CrackTown, Purple Organ & Blue Sand at The Adelphi Saturday 24th July By Michelle Dee

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I am lucky to count King Rat and the Silver Fox as friends, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when upon entering the Adelphi on a rainy summer night, I heard the familiar sound of Foxy's harmonica emanating from within. I had no idea they were on tonight's eclectic line up. What can you say about the tireless twosome who created the writhing blues/folk monster CrackTown that has not already been said? They have recently been compared to Woody Guthrie and the Rolling Stones (thanks Mum) the songs are interspersed with their own particular brand of sharp as a razor blade, dark humour. Music to watch dogs fight indeed..

Once again CrackTown gave yet another polished performance and used the opportunity to air some tracks from their up and coming second album as well as some of the old favourites. Christians and Earthquakes was received with incredible enthusiasm and much clapping of hands to the Foxy one's surprise. Shipping Clerk, something of an ode to the blue-collar worker is mournfully sung by the loveable King Rat or to give him his full and proper title Sir King Rat.

Yes, none other than the Princess of the Fountain knighted him along with the Silver Fox earlier this year for services to mediocrity. The ever-wonderful Jane Foster beautifully captured the magical moment on film. She kept her head and hand still, whilst all around her chaos and frivolity ensued (check out the Knighthood video inspired by Steve Rudd's album review). Knighthood video Talking of albums, we are still eagerly awaiting the release of There Must and Shall be Midgets. Perhaps this is a cunning marketing ploy by the dynamic duo to insure a good return on the investment. They leave us hanging on forever until we can't wait any longer then..Oh my God, it comes and we rush to buy it in an outpouring of orgasmic relief. Just a thought, music lovers, a mere thought.

With barely time for a refill, a bat-winged bear of a man took to the stage amid an array of drums and electrical trickery. The colossus from New York is the dread-locked Doug of Purple Organ fame. He launched into a lively thrash performance playing a guitar half-covered in silverfoil and various percussion instruments alone. He single handedly delivers explosive songs littered with expletives (not for those of a delicate sensibility).

His subjects include smoking pot, skateboarding badly, sex of course, and the odd nod to world politics thrown in for good measure. My favourite was a charming track called It Wuz A Bug; a guilt-ridden tale concerning the abrupt end to the fragile life one of god's creatures.

Other songs of note were the lyrically undemanding Fuck in which the f. word is repeated over and over. Sometimes melodic sometimes fast and furious accompanied by a barrage of drumbeats. Then there is the one for the girls. Doug, you are definitely treading a fine line here. Girls With Too Much Yeast - and he isn't talking about baking bread. This track and other absolute gems can be found on the ten-track album Amoebaweness.

Between the songs the torturous breathing, manic screaming abate and he tells the unsuspecting audience one or two anecdotes about life in the US. Slacker stories of herbal intoxication and drunkenness as well as a tale revealing a very strange penchant for domestic animals proved enough to endear the crowd to him. So much in fact that he was urged on to do encore after encore.

Then ..Blue Sand, can it get any better? All you folk that cancelled or felt a night watching Saturday night trash would be more fun, you missed out. Withernsea's finest not to be confused with Hull's finest (argue amongst yourselves about that one) belting out crowd pleasers. The newly released Spectre followed by Changed Names and Slaves the title track of the six-track EP. Buy it! I told you last time and I am telling you again because it seems some of you weren't listening. This disc will brighten up your life, keep you sane and safe from the madness of the cruel world, it may even be a cure for depression (further tests are needed on the larger population to prove the last claim).

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Photographs courtsey and Copyright © Mo thisisUll.com

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