Mash
Live at Duchess on Saturday, 4th September 1999
Saturday night and four bands take to the stage at Leeds' Premier pub/venue location, The Duchess. First up are the duo of Andy Parrott & Rob Karl, who unfortunately I missed. On speaking to the lucky people who did see them however it would seem like they were really good. Oh well, thats life.
I arrived as Peepshow were in the middle of their set. Once again, I hope that they really were Peepshow because I missed the part when they announced their name. Anyway, it seemed that the majority of the crowd were fans of this band and they were very good, playing a very 60s/70s sound that would not have gone amis on the soundtrack of Austin Powers. The one thing that I would say however is that although they sounded really competent and had a very good set it really wasn't my scene. Their sound was un-original, very dated, Ocean Colour Scene-like in their more up-to-date tunes (ie. still dated!)...but then again, like I say,very good. Weird. Certainly worth a see, but sorry I won't be seeing them again.
Next up were Nebula, who split their set into two parts. Nebula began by playing all of their slower songs and continued the rest of their set with heavier rockier songs. The quality of their set could also be described as falling into two catgeories. The first half of their set, the slower melodic songs, were, in polite terms, not very good, sorry. They seemed to have little direction, originality or thought. Which is unfortunate because they played well together. It just didn't click, and it showed. The second half of their set though is probably the kind of music Nebula are more used to playing. They played with confidence and in the very mildest terms 'rocked'. With a sound of bands who have recently come through the ranks, the more American Punk-Rock sound, they shone. Bands such as Feeder and Fungus, perhaps even Carrie, come to mind. With a bit more planning they could probably have mixed their two different parts of the set together and we wouldn't have noticed the 'slower' songs so much. They would have fit in and we'd have gone home happy. Good band, good songs, good ideas and could do very well.
Finally, up come headliners Mash and it was no surprise why they were the headlining band tonight. Head and shoulders above the rest this four-piece took everything that was on offer. Its just a pity that not many people stayed around for them, as I said earlier the majority of the crowd seemed like they'd come for Peepshow. Those that did stay saw a very good band play a very good set, and a two song encore to top the night. Mash can be described as a cross between No Doubt and PJ Harvey, perhaps veering more towards the No Doubt sound. The female vocalist who also played the occasional guitar had an incredible voice and it was no wonder that they were advertising the fact that they have a new single and album out. Who wouldn't want to buy them? I know I will.
All in all a good night, very good competent bands, all of them. Peepshow weren't my cup of tea but were a really good band, Nebula have a little bit of work to do but could really be good, and Mash, well they were brilliant.
