well, Blackbud were on very best form tonight .... last time I saw them (6 months ago, just before Glasto) they were belting out their songs in basic three minute form, whereas tonight (and for this whole tour I was told) there was a more freeform jamming style which suits their sound and skills, and shows them at their best.

Review and photos will be online tomorrow.

i hear their single has sold out, i ordered it but it's not arrived yet

"Freeform jamming" sounds delightful. I shall have the chance to check them out again at the Borderline on 17/1.
Perhaps they'll even bring some singles along!

<wonders whether Mr Blabber ever booked himself a ticket...... >

Still no sign of the CD!!!!

according to a recent post on efests he has, and he's asking who else is going.

Borderline Ticket is in my wallet and I've got a pink ticket from home (the evening off).

It's a date.

Excellent, see you there. I shall of course be wearing something olive. You'll have to abandon your singing/catsuit fantasies, though, I don't do that sort of thing.

Blackbud are playing Exeter on Saturday - yay!

That's great! We can have a nice little "my gig was better than yours!" spat afterwards!!

Well I got there after Midnight but the efest T shirt did its trick and she spotted me and together we were well entertained by three youthful bands who one day might start shaving their bumfluff.

Were we in for an evening of nappy rock. Ain’t it nice to feel pampered?

The first trio were competeant, I can’t recall their name, but they had a nice bluesy guitar sound and were adventurous in where they took their music.

The second band, Christainsilva came on pumped up and delivered a testosterone charged jerky rocker of the type we’ve all heard before with all the instruments turned up to 11! But they got better as their set progressed and they attempted more intricate sounds.

They are a four piece with the two frontmen being the main talent. The lead singer is the obvious star with a very good voice with plenty of resonant range. He also plays electric piano and acoustic guitar.

But our main conversation piece was his gravity defying jeans. How did they stay up? Honestly if these budding stars must where their jeans so low, they should either ensure they have also got similarly low slung underpants or go commando! The sight of his blue kegs riding above his belt line was rather diverting. The only adjustment he made to his trousered attire was to do zip up his flies during the final number! On such minor detail can the fate of future stars rest.

The lead singer might eventually want to consider another vehicle for his talents. His lead guitarist was OK and had a certain amount of presence, but the drummer and bass could be substituted for any one of a number of hopefuls.

And so on to the main course. I have never seen or heard Blackbud before and I was anxious that they would fail to impress me. I need not have worried. Within a minute of their opening number their quality was shining through.

How can such mature, delicate and progressive music eminate from such young musicians?

Midnight and I started to play a game of spot the musical influence. We checked Cream, Rolling Stones (Mick Taylor Blues/Rock phase), Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Free. Those are POWERFUL reference points.

It’s not as if Blackbud are slavishly aping that style or mimicking it as The Darkness do to the stuff that “Fluff” Freeeman featured on his RAWK show. It’s like when those bands started out they referenced early bluesmen and msde the music their own and took it forward.

Whereas these days spikey indie rock rules and bands from today’s 15 minutes fame seekers, Arctic Monkeys, sound very like the last lot. Blackbud are carving out something new and I hope they can take a generation with them.

I don’t know what the Borderline crowd is like on a Tuesday night, but it was full for Blackbud and there is clearly a buzz around them as a band about to break through. There were at least three photographers with serious looking cameras in attendance and I presume that the music press are now on this highly talented band.

The crowd (mainly male) had quite a mixed demographic There were quite a few “mature” people in the audience alongside the youth. Blackbud’s appeal could be huge.

What I particularly enjoyed was that I never knew what was coming next. Their songs did not sound alike. They were constantly surprising and delightful. They performed as a solid unit and with passion.

The drummer was clearly integral to the sound and the energy pounding out a beat and rhythms, which was driving the music forward. The Bass player has similar energy, clearly enjoying himself, playing in unison with the drums and the lead and also being willing to perform as the music takes hold of him. The guitarist applies the cream (pun intended). Soaring guitar, haunting voice and above all, commitment.

Clearly things are beginning to happen for them. I spotted shiny brand new Fender guitars and clean impressive looking amps (was that a valve amp on lead guitar?). They also announced that they were about to embark on a USA tour in a couple of months time.

I don’t know which of their parents’ albums they’ll be listening to next, but I hope it’s not Deep Purple or Black Sabbath (which would probably get them bigger crowds). I hope they listen to a but more Little Feat and Steely Dan.

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be at a small club when the likes of the Who and any one of a number of mega bands were starting out? Well I’ve no idea how big Blackbud are going to be, but they made my spine tingle.

That's a fairly compehensive review - I don't have much of substance to add, apart from the name of the first band: "Lizard Called Me" .
I guess one of the reasons I take to Blackbud is because they refer to the kind of music I've always liked: Hendrix, Cream, Led Zep etc. They've also improved quite a lot since I last saw them (about 18 months ago), if they keep up that momentum, they should have a bright future. Hope all goes well for them.
All in all it was a really good night out - guess I shall meet Mr as well as Mrs Blabber at the next London Blackbud gig....

Gutted our daughter is ill so I'll be looking after her. Kaz is off to gig to do review and take pics.

Just found this in my Inbox:

Hi

Thanks for leaving your email address at the Borderline gig. It was great to see so many people!

For more stuff on the band you can get full EP tracks and video on the multimedia page at http://www.blackbud.co.uk and http://www.myspace.com/blackbud

Latest news can be found on the forum http://www.blackbud.co.uk/forum/ and there is a tour archive on the website gigs page and there
are some pics up of the show

You can upload your own reviews of the gig and pics as well if you want onto the archive.

We are always looking for anyone to help out with promo at gigs for guest passes and stuff. Send us an email if you could be up for this.
Cheers.

Hope we see you again soon

Cheers

Adam, Sam and Joe

Yes, I had that email too, nice one.

Bad timing, 5co77ie, hope the little mite isn't seriously ill? Best wishes for her swift recovery.

She's a bit better today Kaz is worse for wear today tho - after having to fight off the attentions of teenagers last night!

You better watch out and raise your game, then.
Where will the review go, once she has recovered sufficiently? Here?

yes Kaz's doing it at present - or she's still sorting the pics and will start it soon. But both will be on here

I've read the review today (cheers, Kaz), and it's true, they might shoot themselves in a foot a little by being too complicated and not poppy enough. Should serve them well for the long run, though........