It's Playtime!

Published 17 Mar 2010 09:00 0 Comments

By Chris Forsey

THURSDAY night at the Sacred Cow Promotions' launch party at Play, formerly Plug N Play, was nothing if not cool.

Local singer Paul Hodgson opened with a set which left me buzzing - and his song about being mugged in Southcote was pure rock and roll.

It reminded me of the first days of punk poetry and the simple Ghost Town bleakness which perhaps has been lost.

Yes, it was a shame that the unplugged message was taken all too literally during one of Paul's numbers but this is the essence of live music.

To be spontaneous you have to take risks (although he could try not kicking everything about so much!).

Sadly the rock and roll front flickered a bit when I overheard him calling his mum for a lift after the gig...

Kerry Thompson and Gordon Greenock are new Reading-based promo outfit Sacred Cow, and it was a stellar local line up for their first gig.

The second act was 3.1419 Wonders. I don't like comparing groups too much but to my old ears the driving force behind the brooding vocals from Pete Hefferan (Pete And The Pirates) and the choppy guitar of David Fairservice (Hot Silk Pockets) was akin to a main course of Joy Division with a side order of Talking Heads. I honestly mean this as a complement.

Yet another guitar plug malfunction diverted David onto keyboards, saying: "This song minces along like a mincing thing." I think it added another dimension which they should explore further.

The final act and the best ('cos I am a Stratocaster man) were Tap Tap, a side project from Pete And The Pirates' Tommy Sanders. Any band that has these curvy guitars as the basis of its sound is worth a listen.

Pete Cattermoul (another Pirate) and Tommy's upfront vocals add to a wall of classy glassy sound and the guitars don't rely on too many effects pedals, just do what they were designed to.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 11 Mar 10

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