Los Pacaminos.
The Brook, Southampton.

Los Pac always pack ‘em in at The Brook and this fun gig was no exception. Paul Young’s laid back Tex-Mex outfit were as entertaining as ever with humour and top class musicianship combining to produce a great evening out. Whether performing songs in Spanish, country songs like “He’ll Have To Go” or
out-and-out rockers like “Highway Patrol,” the band always give value for money.
As usual there was a pause to slug a Tequila with the lovely Emma circulating with a tray of drinks.
Then on with the show with Paul sharing the vocals with Drew, Matt and Jamie over a two-hour set. Highlight for me as usual was Drew and his soulful version of “Belle” which he has recently recorded for a solo album. All the band were in fine form with Jamie enjoying a bit of repartee with the crowd in between producing the usual guitar fireworks. Anybody out there who hasn’t seen Los Pacaminos are advised to catch them at the earliest opportunity. (© Peter Ashton 2004 - Pictures by Claire Edwards)

The Pickpockets.
Talking Heads, Southampton.

WATCH your wallet, The Pickpockets are here, a six, or was it seven-strong hip-hop band. Difficult to keep track of the numbers with all the movement on stage, mirrored by the seething mass of people packing this friendly venue.
Difficult to hear what they were singing, or rather rapping about too, as
this highly professional, youthful outfit went through their paces. But this gig was all about atmosphere, and the band made their intentions clear from the start, shouting: “What we’re gonna do, we’re gonna get on up.” And get on up they did, raising the temperature with scratches, samples and an insistent beat, permeated with influences as diverse as reggae, soul and rock. Colourful abstract images projected on to screens above the stage on both sides added a psychedelic dimension to an act with a deep source of musical reference material including The Beatles whose phrase “I read the news today, oh boy,” weaved in and out of one track.
Not really my sort of music - I was probably the oldest person there - but I enjoyed the sheer energy of it and the Friday-night audience loved it , making some noise at the urging of the band. Currently negotiating a deal with a major record company, The Pickpockets have the talent and originality to make it BIG. (© Peter Ashton 2004 - Picture by Andy Sutton)

The Hollies.
Mayflower Theatre, Southampton.

THOSE evergreen Hollies kicked off with “I’m Alive” as they reminded a
near-capacity audience just what a class act they are. Now with Carl Wayne, formerly of The Move, on lead vocals, they paraded a host of Hollies hits.
“Here I Go Again,” “Jennifer Eccles,” “Look Through Any Window,” the hits just flowed, demonstrating the diversity and versatility of a band who have been providing great entertainment for over forty years. There was time too for the best of The Move with Carl Wayne’s voice in fine shape on songs like “I Can Hear The Grass Grow,” “Fire Brigade” and “Blackberry Way” which got the audience singing along.
Slick lighting and back projection effects coupled with The Hollies’
superb musicianship, particularly the ageless Tony Hicks on lead guitar, made this a show to remember as the band closed with the classic “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” (© Peter Ashton 2004)

Geno’s “Rammers,” two sax players, two guitarists and a drummer, warmed up a big crowd with the instrumentals “Living In The USA” and “Watermelon Man” before the man himself burst on stage. Genial Geno soon had the audience under his spell with a barrage of soul hits including “Land of 1000 Dances,” “In The Midnight Hour, ” “Feel It” and “Do The Freak.”
A Geno show is always high energy, audience friendly and totally riveting, and this gig was no exception. The Washington voice is still strong and soulful, the personality as extrovert and eccentric as usual. Where Geno gets his energy from I don’t know, but he only slowed down once during the set for a spooky version of Screaming Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell On You,” with a hilarious spoken comic interlude. By the time Geno got around to some more funky up-tempo stuff including Arthur Conley’s “Sweet Soul Music” the crowd nearest the stage of a bulging Brook were dancing away blissfully as a by-now sweaty Geno put his heart and soul into a crowd-pleasing performance.
Great entertainment from a soul legend and his cracking band. (© Peter Ashton 2004)

GIG AT THE GUILDHALL,
ANDOVER - 23/1/04
ANDOVER’S third GAG live music event saw Andover Guildhall finally get the recognition it deserves as a proper music venue with over 135 people attending. The event is designed to promote all genres of music throughout Test Valley by providing a decent venue for bands in which to showcase their music.
First up were D2D, a four-piece pop-skate-punk band from Eastleigh. Having travelled all the way to Andover on the train with their equipment and then lugging it to the Guildhall, you’d have thought they would have been too knackered to play! But they wowed the Andover audience with their energetic punk-rock and anthemic sing-along choruses akin to Pennywise, The Offspring and Green Day.
Next on were local indie favourites, Jukes World. The band have played all over the Andover area and packing out venues has become one of their trademarks.
Tonight proved no different as the audience danced and sung along to a stream of new-wave indie pop numbers. Any band that can fit the word
‘mathematician’ into a chorus gets my vote!
Hardcore-metallers Section 68 proved the most intense band of the evening with, quite literally, drums you could feel rattle your insides. Section 68 stand out amongst other metal bands as they not only have killer riffs (instead of your usual metal-dirge) but they are also amazing showmen. Frontman Skin, spent more time in the giant mosh pit that had formed at the front of the stage than actually ON the stage. Nearly breaking his wrist as he leapt around around the Guildhall, Skin’s mouth was never far from his mike while guitarist Laurie joined him in the pit still hitting every chord with perfection! A true metal force to be reckoned with. Be sure to check out their headlining London gigs next month.
Headlining the event were local 3-piece The Madisuns. The Madisuns are one of those bands walking a thin line – too heavy to be indie while too melodic to be tagged grunge. Think all the lightest bits of Placebo, Radiohead, and Muse (without the incessant whiny vocals) and the fuzz-driven guitar/bass of the Foo Fighters and Smashing Pumpkins. With all 3 members singing, the Madisuns harmonised perfectly with each other, making each song beautifully written and performed with true passion.
The fourth GAG will take place on Friday 13th February and will be headlined by ska-pop-metal-punk merchants Get Amped, with support from local indie-rockers, Emerald Ocean, metal tyrants Profanity Found and Eastleigh acoustic-indie-crew Uncle Herb.
Monkey Typewriter would like to thank The Globe, Test Valley Borough Council and The George Inn for their continued support.
If you are in a band/know of a band that would like to play at future GAGs, get in touch! Visit www.monkeytypewriter.net, or contact Russell on 07765 632098 for more details. (GUEST REVIEW BY MONKEY TYPEWRITER)

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Martha Reeves and Jimmy Ruffin
The Anvil Basingstoke
Sat February 21

The Searchers
Mr Kyps, Poole
Sat February 28

Dolly Varden
The Brook Southampton
Sun February 22

Jethro Tull / Ian Anderson
Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth
Sat February 28

Paul Kelly
Talking Heads, Southampton
Thurs February 19

Sophie Yates
Turner Sims Southampton
Tues February 8th

Freed
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full tour details