The Band That Time Forgot
Part Deux

Friday 21 May 2004. £3
Gregson Centre, Lancaster

It was a hot gig even before it started. The dinosaur posters had been up for a month already. Don't know what they used to stick 'em on with but the suckers never fell down. There's a Flyposting Master out there.

Then the Lancaster Guardian posted it as the Gig of the Week. That was in Holly's Rolling Stone section - the bit we actually read in between the 'We need roads everywhere or we'll all die' editorial and the Wedding Fayre ads.

Enough of that, there were at least 3 birthdays happening in the room too - the majorest one of all being Sue's - this being Sue's party. Sue works hard, plays fair and she's a friend indeed when you're in need - as well as being a complete party monster, so everyone in her posse was well happy. Here's to a great year for you, Sue.

The place was packed out. Like, PACKED. I have to use capitals for expression cos I don't have photos. I didn't plan to review this gig, it's just yet another endless Friday night in a small town in a spiral armpit of the galaxy (I lost my map and towel so don't niknuk me if I'm wrong about that) and I'm just getting through it - I wasn't even planning to stay at all but anyway the band were late on stage and then it was so good it would've been completely stupid to leave. In fact Doug Leece, who did the first V-L review of this band (read it) was planning to review them again. But he got a pass to the great gig in the sky and we only cover local venues. He would've appreciated the song dedication he got from the band. So I figured we should stay on the case one more time.

I wasn't prepared and don't know the full names of all the band members. The spelling of what I have got may well be wrong. I did try to get some info at the after-party but didn't get there til 2, by which nobody was making sentences any more.....

The crowd was all warmed up - DJ Gez put on some excellent tunes before and after - but it took the band a little time to catch up to that. I think the total enthusiasm of the room took them slightly by surprise. They looked down. They looked away. Nervous? The Glitter Band they're not.

This band has barely played in public but already they're hot - why is that? Well, giving pleasure isn't something everyone can do. These guys have a musical unity that tingles - the rhythms are tight and hit the spot, bouncy and you have to get up and dance, right from the out.

The only people who don't quite seem to know it are the band. I've rarely seen so many unassuming blokes together on a stage. OK - Gully Brodbeck on sax is high and gets higher, no trouble there, the crowd love it - it's matching our own wildness and raising the game with some raw, pitch-perfect screaming. Mark is on the turntable, doing some scratching. It's not always easy to make out what's going on there. The beats are tight tho and the sound has a multi-layered richness to it that feeds the dancing vibe. Dave McGinn on keyboards is close, but the strings and the drums aren't ready for what's expected. The lead guitarist Simon Morland: right now it's taking him all his time to keep up. Well he's doing that fine but it's a bit wooden + could do with being more fluid. I think this is just a practice thing - you play more and it'll come. He made up for it with the occasional flash to congas, giving the sound some extra firepower.

Vocals: Apologising for starting to sing isn't exactly Las Vegas. This is front guitarman Simon again. He's still looking for his voice but he won't find it at that volume. You know you're in a small town when the vocalist is straining to compete against the instruments to get heard. We WANT to hear what you're singing. Turn up the mike and relax.

Same with Kevin on bass. The bass is the muscle under the toons and it wasn't assertive enough. When the lead guitarist shouted for the bass to be turned up, he was damn right. But it's not just the volume that's restrained. We have 5 bony guys on the stage and a bassman who's the one with some heft. Heft it mister, don't be shy.

Likewise the drums. I've seen Dougal play 4 hours solid and keeping time with a sweet beat is something he can do in his sleep. But if you won't take a walk on the wild side in front of 200 howling fans Dougal, then all I can say is that you're a very fussy boy.

Or a very disciplined one. Like I said, the band is tight and that's what good ska needs most of all. Yet with every single member of the band (with the exception of Gully, who carried the night), you feel they've got a lot more than they're giving. How about some solos? But don't get me wrong, the gig rocked and we want more. I think we made that very clear, demanding 3 encores.

Cos by the final quarter it really had sunk into the band that we were into them them - and then thay started loving us back. Looking up, playing around a bit with the energy - letting the crowd take on part of the lyrics in 'Police + People' was fun - even Gully did the barefoot beat poet thing on the mike - he sang flat as a cow but it worked at the time.

So hey, there's nothing wrong with this band that a couple of lines and a few hundred quid's worth of therapy won't fix. Alternatively, they could play and practise a lot more til they're confident with their sounds and can fool around a bit more with some flash. This band is good and it's barely using what it's got. I want to see them playing a lot more. It's a rare thing - a positive, musical band that's easy on the egos and teams well. It's time to use that to get over the modesty and start working up the show.

Satori
24/5/04

BTW, I'm inspired enought to believe a live danceband scene would be great for this town if we can find a venue - the Gregson clearly is too small, the Phoenix and Korners have their licensing issues. The music co-op / canal corridor regeneration plans are taking forever cos all the council knows is big crap chainstores.

How about an outdoor dancebands festival?