Cut Capers

Ska music has always had a strong influence in the music scene of the South West, there's something about the happy summer vibe that goes hand in hand with a band that pump out some brass on their tunes. Bristol has often supplied a steady pool of this kind of talent sending it to pub venues and beach festivals along the coast and Cut Capers are the latest band make that journey out of the city and down into Devon.

A rare event for North Devon but historic nightclub Marisco, on the shores of Woolacombe Bay, chose to host live music for the first time in years as an experiment between promoter and club owner to try and take Friday nights in a new direction. The club itself, dark with neon painting across the walls and a dance floor that vibrates to bass the club oozes with character.

Resident DJ Chubb Nice spins gypsy swing with full brass and old school charleston-esque samples to get people in the mood for band. Perfect style for the vibe, with DJ skills that are far beyond what you'd expect outside a major city. Inebriated punters head up the stairs into the club, smiling and jiving from the get go. From being an empty room for the first hour the club rapidly becomes a busy and rowdy venue.



At one in the morning the band take to the stage with a blast of horns to a crowd eager to skank it up. The band don't wait a second before they hit the audience with a fast song and the crowd respond with cheers. Talking to people outside I released that many people had travelled a long way to see these guys which proves how fast they're rising to the top of the ska scene. In just over 2 years they've headlined small festivals and, on their home turf, had fans queuing around the block to see them.

The band play as a tight unit, whipping the crowd into a frenzy, Zak Bedaida and Matt Sunderland providing the spine of the music on bass and drums with driving funkiness allowing the horns to play with the rhythms. There are fast bits that people bounce to mixed in with solos and breakdowns all perfectly positioned to add to the vibe.

Having three vocalist in the band works well for them, with different styles and characters it allows for an added breadth and depth that other bands lack. Galician rapper Skinny (aka Eloy) grins from ear to ear and bounces up and down before delivering pitch perfect fast spanish rhymes. He adds a unique flavour to an already great band and his Red Bull fuelled energy transfers to the frenzied dancers.



Moments of feedback and a sometimes quieter mic for Jane Louise Thomas (the most recent addition to the band) don't daunt them and they play through it and overcome it with the quality of their tunes. The audience interaction is great for a band that are dealing with people in the early hours of the morning who have obviously had a few drinks and are perhaps a little rowdier than most.

An hour flies by and after a one song encore the band leave the stage to a screaming audience begging for more. Maybe the band didn't expect such a reaction and played their better songs too early but they definitely ended on a high.

As far as events go Marisco's decision to host live music again was a good one, a full house and a sunny weekend at the beach for those who stuck around. As it's only a 2 hour drive from Bristol it could be a good way of attracting the city's music lovers down for a weekend away and pulling bands that may normally pass North Devon by.

FUTURE GIGS