Louisiana GIG Review

We actually went along as paying punters for Tuesday night’s gig, for a night out, to support the awesome Venus Bogardus and check out Countryside. We didn’t intend to write a review at all.

However, what we saw last night we just had to write down. It was one of those magical evenings you get when all the acts gel together really well, and you had the distinct impression you were witnessing something special.

We’d never come across Gaptooth, and when a thin girl took the stage armed with an electric guitar, keyboard, and with the rest of the band on an MP3 player, our hearts sank.

Boy were we in for a surprise. Punchy songs and wry, intelligent and sometimes humorous lyrics, avoiding all the usual clichés and hackneyed rhymes.

Hannah had the whole audience with her, and took advantage of the intimate atmosphere to really interact.

Apart from a couple of times when there was dead air while we were all waiting for the backing track to start, Hannah’s invisible band supported her really well.

Standout tracks for us were the haunting ‘Same Ghost Every Night’ (Bjork would be proud), ‘No Man Is An Island’ (apart from the Isle of Man, as Hannah pointed out), Plans and Friends and Records, and her finale ‘Ladykillers’.

Hannah’s a natural on stage and coped really well with the occasional glitch. She’s part of the ‘Chicks with Decks’ DJs, so probably used to everything technical that can go wrong. I actually bought a demo (believe that!) and have been playing it pretty much all day, trying to work out which one to profile on our MySpace player.

Venus Bogardus were up next. It’s the first time we’ve seen them as a 3-piece. It wasn’t that long ago we went to see them at The Raven in Bath, and the landlord was trying to get them to turn the sound UP.

Oh how things have changed! They seriously ROCK.

The live drums are really driving the Venus Bogardus sound faster and heavier. Still DARK though. But we’re not complaining. High points had to be 'What You Know' and the faster, slicker version of 'Jacques Rigaut', their single due for release in November.

Annie on drums is a total revelation – a natural on stage, and really getting into the drumming with her long hair flailing around wildly. We showed her a bit of the video footage at the end and she was totally embarrassed! Annie admits she’s not really a drummer, more a guitarist/bass player who happened to own a set of drums. We beg to differ.

Headline ‘CountrySide’ – we couldn’t help feeling we’d be seeing them in a stadium in a few years. Got it all – the stage presence, the look, charisma, killer tunes and the sound to back it up.

‘Spaced Out’ has to be the standout song in an outstanding set.

Big Jeff was called up to dance on stage with the band for the last few songs – CountrySide are playing at his birthday party next week. Hard to believe such an amiable guy is the ‘bleak and disturbing’ rapper Manic F.

All the above for £4 with a flyer, and only 25-30 people turned up. We lucky few!

Kev&Chris@Bristolbands.com