Four Eyed Sometimes - "An Ice Cream Or a Flake Or..." CD-R/13:49
This is a hard one to pin down, it has an almost UK '82 punk sound, mid-paced and lacking a little urgency, but also incorporating a melodic punk rock edge. I want to like it more than I do, I think maybe the production is to blame, it's abit shallow and possibly the tracking is slower than it ougth to be. The vocals seem to be on 33rpm when the music is try to hit 45rpm. The result is fairly plodding, but I definitely think the songs would be much better with a little more pace and urgency. They interestingly cover Camper Van Beethoven's Take The Skinheads Bowling an do a good job of it despite what I mentioned concerning the production. Good lead guitar work, I like the vocal melodies and with somewhat of a better recording this could have been very impressive indeed. As it stands, it's really pretty good, shows some potential and is a fair demo to kick off with.

So not bad really..... they are still available. See below. And still free......!!!!!
You can look on the Fracture site at www.seanchai.dircon.co.uk   you never know, we might get a mention there too...??

Due to continuing threats to be hit over the head by Sneaky Pete's bass guitar I have finally finished the official review of this gig.....humble apologies.

My favourite haunt and also the place where I ply my trade as a very amateur promoter has earned a deserved reputation as a place for fine music. This night was going to be one of those extra special gigs where local boys make good and virtually all the pub can smile and say they know the band personally.

As all the members are regulars in the bar it was only a matter of time before they agreed to play for us. I witnessed their last gig in early 2000 just over the road in the Tut 'n' Shive so I knew what to expect. What little furniture couldn't be nailed down was moved out of the way for health and safety reasons. 

A packed house waited patiently for them to take to the stage, the warm up being provided in the DJ box by local boys Mind The Gap (Colin and a certain Sneaky Pete). At 9:45 the lights dropped, the amps were turned up and lead singer Ritchie called order.......I cant remember at exactly what time but at some point over the next hour or so the roof blew off.

The rest is kind of a blur but I do remember picking up spilled drinks on the stage and also one of the bar staff hanging desperately onto a speaker so as to stop it falling onto the crowd. I dont think it would have mattered as I'm sure someone would have nutted it back into position. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't 'violence' but pure energy from a crowd totally up for it.

They belted out all the crowd favourites, covers (Teenage Kicks did it for me) and their own material. You could pick any from Do Nothing, Downstairs Man, Bad Times, Jack, West Park Mustard.....the list goes on. There was also a surprise in store at the end of the set with a rendition of The Wild Rover (It was St Patrick's night dont forget). Eventually after an expected and welcome encore the lads disappeared back into the crowd and took up their usual places next to the bar, drink in hand and wondering what all the fuss was about.

In my opinion this is live music how it should be. A small intimate pub, a packed crowd who a well up for it and an attitude free, shit hot band who don't talk bollocks or try and lecture you. They just get on stage, switch the amps on and play good music.

What more do you want in life???

Cheers
Nev