The Mad Ferret is Preston's premier small band venue, with a small stage, excellent lighting rig and impressive sound system and hosts live music several nights of the week. It isn't much busier than anywhere else on arrival, but goes from empty to packed in a few short minutes. Things are looking up.
First up tonight is Salford's Tom Metcalfe, whose stunning flamencoesque opening and couple of songs allow him to display the supreme skills he has to hand. This is a man whose acquaintance with a guitar is made to look as casual as most manage with a knife and fork. A brilliant start.
Next on are Preston four piece Mystery Tea House, playing their second gig at the venue and entirely justifying the decision to get there early. This was stop-you-in-your-tracks beautiful. A mix of haunting melodies, subtle brass interludes (the band has a brass section that compromises one trumpet and two people taking turns to play it) and in singer Katie Drew, stunningly angelic vocals. Comparisons with Lamb's Lou Rhodes are neither overblown nor unfair. This is a band that have a lot to work with and even if the band doesn't make it, Drew surely has a future somewhere in music.
On stage next and taking the tempo up a notch are 3/5ths of Preston 5 piece Mobius Loop. They've clearly played together a while and don't take themselves too seriously, but to this listener are a bit like Razorlight with novelty trombone, and Im not sure how much the missing bongo player would add to that sound. But it's some blokes playing in a band to an audience, and there are plenty who would swap places. Following Mobius Loop are established Preston band Vox Population. These are four lads who look and sound like they want to be The Arctic Monkeys. And that's been done a lot of times already.
Headliners tonight are Manchester outfit Disco Nasties. Already featured on Huw Stephen's BBC Introducing show and receiving rave reviews for their high energy live show, Disco Nasties provide full on, in your face punk and ska. Front man, guitarist and lead singer Freddie transforms from calm and relaxed when you chat between bands to manic and maniacal on stage, singing, shouting, screaming, throwing himself around and daring you not to get involved. It's hard to resist. Drummer Lorna and her 'I'm a girl, so what' attitude hits the drums so hard you'd think she was trying to beat them into submission. Alongside bassist Ollie, they provide a rythmn section that holds the whole thing together. The announcement that Ollie is leaving the band in the near future must be a disappointment and you'd hope a suitable replacement can be found and quickly. Guitarist Liam switches easily between ska rythmns and raucous punk riffs. This lively, riotous performance is very well received by a still packed pub and closes the night brilliantly. If the coming years of economic austerity bring us a musical protest response, the 'f*ck you' punk and ska attitude could find the Disco Nasties in the right place at just the right time.
article by: Phil Adcroft
published: 10/01/2011 15:52
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.