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Anderson/8 Point Turn/Omar's Silver Lightship/Callum Mixes Paint/Mad Library
Bradninch Guildhall - 9/4/04
Cheap as chips and tastier too.
First band was Anderson. They weren't bad, but they weren't that good. There was an interesting range of music on show from straight pop punk to Pablo Honey era Radiohead (thankyou Adam), to an instrumental track at the end. The point is that none of this was all that special. It was fun, you could nod your head to it and I'm sure it would sound much better in a smaller venue but it wasn't great I'm afraid. Plus there was far to much showboating for a band who don't have the material to back it up.
6 out of 10
Next on was 8 Point Turn featuring a few members of Shooting Crayfish. 8 Point Turn were a reasonably good ska punk band who played music you could dance to if you were so inclined but hardly inspired much. They were very static too, which when you're a ska band is bordering on unforgivable. This was most aptly demonstrated by the sax player taking time out to text someone mid-song (though she did stop when it was her turn to start playing again). The set was more than salvaged by the fact Shooting Crayfish played two songs (Scissorkick and It's Hard To Be Gay When You're A Mouse). It may only have been two songs but it's been ages since I've seen them, it's the first time I've seen them since I've learnt the lyrics and they're just damn brilliant anyway so the overall score is...
8 out of 10
Some people might say I'm a bit biased towards Omar's Silver Lightship and I'd say so what? I like them and I don't care if I know a them anyway. They come across as something like a cross between Red Hot Chili Peppers and Mogwai because of their spacey but funky music. It is currently instrumental but on the whole I think it's better off that way. The first song was begging for vocals but overall I'd say that, unless they found a really good singer, vocals would just detract from the really quite brilliant music on show. Ginger's Dead is a brilliant song. Playing Singles Club at the Cavern May 10th, don't miss them. Extra points for Pete supplying the glowing pig.
9 out of 10
When Callum Mixes Paint came on stage I thought; "Ay up, I recognise him." By the time the vocalist started doing his robotic skank I knew it, these guys were the first band I saw at the Cavern. I didn't know it at the time but now I do. So good, they probably get extra points for allowing me to reminisce about Mclusky. As a band I'd say they are what happens is Les Savy Fav and System Of A Down met at high speeds. Chaotic, arty and heavy at times. Good fun even if they too sounded like they were playing in a room which was a bit too big. Well worth a look.
8 out of 10
Finally it was Mad Library and Don Coyote. Again. Twice in a week and both times fucking fantastic. There's little else I can say about this performance that I didn't say the last time (see the Martin Grech review). For a second I was worried the vocals were going to be drowned out but then they came to their full and fantastic best midway into the first song. Even if they were to be lost there are few better ways that in a funky maelstrom like Mad library's. Long may it continue. Go see them if you haven't already. If you don't like them I'll give you your money back.
10 out of 10
