Electric Soft Parade / Unkle Bob / Dartz! / The Minotaurs

Given the sparcity of tonights crowd, you would think that there was not even one good act on this evening, never mind the four that are actually on the bill. The support lineup is one of the strongest I have seen in years, and I must admit to getting a little over excited on reading the relevant names.

Opening act The Minotaurs are gaining a bit of a cult following in Newcastle. Known to turn up anywhere and everywhere, this hard working local act always put on a good show. Showcasing their upcoming four track EP, The Minotaurs treated us to a set up uplifting, Beta Band-esque folk pop, with the stand out track being the EP title track, 'Anyone Who Had A Heart'. If they keep plugging away at this rate, this band are sure to do very well indeed, and they deserve it.



Coming on straight after The Minotaurs, the more abrasive Dartz! at first seemed a little too much, but very soon (ie before the first song was out) they got the audience onside and proceeded to deliver a very impressive show. 'Fantastic Apparatus' is indeed fantastic, and is one of those songs which is guaranteed to hang around your head and refuse to budge. 'Once Twice Again' packs a powerful punch, and this band leave the stage to rapturous applause.



The final support (yes, there were three support acts - now that's what I call value) were Unkle Bob. If you are not already familiar with this wonderful band, I insist you acquaint yourself with them right now - trust me, your life will be better with them in it. 'Better Off' is a haunting tale of love lost, and independence found, and 'One by One' is more than a little reminiscent of Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here', but let's face it, there are worse bands to draw influence from. If the rest of their shows are as good as thing, the upcoming album can be expected to fly off the shelves. Mine's already ordered.



After the quality of the support acts, tonight's main event had a lot to live up to. The Electric Soft Parade are up to the job though. Seemingly having been around for years, yet still criminally underrated, this is a band who know they have to work hard. 'Cold World' is a piece of classic piano led pop, which makes me yearn for the long hot days of summer yet again, as this is a song seemingly written to be sang around a field, as opposed to in an upstairs bar in Newcastle. They have not, however, forgotten their electro-rock roots, with 'Start Again' being as blistering as ever, and gets the feet tapping right at the back of the room.



What always strikes me when watching ESP live is that they are clearly enjoying themselves. Thomas and Alex White provide the comedy anecdotes along with guitars and keyboards, and Math Priest and Matthew Thwaites pour so much energy into the drums and the bass guitar that it is a wonder the instruments make it through the show intact.



Given the alleged 'New Rave Revolution', Electric Soft Parade could accidently provide an alternative to the scene setters, and prove indeed that it has all been done before, and may I say it, just a tiny bit better, as is proven by the simply fantastic 'There's A Silence', which stands out even in this excellent set.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.