Wrong Animal, One More Kiss, (hooker), Gertrude London Water Rats, 29 June 06 Can someone get me a pint of Stella? Stella yeah, thats right, mate. Stella. With that (and a vibrating pulse of electro noise) Wrong Animal begin their set. In a half-full converted theatre in Kings Cross, a crowd of people expecting some dodgy last-minute mates of the promoter band collectively go Wuh? and turn their heads to pay a bit more attention. This band taste like fire. Fire with ADHD. Musically, generically, theyre all over the place bouncing from one end of the musical spectrum to another. Even so, frontwoman Miss Bee holds it all together with a damn impressive scream, a touch of self-deprecating humour and a fair amount of Stella. A very welcome surprise. One More Kiss, unfortunately, pale in comparison. Theres nothing ultimately wrong with their taut power-indie, and there are certainly high points Speaking Dirty English and Solitary Confinement are potential hits in the making but the main problem is the rest of the set. Its like they have two tiers of songs: one is far superior to the other. And they know it. They look bored when playing the lower tier. When the band themselves look bored with their songs (especially at this stage in their career) what chance do the audience have? Even so, if they carry on writing songs of the calibre of the higher tier theres a hell of a lot of potential here. I first saw (hooker) about two years ago, in an arts centre in Cardiff. It was upstairs, in a room that somewhat resembled a basketball court - that had the acoustics of the inside of a copper vase. Despite that, they blew me away then. They come on stage tonight and dont disappoint theyre absolutely superb. Singer Zoe McVeighs hugely emotive voice is perfect for their razor-sharp and uncompromising brand of punk but its not just that that makes them. Its not even the fact that a three-piece, playing a bass with three strings and a guitar with four strings, makes as much noise as some six-strong bands. Its the fact that they still seem slightly amazed and embarrassed that the audience loves them, casting little joy-filled glances at each other. (hooker) are without a doubt the most upfront and honest band Ive seen in years, and if you have an ounce of passion in you, see them. Theyll inspire you. After that, youd think itd take a lot for Gertrude to impress. Well, to be fair to them, they dont have the surprise factor of Wrong Animal or the sheer emotional power of (hooker). What they do have, though, is just as good. They strike the balance between energetic punk rock and sheer joy-filled quirkiness perfectly and somehow with a wonderful permasmile on guitar and clarinet player Iona Tanguays face. Yes, I did say clarinet. Its this kind of inspired lunacy and sense of fun that moves them beyond being just another riot grrrl band into a whole different league. Punks not dead its started wearing stripey stockings instead.    Comment on this Article on the forum. Reviewer Kev Eddy

Saucy Lil Tart feat: Stasi + One Unique Signal, Nosferatud2 & Special Benny The Colour Bar, Camden 25th May 2006 Out of Camden station and you cant move tonight without tripping over an emo kid AFI are at the Electric Ballroom. Luckily Im heading just a short way to the chic basement that is the Colour Bar and only have to jostle through a dozen or so groups of black clad teens, managing to arrive unscathed - protecting your eyes from the rigid spiked hair is the key. Despite the venue being pretty empty when they take to the stage, the six members of Special Benny play as if in front of a packed house. Like The Go! Team without the hip hop samples, there are three part harmonies that lift the hairs on your arms, a wailing saxophone here, a little toy keyboard there. Just staying on the right side of the line between experimental pop and freeform jazz, Special Benny make the kind of music I imagine superheroes listen to on an afternoon off. Nosferatu d2 are a different proposition completely. Where the previous band could barely fit onto the small makeshift stage, Nosferatu d2 are two towering men in black, and although light on numbers theyre certainly not slight in sound. Just a drummer and guitarist, rhythms are machine gun like from the double kick pedal, and riffs are ragged and coruscating. Fair enough, many bands around now are stripping back or losing an instrument in order to find an original sound, but Nosferatu d2 do it better than most especially through the amazing drummer who must have an extra limb or two judging by the gargantuan noise emanating from the back of the stage. One Unique Signal may have a conventional line up compared to the first two bands, but musically theyre anything but. Drawn out bouts of feedback dissolve then erupt into mangled guitar lines, scrawling all over the just audible melodies with disregard and contempt like a moody child deliberately going outside the lines of their colouring book. At their most basic One Unique Signal are like a Math Rock Interpol, the drummer adding icy cold monotone vocals to the complex yet precision guitar attack, but at their most experimental are like not much else out there right now. Headlining tonight are three piece, Stasi. Like 65Daysofstatic who theyve recently supported, the band mix up Mogwai-esque post-rock and electronica but in Amit Sharma possess a vocalist to set them apart from other bands in this genre. On opener Mixed Inglish drums akin to cut and paste beats and loud/quiet guitars are the launch pad for Sharma to sing skyward, pure and operatic ala Matt Bellamy. In fact mid way through the set comes Riding The Biaxial which with its delicate piano melody and funereal pace reminds most of Muse. Ending with the euphoric Thats The Future all gurgling Wah Wah and intricate guitars and room shaking percussion, Stasi may not be too different to the bands named above, but they play with enough passion and conviction and of course have that voice making band and crowd seem as one where others come across as uninterested and detached.  Walking back to the station I overhear one particular spikey haired kid claiming that the AFI gig at the Electric Ballroom was one of the best gigs Ive been to in ages. Well ditto young man; but Im not talking about AFI.  Pictures by Kayla Story.    Comment on this Article on the forum. Reviewer Liam McGrady

I got Smeared by a saucy lil tart....
Current mood: enthralled
Category: Music

> Saucy Lil Tart Promotions Ft. Teasing Lulu, Sob Dollies and The Smears

04.27.06

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     This is an all grrrl affair, if Im aloud to make such a shameless pun. Collectively were talking some Sleater Kinney, Blondie, Shirley Manson, PJ Harvey, Janis Joplin, and Patti Smith influences, but mostly, anyone and anything with attitude. On the last Thursday of every month, Tart is a fantastic way to discover upncoming, undiscovered, underground, unsigned bands (take your pick). Tonight had a slight punk female theme to it, but this is ever changing with a different cache of bands every month.

     First to the floor are Teasing Lulu, a smartly dressed, spunky sounding three piece. Fringes, a distinct bass line, energetic and engaging, theyve got great prospects with Stranglers bass player JJ Burnel producing the upcoming album. They get the balance between melodious pop and harsh rock just right creating something refreshingly different. Cat and Mouse is one of the standout tracks, sharp Brit pop vocals with a strong musical backing, as well as Loser, where its discovered you can scream in tune, and the upcoming single Infatuation.

     Sob dollies are a completely different experience. To begin with, Alices vocals are what youd expect from a Juliette Lewis and Peaches mash up, shes completely fearless and incredible to watch. The songs are bizarre but equally intriguing, its what Pink Grease might sound like with a female lead. Yelps, screeches, and songs about Fe Fi Fo Fum, this kind of experimentation should be noticed.

     Possibly the most caustic band of the night, The Smears were the final act, and despite having to take off halfway through theyre just another fine example of the raw energy these bands have. A punkier, faster and angrier noise, theres a defiance in their lyrics to just make-do, but to strive.

     Saucy Lil Tart Promotions has got its heart in the right place and its finger on the pulse, selflessly allowing bands a chance to showcase. Apologies to any of the male members of these bands, but, this was a night of girl power, with added spice.

by Lucia Hodgson