The Sheffield Scenester

It’s Monday night and as people trickled into The Boardwalk it became quite busy (considering most people don’t tend to go out - because they are usually getting over the weekend and/or back at work). Obviously the warmer weather and the lighter evenings...and the promise of good music encouraged an extra long weekend for some!

First up was a six piece band from Maltby, who admitted as they started that they haven’t had much experience doing live gigs. The band started confidently with ‘Favourite Game’ which made many people sing-along...I imagine if you’re a new band then covers are a good way of giving yourself that all important confidence. Their second track ‘Full House’ demonstrated fascinating guitar skills and an interesting dual vocal technique by Rea & Blue; their timing with each other was just brilliant! Next came another cover of The Cranberries ‘Zombie’...which I’m not over familiar with if I’m honest...but the song was enjoyable, however on a more technical note I think the vocals needed to be a touch louder, because all I heard was the guitar. The vocalists were doing a lot of thigh slapping...I suppose to help them keep in time to the tune....how about a tambourine..? The next song was a French song...which encouraged some humour, “If anyone speaks French and we mess-up don’t tell anyone!” The song sounded good...but no I don’t speak French, so I suppose really...they could have been reading a fancy menu to music for all I knew! The next song was quite familiar too...it was the Trigger Happy TV theme...well actually a cover of ‘Connection’ originally by the group Elastica (I think!) I was familiar with the theme tune bit, but not the full song....the full song in places also reminded me of the ‘Are you Being Served?’ theme tune (the “ground Floor delivery...” bit ) So I quite enjoyed that one! Again the band showed their well timed dual vocal technique when they sang ‘Weak’ (a cover of Skunk Anansie) which was received well by the encouraging crowd. Their set finished on a high with the catchy and singable song (originally from Ida Maria) ‘I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked ‘. This band was very enjoyable and is obviously good at playing the covers they portrayed...however I can imagine some might think of them as ‘pub singers’ as opposed to an unsigned act. I’m not sure that’s a bad thing really...it depends on what they want out of it I suppose, if they want people to just have a good time and sing-along to their set without the hassle of writing their own material, then that’s what they’ve done.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing Cut Your Wings...after all their drummer is non-other than Mark Flaherty (who used to drum for Jack and the Beanstalks)....so it was good to see and hear the music from this recently formed band...and tonight was only their 3rd gig! Their first track (which is so new it doesn’t even have a name yet) began with an excellent guitar sound and a solid drum beat, this song had a good long intro as if to showcase all the bands talents. I have to say these lads must have all come from other bands previous to this, because their stage presence is as if they’ve been doing it for years. The thrashing guitars and Rob’s vocals on the whole, does give a hint of a Kasabian feel to their sound....however they are no way pretending to be Kasabian...these lads have their own style...you just have to see Mark’s fantastic fluctuating hits on his drum kit to realise that! Their second track was a cover of Black Keys ‘Strange Times’, which had me singing along almost instantly...and I’m not overly familiar with the original song either! This was quickly followed by ‘Wicked Woman’ and ‘Lonesome Man’...which had a wonderful galloping bass. I also noticed Rob swigging milk in between his singing...which I suppose is quite unusual too, I wonder if that gives him his unique vocal?....or I suppose he might just like milk! Their 5th song ‘So High’ felt like a change in sound and pace...a good one though...because instantly it was foot tappingly catchy. I also started singing to the chorus the second time around too! This was definitely the most memorable song, because I even began humming the tune later on the way home! The last song of the set was their namesake, ‘Cut Your Wings’...with the most amazin’ dramatic intro and vocal. I also loved the marching band style of beat too, yet again a combination of styles are put together to make the most impressive creation of music. I’m definitely going to see Cut Your Wings again, because if this was only their 3rd gig imagine what they’d be like in a few months.

The third act of the night was up and coming band Children in Heat, with a name like that I was pretty much expecting some kind of screamo/thrash metal band...but a lot of what I heard had a surprisingly heavy ska influenced sound. The lead singer started by remarking that he couldn’t see anyone due to the lights – he’s on stage so what does he expect? That said and done it was straight into the music, they almost looked relieved to be playing...but to be fair knocked out a couple of good tunes. From the danceable ‘Shutdown’ with its classic Specials influences to the spiraling guitar work on ‘The Futures Here’ they didn’t look back. So they did have a slight dilemma when the microphone died halfway through ‘Shatter’ but the singer put a brave face on and wandered about the stage until he found a working mic – it all added to the enjoyment of the show. Throwing in a cover of The Jams ‘Eton Rifles’ they quickly established their musical credentials, this was a band devoted to true blue British pop. In fact so enthusiastic was the drummer that he managed to belt the hell out of his kit to the point where he broke several sticks – quite an achievement by all accounts!

Finally the headline act of the night was Monday Club, a four piece from Sheffield who exhibit an unashamedly funked up British sound. Opening with the track ‘Lately’ the crowd was instantly hooked on the dancey rhythm to what should have been an Oasis laden indie track. It would be fair to say that if Noel and Liam had ever taken dancing beyond their arrogant swagger maybe they could have punched out a tune of this quality. The second track ‘Lay Down And Die’ with its slightly pessimistic title was just as upbeat and cleverly constructed, I could see at this point that if this continued I’d have to take more than a casual glance at their upcoming gigs list. This was an outstanding polished act with a refreshing take on the modern indie scene, incorporating the loud thrash and bang of Oasis and Kasabian...with a subtle yet irresistible heavy dance paced rhythm. The set just grew in confidence and quality as they played out the evening...my favorite song from them was ‘Instead’ which oddly carried quite an American influence, both musically and lyrically evoking images of great highways stretching for miles into the distance. Virtually everyone in the audience was by now in a state of semi-reluctant dancing...whether it is foot tapping or lip syncing along to some of the catchiest tunes of the night. Definitely a band to watch out for...at the very least if you do see them live you won’t go away feeling robbed!

Whether or not this was a three day weekend for some was irrelevant, for everyone at The Boardwalk that night it was a well deserved dose of stress relief courtesy of some of Sheffield’s finest upcoming talent.

Words/Photos By Gail & Geoff Buckthorpe