January is often the time of year I go to Showcase gigs for hotly tipped bands for the year, this was almost that, I certainly didn't know any of the bands and was hoping to be impressed.
Rawsonik were already on when we arrived, they are a 4-piece brit pop band from Surrey who were ok, they quickly became all about what the guitarist was getting out of his Epiphone, while the singer was going on about how we should Follow Me, I was thinking I'd gladly follow the guitarist. Rise Above had no Black Flag influence, it was much more Oasis meets Toploader, crying out for the band to play enough gigs to find their identity, anything to make them stand out a bit more. They closed with a song that was introduced as being on the bands demo tape, Doesn't Change was ok, it had another great guitar part and the drummer really let rip showing that they certainly have some potential, if they stick at it.
Next on were the very difficult to search for XL who are the re-formed 80's mod band led by Will Beaven, the bands keyboardist and singer, they opened with Rollin Over that was the last thing on the bands mind as Will kept singing nothing's gonna stop me. Ego's centred around Tony Lawrence's huge bass line and some nicely overdrive keyboards. Light On This had some great funky interplay between Toby Rubenstein's guitar and what Will was doing on the keyboards. Don't You Know The Party's over seemed to want us to go back to the 80's glory days, when things were still free and easy.
Sofa King was the first tune where Will hit the switch on the keyboards that made them sound like a Fender Rhodes, while singing about the slob glued to his sofa. For I'm On Your Side Will switched to guitar and suddenly they sounded a lot thinner, somehow a bit more mod, Dodgy Dog was one of the bands stand out tunes with the new drummer really nailing it down, while we wondered exactly what had gone on, until Will explained it was about Boris Johnson.
Through The Window Pane is the view they had of all the action they wanted in on. Fool Me Once was a great slice of sing along mod fun with a towering bass line and more of that overdriven keyboard sound. They closed with the Python Lee Jackson standard In A Broken Dream that had a dirty great groove to it.
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After a swift change of Beret's and flags in front of his keyboards Will Beaven was back with The Studio 68! The early 90's brit-mods who were playing the album launch show for Rollin' the bands comeback album, complete with a new singer Dani Turner. The set started as soon as Paul Moody yelled that we all had to Get Wasted and his fuzzy psyche guitar battled with the sax player, lost in the purple stage lights with Paul taking most of the lead vocals, Things kicked up a level when Dani Turner really let loose on Wasn't Ready her deep blues howl somewhere between Janis Joplin and Sass Jordan.
Magic Touch was built on a huge groove from Patrick O'Sullivan who was insect like stalking the stage with his bass, with Will Beaven's imperious keyboards. Seasons was far sunnier than things actually are, Dani wrung all the emotions out of it.
Time Slips saw the return of the mysterious Sax player in the shadows with some deeply funky stabs. Punches was slower more intense asking you to take it slow. Mr Moody insisted everyone in the 100 club were indeed Funky People it had a very raw heavy rock groove with Dani threatening out Percy the big log when it dived into Whole Lotta Love for a few bars. They claimed they Need A Miracle that was full of pleading and dirty organ fills. The Way It is seemed to be the acceptance they will continue to be underground legends, always worth seeing for a deep groove sensation.
Paul Moody sang The Other Me that could be about his days as a journalist, or just what he's like when he is intoxicant free, they ended the song vamping on It's a Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock & Roll that was perfect for Dani's screams. Then closed with a funky soul version of Losing You that left us all wanting some more from The Studio 68! Who were most impressive.
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