venta

I was away up in Whitby last weekend, playing with all the little gothlings. As well as my usual Spa-ing partners,

keris and

davefish, I was sharing a house with

ceb,

damerell,

waylay and Ian (WIVPOLJ). In my new-found capacity as Goddess of Domestic Disasters[*] I managed to cause one of the showers to leak into the kitchen and the dishwasher to blow a fuse within the first day or so.

With a few exceptions, I didn't do a very good job of catching up with people this weekend, so the rest of my write-up is just going to blather about the evening bands in the Spa. If I don't, then in six months time I will retain no recollection of who I watched.

Friday's frivolities started with Last July. I saw them last November in a pub mid-afternoon, and I really enjoyed them... but somehow, despite the addition of a whole extra bassist, their translation to the larger stage seemed a bit lacklustre. Also, they have a drum machine. Bah, I do not like drum machines.

In fairness, when the PA shorted out leaving them playing first on monitors-only and then on no speakers at all, even standing at the back and wearing earplpugs I could still hear

alixandrea singing. She's got quite a voice on her.

When I heard The Spiritual Bat were playing, I commented that they'd never live up to a name like that (by which I mean "be silly enough to merit it"). They weren't, and didn't. One waily woman and one guitar-playing bloke (and the bass, backing and drums on a tape).

After listening fairly indifferently for a few songs, I wandered off to rant. The guitar player (who also writes the songs, and plays all the instruments on the backing tape, so is clearly a talented guy) could have removed his shades! or ever looked at or engaged with the audience! or moved around the stage! or changed facial expression! or... "You do realise," said

davefish, "that he's blind?"

Er, no, I didn't. I've seen considerably more charismatic blind performers before, but I've no idea what his circumstances might be so I'll let him off. I still don't like The Spiritual Bat much, though.

Ugly Buggs are the lead singer from Gene Loves Jezebel, and a guitarist. And a bleedin' backing track with drums and everything else on it. And quite staggeringly banal lyrics. I lost the will to live.

Then, suddenly! Along came In The Nursery to make it all better. At least, to make it better for those actually present in the Spa, which was about three people and half a dog. In The Nursery have two whole live drummers! and their singer is another half a drummer! One guy stands at the front of the stage with a side-drum and snare-drum sort of arrangement, and another guy stands on a platform at the back with a vast array of kettle drums and kodo drums. Admittedly, owing to some weird decisions made by the lighting techs we couldn't see the kettle drummer, but we could hear him.

Seriously, they are all about the drums. Gorgeous, rolling melodic bassy drums and precise, complicated snickety rhythms. The main singer also has a lovely voice, though there's surprisingly little vocal in many of their songs. I recommend checking out Compulsion or Au Rebours (Flesh Field Remix) for a taster.

A much better-attended Saturday kicked off with Red Sun Revival (but without me because I was too busy scranning fish and chips). I did catch Dead Eyes Opened, whom I'll file under Enjoyable Disposable Gothpop. Three of them, I think - guitar, bass, singer, and no bloody drummer. The singer was entertaining, even if he did (as

ceb pointed out) appear continually surprised by his own hands.

The Bellwether Syndicate are William Faith (of "and the Muse" fame)'s latest outfit. They were... fine. But unmemorable. Witness the fact that I can't remember anything very much about them. Except that, of course, despite having lots of people on stage, they didn't have a drummer. Why is this acceptable in gothy circles? Even the shitiest of two-bit indie bands can rustle up a drummer.

And, um, Die Laughing. OK, I'm willing to stand up and be counted and say In The Nursery are brilliant. When saying Die Laughing are great, I'm more likely to shuffle about embarassedly. More Enjoyable Disposable Gothpop, with a singer with a truly lovely voice.

Apparently the band has been largely defunct since their 90's heyday, and indeed on reforming (with an almost entirely new lineup) had to re-record all their backing tracks. Disappointingly, they didn't take that opportunity to recruit a drummer :) Still, they're fun, and very danceable.

Also, the new bassist appears to be Manuskript Mike, and who knew he could play the bass? Actually really rather well. And yes, he is still a shocking stage-hog even when not being a front man :)

Gene Loves Jezebel whipped the dust sheets of the drumkit and actually produced a real human to hit the things, but other than that were actually a little dull. I enjoyed a few songs, but they were very samey and seemed to be slowly grinding to a halt. In the end, I wandered off to talk to people instead. They weren't bad, just... well. Chatting was more fun :)

[*] seriously - two water leaks in our flat last week on one day alone!