Reviewed on 19th November 2006.

The Lodger

Live at Brudenell Social Club on Saturday, 18th November 2006

The Bone is 1 year old today. No longer sucking at the mother's teat of gig promotion, it's now old enough and daft enough to stand on its own 2 feet. There are cakes and balloons and bands and beer. Sounds perfect, doesn't it and it pretty much is from the word go. Openers Unexploded Shells are a band I've never really "got" until today. I'm pretty much won over from the start as the first song sounds like something Bauhaus would have done, such is its spindly darkness. The set cooks nicely on an increasing heat, and the sparse early hardcore punters get the benefit of turning up on time. Tom Goodhand and Mark Sturdy share awkward looking deadpan frontman duties in only ways they can do. The quote of the set comes from the lankier of the two - Sturdy holds up empty pint glass, recites "£1.59" into the mic as a sort of public information ad, and carries on. As Worriedaboutsatan begin, there is some magic being weaved before our very eyes, as beats are programmed without touch, but by the waving of differing handshapes over a mult-LEDed box of wibble trickery. Twin axe loops are built up, mixed in, mixed out and shaken all about. It's ethereal, post-rocking electronicamouse. That's a good thing, by the way.

Nicky Bonsai Kittens looks a bit nervous as the rest of the 8 piece ska band aren't available for this gig. Despite being singular, the essence of the Kittens is there, as songs about dressing up dogs, being killed in Asda by grannies are delivered with skill. As you'd expect, silly songs, silly dances, silly lyrics, very good. "Waking Up To Wogan" has a large bang on the PA which is down to the plucky pussy "shitting herself". The in-song and between song banter is funny, witty and not at all shitty. Catwoman, 1 of the 3 reporters for this review comments so - "Still great with 50% less kitten". Amen to that.

As Monster Killed By Laser begin, a thought crosses my mind - feel the bass in your face muthafucka! This is the first occasion where picking a balloon off the floor and putting it against your nose gives the full vibrator effect. As for the band, call it free metallic jazz, call it riff prog, but remember to call a hearing specialist on Monday. Planetclaire says "my ears are bleeding... ow" and Catwoman goes a touch further "I think they've shaken one of my kidneys loose, ear bleedingly good". A result then. Piskie Sits line up tonight looks as though someone's got 6 different bands, chucked them up in the air, and the band onstage is the end product, product also used extensively by the Toni and Guy guitarist, no doubt. "Witches" is a cracker of a tune, but my fave bits of the set are when singing boy complains that the keyboards in the monitors are as loud "as his cardigan" (fair point) and that a good reviewer would notice his "shit guitar playing". Noted and in the review, ta.

The pizzas that the lovely people at Pitzacano delivered are going down a treat, but shocking news from Catwoman as she informs us "I don't eat much of anything, let alone crusts, cheezus Christ". Erm, ok, let's stroke our full bellies and relax a bit to the sound of 4 very talented musicians who comprise The Folk Theatre Partisans, l-r Fran Rodgers, Ben Wetherill, Michael Rossiter and David Broad. We've got a right mix of American, Russian and English folk action going down, on mandolin, banjo, ukulele and guitar, more often than not with 4 piece harmonising. It really isn't fair, but in the best possible way.

Fronted by a man who'd give Robert Pershing Wadlow a run for his money, Champion Kickboxer have been described as "Gregorian indie" - a simple soul such as myself isn't all that sure about the meaning here, so let's just say it's angular multi-harmonied off kilter indie pop, so ace, and points for aforementioned singer for badges on his guitar strap.

Napoleon IIIrd is not with full band as advertised, but is, well, Napoleon solo. He's still massively amazing and brimming full of proper ideas and tunes, and everyone sings along. It strikes me as odd why he's not mithering the charts, when so much shite is? Some people wouldn't know a great tune if it came up and shouted "I'm a great tune" in their stupid fat faces...

Which leaves headline act The Lodger. It's handy that "Honest Opinion" is the first song, cos I was wondering how I could review this band and give my honest opinion. I can see why people like the poppyness of it, but I don't get it. It's the sort of C86 esque indie that I used to like, but I can't get nostalgic about it, it's all too samey for me. Having said this, the punters lap it up like kittens at a saucer of milk and I'm reminded that everybody has opinions and arseholes, so there you have it.

James Brown brings proceedings to a close with some clear gerrymandering of the draw for free On The Bone gigs and tunes over the next year, subtly and blatantly bringing another good Bone to a close. I am weary and retire to my pit. Roll on the next one...