The first worthy band FROG STUPID ‘great name’. This is a band capable of including various different sounds in to the mix. I once saw this band adding just a solo with the lead singer, showing they are not afraid to attempt different styles. Despite some feedback problems to begin with, they seem quite a busy line up on stage. Their singer has the personality and confidence to front this band, I’m not sure if there has been any line up changes since last time, although the stage didn’t seem too well lit. It’s good to see a trombone being employed in the bands sound, which has a well humoured, feel good edge, pulling together as a band to produce a tight set which kind of leaves you with a cheerful vibe.
One of my favourite Ska bands WEIGHT LOSS, have an amazing sound, mainly due to the excellent sax playing, which is a main part of the bands distinctive sound – that and what must be one of the best bass players who has this way of lifting the strings and drumming them down while playing, producing a loud ska like twang and can add quite a bit of galloping speed also. At one point, Ant the bassist must have felt the stage was too small for him and came out to play in the crowd, which is easy to do at this venue and made a welcome highlight to the performance. There’s also a new trumpet player, which can only improve an already great sound I think he both plays and fits in well. There’s also a change of lead singer, with a similar vocal style and faultless singing but seemed a bit static on stage. I don’t know if he moves around more at other gigs. The vocals are probably better, but with out that charismatic intensity of the previous front man. The sax and bass seem to form the main back bone of the sound, with guitarist Goody strumming the rhythm further. Again not one to move much on stage, and being more famous for dressing up and injecting a sense of fun in to the band (and even been known to don his girlfriends bikini on stage) although with a worried concentrated look, concentrating hard on his playing, with out looking up….. Hey Goody – not so maudlin. They played some of their live classics like ‘Riot’ and the fantastically rifted ‘I Am God’, and with songs like ‘Jazz Jack Rabbit’ and Fight The Fatness’, you know your in for an entertainingly cheery time.
Oh God, not Chico and the bloody chocolate factory again! Now just simply C.A.T.C.F. how many times have I seen these? – loads, and why? Well there just so damn good and make you want to see them again. There’s no brass section but they have the trade mark ska twangs in with the guitar playing which comes over in a more prominent way, allowing both a more heavier, as well as light hearted ska variation. Again the guitarist left the stage to play in the crowd, but as we had already seen this done once tonight - the novelty had kind of worn off, making it look like a cheep tacky gimmick. I have to say Chico and the boys seemed a well rehearsed band on the night; with their front man having moved away, they had the excuse of not having time to practice but this was not the case, they sounded on top form, they should be pleased with this particular gig. I think it went quite well for them. You couldn’t fault Dot’s guitars or Chico’s singing, even Sime on bass is no stranger to playing live, with experience going back to the Penukle days – the band with the front man that moved around on stage as if on an invisible skateboard, who I haven’t seen for so long I wondered if he had died – Sime informed me he had moved to Norwich (which probably amounts to the same thing). Now that C.A.T.C.F. have loads of material under their belts they keep their set fresher than a squeezed lemon, varying their set which includes top tunes like ‘Cake Hole, and ‘Addictive Personality', with some mighty fine riffs. I’m also informed they have a new studio C.D. coming out soon, and from what you see of their live shows – this will be something to look forward too.
Review by Keith www.bedfordmetal.tk