FRIENDS OF MERLIN/ROZ BRUCE INFUSION
Musician Pub 15th March 2024
his was a fascinating night at The Musician Pub... a total punt based on intriguing blurbs for the bands playing
So, first up, The Roz Bruce Infusion. I was slightly put off by the opening of the set which involved a lot of electronic sounds... but i needn't have been concerned... after the first couple of minutes Roz got stuck into some terrific guitar playing and used the electronics brilliantly.
The bassist and drummer were exceptional throughout the show... playing with power and intensity driving the music while Roz delivered some brilliant and flambouyant guitar work. The overall feel was pure rock, with a large helping of punk thrash thrown in at times... but at all times hugely dynamic and vibrant. Roz's vocals were excellent , but did on a few occasions get slightly swamped by her guitar work... no matter there
This was great set, really exciting music... especially given i understand it was their first gig for quite a while... excellent... definitely someone to catch again
Then, on to the main event... FRIENDS OF MERLIN...so lets get the general criticism out of the way first... and this applies to quite a number of acts lately.. Music Stands! Show the audience respect and rehearse and learn your material!!! Also, it is no problem changing the set in the middle of a gig, but turning your backs on the audience to discuss it and then rummaging for the sheet music is not a good look
The band were a fresh throwback to the more peaceful innocent time, the late 60's. playing fresh sounding 60's style rock music. A very bright and innocent sounding music that we haven't heard for a good while... and all credit to it for that.
With so many younger bands appearing almost daily it's good to see a band of older musicians playing live with so much energy and joy.
The songs were all original band compositions and full of cliche and not of any real depth or significance.
The band played well, musically excellent, featuring electric and acoustic guitars as well as drums and bass. The music was all played "straight" without loads of effects being thrown in, which was refreshing and contributed to the clean and joyful overall sound. The singer, however, was, to my ears, way below par... much of the time being very shouty rather than singing, as well singing out of tune.
So, a fair few criticisms of the band, but i must say that overall i really enjoyed the performance, though it did sag in the middle due to the overall samey-ness of the material before improving again with a few harder edged songs at the end
To conclude... Loved the Roz Bruce Infusion... vital and exciting music from a band i would love to see again and a set from Friends of Merlin that overall i enjoyed despite the criticisms but would not go to see again
Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues
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