This event was a Launch night for Sheepdog records, specifically for raising money for the ALDLIFE charity at: Aldlife Charity online and featured introductions from some Radio Caroline DJ's
By the time we got into the Borderline, DEVIANT AMPS were already playing. They laid into some Space rock that would have sounded fine on a bill with The Green Ray or other obscure also rans of the same genre. I'm sure I've seen the singer/guitarist in other bands a good few years ago, he sounds like he would be happy playing on a bill with Stray.
They closed with a pretty good version of The Right Stuff which as the current incarnation of Hawkwind were playing at the Shepherds Bush Empire that very evening seemed an odd choice of cover, but still it sounded damn good.
The two Radio Caroline DJ's then did a fine Smashie and Nicey routine while we waited for CHRIS BOWSHER to amble on-stage looking like a man who left his dog tied to a rope outside. But seeing as there was an actual dog wandering around inside the Borderline, he may have brought it in. Chris is the frontman for the Radical Dance Faction (or RDF) and he performed a solo set toasting to some backing tracks.
The first piece was about the arrival of dead soldiers at Wootton Basset and the effect it has. The piece about Less is More was set to a digi-dub backing which almost worked with the conscious toasting he was doing, only his voice is showing signs of a life of over indulgence and appears almost shot. As he toasted about how he couldn't see Nothing and how he Made His Bed, the message was coming through loud and clear of how we live in a world gone wrong.
He closed with Blind Man On The Corner, keeping to the template. He may be far better with a full band as I don't think the backing tracks helped him. It also didn't stop him having to ask the sound man to adjust the bass etc.
After more from Smashie and Nicey, it was soon enough time for TAURUS TRAKKER who tonight were a 3 piece who became a 4 piece and they had Wigsy in as stand in bassist on a couple of rehearsals. He sounded like he already knew the songs for ages which, as most of the set was new material, was good going.
They opened with Wild Woman In A Small Town. It's one of those songs I can never get out of my head once I've heard it and it sounded great as Martin's guitar and amp sounded better than I've ever heard live. Very crunchy and full of energy.
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We then got several songs from the third album due out later in the year. The King Of Chicken Wing has their normal social awareness of the seedier side of life about it and a real good sing along chorus, Alison was playing the life out of her drums with her normal huge grin trying to outdo Elvin Jones in the competition for the biggest smile you'll ever see on a drummer's face while playing. It was then time to go visit The Dream Inspector who sounds like he's in charge of future reality TV projects. No No Not Good Enough come up with a better dream and we might let you in. Still Martin played a great solo in the middle of it.
Then it was time to ask questions about Mr Big and no it's not a tribute to the band of that name as they are not an influence here. Instead it is, I think, about the faceless Mr Bigs who seem to be running our lives and world set to some great punky guitar and drumming, with Wigsy doing all he can to keep up on bass and doing a pretty good job of it too. Then it was on to Tudor Rose: another slice of life punk classic that really got everyone going especially when Flash came on blowing his sax. That just added another dimension to the sound.
Guru's aren't in short supply in Taurus Trakker's world and many of them need explaining, but this new song sounded very cool indeed and featured a long and very cool Sax Solo in it. They then went back to an old song to conclude matters with a great version of Bag For Life that as ever walks the fine line between being about drugs or just life in general and does it very well. As the song seemed to end, Martin called for his backing singers from the audience and got about 6 people on stage (almost all of whom were women) for a reprise of the Chorus with choir style backing of "I've got a bag, I've got a bag for life." It was gloriously messy and good fun as a way to end the show.
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