There were three bands that I had really wanted to make sure I saw this year. I have already seen The Pixies and The Strokes. The Music were the final part of the trilogy and they had a lot to live up to. All the omens were good. It is always good seeing a gig at a local venue on a Saturday Night because you know where to go afterwards to really make a night of it. And even the previously shoddy weather for most of the day had cleared up.

Firstly, a drink in Goblets (this has been one of my favourite watering holes for years - I don't know if it is still the case but it always had Ned's Atomic Dustbin on the Jukebox!) and then to The Guildhall. As usual getting priorities right we (Pennie, Bob and Paul) made a beeline for the bar and just after getting served the support act The Engineers came on stage. We all went to the front of the venue to check them out. I can't say that they did anything for me to be honest. Their sound was in a sort of psychedelic dirge style which I thought was done much better by the band Loop. My friends all agreed that the singer could have done with a bit more charisma, too! He was far too introverted.

Back to the bar a couple of times and then all of a sudden with little fanfare or intro The Music were on stage. And then straight into the set. My friends were all at the front but to the side of the stage. Not a bad position but it does have a bit of a restricted view. It didn't take Paul and myself long to finish our drinks and go for a bit of moshing action (he's such a bad influence on me!). This was also handy because until the sortie into the middle I couldn't see Phil Jordan (the drummer) and singer Robert Harvey moving around the stage like an out of control spinning top as he does. For anyone who doesn't know The Music they are pitched somewhere between Heavy Rock and Indie and it goes down very well in the Mansell household, as such.

The set was 1 hour and 20 minutes of Rock perfection. I am now struggling to think of the highlights because to be honest there weren't any. Every second was brilliant! (so good that it has obviously turned me into that character from 'The Fast Show' so I'll say it again, Briiiillllliiiiiiiiaaaaaaaannnnt)'Welcome to the North', 'Getaway','Take the Long Road and Walk It','Freedom Fighters'. They even played the instrumental 'The Walls Get Smaller' which is the hidden track on their latest CD 'Welcome to the North'. Awesome - a very overused word but it's the only word to sum the night up. I have to mention the security people in front of the barrier who were doing a top job of spraying us with a water gun and chucking water over us. Usually the security at gigs tend to remain deadpan, but this lot were getting into the gig as well. And one of them looked the spit of Robbie Williams!

The Music are an excellent band and I recommend anyone to go and see them. Oh and if you haven't already, go out and buy both the albums - Welcome To The North & The Music. I thought at the time that I was seeing my joint best live act of this year along with The Strokes which if you know me is high praise indeed. If you like good musicianship then you won't be disappointed with Adam Nutter on guitar, Stuart Coleman on bass and Phil Jordan on the drums. Not only is Robert Harvey a fine singer (in the vain of Robert Plant) and full of crazy dance manoeuvres, but he also plays a mean Gibson SG.

Once the lights went up Paul and myself then had to try and find everyone else. We found Pennie but Bob was nowhere to be seen. A half hour search for him proved fruitless but excellently Adam, Stuart and Robert came out, had a chat to the punters still outside and signed my CD insert from 'Welcome to the North'. This then promoted them to better than The Stokes on the technicality that I haven't met them!!!

Having given up trying to find Bob, we headed to The Dorchester for more liquid refreshment and a bit of a bop to the sounds of DJ Hammy who was on top form. Chatted to a few people who had also been to the Guildhall tonight (they were gutted when we said that we had a chat with the band) and all agreed that it was a fine performance by The Music. Hammy played some tunes that persuaded me to make a fool of myself in public by dancing and finished the night playing 'She Sells Sanctuary' by The Cult which was a fine way to end the night.

Well a good time was had by all and as a footnote I checked that Bob did get home safely. Don't you just love a happy ending!!!


Ric Mansell


Check Out The Official Website Of The Band The Music