Electric Lady/Inhuman Remains/Saur

ELECTRIC LADY/INHUMAN REMAINS/SAUR

Musician Pub 29th November 2023

Another cracking night at the The Musician Pub and another complete change of pace from the previous gigs... on a cold, very cold, wednesday night it was a treat to be warmed by a huge slice of real old school punk/rock played with huge energy and style to warm the embarrassingly small audience... mind you those of us there had the last laugh cos this was a great old night!

First up were SAUR... i had seen 25% of this band a few weeks ago so knew roughly what to expect... but they delivered far more. A straight forward no-nonsense old school punk band with lots of attitude and style delivering their short sharp songs with gusto. They are totally irreverant and the songs are often comic and self deprecating.. and despite being punk included songs about a cup of tea and dinosaurs.

After Saur we had a band visiting from Liverpool, Inhuman Remains... difficult to know what to expect... but what we got was a hard rocking old school punk band delivering some awesome music with loads of feeling and style. The songs for the most part had a political or social conscience theme which with the punchy chorus and hooks worked beautifully.

Headlining was another new name to me, Electric Lady Band, visiting from Czechoslovakia and opening their uk tour at the Musician... and a fine opening it was. The band are Tereza Rays on guitar and vocals ably supported by a brilliant drummer. Tereza's guitar playing is fluent and powerful and the drummer both creative and powerful.

The music is enhanced at times by keys/bass fed

into the sound... not someting i always like but here used creatively and constructively to enhance the band sound. Tereza's performance on stage is hugely energetic and totally riveting

We had three great sets all delivering with huge energy and assurance... and all hugely enjoyable performances... a great night

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues

Andy Wales Band

ANDY WALES BAND

The Donkey 26/11/2023

So glad I went along to The Donkey Venue this afternoon to see the excellent Andy Wales Band.. .what a terrific sunday afternoon they gave us.

I've seen Andy a number of times, but this was the first time i'd seen him and the band do a full set, around 105 minutes, and have a chance to really extend himself... both musically and vocally.

Andy must be about the best guitar player around here, and this set gave him the chance to cover a number of styles. The material was predominantly familiar, but this was no cover band show... however familiar the numbers, all were delivered very much Andy's way, while remaining faithful to the feel of the original.

Through the set they covered material by people as diverse as Soft Cell, Martha and the Vandellas, Cat Stevens, Fleetwood Mac (the real Fleetwood Mac!), Motorhead and Sonny Boy Williamson, among many others... and for me of special merit were an outstanding version of "Summertime"... where Andy admitted to 'borrowing' the arrangement from someone else... and extremely goos it was... and a finale of a cracking version of "Purple Haze".. Andy isn't a flambouyant 'leaping around' sort of player.. .he just stands and singswhile playing some superb guitar... but he did do a Jimi guitar on back of head passage...

But this isnt just about Andy... he has selected his musical colleagues so well... both drummer and bass player (my apologies... i cant recall the names... ) are hugely talented musicians and complement Andy perfectly...

Andy is a great Musician leading an cracking good band... and this was a really great performance...

Loved it

keep music live... keep music real... support your local venue

James Oliver Band

JAMES OLIVER BAND

Musician Pub 22nd November 2023

Wednesday night and the very welcome return to The Musician Pub for the welsh guitar wizard James Oliver and his superb band of Mark Kemlo on drums and Jack Allen on Bass, tonight enhanced for a few numbers by Steve Walwyn, fresh from his triumph here with DRB a few days ago.

If you havent seen James yet... why not|? you are missing out big time... James is not only a superb guitar player, supported by a superb band... he is also a great character with a great sense of humour and always puts on a great show. Tonight was business as usual.. which means a fabulous joyful gig. If you have seen James and his band before you will know just how great this gig was.

The music is a purely James Oliver... elements of Rock'n'Roll, Rockabilly and Blues... James plays much of his set at break neck speed while maintaining a wonderful fluidity in the playing, while Mark and Jack both play superbly, with power and subtlety, a perfect balance with James guitar work.

Throughout the show James shows he has a ready wit and great personality keeping up a great banter effortlessly keeping the whole room engaged and loving the show...

The numbers played include a host of originals and some well chosen covers, including tonight Dawson's "American Cars". Dylans "All along the watchtower" Chuck Berry's "Nadine" and a prennial favourite, Dick Dale's "Miserlou" to finish... encoring with a fast pace slide piece and "My Baby Left Me"

Steve Walwyn had joined the band and delivered some typically fluent and wonderful guitar work during several numbers, including the old Dr Feelgood number "Roxette"

All in all around 2 hours of highly energetic, superb Rock/Rockabilly delivered by a band, and guest, on peak form and clearly loving their work... and truly great evening

keep music live... keep music real... support your local venue

Boilermen/Boiler Karaoke Experience/Glamour Club/Rogue Notion/CarolineMcLevy/Boilers/Dada Women

BOILERMEN/BOILER KARAOKE EXPERIENCE/GLAMOURR CLUB/

ROGUE NOTION/CAROLINE McLEVY/BOILERS/DADA WOMEN

Soundhouse 18th November 2023

Well, this was a really well spent evening with a bunch of unglamorous bands at the The Soundhouse Leicester ... it was the name Boilers on the bill that persuaded me to go... but it proved to be a fine bill all round... featured were Boilermen, Boilermen Karaoke Experience, Glamour Club, Rogue Notion, Caroline McLevy, Boilers & Dada Women

If you went out to see a quiet evening of high level musical virtuosity this was not the gig for you... but if you wanted a fun-packed evening watching half a dozen newish bands delivering their own brand of raucous rock/punk with terrific energy and joy you should have been there.

There was a great atmosphere in the room from the off and the Boilermen kicked off with a loud energetic blast of punk that set the tone for the evening... a tone that was maintained right to the last minute.

I dont propose to review the individual bands as i knew hardly any of the songs, though the Boilers did deliver a rather fine "River Deep Mountain. High" and my comments for all would be very similar.

The bands played with fire and purpose, some obvious parallels but each with their own unique stamp on the music... and all highly engaging and entertaining.

A cracking good night out watching some new bands doing their stuff in fine style

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venue

BOILERMEN

BOILER KARAOKE EXPERIENCE

GLAMOUR CLUB

ROGUE NATION

CAROLINE McLEVY

BOILERS

DADA WOMEN