The Suicide Machines / Adequate Seven / THE FREAKS UNION - Carling Academy, Liverpool - 12th February 2004 By Dick Spring

This was the first time I'd been to Liverpool in over 10 years (last time was on tour with Mega City Four) but I was impressed by the clean and neatly laid out interior of the newly refurbished Carling Academy (formerly The Lomax). We were in the middle sized room, the Academy Two, which was a 500 capacity room, although the turnout for the show was quite pitiful for a city of this size.

This number of people would struggle to fill even the Adelphi. I would say that 60 was being generous, with probably half of those travelling far to this show featuring one of the best known American Ska-core acts, The Suicide Machines.

Anyway, Hull's punk rock heroes The Freaks Union took to the stage at the ridiculously early time of 7.45pm and proceeded to make friends with almost everyone in the room (hell, it was such a intimate gig) and they all, to a man (and woman) came down the front to watch one of THE most awesome live acts in the UK today ..... Bar None! There is a real hotbed of activity and talent in the Hull punk scene right now with The Freaks Union undoubtedly flying the flag from the highest mast.

Tonight though, I feel they suffered from that dreaded opening-band-shit-sound syndrome, with reverb drenched all over the sound and the Drums sounding soooo big that they drowned out some of the nuances in the quality songs that this band write.

They can compete quite easily with many of their better known compatriots, and if justice is to be done they will be snapped up by a major label and will sell as many records as ever the Beautiful South could. Anyway, back to the gig. The energy levels were still as high as ever, with Singer Jimbo running around like a cat on a hot tin roof, with the barriers struggling to contain this little fella and guitarist Greg Ullyart seemingly frustrated at his guitar, as if it was preventing him from leaping like a lord, which of course it wasn't, but still staying as tightly knit with bassist Stew, and the pounding drums of Jamie. Next up were Adequate Seven, who left me unimpressed. With their mish-mash of Jazzy Ska punk and Hardcore, there really didn't seem to be any ideas and even less real songs, and they had all the same moves as every other ten a penny band of a similar ilk, doing the rounds on the UK circuit just now.

Finally, up came headliners The Suicide Machines, and boy what a difference! These guys are seasoned veterans of the road, both on their own and as part of the famous Vans Warped tour in the U.S. This was the first time I have seen them and they were brilliant!

I have to say they made a few obligatory sideway swipes at the Beatles, which you have to do in Liverpool I guess, and the crowd was rapturous for them, so much so that they even came back out for an encore (quite a good result, considering the small size of the audience).

This tour should go a long way to cementing Freaks Union's place as an awesome part of the UK rock scene and I defy anyone to say otherwise. My final comment would have to be that this show would have done fantastically well in Hull (Freaks Union can pull 150+ on their own) especially if we had the facilities (but that's another whole story).

Music - Sending Out Demos - Some Simple Advice By Glenn Williams (Lazyswede Productions)
	There are thousands of demos posted daily to record companies and radio stations and managers etc. The chances of them all being heard is so small that sometimes it hardly seems worth bothering. In many cases, the problem is simply to do with the packaging of the product. I must admit, I was also once guilty of sending out a CDR or a cassette with just my telephone number.. Read more...

Music Reviews - The Saved, still life and We Start Fires at Under the Influence
	Billed as Ball crunching guitars with tingly piano riffs. These female pop punkers kick arse (NME). I was delighted to see some females at last (yes, I know you're out there). A girl band? No, not quite. The drummer is a bloke! The line-up looks terrific ... Read more...

Music Reviews - A Champion Night - Welly Club 16th January By Cilla and Greg
	One cold night in January (actually it was bloody freezing) my mate Greg and I went along to the Welly for a night with Champion Sound, the Reggae and Dancehall magicians who are currently gracing the Hull night club scene with their individual and blistering repertoire. We arrived early - about 10.15 and the club had a cold feel. There was a steady trickle of people arriving and after an hour or so, so the music began to build .. Read more...

Music Reviews - Pave - Promotional CD by Nick Quantrill
	It's often said that bands use the opportunity of recording as a means of 'capturing the live sound.' What a load of cack! It's an opportunity to sound better than you do live! Due to the pressures of working far faster than a signed band would be expected to, and in lower quality studios, the recording process must be incredibly difficult for your average Hull band. Read more...

Music Reviews - The Landau's - Sweet But True (single/ DAGALOST Records) By Steve Rudd
	Hull's something of a hotbed for cool indie-rock bands, and The Landau's - along with Still Life - are one of the freshest bands forging ahead within such a musical genre. An exclusively laddish quartet, this is the young band's first major release, and has been recorded at the city's famous Fairview Studios. The production qualities are fantastic, Read more...

Music Reviews - Pave - Linnet and Lark 05 February 2004 by Nick Quantrill
	2004 hasn't been the greatest years so far. It kicked off more than adequately in the Old Town Square of Prague but went rapidly down hill from there. Returning home I battled unsuccessfully against tonsillitis for a couple of weeks before slipping on the ice and breaking two fingers! Almost recovered, I decided to unleash myself upon Hull once again. The return of 'The Sesh' at Linnet and Lark seemed as good any place... Read more...

Music Reviews - Komplikated at theTurnpike Thursday 5th Feb By Scarrie
	This was the first time I'd seen the Hull 5 piece in action but I'd heard good things and I wasn't disappointed. The band certainly aren't lacking in talent, Leah (lead vocals) has a stunning voice complemented by some fine guitar work. The indie/pop rock songs quickly have you tapping your hands, feet (or whatever bodily instrument you choose) and singing along. Read more...

Misic Reviews - Birthday Party with a Difference - February 1st at the Adelphi By Sue Watson.
	The day didn't start too well. One of the top bands (Shindigg) informed me that their drummer had quit the band and wouldn't be coming (Ouch). Luckily for me the other 3 members have an alter-ego (The Flatmates) and they agreed to open the event. I wondered how the Goths and young punks would take to them, but I was pleasantly surprised and they were very well received. Read more...

Misic Reviews - The best way to spend a Sunday! Hull's Adelphi 1st February 04 By Mike Burton.
	Well, we arrived late and caught the Bob Monkhouse dedicated last song from Killer of Saints, best described as "Nirvana get heavy!" Then it was the turn of prepubescent punkers, Mad Crowd Disease. We didn't actually get to see much of the band due to flailing of arms and thrashing of limbs, but the set was promising none the less. Stained with Offspring style guitars, occasionally breaking into .. Read more...

Music Reviews - Night of the Sidewinder - Silhouette Club 24th January 04 By Lee Cassanell
	Sidewinder have the moves and the tunes to become the darlings of the Hull Music scene which is exploding with milky white talent at this present moment in time. Read more...

Band Reviews - Badness and All Mod Cons at the Piper Club - 29th Dec 03 by Jane Foster
	I went to see Hull's favourite Madness cover band - Badness- at the Piper club on Newland Ave. They were supported by All Mod Cons, who are a tribute to The Jam. It was a fantastic night.. I'm old enough to remember Madness quite well, I confess..although at the time I wasn't particularly into them, they were definitely a band for the lads. Read more...