September 29, 2005
Trippin Over Wah start tonight’s party, and having seen them twice in the space of 3 days (they played our Bunkers Hill Promotion 2 days after this gig), we can safely say that they are becoming a real class act. They get tighter everytime we see them and still ooze the confidence that helped get them into the semi final of the Junktion 7 Battle of the Bands. Tonight they put in a very tight and energetic performance, with a few new tunes mixed into there glam, funk, rock cocktail. It was a fun start to the evening and got the crowd into a upbeat mood.
Next to the fold are Spirytus, and as the eerie intro music comes in we are once again reminded why this band are getting such a good reputation on the local circuit right now. The guitars smash down, the drums and bass power in and as their lively enigma of a frontman starts ranting and raving, the memory of quieter times is quickly eradicated.
Spirytus really know how to put on a show and with so much energy and passion in their performance, they make the crowd go nuts before leaving the stage in an arkward silence. Certainly one of the best new bands around right now.
So to tonight’s final act and with the smell of sweaty brie engrossing our nostrils, their is no mistake that Menz Raya have returned! Sporting a rather impressive pair of leopard skin, skin tight, flairs, lead guitarist Ian lets his soloes flow nearly as easily as his hair and with the tight druming and deep bass, Menz Raya put on probably the tightest set we have seen them perform.
The songs have all the qualities of classic glam and hair metal bands, with big catchy hook lines, ridiculous solos and plenty of fashion disasters. Menz Raya have always been novelty, they aren’t about being cool but more about having fun. On tonights performance though, they are getting very tight and their newer songs seem to have a interesting new sound mixing some more grungy influences as well as keeping their fun, catchy glam rock roots.
In our first Menz Raya review we pretty much slated them, now we never say sorry for comments made in our reviews, but on this showing tonight it’s starting to feel like Menz Raya might oneday make us eat our words, as they seem to be getting more and more of an original edge and their stage antics get the crowd buzzing. If Menz Raya can keep progressing we might end up eating our first review for dinner, at least it will have a nice thick stilton sauce I guess.
Review – Steph + Gaz Photos – Smat
Photos ~ Smat
