Friday 16th March - Manchester
The Retro Bar in Manchester is the kind of place that could have been used as a filming location for Miami Vice circa 1987. Bright Red Sofas line the mirrored walls competing for space with the usual crowd of angular mopped punters who are pushed right up against band members gracing it's barely there stage. Many of Manchesters finest bands past and present have performed in this intimate venue and in more recent years it's most memorable gig was the first Nine Black Alps show that attracted the majority of the UKs A&R community back in 2004.
My reason for being here on a bitter March evening was to check out the ever improving St Albans band Friendly Fires (www.myspace.com/friednlyfires) who made quite an impact with their
self titled EP, released during the the latter stages of 2006. Combining the punk funk energy of bands like the Rapture and the monotone vocals of early human league the band do more than enough to keep the majority of Manchesters music muso types happy. The Candi Staton sampling 'Your Love' is the obvious show highlight but other tracks like 'Photo Boooth' and 'On Board' suggest that this band are more than just another DFA influenced dance band. Expeact to hear more from this lot in the future and if this sounds like your kind of thinkg then I'd advise you check them out asap.
Moving onfrom the Retro Bar I headed up to the Dry Bar a pub made infamous by Shaun Ryder when he pulled a gun out there back in the early nineties - if you haven't already watch 24 Hour Party People for a better explanation/extention of the truth - to see a band called The Good Hurt. Drawing influenece from QOTSA, McKlusky and Trail of Dead ., The Good Hurt's performance was full of energy and quiet/loud moments that were executed with a Black Francis like precision. Their music will probably not be everyones cup of tea but if you like your US alt rock then this band is definitely for you. (The footage in the Good Hurt video is not from the gig I attended)
Comments
please check out sonsriot.vox.com
the outsider,good read!
Retro is my local bar - its well good - although I was in there on Saturday just gone and someone threw up on a seat and it stank.
Fashions in retro bar tend to revolve around old style 50's dresses, big hair/makeup, winklepickers, pork pie hats, extra skinny jeans, occassional goth and the like.
Double vodka and coke is ONLY £2.10!!!!!!!!!
Don't let anybody tell you that the Mcr scene is quiet. You just need to dig a bit and you'll find some cool stuff. You should pay a visit to the Britons Protectin near the Bridgewater Hall for their Enchanted Brave - a monthly, semi-acoustic - its brilliant and really improved over the last year or so.
Advert over!
best,
Ben