Red Snapper

By chance, I saw an advert for Red Snapper playing live in London at Kings College Student Union and it made my day. The last I had heard, they had split in 2002. When the day finally came, we made our way to the venue and up to the 4th floor. It was much bigger than I had expected with a large stage, 3 bars, a good-sized dance floor and a breath taking view of the Thames South Bank. We had arrived fairly early and it seemed pretty dead. I began to wonder if not many people had stumbled across the same adverts for the gig. The warm up DJ played out a lovely mish-mash of dub, minimal dub-step and various other genres all befitting of supporting a band that is impossible to pigeon hole into any fixed slot.

By the time Red Snapper came on stage, the place was packed and hotting up, the Opener 'Keeping Pigs Together' a perfect way to kick the party off. Broken beats from drummer Richard Thair backing the laid back riffs supplied by David Ayers' guitar and funky pulsating double bass of Ali Friend. The beautiful well-rounded sound was completed with Tom Challenger on sax. Next we were treated to 'Snapper'. Originally recorded with Beth Orton contributing on the guest vocals (singing 'snapper' at perfectly placed intervals), her absence wasn't a crucial factor.



Moving on, the band treated us to some new tracks. Every bit as good as the older sound with the same concoction of influences, the crowd was now primed and ready for action. Feet were stomping and heads swaying.

After 5 years apart, Red Snapper seemed as tight as ever. It crossed my mind that perhaps they had been locked in a broom cupboard together for all that time. Richard Thair on drums was pounding out break-beat rhythms, which in places sounded frantic, but he appeared to be totally under control. If today's gig were an exam and I were an examiner, he would receive an A+ especially for his efforts on the bone chilling 'Space Sickness'.



Some technical problems with the electronics in Ali Friend's Double Bass didn't stop them. The rest of the band carried on pumping out the delightful melodies while hands scrabbled to fix the issue. Crisis resolved, the amplified double bass through a wah-wah pedal made the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention.

New boy Tom Challenger showed his multi instrumental skills throughout the gig playing Sax, Melodica and, during the amazingly bouncy 'Brick Red', Clarinet.



We were told that they were working on a new album, which they hoped would be available this autumn 'possibly on a live tip'.

All too soon we had reached the final song of the evening (my favourite of all of the work they have done together), 'Suckerpunch'. Somehow this track makes you feel 6 inches taller and you gain the super human ability to walk through walls. MC Det's vocals were absent, but the track is strong enough to cope without them.

When they left the stage, Red Snapper gave the impression that they enjoy working this hard together. Tonight's crowd certainly appreciated it. They created a sound so whole that it swallowed you up, but I was left feeling that I didn't want to be spat out.

If you like Jazz, electronica, blues, trip-hop, funk, Massive Attack, Hendrix, Surf… Actually, if you like music, check out their MySpace page, buy their albums and go and see them live! You won't be sorry.



Set List
Keeping Pigs Together
Snapper
Wanga Doll
4 Dead Monks
3 Strikes And You're Out
Space Sickness
Mountains And Valleys
Clam
Lagos
Get Some Sleep Tiger
Brick Red
Flush
Wesley Don't Surf
Suckerpunch

FUTURE GIGS