Swindon Music

I arrive at venue at 5.55 and set about the PA. Zero the desk, and look at the speakers. I've been told the left stack had blown so it was this I check first, turn out they are. Both tweeters gone, which was apparently done at The Shuffle, shame.

I have had in the past been told by bands the venue sounds harsh, so maybe it's a blessing, but you want fully working kit, so Liam will have to get onto that!

First to arrive were The Joe Public, on a UK tour, this their last date and returning home to south Wiltshire, Frome way. Great guys to work with, very professional without any egos, and their manager Steve is a good guy too. Storeys of the tour soon follow as they load in, and I chat to their drummer about his other band "Landscapes", an hardcore act - who are touring in Europe soon, a la The Cold Harbour and Staring At The Sun, they are huge on the continent so he is looking forward to it.

Next in Anaheim, who I've never worked with before, so I go meet and great, introduce myself sort out the night and their kit and welcome the parents / lifts. Turn out they go to the new college so there's my way into the college for posters and flyers, result.

Next in I Am Bodhi, who I've worked with 100's of time, love these guys. They have relocated to Bath recently so gained a new member. This is my first night with new guitarist, so I'm looking forward to it.

Lastly in come Bodyglass. We had a few issues over drum kits, but thankfully it all panned out, I'll give the local lad who lent the drums a shout out, when I remember his name.


So we get stuck into sound checks, Body glass have a simple enough set up, their new guitarist Pat is an old acquaintance, so it's nice to catch up - he is a brilliant guitarist and sick drummer, tonight he plays guitar. Drums require a tuning and bassist doesn't have an amp - despite these draw backs, we aren't long into a proper check and the band sound mint.

I remember them as Soulsmith, who were excellent, but I've never worked with them. It's safe to say they are easy going to the point of not taking things seriously, but when they take the stage, and play a song they are tight and concise, which is surprising by their own admission that they haven't practised much recently as their drummer have relocated to Cambridge. Jealous as Fuck - they have a great scene.

I run through line checks with the 3 other bands, finishing on Anaheim who are up first, 10 minutes after doors - should have been - and I give them a breather before the show starts.


Despite their sound check being very straight forward, and this their first gig with me they deal with that very well and let lose into a classic rocky set with own material mixed with covers - they bring A LOT of people, and are bloody good. as a 3 piece they fill the sound nicely and deliver an entertaining set. Will be working with them again and will be worth checking them out in about a years time and seeing how they develop.

Up next I Am Bodhi - despite not being from Swindon they too pull A LOT of people and don't hang about getting into their well known songs and whip up a fantastic stage presence and atmosphere. Their newly fleshed thicker out sound really bringing the best out of old songs, with original lead guitarist dropping to rhythm and the new boy unleashing a few solo's and delicate appropriate additions to old songs mean his addition has been a good one. This is their last show before they go away to rehearse, so I look forward to the Autumn to see the results.

Slick as a greased up deaf guy, BANG The Joe Public are on and off - they open with their signature tune "Take It Back" the tour is to support that single release. It's their Queens Of The Stone Age-esque track and it rocks and the crowd, again, who have turned out in force to watch a non-local band, go nuts. Their 30 minutes is soon up, and I don't think I've ever really appreciated how good they are. I like my rock to be angular, but this is a lot more traditional, but it's excessively good.

So it's left to hometown boys Bodyglass to finish proceedings. The crowd (that old enough to drink) are now well watered, and the kid's are bleary eyed. The band take to the stage just after 10.30, and I was initially concerned as lot's of people when out, as it turned out for smokes. Bloody ban...

Bodyglass are a funked up version of Iggy And The Stooges, and if they had a saxophone in the band they would slay just like Iggy. As it goes they are still excellent and I was genuinely impressed with their performance considering their confessed lack of gig fitness. They ploughed through little over half hour set of songs, clearly enjoyed by their dedicated friends and fans.

So over all I was over the moon with the night, 4 great bands, a bloody great audience and really good sound, with no real problems (bar the lack of tweet on the left!)

All back for Sept 15th for the Rat Attack tour w/ The Cold Harbour + Staring At The Sun.