Review by Rob Nicholls
I can't remember a week like this ... a gig
a night, sometimes even two - and we are talking major artists
or acts knocking very firmly at the door. Best of all, after all
last year's problems with half empty venues, just about every
show was sold out proving that Teessiders do want to see live
entertainment.
So, whether your bag was ATOMIC KITTEN, IAN BROWN or ONE HUNDRED REASONS at Middlesbrough Town Hall; or PROUD MARY or MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY at the Cornerhouse, you were in good company. VAN the Man MORRISON tonight sold out in the blink of an eye.
Being a contrary person, I'm going to first take you over the bitterly cold moors to the remote, mist-shrouded Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge, last Thursday evening. Inside was a roaring fire, real ale flowed and JUNIOR ELVIS were playing ... but the singer was on a ramble, estranged from the stage. It was quite disorientating watching the band in front then looking over their shoulders for the crooner in the corner ... but Junior Elvis like that kind of thing.
Their music might sound comforting but live they're always prone to the unexpected. Reunited with his band, the singer paced the stage, clutching a cardboard cutout of a juggernaut, dressed in Bohemian Crop Duster get up. Why not? The strident melodies bounced back from the low ceiling. Those elevating chords of Sadhead and Konrad ring in your ears and by the end of another classic set there were autobahn smiles all round the room.
SEVENBALL come from a completely different direction - from York actually. Initially I thought it looked a bit pompous placing seven guitars at the front of the stage, but they used the lot.
'Pearl Jam with Jeff Buckley vocals' was the soundbite write up on the posters and what a powerhouse they were. But there is real depth, both to the incredible voice and the highly emotive music. Perhaps they are tugging at the same heartstrings as Saltburn's finest Juniors after all. Sevenball can groove and they can slide and slither. That wonderful gravely voice gives them a real edge.
Thanks again for letting us play last week - we all loved the place - and I think we'll have to come up for a full night of drinking over the weekend as soon as we can....
Cheers,
Luke
Sevenball
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