REVIEW JOSEPHS WELL 2002


      
Chris Helme / Paul Banks / Stu Fletcher
      - pre-Yards acoustic concert at Joseph's
      Well, Leeds

      
Helme / Banks / Fletcher....three of the
      best musicians in.....er... to come out of Yorkshire... so ran
      the "glowing" introduction to the live debut of these
      three paragons of fine music. Although these will be a fully
      worked up plugged in live band (with the addition of a drummer)
      under the name of SuperZero or at least I think that's what Chris
      said, I'll check the minidisc tonight! Joseph's Well in Leeds
      is tucked away behind the Infirmary, a fair sized boozer with
      a small live room downstair which hosts an acoustic evening every
      Sunday. Hence we are here along with around 100-150 others, some
      Shed Seven fans, some obviously hoping to hear some old Seahorses
      tunes done acoustic style-y. Truth is, so was I, but that didn't
      last long, no back catalogues were plundered. Instead we got
      about a dozen songs, half of which had been newly written by
      the trio, the other half Chris had been touting around this past
      year or so. The only nod to a previous life was a version of
      "When It's Gone", previously a Rising (Paul's post
      Sheds band) track. That said we did get a sneaky intro to some
      'Horses tunes from Stu and an "ironic" "Going
      For Gold" intro from Paul. This was no polished gig, it
      was very raw, very under-rehearsed but it worked all the better
      for that and the fellas obviously enjoyed it. The punters did
      too judging by the genuine calls for an encore. Nothing was planned
      so it was an impromptu run through the Rolling Stones back catalogue.
      I wouldn't like to comment on the music particularly as it may
      be misleading hearing these songs acoustically but lyrically
      you can hear the legacy of the Seahorses although I doubt somehow
      that Chris would appreciate that? Review by Dave Butterfield