The Sportiques + Big Squirrel + Spinouts + Eleanor - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 24/03/06.

Another sweltering night down Messclean and I really wish they would sort out the air conditioning as I'm not sure how long I can put up with swimming around in pools of sweat and believe me there was plenty of it tonight. Bit of a rock n roll/garage theme tonight as The Good Time Charlies were supposed to be headlining but had to pull out due to drummer injuries (what is it with drummers & injuries?!) but they are still represented as Big Squirrel have stepped in and bass thing Nish is lurking on the fringes.

But first of all we have solo act Eleanor to confuse us all. Now, I know the Messclean team love Eleanor and she certainly has a smile that could melt any heart from a hundred metres and when she sings those fizzy punkish pop numbers she has a fantastic voice, but, she lacks a backing band and that's where the problem lies as she looks a little lost on the stage singing along to a backing track. Stick a full band behind her and the bubblegum punk would sparkle to life, then strip away the couple of more mature Sunday morning tunes and replace them with even more of that life affirming fizziness that Eleanor is so good at and we'd be on to a winner. So next time I want to see a band for Eleanor to feed off of!

Spinouts are all about taking garage rock, beefing it up with customised harmonies, giving it fat wheels and sprinkling the whole shebang with glitter. Within one song, Spinouts are drenched in sweat as they rock out with twin guitar action, stabbing riffs giving away to sprawling feedback as a thunderous, yet glamorous bass pummels away at your skull so you can't fail to take notice of them.
Let's not forget the tunes though as there are plenty of them, big, big tunes that are sharp and to the point, stripped away of any flab so we are left with just the cream of rock n roll energy and there is plenty of that emanating from the stage as the temperature rises steadily to almost unbearable highs and the band are in danger of having their heads explode. Yes, Spinouts are a rather fine band and I urge you to go shake your thing to their powerful rock n roll energy if they happen to stop by your way, you won't regret it, I promise you.

So, onto Big Squirrel and our paths cross once more and do you know what? Our paths could cross every day and still I would be happy to watch this duo create mayhem with just a drum kit and guitar. Everytime I see this band I am amazed at what hits me and tonight I'm glad it wasn't a drumstick, as Steve seems to be having a few problems keeping hold of them, for what reason one can only guess as he is reduced at one point to playing the kit with one hand and one stick...genius. But then the whole concept of Big Squirrel is genius, making as much noise as possible with as little as possible while sticking their tongue firmly in their cheek, your cheek and quite possibly between your backside cheeks. I mean, just watch that Tom chap as he slips in some lyric changes to German Sex Tourist to bring in Gary Glitter and a subtle change to English Sex tourist, clever things these squirrels and then there are the tunes; catchy as fuck dirty riffs that melt down Motown with the blues and shape it into some alt-rock/garage hybrid. I doubt if they really care what you call it, but it will leave you itching in the morning.
It's rubbish trying to explain what they are like, I can give a rough idea of the music but what you miss is the humour, the never ending banter that comes with seeing a Big Squirrel, the fine lyrics and the tunes that nail themselves to your forehead in an aggressive manner. Everyone should see them at least once as you won't see a better duo anywhere round here and the comment that everyone seems to come up with is 'how do they make such a fantastic noise with just the two of them, a drum kit and an acoustic guitar'. I still can't work out how they do it, but I'm glad they do. Roll on next time Squirrel types.

The Sportiques have the envious job of following up such a raucous set but they have a couple of extra hands to help them tonight in the form ex- Green Hornets chaps Keith on organ and Nish who ventured on stage for one number to provide backing vocals on a Hornets cover. The Sportiques take a more traditional walk down garage lane, bright sing a long choruses with plenty of guitar action and swirling organ sounds. They are a good time band with a plethora of decent tunes that the die hards enjoy tonight; it all becomes slightly chaotic at times as invited and uninvited guests shamble on and off stage to join in the fun while their mainman looks resigned to the fact that it is just one of those nights and goes with the flow.
They produce a fine set and while they may lack the power and punch of Big Squirrel and Spinouts it is an enjoyable end to a fine evening of good time rock n roll, played just the way it should be.

Dreaming New Animals + The Deads + Cracking Amy + Golden Section - Walkabout, Portsmouth. 22/03/06.

Tonight is a Battle Of The Bands competition being run by the Walkabout chain of Australian themed bars and Jack Daniels with the ultimate winner getting a trip to America and the chance to record in Sun Studios. Now, I have to admit, I've avoided BOTB type things until now but the chap organising this was given my number and I was invited along to be a judge with the promise of a couple of beers so I thought, why not! There is only one local heat followed by a regional heat, semi final then final at Sheperds Bush Empire so the bands have a good chance of progressing; so, a couple of beers downed and I take up position with my piece of paper where I have to mark the bands out of 10 for various categories which is a little strange but oddly focussing.

Golden Section have drawn the short straw and get to go on first, at this point the crowd are still well back from the stage and they miss out on the curious regulars who check some of the music out later on. However, Golden Section are a young bunch brimming with confidence and their catchy tunes make an immediate impact on those that have arrived early enough. They have a new wave edge, pulsing synth lines that underpin interesting bass lines with plenty of guitar action causing mayhem on top of their dramatic pop edge that is slightly dark around the edges. The vocals sound as if they have been plucked straight from the 80s but adds to their electro indie sound that sounds both old but original. A band that I would gladly check out at a proper gig where they have longer to perform.

Riding in on a wave of pop punk are Cracking Amy who appear to have a few fans in so they get good marks for crowd reaction! Unfortunately they score low on originality as one song blends into another and they begin to sound just like every other pop punk band out there. They are obviously influenced by that whole wave of American 'punk' bands that are not very punk but do produce pop music by the bucket load and that is where the problem lies with Cracking Amy live, little of the material sounds inspiring or original and while they play with gusto and dedication the music just lacks that sparkle.

Coming on like a punked up version of the early Rolling Stones, The Deads steal the show so far with their pumped up, tambourine bashing frontman stealing the show as he pouts, struts and delivers a fine set of soulful vocals backed up by the garage rock n roll of his band. Musically they are spot on tonight as the energy flows from the stage and while they may draw heavily on their influences they manage to deliver a set of original sounding tunes that are passionate and in your face. The best so far tonight.

Rounding the show off and trying to out do The Deads are progressive psychedelic wanderers Dreaming New Animals. By the time they take to the stage they have lost some of the crowd so lack some of that interaction; on their day, DNA can produce stunning sets but as tonight progresses it becomes apparent that the time limit is holding them back. Whereas normally they would allow the tunes to wander off at tangents, tonight they focus it down and the tunes suffer as a result, the normal free flow seems to stutter and while they still do a reasonable set it becomes clear that it isn't going to be their night and I think they realise it as they leave the stage.

A few minutes later and the scores have been added up and The Deads are announced as winners and I think on reflection that the best band did indeed win tonight. So well done to them and thanks to Rich at Walkabout for inviting me down, it was an interesting experience and I hope The Deads progress through the following rounds.

The Plymouths + Autons + Bubbledubble + Rusty Sheriff + Maria Szyrtisz & The Pyramids Of Mars - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth.17/03/06

This was being billed as an Electro fest but it has to be said that Electro was being used in the loosest sense of the word. Having said that though, all bands had some kind of electronic thing going on within the music and it certainly was an eclectic gathering of bands.

Opener was the legend that is Maria Szyrtisz & The Pyramids Of Mars, unfortunately I failed to get a shot of him in action as I had only just arrived before he came on stage and he did around four songs before leaving to a massive round of applause. For those that don't know, Maria is the work of one man; he takes to the stage in a vest top, shorts and white trainers with black socks...this man has his own 'scene' and he don't need no one else! His equipment consists of a keyboard and a couple of drums that he operates with pedals and some chimes that he knocks with his knee at appropriate times. Once on a roll the man hits a groove, a kind of sea shanty meets Arabian scales, exotic refrains set the tone for well observed stories. He is that boy that everyone picked on at school, a nervous disposition that just keeps time with the music and this is his way of keeping himself sane. A true genius and an act that everyone should see at least once.

Following Maria is a tough act for anyone, but if there is one man in town big enough for the job it is Rusty Sheriff. Reduced to just one deck tonight and his laptop, the man places his vinyl on a crate, makes sure his beer is close enough to reach and goes for the trigger... This Sheriff has the quickest fingers in Portsmouth, watching him work the vinyl is quite unbelievable and makes you appreciate the skill involved and you can see why his face is such a picture of concentration as he works. Musically he creates thumping beats that threaten to bring The Pyramids down upon us, well placed samples give way to large atmospheric, almost orchestral soundtracks before breaking down into sonic destruction before hitting a beat again. That's not to say you can't dance to it, although he's on too early there are a few people grinding away down by the bar delighting in the funky beats, it's just that the music is laced with danger and a bit of filth that probably comes from his love of bands such as the Melvins and this chaos has filtered through and infected the beats. There is a superb throbbing bass sound that pops into view at one point, the kind of sound that can rattle your teeth and pounds your stomach, a secret weapon no doubt the Sheriff uses to control those who ignore his massive beats. It's dramatic stuff and I hope that next time he gets a later slot so a few more of the late arrivers get to appreciate the sonic dexterity that makes up the Rusty Sheriff.

Just about now we should have been listening to the synth pop of Scarlet Soho but they had to pull out at the last moment which leaves us high and dry with just they DJs to entertain us for what seems like an eternity and whilst they do a grand job as usual you just want the bands to carry on and so eventually we get Bubbledubble who are made up of various people who have been on the Pompey scene for some time. Bubbledubble are creators of heavy dub and they do it very well, but, tonight they just don't fit in with the feel of the event. True, they do create most of their sounds with an overwhelming array of computers and gadgets with the odd live instrument thrown in for good measure so they have that electro element, but music wise it pushes a few to the limit and some less hardened gig goers head for the exit which is a real shame. While they delight in twisting knobs and prodding their computers the sound they create is nothing new, similar stuff could be heard in places like Glastonbury many years ago which is probably the best place for it. Don't get me wrong, I like dub music and often stick on my Revolutionary Dub Warriors material when I want to chill out and Bubbledubble create similar sounds but it just doesn't fit in well tonight and time just seems to drift away; you get the feeling that they could have played all night and indeed, they were very reluctant to leave the stage and just wanted to do another short number which would probably have stretched to another half an hour!

Next up are Autons, Portsmouths own radio bothering electro rock n rollers and they soon spark the crowd back into life. With new single Snakes being played by the likes of Steve Lamacq and Rob Da Bank purely because they like it and are not having their arms twisted by big companies, indicates that good things could be just round the corner and tonight's set confirms it. They have come along way since I last caught them, they seem to have magnified all their good points a thousand times over. They are positively brimming with electric and energy, the tunes have taken on new improved twists and turns, beats have got bigger, the guitars crash and burn with even more passion and David Auton looks more and more like he should be gracing the covers of select magazines. One can't help but fall in love with them, Tony dancing around his keyboard like an over excited kid at Christmas, pouting like there is no tomorrow while on the other flank Leon creates a storm of punked up guitar crashes that wrap themselves around the electro beats while David is every part the Ice Major, cool, calm and collected with suit and tie, his voice sounding as great as ever. It has to be said that Snakes is probably the highlight of the set, a
taught beast of a number with no flab, just all out power that glides and cuts through the night; but the rest of the set is close behind, each track crackling with fun and big hooks. We really should be hearing more about these boys soon.

Having so many bands in one night seems to take its toll as a fair few leave before the final band The Plymouths, who let's face have, don't have the most attractive name and it really doesn't fit in with what they are about. With a name like that I tend to think of Sarah Records from years ago and twee indie bands not a band who are trying to produce electronic indie rock. The Plymouths (who are from Bournemouth funnily enough) sound like Duran Duran playing The Killers which isn't quite as bad as it sounds, they have a knack for producing hook laden songs that squelch along on a synth wave bolstered by a throbbing bass sound and some big guitars but you just get the feeling that you've seen it all before. It is quite enjoyable but you find it hard to see where they are going to go with it and they don't exactly look like a bunch of teenagers which will go against them as it looks like they are jumping The Killers bandwagon. But at the end of the night they are a decent band who will no doubt be enjoyed by those that like that slightly 80s sounding new wave/romantic feel with added guitars, but if you are looking for something a little more original then best pass them by and keep searching.

The Exits + Revolution74 + Dreaming New Animals + One Life Left - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 10/03/06.

Tonight sees Messclean's new 2am licence kick in so it's a case of pacing yourself drink wise for both myself and the bands or it will all get very messy with an additional two hours to spend money at the bar! Kicking things off tonight are last minute additions One Life Left who replace Sallyforth who suffered some kind of drummer injury or such like. This is about the third time I've caught One Life Left and each time just gets better and better; it's true to say they are not an immediately appealing band in that their songs don't come directly at you, they tend to grow up and around you like some mutant ivy plant taking over. The songs come across as luxurious Muse type warblings with the power of alt. rockers like Smashing Pumpkins, being able to chuck out angular riffs that skew into beautiful melodies with power and grace. In Simon Paylor they have an engaging frontman with a Matt Bellamy knack for striking out to reach those high notes which he does with ease adding something extra to the mix of majestic tunes and makes them stand out in the memory just a little more. Looks like they will be back at Messclean soon with a higher billing and well deserved it is too as it's good to see a band with a little substance over style.


Drifting in on a psychedelic haze is Messclean main man Nikolai and his Dreaming New Animals, what's the point in putting on a night if you can't give your own band a gig eh? In the past DNA have been guilty of leaving the earth plane and going off on one but tonight they keep one foot grounded and take a slightly more direct approach though that doesn't mean they take the 3 minute pop formula. DNA are a bad who ignore the current 'scene' and do what comes naturally to them which is soulful, psychedelic tinged rock that sprawls out colourfully behind them.

The strong point of DNA is that they are very good musicians so can take the music where ever they want to go, be it a solo that freaks out or a deeply funky bass line while the dual vocals of Robbie and Joe combine with wonderfully melodic results, both having fine voices that compliment each other perfectly and add that extra dimension to these wandering epic tunes. This is music to get lost in, it creates it's own little universe and takes you on a journey to here and nowhere, makes you dream then dance before flying you somewhere else...you get the picture? Music for those that like being transported somewhere else and if the new tune played at the end is anything to go by then we can expect some more challenging tunes very soon.

Revolution74 are a dynamic 5 piece who do one of those rare things and manage to blend dance beats, keyboards, rock and good tunes without getting caught between genres and sounding watered down. They basically produce good indie rock music that you can dance to, big buzzsaw pop hooks battle against rock guitars that drip with energy and while being accessible in sound they should still appeal to those that like their music on the alternative side. Considering the heat in the Frog is unbearable tonight, Revolution74 manage to give an excellent account of themselves and impress a fair few people with their catchy material as the sweat drips down the wall and off the people who have ventured down to the front.

The Exits are probably one of the best live bands in the area at the moment but tonight the technical gods are against them and doing their best to piss them off. As frustration gets to boiling point and threatens to spill over they pull themselves back from the edge and battle on regardless for an appreciative audience who lap them up anyway. For a lesser band lacking in tunes it would have been a disaster but when you have ready made anthems such as 'Time Will Let You Know' and the quite fantastic synth heavy 'Neon City' then the quality will shine through regardless of the venue limitations. While this won't go down a classic Exits gig, I think it is safe to say that they won over a few people, not least with their determination to get to the end of the set when it would have been so easy to just say 'fuck it' and walk off, but also with their fine sounds. Anyone who has read my previous reviews of The Exits will already know that I rate this bunch very highly, their distinctive mix of big synth bleeps and squelches that ride in harmony with crisp guitars and a potent blend of rock and dance beats are highly infectious and few bands can deliver a set full of instant classics with no filler material what so ever, but The Exits manage it with ease.

What should have been a fantastic gig with the band well up for a good night, turned into a bit of a nightmare for them but out front it still sounded good and whilst they may want to forget tonight ever happened it reinforced my belief that they are a band who can go a long way as the range and quality of material is second to none. Onwards and upwards as they say, better days will reach these boys soon.

So, perhaps not the ideal way to kick off the new late licence at Messclean but all the bands did themselves proud seeing as most of them played with monitor problems that prevented them hearing what they were doing so all credit to them for producing stirling sets and the usual Messclean DJs who provided some fine tunes between the bands and kept us all going up until the very end along with the best bar staff you could wish for...where else could I have a pint of cider waiting for me within seconds of walking in the door? Cheers guys!

White Rose Movement + The Violets + The Waysters - Joiners, Southampton. 05/03/06.

Having caught The Waysters in Portsmouth a couple of weeks before and being blown away by them, this was a chance to see them in a proper venue and check that the previous gig hadn't been just a one off highlight. Usually the local group on the bottom of the bill for visiting bands expect to be ignored apart from mates but from the moment The Waysters take to the stage it is clear that they have managed to bring in a fair few of the punters themselves and I firmly believe that they left the stage with more fans than they began with. Tonight, at times, they look a little nervous but musically they hit the spot again, their modern indie guitar sound going down a treat with a vociferous crowd who treat them like headliners.

Once again they play well beyond their tender years, a couple of minor mistakes are worked over and generally go unnoticed. Once they hit their stride they relax and look like they enjoy being up on stage; the Joiners sound giving the rhythm section an extra boost that gives them a little swagger, they know they are good as the scratchy guitars deliver tense, danceable tunes and you see a couple of smiles appear. They really are a quite frighteningly talented bunch of songwriters, each track played is a winner, not a sign of filler tunes anywhere which is some feat for such a young band and if they continue to wow crowds like tonight then the sky really is the limit and the likes of Arctic Monkeys could have some serious contenders for hottest young band around. If you like all those NME type indie bands then I seriously recommend seeing this lot in a small venue while you can before they start raising the temperatures of those record label types.


The Violets are a completely different kettle of fish and more in keeping with the headliners, a trio that spill out over tumbling Siouxsie And The Banshees tribal beats while the guitarist makes up for the lack of a bass player by creating sheets of raw riffs in the vein of The Kills. They appear hampered by the small Joiners stage as they have to avoid clattering into one another whilst looking like they really want to let rip and go for it which gives you the feeling that they are holding back a tad.
Personally, I quite like their The Kills go goth sound but wouldn't mind catching them on a bigger stage where I feel they would look a bit more natural and the set would flow easier. Tonight the vocalist looks like she has taken up jogging on the spot and in some respects would have been better off just clinging to a mic stand and looking cool with her shock of blonde hair and dark braces over a white top keeping her leather skirt up, but you can't knock them for having plenty of energy. I had neither seen nor heard The Violets before and their dark sounds won me over and while they not be as majestic or sweeping as The Banshees there is something about the raw tribal feel of the music that tickles my fancy and judging by the amount of vinyl they were shifting after it looks like a fair few others were quite taken with them too.


White Rose Movement hark back to the 80s electro sound, they drag the sound of Joy Division into the modern day with big beats and anguished, angular guitars. Despite the seriousness of the onstage personas, the music is highly danceable and the place is heaving within minutes of them being on stage and there is no let up until the last discordant riff is wrung from the guitars. It's all very stark and powerful, with the singer having that Ian Curtis type intensity that makes you want to avoid eye contact as he throws angular shapes and shifts between hammering the keyboard and climbing the monitors. Without the guitars chiming away, giving the music a heavier punked up sound they would be classed as a heavy synth band mixing up the cold sounds of early Human League with the dark poetic side of Joy Division; but they succeed in sounding dated yet modern and prove to be a most enjoyable live experience for those that like a strict ringmaster and dark beats.

Trinity + The Dawn Chorus + Kurt Cooder + AngelGear - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 03/03/06.

Another decent turn out at my home from home, Messclean, and it would appear that openers AngelGear, who are introduced as Angel Fire and have now changed their name to something else apparently just to confuse everyone, have brought a fair few of them down with them. What is clear from the off is that the band is made up of some seriously talented musicians who play well crafted folksy rock and while on a personal level it doesn't particularly float my boat, one can't help but admire their playing skills and the soulful twin female vocals that accompany them. There is no denying that the two feisty ladies fronting AngelGear are a joy to watch as they preen and pose like seasoned professionals, they add a spark to the band and have everyone eating out of their hands by the end of a successful set.

Next up is the local legend that is Kurt Cooder, man of mystery, urban poet with fingers in many pies and various other things if rumours are to be believed. Tonight he is playing solo, just him and his electric guitar and while at times he may be a bit too close to the bone for many to stomach you can't help but love his tales of Portsmouth and it's people. He gives us songs about dogging and fucking, Elm Grove and his daughter in a rollercoaster of emotions that bring to mind a deranged mix of Billy Bragg and John Cooper Clarke; at one point he invites someone on stage just to confirm he has the word 'cunt' tattooed behind his ear and then sings about being beaten up on the streets of Portsmouth. There is no doubt that this man has lived through each song scenario, soaking up the local life, the daily struggle to survive and he paints vivd images with his strong words and in your face tunes. It is an excellent set that is not just enjoyable musically but leaves one thinking over the lyrics and the stories told.

The Dawn Chorus are a more upbeat affair, bouncy indie rock in the vein of a more direct The Coral with some nice quirky twists and turns that delight the dedicated fans they have brought along with them; enough so to encourage one young lady to shout out "I want your babies!", now there's dedication for you! They are a confident young group who produce very tuneful material and I found myself tapping my foot along during many of their songs and you can't knock a band who has a bass player wearing a Brian Jonestown Massacre t-shirt can you? It could be argued that the local population took little notice at first but I think The Dawn Chorus won over a fair few new fans as the set progressed and those that like decent tunes would be well advised to keep an eye for them as their is plenty here to indicate that they will produce even better material in the future.

Trinity played Messclean once before and I pondered upon the wisdom of opening your set with a cover version but here they are doing it again and while it is a rip roaring run through 'This Is Love' by PJ Harvey that the good lady herself would be proud of, one can't help feel that it would be better served as an encore or set closer as it kind of casts a shadow over their own material. That said, Trinity are a sparkling female fronted indie trio who play a nice line in indie pop and while they may be a little plain to watch, the tunes glitter and sparkle in places and they are not beyond knocking out some fine songs of their own. Amy Morgan cuts a fine figure with her electric blue guitar and a voice to match while Mike Fowler and James Birt support her with a solid rhythm section on bass and drums respectively; what they lack in glamour they make up for in fine little noisy pop nuggets that ping around the room and considering they are from out of town they do a stirling job in keeping the crowd in until the bitter end which is testament to their hard work and tunes.

So go check them out on MySpace and have a listen, they are a bit shy and could do with having a few more people listen to those tasty little glittering tunes and just look at that guitar, what more could you ask for on a Friday night...probably helps that Amy is holding it mind, I think she took a little of each Messclean heart home with her!

The Strange Death Of Liberal England + You're Smiling Now But We'll All Turn Into Demons + Big Squirrel - The Thursday Thing @ The Registry. 02/03/06

What more could you ask for on a Thursday night in Portsmouth than a friendly pub, beer and three excellent bands; two with ridiculously long names and one who make far too much noise than is humanly possible for two people to make so let's start with them shall we?

Big Squirrel are first up and if you've bothered reading any of these reviews before you will know that I love these two ramshackle practitioners of stripped down rock n roll, so it's hard not to repeat myself but they are fucking excellent. I've seen full bands make less noise than these two, who manage to squeeze every ounce of life out of an acoustic guitar and a drum kit. Steve spends half the night doing battle with the wall behind him as it encroaches on his wild arm movements while Tom could be doing anything as I can't actually see him, for as usual he is sat on a chair and such is their pulling power that it is impossible to get near enough to see past the sea of bodies or get close enough to take a decent photo. But whatever he is doing it sounds good because never has an acoustic guitar sounded so loud, so raw and so rock; Tom must have some kind of secret black box to plug in to, either that or he has fingers of electric because that knackered old guitar really shouldn't be throwing out such sounds but I'm glad it does as it makes Big Squirrel one of the hottest rock n roll bands out there at the moment. Just about every track has some kind of big hook that is strong enough to rip the flesh from your face, instantly addictive and highly memorable, so do yourself a favour, next time you see a gig with Big Squirrel on the bill, grab a big bag of nuts and get yourself down the front for the best rock n roll action you will see from a duo, just watch they don't bite you.

You're Smiling Now But We'll All Turn Into Demons are legends round these parts and quite rightly so with their spectacular tunes that draw on the legacy of Sabbath, Stooges and MC5 then fuck it over with rock n roll attitude and alcohol fumes. Tonight they are decked out in colourful robes, it makes them look even scarier as they deliver a crisp set that lacks some of the more discordant elements that sometimes take over their sets; it's about good, heads down rock n roll that piles through the throng like an express train waiting for no one. Yeah, there are a few minor gripes such as the drums being too dominant tonight or perhaps the guitars just need to go up a notch; perhaps the venue gear just couldn't cope with the black hole of noise that The Demons often conjure up and the swirls of feedback they emit as they wrangle with their instruments but even on a night when they don't leave you with bleeding ears and an exploding brain they carve a dark mark on each and every person present and poke a big stick in it. In some ways it is a pleasure to actually get to hear a few of the tunes for a change but that is the beauty of The Demons, you never quite know what to expect but one thing is for sure, they never fail to disappoint.

Having caused quite a stir with their recent demo, this is my first chance to catch The Strange Death Of Liberal England live and despite the limitations of the venue I'm not disappointed. SDOLE are one of those bands without a central focus point, members drift around and swap instruments, it works perfectly with their shifting tunes that come and go, in and out of focus. It's an ever changing landscape as glockenspiels tinkle, flute weaves in and out of crashing guitars and anguished wails drift from the front. They are a serious looking bunch, a band at odds with current trends, that follow their own path in their own little universe and it is a pleasure when they burst through into our world for brief glimpses of beautiful soundscapes and floaty angst. Tunes tend to drift into one another, expand and contract as light turns to shade, these are not tunes for the MTV generation who like a quick sugar fix; this is a band to contemplate, you need to let them soak into your skin, let it wash over you and around you, feel and taste the textures they create. Only then will you enjoy it, if you want something quick,easy and throwaway then look elsewhere but if you want something with substance and depth then SDOLE are just the band you are looking for.