Worcester Music Forum

(16/05/08)

Reviews By Andy Ohare

I'm still kicking myself from last week when I could and should have seen favourites Tastyhead and Dandelion Killers at the Jailhouse in Hereford - sorry lads. So as usual I over-compensated by cramming in two venues the following night in Worcester. A tentative return to the Firefly in Lowesmoor for a Task In Hand promotion kicking off with self-styled 'complicated rockers' Nitkowski from London. Yes - very much an anarchic jazz freeform set with an industrial feel from this threesome but there were more regular sections scattered through the mostly syncopated numbers. I always go for a factory-machinery sound anyday though

Next up was local Math Rock inspired multi-instrumentalist Sam trading as Theo with his array of loops and gadgets to twiddle. He featured live on the Sesh a couple of weeks ago so why not sample him on the Friday Session website again?

Over the road then to the Marrs Bar for one of my visiting favourites. First up were local acoustic duo Clare and Phil of Harlem Dandy. Now 'acoustic' isn't usually my cup of tea, but this two are very much a cut above this genre with some expressive catchy numbers like 'Melancholy Girl', which I think though would sound even better with a full band in support.

And that's what Sheffield's Mybe have done - filled out their sound with an extra guitarist. Plenty of decent numbers like '45-Minute Warning' and 'Bring Out The Blues' showcasing their mostly cynical take on life - but this outfit have the funniest and probably filthiest between-songs banter going and so naturally they're one of my favourite out-of-town regulars on the local circuit.

Good to see Phil of Backwash and Jacko of Slapstix - united in the Fights And Fires project - also Chris Bennion of the excellent Not Just Sauce website.

Final outfit of the night were local country/blues rockers that are Parker. I haven't seen this outfit play for a while - very much a no-frills blue-collar feel to their tight set with some catchy numbers thrown into the mix - some great fuzz-pedal work also!

Haven't seen a gig at the Blower (The Horn And Trumpet) in Worcester since The Capital a couple of years ago - shame as it's well-suited to the smaller-pub-type venue. Kicked off with sparkling jangly local duo Girls On Film - 'the rest of our band didn't show up!' said frontman Pete. Breezy fun-filled mayhem from the AWWBLOT spin-off who've definitely moved towards a very Pogue-ish feel on a couple of their newer numbers - reminded me a bit of local boozy bawdy folksters The Beastly Boys from a few years back - anyone remember them?

Cape Of Good Hope are the most professional and tightest (and usually the loudest) outfit on the Worcester scene. More subdued stuff tonight though from the jazz-rockers who I'm convinced are developing a more mainstream-accessible feel to their technical fusion-ish set - perhaps not so syncopated as say 6 months ago and almost poppy in places - hey steady on guys! Good appreciation from a decent crowd on a Monday night bang in the middle of town - so how about making this a more regular fixture on the local scene then?