Post by neilcrud on Jun 23, 2007 10:30:01 GMT
HOMESPUN
DJANGO
PORTRAIT OF A LIFETIME
Billys, Rhyl 20.06.07
DJANGO
PORTRAIT OF A LIFETIME
Billys, Rhyl 20.06.07
(review by Neil Crud, Andy Fatman, MWJ, Ste Sync – pix by Crud)
(Neil Crud) - The old adage states - There is no loyalty in business. Some will say competition strengthens a market – but although music is a business, it is to many, a way of life – a social structure – a music scene.
I am very loyal… to the music scene – our music scene. I’m not a promoter in the ‘putting on gigs’ sense, I’m not in a band, nor do I run a studio or a venue.
I’m here because I love music – live music. I play it on my show and I review it on this website.
So when Blood & Lipstick raised the anchor, stole the plank and used it to surf their way out of the good ship Blu, my initial reaction was one of sorrow. It has been my home for four years, I have my own place at the bar, I’ve seen countless Liverpool games on the TV downstairs and even more bands upstairs.
Yes we’ve all complained about the sound, and I guess the complaints were heeded eventually. What tipped the scales? What was the straw on the proverbial camel? Gintis near enough opened the place, was it their destructive stage smashing set that virtually closed it a couple of weeks ago?
Probably not.
The Blu management are determined to carry on – but B&L do hold all the cards in this one horse town. Gone are the days when Rhyl boasted five, six maybe seven nightclubs. Nowadays (Ellis’ apart) clubs come and go, but usually never more than two will be bouncing every weekend.
For Blood & Lipstick promoter – Steve Rastin to up sticks and move his operations from the ‘comfort’ zone of a regular audience in Blu, to the unchartered waters of Billy’s – which is by all accounts a trendy nightclub, was probably the bravest thing he’s done.
If opening nights are anything to go by, then his gamble paid off. This move isn’t about money, Steve doesn’t profit from the gigs – his bounty is seeing live bands, nurturing them – keeping the scene alive. He is as passionate about this scene as I am.
Speech over…
Who better to kick things off on a raised stage, with a proper rig, in what is a venue with ‘live circuit’ potential stamped all over it, than Portrait of A Lifetime?
(Andy Fatman) – The colourful carpet does little to detract from the colourful lovable, almost homely manner of these boys. A warmth betrays the image they try to project. You just wanna take ‘em home in your back pocket; then tomorrow your Mum will be picking up your laundry off your bedroom floor and that’s when they’ll just gently pop up their cute little heads…
…and scare the fuckin’ shit outta her!!!
(Steve Sync) – Frontman Jamie Byrne must’ve been a nightmare as a child. Imagine him in the supermarket, ‘MAM.. I WANT SOME FUCKING SWEETS!’ as he bounced down the aisles. I also think Portrait should be Billy’s house band…
(MWJ) – They do need a bass player though. I remember purchasing ‘Rap Attack’ on K-Tel Records, with such rubbish as Fresh Prince on it; it may have been shit, but it had plenty of bass – unlike PoAL.
(Neil Crud) - Django (from Stoke-on-Sea?) alighted the stage next – like every band tonight, had an excellent crisp sound – all that is lacking are spotlights. Great stage, great sound, great crowd, great backdrop –
‘Lights! Camera! Action!… where’s the lights?…oh…ok… Camera! Action!’
(Andy Fatman) – Django’s songs are there, but in a glorious new world of not being the next new thing, or the new Oasis. In a time of band saturation (there’s one dripping from every wall) it’s gonna take something very special to stand out from the crowd.
(Neil Crud) – They got better as the set progressed with some conversation stopping riffs.
Homespun take the headline slot, and not too late, thus ensuring the migration of early risers are still present, to see them showcase the release of their long awaited debut album – ‘Sexready Mind Control’ and slam straight into ‘Badman’, with Terry popping a string on his guitar. With Django kindly at hand to lend a Fender Strat (I think) – they continue…
(MWJ) – Album launches, venue launches, a lot of hype and expectation. I dunno if it delivered your expectations but if this was situated in your hometown, there’d only be 20 people here. Lots of variety in their tunes, aimed at an acceptable accessible level; maybe not different enough that case. This is the second left handed bass player I’ve seen this week. Left handed bass guitars are available from your local supplier.
(Neil Crud) – In the plush toilets, where a gent was at hand with an array of aftershaves and other lavatorial condiments, ‘Would you like help with your excessively large penis sir?’ - I heard someone mention that Homespun are the Eddie & The Hot Rods of the local scene – I dunno whether that was a compliment or an insult – I’m of the moral majority – I love Homespun (I hate the –tb they put on the end of their name; let the Beautiful South sue you for fuck’s sake!) – I love their cocky attitude, the way they intimidate people who slag them off, their scally following, but most of all I love their songs, and more so, their live delivery.