Detroit Cobras
Live at Cockpit on Wednesday, 24th November 2004
Detroit Cobras are a ballsy and real 'covers' band with a difference. Operating in various guises since 1994, their repertoire consists of garage-type covers of forgotten Motown, soul and rock'n'roll classics.
Although they have a core group of die-hard fans, the band's claim to mainstream fame thus far is that tremendous and horny soundtrack to the Diet Coke ad, which features the collapsing mannequins. If you haven't been wondering whose booze-soaked, burlesque voice that was, talking about doing the "Cha Cha Twist" when "Poppa's sleepin' and Momma's not around..." then you must be dead from the neck down.
The voice in question belongs to one Rachel Nagy, former butcher and exotic dancer, and last Wednesday night at Leeds Cockpit, she was accompanied on guitar by the intense, serious and admirable Maribel Restrepo from the original line-up, and also a rhythm section of three guys who looked like they had been beamed down from America's West Coast circa 1968.
They took a little while to warm up but when they did, the sound was warm and sweet. Maybe it took a while for the Marlboro and Grolsch Rachel was partaking of onstage to hit the desired spot. Standouts from the set included Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand and the aforesaid Cha Cha Twist, both from current album Baby, and You Don't Knock from the Seven Easy Pieces EP.
The set was short, but the packed out crowd seemed well satisfied despite the limitations of the sound system in the small venue. If you want to hear more of Detroit Cobras' unique brand of entertainment, check out their latest album, Baby.
