow things down and build the tension before unleashing powerful waves of heaviness but never straying far from a decent tune. Their man mountain of a frontman revealing a fine singing voice that can glide from gentle melodies to fierce metal attacks.

Whilst being a heavy band they shy away from becoming an out and out metal band and their strength lies in composing epic tracks that deliver melody with feeling, I guess they would appeal to those that like a sensitive side with their heaviness along the lines of Tool, Janes Addiction etc and while they are not quite at the same level as them yet I see no reason why they shouldn't blossom into a force to be reckoned with on the alt.rock scene. Shame on all the people who left early and missed some fine bands, hopefully this will soon be a thing of the past as Messclean up the publicity and try to make the locals realise that it is one of the few small venues in the town hosting regular gigs and needs their support on a weekly basis.

Photo test!

Testing the photo upload...ahh technology...haven't got a clue!

Sunn O))) + Earth - Islington Academy, London. 10/02/06.

Earth - They are the fathers of drone and they were on their game. That trombone is fucking awesome BRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRR! Although I would have enjoyed it more if they weren't trying to compete with their doomy proteges and dark lords of drones SUNN O))

Now let me make this abundantly clear, this was not a gig, this was an endurance test. At no single point during their 'set' was anything even remotely enjoyable or fun. Now, I'm not a newcomer to extreme music but this pushed every boundary. First of all you had to compete with the sheer volume. I've been to one or two gigs in my time but this was on a completely different scale. How can I describe it? Well, you know that thing that happens to your ears when you only open one window of a car and there's that bassy flapping type sound that seems to push your head inwards. Well that's how the show started. But it lasted about 10 minutes and was turned up to an inhuman volume. I've been to loud shows before and I've been to sunn o)) shows before but this was something else entirely.

So after this 'intro', Sir Steven of O'Malley and Lord Greg of Anderson glided onto the zero-visibility dry-iced stage, clad in their hooded robes, and picked up their gloom axes. And thus beganeth the show. Holy fucking fuck. This is when people started dropping. The guy standing directly behind me, who had spent the whole night explaining his metal gig credentials to anyone who cared to listen, just flat passed out. His head hit my shoulder and he was out. He was moved to one side, the eternal drone lords before us oblivious to the carnage they were creating, oblivious to it or reveling in it I could not tell. The the chap next me knelt down in an attempt not to vomit. He succeeded, just. But his mate wasn't so lucky and had to rush off in quite a hurry. The loud, fat, obnoxious, drunk, ginger man who was standing directly in front of me and had generally irritated me for the entire evening now had both his hands firmly clamped over his ears and, after about half an hour he too had to leave the room. Then the vocalist came onto the stage. I don't know who this man is but he has face paint like Gene Simmons and a big fucking robe. Obviously. He repeatedly screamed two words in some unholy language, the man a mouthpiece for Satan himself. And what then? Well, it all got fucking louder didn't it. Greg Anderson summoning his minions with a cloven hoof, Steven O'Malley pointing to his next victim and hugging the wall of Sunn amps that decorated the stage, the 'vocalist' screaming prayers to some dark demon and the audience close to tears. The next half hour was painful. At every single point I wanted it to end but, at the same time wanted it to last forever. The climax eventually came after just over an hour. Both Dark Lords had now placed their axes on top of the wall of amps and were holding the amps, giving the appearance of some kind of sub-bass crucifixion. And then nothing. Except for an ache in every part of my body.

I can honestly say I have never had such an intense experience in music. It was completely crushing. I hope I never have to do it again, but I'm glad I did it once. Sunn O)) demonstrate how there are still boundaries to be pushed in music. Music can make you feel things both emotionally AND physically. They left the audience shit smeared, vomit stained, unconscious, deaf and bruised but no one could walk away from that saying they were unaffected. I didn't enjoy (in the traditional sense) one second of the show but feel a more complete person for seeing it. I can comprehensively state that you can stick all your fucking 'emo' up your arse. Music shouldn't always be 'easy on the ear'. It doesn't have to be 'fun' and it certainly doesn't have to have 'a good chorus'. Sometimes it has to hurt. Sometimes it has to leave you physically scarred. This is what music is all about. Truly breathtaking. Quite literally.
(AdDEM - Dragon Eye Morrison)

The Strokes + Shout Out Louds + The Ridgeway - Guildhall, Portsmouth. 04/02/06

All credit to The Strokes for having a local band on first each night, not sure how or why the bands have been picked but I'm sure a few strings have been pulled to get The Ridgeway up there on stage and as is usual with the big gigs, they put the first band on almost as soon as the doors have been opened so people are still waiting to get in or trying to buy a pint so only a few get to see The Ridgeway in action. They have been on the local seen a fair while and last time I saw them they left me cold, they have updated their sound a bit now and the odd song has the echo of a Franz groove and a Bloc beat which is no bad thing mixed up with their fine vocal melodies. However, while they are an extremely competent band you can't help but think there are more exciting bands around; polished and well crafted songs they may be but they do not oooze rock n roll. They get a nice reception from those that have managed to get in early and I'm sure they will be well pleased with their performance.

Sweden's Shout Out Louds are a geeky looking bunch, resembling a bunch of misfits who were probably picked on at school, they sound like Robert Smith (The Cure) fronting a band playing pop versions of bands like Dinosaur Jnr and Pavement. I thoroughly enjoy them as they whip through a fascinating set of clap along tunes, distorted pop gems twisted into new shapes as shiny as the keyboard players party dress.

This gig sold out instantly and the place is packed with a mixture of older indie heads and young 'scene' types with the right clothes and hair all eager for their first glimpse of The Strokes who are greeted like gods as they launch into Modern Age and Juice Box. Now, I've never been a massive fan, I have the first couple of singles then lost interest and I get the same feeling tonight as I watch the pit in the middle going mad to everything while I find moments of pure joy (Last Nite and New York City Cops) and moments of mind numbing blandness. While they may have some outstanding tracks you also get the feeling they have a lot of filler material that just floats by in a wave of usual Strokes; they sound perfect on stage apart from the mumblings of a front man who looks like he can be barely bothered to reach for the mic but hey, it's all part of the image ands I'm sure the fans love it but to be honest, the band look bored beyond belief despite playing note perfect versions of 12:51, Hard To Explain, Reptilia and many more. They had a decent light show and projections to go with it which is probably just as well because without those distractions it would be one boring gig to watch. But like I say, I'm not a massive fan, I like the casual listen now and then and I'm sure if you asked 99% of the others here they would say it was fantastic but I'm not covinced and I like a little more substance with my style. A massive success for The Strokes then and a partially satisfying gig for me but as a wise man said to me afterwards, they are kind of like The Ramones in that much of their material sounds similar but if you like one song then you are likely to enjoy all of them, and I think he has hit the nail on the head there and he really enjoyed it!

Duri + Apnia + K'Junga + Satartia - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front. 27/01/06.

A bit of a sad night this as headliners Duri have announced that they are splitting up and this will be their last gig but on the other hand we have a sparkling new band making their debut going by the name of Satartia. This fresh faced trio may lack that stage finesse that only comes with time (I remember seeing Duri a few years back when they looked almost embarrassed to be on stage!) but they do possess some promising sounds; there's a nice alternative rock feel about them, a hint of metal every now and then but the tunes are well put together, nice and catchy with a decent sound and once they have played live a few times the songs should start to grow and take on a life of their own as long as the band continue to let them flow. One minus point for the particularly horrid jumper the bass player was wearing; remember we have to look at you so unless you are going for that geeky look, throw the jumper out!

I've knocked K'Junga in the past for for their 'local band' name and I still don't like it but tonight, musically, they left their mark on me which is a step in the right direction. They are a band that have that chugging guitar thing going on, crunching metal with a hint of hardcore and rap metal, think along the lines of Faith No More in their heavier moments. While not particularly original, they play well and get the crowd moving with some decent grooves and heavy riffage. Yeah, tonight I enjoy them, perhaps I have my metal head on, sometimes you can see a band a few times and not really get them and then one night it just hits the right spot. Still hate the name though!

I have always enjoyed Apnia, their dark brooding metal having etched a little scar in my soul, so it is with some interest that I watch them tonight as they have added a male vocalist into the mix. Needless to say, the music is as grand and heavy as we would expect from these black hearted beings; the mellow sections now seeming quieter while the heavy segments appear to thrash out more, but a dark heart still beats behind it all. The vocals of Laura are still spine tingling and cold, very powerful and the melodic verses sung with Dan are working well, however you get the feeling that the male vocals are working only as a back up to Laura at the moment as you are waiting for a big male vocal to impact at any moment but it never really arrives and I hope that they exploit this more in the future and I really hope they drop the 'standing in the middle of the stage gazing at each other' thing when duetting as it smacks of The Carpenters (not that there is anything wrong with The Carpenters, quite like them but not in the middle of an Apnia gig!), I would rather see them at opposite ends of the stage but it is a minor gripe and I am sure things will progress the more they gig with the dual vocal thing. A fine gig anyway and the sounds are developing in an interesting manner.

So, here it is then, the final gig from Duri whom I never felt got the praise they deserved, probably because they were not trendy enough and went for the rock route with decent tunes. It almost brings a tear to the eye as you see Jaye taking to the stage with her now familiar war paint splashed across her cheek and tonight they deliver probably the best set they have ever done and it makes you wonder why they are jacking it in though there is no doubt in my mind that we will see them all back on the stage in one form or another before long as there is an obvious love for performing up there. It is always great seeing a band that just get you going, tunes that click instantly and that is/was the beauty of Duri, a coupling of heavy grinding riffs with big gorgeous pop hooks that stick to you like super glue and it is no surprise that they are called back for a couple of encores, they do look genuinely upset that it has come to an end and I'm sure they have their reasons but it is a shame to see a quality band bite the dust. So, thanks for the good tunes that you leave with us and the memories of a few cracking gigs and we hope to see you around making music sometime soon.

16 Bronsons + Arrowshy + Enochian Theory + Wilf - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front. 20/01/06

Nice packed venue tonight, just the way it should be and with Messclean getting their organized heads on it looks like many more nights will be rammed so onwards and upwards as they say. First up tonight are Wilf, who waver precariously over the divide between commercial appeal and balls out rock, fine vocal melodies twist into pop hooks backed up by a tough mix of rock/punk and indie. Probably a tad too nice and sing along for a metal crowd and too heavy for the indie chin strokers, Wilf non the less deliver a highly pleasing set of tunes that would appeal to those that like mainstream acts such as Green Day and Feeder.

Enochian Theory are a wonder to behold, atmospheric progressive metal epics that trip out on extended journeys to another world, crescendi building and falling over into death metal grunts before giving way to gentle flows and ebbing keyboards. Highly intelligent music that comes over as one extended soundtrack is how it feels tonight with plenty of unexpected time changes and the fine vocal prowess of Ben Hayes a particular highlight in that he must be one of the finest rock warblers in the area with an ability to sing like an angel before releasing some kind of demonic possessed type belch. I'm not sure that the whole audience enjoyed it quite as much as me, those after a quick fix of energy would have been left wilting but those with a bent for artistic rock, Tool spring to mind, would have been as entranced as me.

With a vocalist stripped to the waist ready for action and a gaggle of girls at the front, Arrowshy hit the stage with their accessible modern metal pulling at the ends of emo shirt tails and giving them a good kicking. They are a band that know how to build a tune and charge the atmosphere, harsh blast beats collapsing under memorable choruses that invoke the crowd to sing along; a crowd made up of emo looking kids, metallers and trendy types more normally seen down the bars in Guildhall Walk with their nice shoes and distressed jeans but it shows the crossover appeal that Arrowshy have with their commercial edge. They go down well and are probably the band who get most attention tonight.

16 Bronsons are probably one of the reasons why Vanity Project exists, in that mainman Skif ran a small Pompey based record label called Elastic Fiction (go contact him via the website as I think he still has some tapes and compilation albums under his bed that he wants to dish out!) and put a couple of 16 Bronsons CDs out and did indeed manage them for a while before they went their separate ways. But now they are back a little older, probably a little wiser and possibly a bit more sober judging from the tales I have heard! The Bronsons are good old fashioned lout rock, foot to the floor rock n roll mainlined with punk adrenalin, drums clatter away while the bass pounds, keeping the ragged guitars in check while they deliver cracking tunes through the debris. Afterwards people were saying it's like they had never been away and all that was lacking was a drunken Skif and sidekick Leon dancing down the front and while that would have been a fine sight to behold it was pleasing enough to see a band cutting through the crap and delivering music just the way it should be done, upfront and down your throat washed down with a gallon of beer.

The Exits + Gilkicker + Lux Luther - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth.14/01/06.

Exciting times for The Exits as heads are turning and here they are with a sell out crowd at The Wedgewood Rooms. The beer is flowing freely and the first of the hand picked support bands is Lux Luther, a band fronted by Ben formerly of major label types Ben&Jason who swoons his way through a number of well crafted tunes while playing his keyboard and the rest of the band move between bittersweet melodies and good old rocking out; they sound like Keane with a harder edge and have decent enough tunes to warrant a crack at the wider market which is the feeling you get when watching them, that they are aiming for higher things and the set tonight is well received and you see that they may just get somewhere.

Gilkicker are a local band relocated to London to try and make that breakthrough into the big time, they are a perfect support band in that those that have had a few beers and want to get down can dance along to the head nodding beat that hints at The Coral and a kind of cowboy twang. They have that head wobbling Beatles kind of thing going on that fits with the beats perfectly and they get the crowd moving, you get the feeling that they spend their days listening to 60s bands like The Kinks and letting the influence seep into their sounds although it can sound a bit samey after a while but as I said, perfect warm up material for those that like a dance.

The Exits have gone all professional and got a big posh backdrop and a new bass drum with their name on it and it all looks very good as a siren begins to wail and the packed crowd start to cheer as if this is some sort of chart topping band. It would appear that word is spreading about The Exits as people are pushed up against the barrier and the boys emerge looking confident and ready for action. I've reviewed the band several times before and I'm really pleased that they have pulled this gig off, they sound big and fantastic, the tunes need a big space and sound so the synth lines can vibrate your teeth and the beats infect your body. The crowd love it, some seem to know all the words to every song while others are just getting on down. Up on stage the band are looking and sounding confident with front man Ray swaggering around and who can blame him tonight with the reception they are getting; on the down side I feel that the sound wasn't quite as top notch as the last Wedge gig, the synths and guitars seemed to get a bit lost at times but it is a minor quibble as I don't think too many others noticed. As I said once before, I don't think there is a weak song in the set, each tune has a bright character of its own and there are plenty of big pop hooks in there to latch on to and swing around your brain until the cows come home and the new tune aired at the end sends the place wild, a sure fire club classic if ever I heard one and it deserves to be pressed up on 12" vinyl and pumped out at full volume. A well deserved headline gig and a great night, let's hope they go from strength to strength this year and in the mean time I will try to find something to slag off about them so their heads don't get too big.

The Deads + Ipanema + The Gents + Chief - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front. 13/01/06.

Chief is front man Nik Karlberg of indie rockers Silicon Sun in his new solo guise, a man with an air of mystery and higher planes about him who looks like he does a lot of deep soul searching. Tonight is a gentle acoustic affair that in typical fashion is lost beneath a wave of chatter and bar noise, the opening notes a lilting oriental instrumental that sounds lovely from where I'm standing. He proceeds to strum some gentle tunes complimented by his strong voice but he battles to maintain the audiences interest, not because he is bad but because it is not immediate enough and people don't want to have to concentrate which is a shame as it would appear they are missing out on some decent tunes and fascinating lyrics. Perhaps a smaller venue would be more suitable next time or a dedicated acoustic evening where Chief will get the attention he deserves.

Some bands just deserve a good slagging off and I try not to do it but The Gents are pretty awful and you can almost hear the groans reverberate off the walls as another band cover Oasis and deliver piss weak indie. In their favour they are young and may yet see the error of their ways and while the energetic vocalist tries to ham it up with some attitude you just end up thinking 'twat' and going back to the bar. I really do hate putting bands down but you really do wonder how some bands come out of their rehearsal room thinking they are good!

No such problems for Ipanema who sort out the men from the boys, containing Wiz and Gerry who spent some time assaulting the venues around the UK in Mega City Four. The experience shows as the trio plug in and a big lush guitar sound hits us, dark indie rock dripping with bittersweet melodies and a throbbing pulse. They must wonder what they are doing here really, having to follow The Gents but they do not let that deter them as they rip through a fast paced set of impressive tunes that easily live up to the recent release on Boss Tuneage that has turned a few heads. It always amazes me that some bands have such problems down the Frog with sound, not being a technical person it all floats over me, but then along comes a band who know what they are doing, don't complain just plug in and sound massive. I was hoping a few more faces would turn up for this gig as they really missed a treat, it's not often you get a band of this quality in such a small venue and you kind of think that if they were a new band without all the history they would be filling the Wedgewood Rooms easily by now with the press fighting to get hold of them but alas, it is just us lucky few that have the delight of catching a band that are on fire in a live situation. If you like powerful indie rock, slightly on the dark side but with plenty of melody and passion then I strongly recommend Ipanema, the mini album is impressive but at a gig is where you really need to see them, you won't regret it.

To follow on from such a good band is a big task and The Deads have a damn good go at letting rip with their beat infected rock. They too suffered the curse of technical problems as their sax could not be heard and I've seen them do better gigs where they feed off positive audiences but tonight they are having an uphill struggle as the vocalist looks like he is having a 50,000 volt fit on the stage before swearing at the audience and rolling around on the floor in front of the stage. It is quite a sight and highly unlikely to get anyone right down the front unless they are mad or totally under the influence but it all adds to The Deads experience. Tonight it doesn't happen for them but on their day they can an electrifying band, roll on the next gig

Night Of Treason + Slippery Jack - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 06/01/06.

Now, I'm happy to admit that I'm not a big fan of covers bands and would rather see some fresh original talent but as I have become part of the furniture down at Messclean I feel it's only fair to pass the odd comment on the night. Slippery Jack take all the usual tunes such as Paint It Black, Stepping Stone, That's Entertainment etc and do some decent versions, they are good muscians and it's quite enjoyable in that not having to really pay attention kind of way.

Night Of Treason have agreed to do two sets tonight as one band dropped out so all credit to them as they dive into the likes of New Rose and Pretty Vacant. They play each song with gusto and a love for the material they are covering despite a sluggish post xmas/new year audience small in number. They do well by covering some of the more obscure material and one can't slam them for their enthusiasm and commitment, once again a very competent band doing decent covers.

The Good Time Charlies + The Sportiques + Room 99 + The Missfits + Big Squirrel - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. 28/12/05.

There is never much to do in that post Christmas pre new year week so having the chance to see five bands for a fiver is the perfect pick me up and it is a real treat to be greeted by the sound of some vinyl being spun, the crackles and hisses setting up the atmosphere nicely for Big Squirrel and their lo-fi garage attack. The Squirrel number two, just a drum kit and a rather battered acoustic for company but fuck me they make a decent racket out of it. I had them down as garage freaks but tonight with a decent sound it becomes clear that there is more going on in these songs than meets the ear at first listen, it's like they have melted down The Pixies, RFTC etc and short circuited them and fed them through a cheap radio then turned the volume up full. A wonderful dry humour is aired tonight with some amusing banter passing between the Squirrels but come the songs again, we are back to the business of eating up some good honest rock n roll music.

The Missfits are a shambolic affair, a mix n match collection of old Pompey faces who should know better fronted by three female vocalists. This is classic 60s garage rock n soul with Shangri-las vocals, it is fun and light hearted and works well against the sparkly background that brings to mind working mens clubs and meat raffles. The band really are rather charming and it makes for a pleasant listen.

I am sure Room 99 have been put on in the middle just to give us oldies a kick up the backside, their youthful energy directed into aggressive 100mph punk rock that fortunately seems to have both feet planted firmly in British punk rock rather than the American sugar coated pop punk that is so popular at the moment. Plenty of shouting and fast riffs are aired as this brash band do their best to alienate the slightly older audience but they go down well and would easily be able to hold their own on a punk bill.

While The Sportiques may not be the most original band around, they are good at what they do which is straight ahead garage rock. I've never seen them do a bad gig and whilst you get no surprises you know you are going to be able to go and watch them, tap your foot and try to pick out The Green Hornets cover version that is a standard in the set which leads nicely on to The Good Time Charlies who feature a couple of members form the legend that is The Green Hornets (as people who witnessed them keep telling me just to rub it in because I never had that pleasure!). Another band who never seem to do a bad show, their experience showing as they slip into a set of well crafted rock n roll tunes that flow like a good red wine and improve with age. If I'm not mistaken they are now on to their third album so there is plenty of material to draw on, each tune a rockin' trundle of throbbing bass, clattering drums, well drilled guitars and some decent vocal melodies hung onto some meaty hooks. Fellow Turbojugend Portsmouth member Nish, is the larger than life ring master prowling the centre of the stage pounding on his bass and talking with the audience while Steve and Craig garage up the oily riffs either side and Andy nails the beats to the floor. They inspire some terrific drunken dancing down the front and it's no wonder as they really are a fine rock band, pure and simple; nothing flash or over the top needed here as the songs speak for themselves. A perfect band to see at the last gig of the year, rounds it off nicely.

Filthy Xxxxmas ft Dragon Eye Morrison + Little London + Mister Doom + Sons Of Cain - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 23/12/05

A final get together for the near legendary Filth Trinity, it's nearly Christmas and we've got a bit of a 'local crew' works drink get together so this night was always destined to be a little messy and just a bit hazy to the memory as the taking notes went out the window after the fourth pint of cider!

Sons Of Cain have appeared from nowhere, no one seems to know who they are or where they come from and I can find no trace on the web (though I notice they are playing Messclean again in March), they are a perfect starter for the filthy night as they dive headfirst into a set of groove laden dirt rock. Hardcore fury bangs heads with stoner wipe outs, crust coated fingers work magic on the guitars as they slay us with some fine tunes riddled with aggression and power, a welcome addition to the filth trinity and a pleasant surprise to find such a good band on first.

Having seen Mister Doom make their debut a couple of years back with some shuddering doom encrusted rock, it has been a pleasure to see them transforming into some kind of metallic stoner superbeast as they weld classic metal shapes to drawn out stoner plains moving back and forth between them licking at the sharp edges and cutting through with shattered glass slicing people up as they power on. Admittedly, the dodgy Santa outfits are a bit of a distraction tonight especially the black PVC one but these boys get better and better each time I see them and I look forward to seeing where the superbeast stops off next.

Already the cider is soaking my brain as Little London hit on us with their rock n roll. Possibly my favourite Pompey band, they never fail to deliver a cracking set and as one of Mister Doom sits on a chair in front of them being lap danced by four young ladies you realize just how damn sexy the music is. It's quite possible that they slip in a QOTSA cover next to a couple of Therapy? tunes which kind of indicates where their hearts lie, down a dark alley with a bottle of Jack, a bag full of drugs and some loose women. It's rousing stuff and front man Dev is being his usual cheeky self as he announces from the stage that we all need a bit of pussy as he watches the lap dance before he catches my eye and says Grebo needs some pussy before mumbling something about me being married and we won't go there; luckily Mrs.G standing next to me sees the funny side and you've got to love them, a real good time band and they are on top form tonight.

At this point, free pints of cider keep arriving so it all goes a bit vague from here, I remember Dragon Eye Morrison spewing out molten rocket fuelled metal and their Christmas hats flying off within a few seconds as they let rip with pummeling riffs, frontman Adam trying to destroy everything around him as usual as the guitar is used and abused. A vague recollection of Pantera being covered and technical mishaps but fuck it, from what I remember it was fantastic and everyone had a great time, a perfect end to a year of gigging. Apologies to anyone I stumbled into, hugged, mumbled complete nonsense to or tried to have sex with, it was just one of those nights!

Deville + Lucie & The Cubez - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 16/12/05.

One of those nights where bands pull out at the last moment or simply don't turn up so we are left with just two bands tonight and first up are Lucie & The Cubez who struggle from the off. They are only at the early stages of their live experience and it badly shows as 'Lucie' looks awkward on stage and while she possesses a decent voice it is hidden behind a timid stage manner and bad posture for a singer so rather than opening up it's hidden away and sung to the floor. Musically it is slightly plodding light rock with a distinct lack of tunes, the band relying on the half decent voice to carry them and it just doesn't work as they lack a real spark. Perhaps in the future it will come together but they are going to need a stronger set if they are to make a break through.

No lack of confidence with Deville as they deliver another fast paced set of yob rock and brattish behaviour. The normal rowdy following are absent tonight for some reason so it appears the band don't quite get enough feedback to react to so it won't go down as a classic Deville gig but the new songs played tonight are punked up anthems and point to a slight shift in direction that should be lapped up when the hoards return. There is no doubt that Deville are a band, much like The Libertines/Baby Shambles fiasco, that one is going to love or hate, no middle ground here. The personality of the band is integral to the sound and you can't enjoy the sounds unless you like the band and vice versa, if you see them and think twats you are going to hate them which is no bad in these times of safe Coldplay Dad Indie rock. Having witnessed these boys a few times now, it becomes clear that their love for rock n roll is genuine and they want to live it to the full, they've grown on me and while they not be the most original band around you can't knock their commitment to the cause.

The Human League + Hoboken - Guildhall, Southampton. 11/12/05.

When I got a call to go and do local crew work at this gig I jumped at the chance and even did the stop on where you remain there all day just so I could watch the gig. I've loved The Human League since I was at school when I had a major crush on the two League ladies; I admit I wasn't in on them right at the start when they were considered the cutting edge of electronic artiness but we had a fine record shop in Leighton Buzzard where I was able to purchase all my vinyl from Discharge, GBH to Gene Loves Jezebel and The March Violets. This is where I picked up my first couple of HL 12" singles, these being Sound Of The Crowd and Love Action and while I did lose them for a while I have come back to loving them via a Greatest Hits CD so this was a gig not to be missed.

So it was an early start with plenty of setting gear up, a nice white futuristic stage design with lights spelling out words and pictures as a back drop and then my first highlight of the day seeing Joanne and Susanne wander in to the catering area and my heart did a little skip and a jump, nice as pie they were and very down to earth and I didn't say a word!
Second highlight comes when Phil Oakey (looking pretty good for his age I may add!) walks in and sits a couple of seats away and the band on stage start their soundcheck and they kick of with Being Boiled, my favourite HL song and the hairs stand up on my arm as it sounds wonderful with these big synth sounds filling the empty hall and I feel like a little kid at christmas time.
Then it's a case of hanging around until showtime and I watch the odd collection of punters arrive, a real mixture of age groups and types from Goths to grannies and the rush for the barrier is quite spectacular and totally unexpected! Support band Hoboken have obviously been chosen carefully, a nice electronic band who look a little geeky with their computer screen and synth drums. They hark back to the 80s but also manage to sound modern, someone keeps shouting out Kraftwerk at them but that is wide of the mark as there is a more human element to them; I'm thinking more Ultravox meets early Depeche Mode with decent tunes and a confidence that allows the front man to stroll around the stage looking like a modern day Midge Ure while leaving the stage to get a drink and all they really need is a mass of screaming girls when he walks back on! They are an interesting band and as I help them clear the equipment from the stage I find they are perfect gentlemen as we don't always get a thankyou for lugging stuff about. Definitely ones to check out if you like abit of retro electronic/new wave/romantic action.

As I'm hanging about backstage for my next job of pulling a large curtain off the stage that will drop when THL music kicks in, I catch a glimpse of the band and some PVC and my pulse goes through the roof and as soon as that curtain is packed I'm out and down the front with a big stupid grin on my face. This is a set of greatest hits as Phil is aiming to move the band on judging by an interview I read recently, and they all sound fantastic. Make no mistake here, this isn't the three vocalists plus a backing band, this a fully functioning Human League and as Tell Me When sparkles into action you just know it's going to be a great gig. They cover later material such as Louise and Heart Like Wheel that sound much better live than on record though there is no denying they have a knack for writing perfect pop hits; earlier tracks like the legendary Things That Dreams Are Made Of and Empire State Human that sound as fresh as ever while the guitars are brought out for the underrated Lebanon.
There are a couple of costume changes and the ladies get to sing a couple of songs and do there dodgy disco dancing while Phil roams the stage, still the heart throb and loving every second of it. The packed audience love every second also and as I look around there are people singing along, hugging each other and having a great time which is what it should all be about. They close on Fascination and Don't You Want Me but there is no way they are leaving without an encore so they come back to do Being Boiled and end with Electric Dreams. We don't want it to end but they have done twenty songs, each one a true classic and this has to be one of my gigs of the year, definitely the most enjoyable.
I spend the next couple of hours loading the gear out but this time feeling wide awake and happy to be doing it after such a great gig, I think some of the younger lads think I'm a bit strange as they just think of THL as some old 80s band without realising just how cutting edge they were and what perfect pop hits they write.

Your Heart Kills + Second Monday + 9 Months Waiting - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 09/12/05.

One of those nights where everyone decided to stay at home for whatever reason which always makes for a poor atmosphere but you can't fault the bands performance wise as they get stuck in. 9 Months waiting come from the emo/screamo end of the spectrum which is enough to put you off before starting and despite looking like they have been to the same emo school of guitar shape throwing as all the other emo bands they sound pretty decent, angular emo rock with melodic sections without being wimpy. They reminded me of a less dramatic At The Drive-In but they do try to liven up the place, though at times they verge on the irritating but the nice touches in the music just about outweigh the negatives.

With some of the bands complaining because their fans couldn't get in as they were under age for the pub the evening was in danger of becoming a wash out so it was just as well that Second Monday were outstanding, an emo heart with layers of thick alt.rock and a slightly more accessible sound and there is something to be said for a little substance over style. This impressive five piece hit a nice groove and beef it up with some keyboard action although there is a tendency to slip in some of those whiney emo vocals that annoy me so much. they have anice edge though and you kind of feel there is a big epic rock band just waiting to burst out in the future.

Your Heart Kills while still having an emo flavour are more direct and therefore more satisfying with a hearty dual vocal thing going on between a bear with a sore head and some light melodies. They have a confident full sound with those odd time changes just to throw you and delight the emo kids and while they are not up to challenging Second Monday they produce a solid set while not being spectacular.

The Torpedoes + One LIfe Left + My Retro Console + If Destroyed Still True - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 02/12/05.

It is always a treat to have an opening band who have that wow factor and If Destroyed Still True are a quite magnificent band. They conjure up sounds that hint at country twangs, hushed melodies that get wiped out by bursts of alt.rock noise, a sparkling yet dense sound like a black hole collapsing in on itself dragging stars with it kicking and screaming. A dual guitar and vocal attack works really well and they weave and entwine in intelligent ways to create a brooding heaviness wrapped up in power and melody; an impressive start to the night.

My Retro Console (who have since had a name change...I will come back with it! KIDidiot is now the name) on the other hand are a sunshine band, a trio with perky punk pop tunes and an abundance of humour that bring a smile to your face and a need to tap your foot. They are masters of perfect pop hooks and quirky lyrics and are deserving of a larger audience with their sound perched just on the edge of MTV rotation. If you need cheering up then go see these boys as you will leave with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.

Some bands just float by you and One Life left nearly did that tonight; if I hadn't been paying attention like 90% of the others who drifted back to the bar I would have missed this treat. This is a band who grow on you, what sounds like bland indie music actually evolves into some grand epics that hint of a love of Muse and dramatic sweeps of guitar. The vocalist has a decent range and can hit the high notes well and despite looking like an odd misfit type band they work surprisingly well together to produce an original and compelling set. They won me over in the end, but a band that need your full attention in a live situation.

The problem with local nights is that you catch the same bands evry few months and it becomes difficult to think of new things to say; The Torpedoes I have seen several times, clad in black and pumping out 80s tinged rock n roll with Goth undertows and I thoroughly enjoy them each time I come across them. They are one of those bands that never change and will never be on the 'hip' list but are always solid and deliver another good set of head down rock n groove. I love it but it would sound so much better with a big crowd and some atmosphere.

Turbonegro + Juliette & The Licks - Koko, London. 30/11/05.

This gig had caused a fair bit of excitement within the Portsmouth Turbojugend as our esteemed president Johnny 'Spankmaster' H. had been enlisted by Turbonegro to be soundman for the European tour and we know he likes it loud so we all ventured up for this event arriving in time for a few pints in the pub round the corner where we eyed up Happy Tom and drummer Chris Summers before Johnny joined us and informed the excited rabble that the sound in Koko was shit before Tom and Chris came over to say Hi which made us jugends very happy.

Of course, the venue is awash with denim clad recruits drinking the very expensive beer, £4 for a can of cider...what is that all about? We have the pleasant task of watching Juliette & The Licks first, fronted by 'film star' Juliette Lewis who makes a damn fine rock vocalist kitted out in a skin hugging white outfit and letting rip with some meaty vocals and rock theatrics. The band are solid if a little unspectacular but they provide some decent rock n roll with a fist full of tunes and lets face it, most of us are just watching Juliette anyway as she whirls around the stage headbanging and throwing herself into the crowd. It's a decent set that keeps the denim demons happy for 45 minutes and they get a good reception.

I manage to get to the second row for the start of Turbonegro, right in front of Euroboy and Pal Pot with his knackered keyboard and the sound is crystal clear, don't know what Johnny was worried about! Now, I have no idea what order any of the songs came in but our beloved band delivered a set of old and recent classics, each one a chant a long anthem fuelled by the power of rock n roll death punk, several hundred denim clad brothers and sisters sweating and singing everyword as Uncle Hank conducts from the stage, a fine figure of a man. As if meeting Tom & Chris wasn't enough I get to support a Euroboy foot as he does his crowd solo and I'm a happy little Jugend tonight. It really doesn't matter what songs are played at the end of the day as this is about a coming together of like minded souls who want to have a damn fine night out listening to decent rock n roll music with one of the best live bands out there. It goes without saying that the night ends with everyone singing "I got erection" as loud as possible before the Greek dancing kicks in to clear the pit. A magnificent night of denim action from the best band in the world right now...well, according to me anyway and my fellow Jugends and you don't want to argue with that.