Sat 5th March 2005 - The Shed

In Order of Performance 

• Razor Chimp
• What Planet?
• Ashdown
• The Conway Story

The first band razor chimp, was a young studenty type band, with female vocals, they struck me as having not much gig experience, but over all they put out a danceable set.

As always What Planet rocked the house down, showing that although they may not have giged for 3 years, they had not lost any of there tight, well rehearsed sound.....The atmosphere was fueled with excitement for this long awaited reformation and the audience were not disappointed. Russel excelled himself on his debut performance, he certainly rocked his little cottons off, proving that age is not an issue, when it comes down to deep gritty rock.

As the set came to an end, the audience screamed for more so much so, that the sound man had no choice but to let them back on stage for one more rocking track......What a set.......Impossible to follow....So much so that I didn't really notice the other bands, I was left on to much of a high.

The night was mared slightly by a few drunken lads, who tried, but dismally failed, to ruin an awesome night!!!!!!

KEEP ON ROCKING GUYS!!!!!!!!

 So the band played the showcase along with 3 other bands, Sump, Alphastone and Snatch. The lads were up first and put on a cracking animated melodic set, which was in all very entertaining, Although being put on first meant that the bigger crowds hadn't arrived yet, the lads were not deterred and gave it there all. Sump up next were very obviosly Rage Against The Machine Wannabes, Although what they did do I thought they did well, but I wasn't sure if at some point they were going to pull there wolly hats down over there heads and run off to rob a bank, Alphostone where good for what I saw of them, but at this point the beer was starting to sink in and I was becoming unaware to what was happening on stage, as with Snatch, who were fronted by a tall blonde tressed slim girl, the good thing I thought about this band was that the drummer was female too (which is something you don't see very often). Again it was a good enjoyable night, and I apologise for saying it cost £4.00 to get in, it didn't cos anything which was even better.

To those of you who know this infamous man he needs no introduction for those of you who don't he's The Leicester Mercury's music journalist, and the reviewer for the chalotte showcase (I think the man is a big joke as far as his knowledge of good music goes).

His review started off with a not to bad heading, "Raising Lazarus were resurrecting pop-rock", he then goes on, "Raising Lazarus are no strangers to the Charlotte, and as before they produced a tight, professionel, but unremarkable show of middle of the road Bryan Adams style FM pop rock. That was it for R. Laz, but Dave goes on.....
Sump, with there guitar, bass, drums, vocals, decks and wolly hats, were obviously going to be of the metal meets hip hop school. Yup, it's that same old Rage Against The Machine angst, combined with Cyprus Hill basslines, metal guitar and a shouty singer/rapper on top..... and he goes on, in fact he goes on to slay every band that was on that night, Which I want to know how he could do that when he payed less attention to the bands than I did, and he wasn't drinking. Anyway as every review that Dave does when I'm there I disagreed and wrote my letter of complaint to the Mercury's letter Page, that is as follows.....

Dear Post bag,

I find myself writing to this paper again about the same person again, Dave Davies, tell me, was the paper hard up when you first employed this man, and if so surely you're better off now and can afford to employ a professional music journalist, of course I'm referring to his so called review of the Monday night Charlotte showcase. I was there too and so were a lot of other people that have a totally different story to tell. Maybe it's his age, Maybe he's past it and that's why he cann't give an accurate review. The man cann't even seem to get his facts right and I quote, "Raising Lazarus are no strangers to the Charlotte", Raising Lazarus have never played the Charlotte, three members of the band played the Charlotte in a former band called What Planet? He then goes on to say "and as before, they produced a tight professional but unremarkable show of melodic, middle-of-the-road Bryan Adams style FM pop-rock".
O.k. now correct me if you think I'm wrong, but isn't there a huge whopper of a contradiction in there? They produced a Tight, Professionel and Melodic set, but it was unremarkable and middle-of-the-road? Make up your mind Dave, they're either Professionel and Tight or Unremarkable also what is this FM pop-rock? I'm sure that was the phrase you used to review them when they were What Planet? You're so very un-original.
As for the other bands you reviewed from the showcase, I'd be surprised if they didn't lynch you.

My advise for the infamous Dave Davies, either get with it or get a different profession and give the Leicester Music Scene a well deserved break from the drivel you write

Sincerely,


Jennifer Friel

So last night was the Lamplighters gig, and I have to say, I thought the hole evening was excellent, Supported by Switch (you guys rock), The bands played a storming couple of sets, (and even had the townies up and dancing).

Unfortunatly I left the camera on the coffee table, and so no piccies of lastnight's gig, so i'll just have to tell you all about it instead.

I've seen Switch a few times now, and I'm still surprised that Das has not fallen over yet, as soon as he hits that first string on his bass guitar, his legs go all bendy and he looks like he's about to topple over side ways lol, Anyway apart from that The guys put on a super show, and had big smiles on there face through out the entire evening, I have to say, like the new song guys, switch were followed by Raising Lazarus, who also put on a super set, babe got his kit off on stage, (well only his jumper) but it was good enough for me, and then came for a walk round whilst playing the excellent Forever, and was joined for a bit on the dance floor by Mong to do there rather nifty duety bit, as the set finished screams of more erupted from audience and so the band went on to do a super rendition of Pink Floyds, The Wall, as that song finished and the lads were sweating buckets and about on the verge of collapsing from dehydration a tall slim blonde walks up and ever so politely flutters her eye lids at Mong and asks if they would do Wild Boys again, Mong doesn't hesitate and pulls all the lads back on stage to perform for the last time that evening, Neal crawls back on to his stool again and hesitantly picks up his knitting needles, sorry drum sticks, Mark props his self up against his key board, Pete begs for a beer first and the Mong flutters his eyelids back.
Over all a thouroughly enjoyed fantastic night. Well done to all the lads.