Music Reviews - Brave, Blind Frog Ernie, Silence In The Streets, Dumpvalve At the Welly - Tuesday 20th April KERRANG Show! By Felix Green

Downstairs in the main ballroom of the Welly Club is always a difficult room to fill, since it is far larger in comparison to the other rock venues in Hull. Yet with four weeks of Kerrang promotion and some wide spread flyering it was as full as I've ever seen it. Also, praises to the sound guys who seemed to get it pretty spot on from where I was standing. The first band to don the Welly stage was Brave.

A band of aging rockers with some pretty impressive synth-keyboard FX and a singer forced to play drums while singing, who seemed to mix Jon Bonjovi, Metallica and Def Leppard. Playing all their own tunes, the revival of hair-rock didn't end with the Darkness as these boys turned up the sound of the 80s in the venue. Nice!

Blind Frog Ernie were next on, combining Soundgarden and Iron Maiden with some impressive and tight guitar riffs. This band knew what they were doing on stage, but I felt that once you'd heard a few songs, you'd heard them all.

They need to spend more time writing more diverse songs in my opinion, although the singer commanded the stage with a presence similar to that of Axel Rose. The next band certainly deserved to be one of Hull's recognised best bands. I've seen Silence in the Streets once before and I have to admit, the first time I saw them was purely accidental and they left an after taste of Rage Against the Machine in my mouth.

The sound was tight but not very original. However, almost a year later and the set resembled nothing of the sort. Picture RATM, The Mars Volta, Interpol, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin and Radiohead all fused together to make a strange but wonderfully psychedelic progressive sound, which manages to retain some of the earlier raw elements.

Although I wasn't sure of exactly what one guitarist was playing, if anything...whether he was too stoned to move or just couldn't be bothered I couldn't tell but he was certainly not moving much.

The bassist, a good looking kid who looked more suited for the cat walk than the stage, appeared to have much technical ability along with the drummer, keeping the rhythm section nice and tight. The lead singer excited the crowd with his unpredictable stage actions and amazing political conviction, repeating profusely that Tony Blair was just a puppet on a string (apparently lyrics from a song). Definitely one of my favourite bands in the region after that energetic performance.

Dumpvalve! Well along with the Freaks Union (and soon to join them Silence in the Streets) they rule the scene. When will they get signed so kids all across the world can listen to the Hidden EP before going out to a rock club to get up for it? The lead singer has amazing stamina and the rest of the band bags of will, determination and energy on stage.

They are tighter than ever before and maybe it was just the quality of the Welly sound, but I couldn't help but feel like they were somewhat heavier than normal. Great show guys

Well I'm not sure if Kerrang got it totally right concerning the Best bands in Hull awards they gave out so easily to the first two bands, they may be good but better bands exist in Hull. I look forward to seeing all the bands progress especially Silence in the Streets and Dumpvalve.

Music Reviews - The Displacements By Steve
	Displacements are a remarkable new band based in Hull. Chris (Gowie), Simon (Burner) and Nick are only just turned 18 yet their unique brand of music is rapidly attracting a loyal following. Remarkable because guitarists and vocalists Simon and Nick are self taught through spending hours in front of a PC logged on to the web whilst Gowie has been playing Read more...

Music Reviews - 4Ft Fingers / Tiny Elvis / Flatline / Displacements The Adelphi, Wed 21st April By Dick Spring
	Having seen countless posters around, and, with a very eager, expectant, and sizeable queue, for this Smash it Up show featuring one of the big hitters of the current UK punk scene 4 Ft Fingers. Opening act Displacements, made an excellent job of getting proceedings into gear. They appeared to have a large fan base there to support them with Read more...

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	Antiproduct is the coolest and most exhilarating punk band since The Sex Pistols. Stopping at nothing to put on the most entertaining show possible at every gig they play, this wacky quintet might be based in London, but they make it known loud-and-clear that they prefer Read more...

Music Reviews - Adelphi, Hull, 18th April Jaws drop in Hull and appreciation for local bands rise. By Mike Rofone
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Music Reviews- Jesse James / Fraction of the Cost / The Trailers The Adelphi, Thur 15th April 2004 By Mike Rofone.
	Entering the Adelphi Club and hearing a band completing their sound check is never an unusual thing. To be quite honest it's welcoming, like an appetiser it gets your taste buds going making you anxious to try the first course. As usual, the Adelphi is always welcoming, its timeless décor and stale smells of spilt booze and stubbed out cigarettes Read more...

Music Reviews- Jesse James / Fraction of the Cost / The Trailers The Adelphi, Thur 15th April 2004 By Dick Spring
	Smash it Up teamed up with the Adelphi to bring the self styled Punk Soul Brothers Jesse James back to the Adelphi. Yet another busy night, as always when Jesse James swing into town. First up were three piece pop punk band THE TRAILERS from Bridlington, and contrary to reports about them being dreadfully bad, I can report Read more...