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I don't particularly like all-dayers, as the bands are often not at their best, with no sound checks and the inevitable way the schedule gets further and further behind, but still, it's a good way see if they are worth a second look at a normal gig. Montana Pete are just plain weird - but in a good cuddly way, not in a 'shit, lets run away and hide our children' way. The drummer has a very sparse kit and spends the whole gig scowling into the distance while banging his kit very hard. The bass guitarist is also the main singer - or should I say shouter? Bryn, the guitarist, looks like a cross between Magnus Pike (in his younger days and on drugs) and Tim Henman. (For those younger readers, Magnus Pike was a very eccentric scientist who used to flail his arms around while talking, with messed up hair - completely mad but harmless.) The sound they make is very sharp and angular, with the aforementioned shouty vocals, and Bryn contorts himself into all shorts of positions. Must check them out another time. Econoline have polished up their act since the last time I saw them. A nice tight outfit with pleasant songs that burst into all out noise and mayhem - well at least for Ian. While the other members of the band get on with the tunes, Ian is busy making noise and feedback while moving about not unlike how his namesake Mr. Curtis used to in the good old days. Rowan did pretty well on guitar too, considering he was being sick all the way there! Reynolds have gone back in time. Remember the days when they had a singer, Matt? Back then they were always on the brink of falling apart, but always just kept it together on a knife-edge. Recently they have become more polished, and have adopted the 'no breaks between songs' tact with the help of a recording/loop gizmo. But tonight they're back to their old form, and haven't sounded better. Both Chris and Phill decided to play just off the front of the stage, encouraging the audience to get closer - closer, before launching into their all out assault. A couple of broken strings and microphones, and the crowd lapped it all up. Billy Mahonie played twice tonight - cuh! Once on the jazz stage earlier and then headlining the normal stage. By the time they came to play, there was the inevitable 'lack of time' syndrome. The promoter told them after about 10 minutes of playing that they had until 23:15, but 5 minutes later the sound guy pulled the plug say that the curfew was 23:00. After a couple of exchanges with him, and after the audience bayed for more, the lads decided to play without the PA. To be honest it sounded even better, and although I can't remember which song they played, I know they played it harder and longer. They gave up after the lights were turned off, even though the crowd wanted even more. Sorted! skippy |