Bromheads Jacket, Thomas Tantrum, The Ultra Sonics.

Esquires Bedford Lev 2 14th September 2006.

The first band on tonight were THE ULTRA SONICS. I really enjoyed these. They had a sort of grungey sound, but without sounding really 90’s. Lots of mad guitars which I always enjoy. I would sum them up as sounding a bit like a cockernee Mudhoney. I did tell the singer this afterwards and he didn’t seem insulted, so I guess it’s a reasonable description.

Next on were THOMAS TANTRUM. I’ve no idea what they were supposed to be doing. They probably thought they were being terribly clever, which so often translates as dull and slightly bemusing. I particularly hated the vocals. That sort of silly little girl voice with occasional screeching is the musical equivalent of fingernails down a blackboard (shudder!). There was a brilliant demonstration of totally pointless spoon playing. Yes – spoon. And no the guitarist doesn’t look like Russell Brand, unless you’ve been drinking that special cider that turns you blind.

Finally it was BROMHEAD'S JACKET. I have never heard anything by them, but I read my NME and they sounded good on paper. I was going to see them at Reading, but a quick check of the timetable reveals that I was having a quiet lay down at the time due to a rather late Thursday night. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they were even better than I thought they might be. I was a bit worried about the comparisons to The Streets (cos I don’t like ‘em), but thankfully there was plenty of energetic guitar and no rubbish dancey music. I have also heard the Arctic Monkeys comparison. Well, yes they are all from up North (Bass player Jono is actually from St. Albans - Editor) and sing about everday sort of stuff. Having managed to see a rather lacklustre Monkeys performance at Reading, I’d say that Bromheads Jacket have got the edge.

REVIEW TWO BY Martin Stapleton

After years of being overshadowed by cities such as Manchester, London and Liverpool, suddenly Sheffield - normally only associated with flat caps and whippets - is becoming the main focal point in today's music scene. Largely due to the phenomenal rise of The Arctic Monkeys, other bands from the area are now following in waves, such as tonight's visitors BROMHEAD'S JACKET. Very sceptical beforehand, I have to admit I was most definitely won over and I found their set and their interaction with the audience most entertaining.
With songs packed full of tales about everyday mundane experiences and the inevitable loves and struggles in bedsit land, vocalist Tim Hampton is cast as a 21st century prophet, bluntly telling the kids the undeniable truths about life. The fast, furious and punky 'Leslie Parliaft' and 'Lions on the Prowl' leave most people breathless, including Tim himself, as he catches his breath at the end of 'Fight Music for the Fight' by pondering out loud where the phrase 'Indian Summer' comes from. Before anyone can answer, the band launch into the 'Car Wash' song, otherwise known as 'Pinch of Psalt'. However, a broken guitar strap leads Tim into a story about Eric Clapton!
Before the band launch into 'Sris', Tim explains he was concerned no-one would turn up. He needn't have worried - the place is packed. My favourite song of the evening has to be 'Trolley Rage (Shopping Spree)' which namechecks Sainsburys, Asda and Tescos. It is easy to see (at least lyrically) where the comparisons with Mike Skinner have come from, but this is no one man band and throughout the evening the frontman receives immense support from his rhythm section - Jono West (bass) and Dan Potter (drums).
Recent single 'Trip to the Golden Arches' describes a frustrating trip to Mcdonalds for '...a banana milkshake and a super-sized packet of chips' after which the band take time out to thank those who supported them at the Reading and Leeds festival and bid us farewell, with Tim admitting "I like this place, I'd love to come back'. Perhaps the title of their final track 'What Ifs and Maybes' is the only answer at the moment as to whether we will seem them back at Esquires.

Supporting Bromhead's Jacket tonight were firstly the three piece THE ULTRA SONICS. Intentionally or otherwise, they used a fair degree of feedback which gives them a raw edge. Their sound is very much a mash-up of Nirvana and Oasis with 'Moneychain' an instant standout in a top-notch set.

The less said about the four piece, female fronted, indie band THOMAS TANTRUM the better. An utterly torturous twenty minutes, during which the end could not come quickly enough.