Free RocknRoll, Kiara Elles and Dragster

Dear listeners (and readers),

I’ve been politely asked to share with you my thoughts on the punk-flavoured gigs and cultural adventures I go after. Whether they are wanted or not, you will nonetheless have the chance to discover something about happenings a bit ‘less popular’.

The last seven days have seen me going to three distinct gig nights in three different towns.

Thursday, April 22, saw the weekly DIY punk/rock music night organized as part of the Free Rock’n’Roll initiative at the familiar, cosy atmosphere of the Liverpool café/bar Mello Mello (which some of you may recall from a very special radio opening with free muffins and cake). Speaking of muffins and the tradition of delicious freebies, the entrance to the aforementioned event comes for the price of £0.00, leaving you with no excuse as why not to come on a Thursday night and warm up with some good ol’ rock’n’roll (or one of its endless transformations).

Back to last Thursday night, the bill included: The Drellas, Vermin Suicides, Go Heeled & Tom George (performing in reverse order for the sake of my dear reader’s confusion). The first two acts I missed for the sake of a conversation with Peter Bentham, the mastermind behind the Free Rock’n’Roll initiative. Then The Vermin Suicides brought a playful and energetic punk feeling to the stage, with the crowd getting up on their feet as well and attempting a dance move or two! A touch of psychobilly/rockabilly crept into a few songs while free promo EPs split the air and (unsuccessfully) attempted to behead a few audience members. The real craze, however, was brought to the stage by The Drellas whose fanbase grows by the day and their appearance on the night was actually a response to their recent successful performance at the Masque, as support for Manchester punk legends Goldblade. Defining their own style as experimental punk/rock, they couldn’t be any more precise. One thought springs to mind: if Tim Burton needed a band for his next underworld, inhabited by shady skeleton figures making noise with guitars, sax and contrabass in their bony hands, The Drellas would be the quintet of choice! (quick vid summary of the night can be found here)

Two days later, I was to be found in the Love Apple in Bradford, where three lovely gals and two lads by the name of The Kiara Elles injected a much needed dose of fresh, if not a bit gloomy, but dancy new-wave-scented tunes. Which in a better world would top the charts and maybe it’s not too late for that either since they are about to release a debut album! Terrific bass lines which more often than not overrode the main guitar line ensured my utter adoration and enjoyment from beginning to end. Which is somewhat of a rare occasion. My impressions aside, I will let the band’s sound speak for itself – click here for The Kiara Elles’ promo vid for their soon-to-be-released single “Laser Shot”.

Note: The Kiaras are to play not long from now in Liverpool as well, check their groovy tunes and live energy out in the Zanzibar on May 14!

My gig adventures that week had an explosive end, brought about on a Sunday by the Bad Taste Barbies and Dragster at the punk venue Star & Garter in Manchester. I saw the Bad Taste Barbies brightening up an improvised stage in Liverpool sometime at the end of last year and without any hint of exaggeration, have not witnessed anything remotely close to them ever since. An insane mix of drag queen glamour, messy wigs, gaudy clothing attributes begging for your attention and juicy male/female vocals, the Barbies will NOT leave you apathetic! Shock value and fun guaranteed.

The end of the night and of a long week came along by no gentle means. A beautiful rockabilly chick out of hell, with voice and screams the Devil would make sure to shake his tail to, Fiona, and her boys from the fast-paced act Dragster, showed Manchester no mercy. Leave it to Fi to mesmerize and muddle minds (beware ladies, keep an eye on your man!) by performing her antics on/off/by the stage while the boys’ heavy guitar riffs, tumbling bass lines and drum beats shatter your ear-drums. One of the better well-known acts on punk all-dayers, Dragster have for years and still are (in the anticipation of a new album in the coming months) winning over the hearts of the angry and daring ones who got the guts to shout back at the world and NOT let it be to its own accord!

Stay tuned for more because the wicked have no rest and I’m not looking forward to any either – more alleycats and clockwork punks to witness and reflect on in the next few days.

Meanwhile, entertain yourself by giving an ear (and advisably, an eye too) to any of the highlighted acts by checking out the following:

http://www.myspace.com/thedrellas
http://www.myspace.com/thekiaraelles
http://www.myspace.com/badtastebarbies
http://www.myspace.com/dragstersuicide

YOURS TRULY,
Joanne