What caught my eye last weekend was a gig @ The Cyclists, Brighton Station.
It caught my attention because it started @ 6pm Friday evening. Strange time but fitted in nicely with my after work drinking after a strenuous week working.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he place is a bit of a difficult sell due to it being over on the right side wall as you enter the station. But it’s busy-ish in a laid back commuting way.
CHRIS MARSH was the artist, who I have seen before, so game on. Chris’s repertoire was more extensive than I remember but the songs were delivered with the same confidence and style I remember.
His original’s ‘Don’t Know any Better’ & ‘Playground Politics’ are emotive numbers and were delivered excellently, as was Bill Withers classic ‘Lovely Day’.
All in all it made for a very nice early evening drink before wandering off down to The Brunswick to see ‘The Palings’ – who sounded great on The Pete Jones Show the other week – only to be told “No music on tonight mate” well I got that wrong then. Still I’m looking forward to ‘BLACK STATE HIGHWAY‘ @ The Ranelagh tomorrow (Sat 10th) night.
[pullquote_right]Now please forgive me if the names of the songs are not right but I deliver my review as they sound. The track Conclusion had the line ‘Get The Fuck Out Of My Life’ which was delivered powerfully like they meant it. ‘I got the message
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YES, Sat night arrives and I’m sober (ish). I’ve followed ‘BLACK STATE HIGHWAY’ for quite a while, in fact since I saw them supporting ‘THIEVES BY THE CODE’ some time back. Their raw 70’s styled Rock is excellent & their togetherness is a Rock fans dream all delivered by front Rock Goddess ‘Liva Steiberga’.
Now please forgive me if the names of the songs are not right but I deliver my review as they sound. The track ‘Conclusion’ had the line ‘Get The Fuck Out Of My Life’ which was delivered powerfully like they meant it. ‘I got the message!’ & the track ‘Broken’ (I think that’s what its called, (The web page doesn’t list their songs!!!) got me stamping and the customary covers including ‘Crossroads’ & ‘Cocaine’ all smashed out with vigor & feeling.
This group is doing it in style and their hard work is getting noted. They regularly play the London circuit, The 100 Club & The Intrepid Fox to name but a few and they are off to play Hard Rock Hell Ibiza Road Trip. So to see them in such a small venue, The Ranelagh St James St, Brighton was bliss. The Ranelagh was ‘of course’ packed to the rafters.
It’s a small venue with a MASSIVE heart and the new owners, who I don’t know, but have come over from Bavaria are steering a great ship. Despite the mobbed pub I got served very quick and warmly.
So, all in all, a great weekend, I shall be frequenting them again.
Yours in music,
Michael Stone.
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