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The – œGang didn’t put a foot (or a finger) wrong all night, and each song was followed by genuine applause and cheers, but there were some shining moments, including performance of self-depreciating, dance-inspiring number, Visionary; which saw much of the audience singing along. The words of the song totally at odds their actual performance “Take another bow to the crowd, it would have been fine if I played with some feeling”, we’ll just assume the lyrics are supposed to be ironic; the feeling every member of the band put into their performance is unmistakable.

The highlight song of the night would have to be Slow Soul, which is the only track on their EP to take the laid back soul-side of the blues, while it’s pretty cool recorded, it sounds like absolute rubbish compared to seeing them play it live. This is where guitarist Dan Carroll really shows what he is made of, every nuance of feeling was plain to hear through his voice and skilful picking.

All sorts of people showed up for the evening; revellers from near-by Mojo’s mini-festival, middle-aged couples out looking for a good night and one rather excited boy on his bucks night, complete with an “The End is Nigh” placard and glow-stick-clad compatriots, who threw a lovely pair of blue and green Y-fronts up on to the microphone, much to the amusement of the band, who weren’t quite sure if they had been worn or not.

Carroll remarked, “I know it’s a cliché, but there really is no place like home”. Whether that meant their tour hadn’t been as successful as they’d hoped or if it was just a reaction to the truly excited crowd is unclear, but seeing the overwhelming response from the crowd must have really helped their show, as all band members seemed to be in great moods, grinning at each other and playing with such intensity and emotion; or maybe they’re always like that…

Unofficial band member, Bones was an absolute star performer, pounding the purple fur-lined keyboard with zeal, lifting his knees up and down in a struggle to remain seated whilst playing with such passion. He left the stage for a few songs which was a shame, as he brings something really special to the sound, but the band managed just fine without the fourth element; it brought the sound back to basics and really allowed the bass-line to shine through. The bass swung between complex funky melodies and slow, rhythmic thrumming that complimented the other sounds. There was no one-upmanship; each musician knew where they fit in which song, and when it was their time to shine, and when to step back. Dan Carroll is just phenomenal, as attested by his seemingly effortless cover of Hendrix’s Manic Depression. He has mastered the subtlety of blues guitar, knowing exactly how to bend the strings to achieve the best sound, when to keep it simple and when to let go and wail. Finally drummer Bryn Stanford needs a special thanks making the cowbell sound cool again, Cowbell Jam went down oh-so-well, as the dancers revelled in its light-hearted drum melody.

Finishing the gig the way of all great blues shows, all musicians were given a chance to show their stuff, with Bones dramatically pounding away on the keys, his fingers adorned with some crazy glowing rings, courtesy of the aforementioned glow-stick party. He drilled out some organ sounds reminiscent of The Whitlams’ I Make Hamburgers (the organ sound, not the tune) much to the ever increasing delight of the crowd. Jason Bale thrummed out some solid bass work he had been delivering consistently all evening, although unfortunately it wasn’t a particularly memorable solo. Stanford bashed away at his kit the way drummers do when given free rein to let go, but he somehow managed to keep it as part of the song they were playing, rather than a cacophony of banging and crashing. Of course Carroll wowed us again with his skill and creativity; kneeling on his guitar and bending the neck and even removing the lead and tapping it to create an amazing sound.

All of this was set in a most beautiful venue: any band looking for a great outdoor gig should put some thought into the Railway Hotel beer garden. The raised platform at the back means people who want to sit back and have a few drinks can do so and still see, and anyone who wants to dance manically in front of the stage can kick off their shoes and feel the grass between their toes (OHS representatives please avert your eyes). The only criticism for this particular gig was the row of plastic chairs in our dance space; situated about four metres back from the stage in a semi-circle, effectively creating a barrier for standing fans. While those seated put up some initial resistance to being stood in front of, by about the third song there was no stopping the crowd from moving in, as the first few brave dancers swelled to encompass most of the people there and even the chair-sitters were forced to stand up and get amongst it; seeing live music the way it’s supposed to be seen, and giving a great band the support they deserve.

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