Tuesday 12th July 05 - The Paddingtons Single Release at Ringside and Signing at HMV (4/7) By Joe Hakim Photos by Darren Rogers

(1/7), (2/7), (3/7), (4/7), (5/7), (6/7), (7/7).

Photograph Gallery   The Paddingtons Gallery 1,    Gallery 2 ,    Gallery 3 ,    Gallery 4,    Gallery 5,    Gallery 6 ,    Gallery 7,    Gallery 8.

I decide to leave it there. The guy deserves a drink, and he's probably being asked shit all the time so I leave him to it. He seems a bit bewildered by it all, and he doesn't seem to posses that rock star arrogance that affects a lot of front men, making him very approachable. I go outside to take a quick breather and I notice that all the bands' family and friends are starting to arrive, all wearing the funky green wrist bands. I curse myself for not bringing a disposable BBQ. It would have been spot on. Granted, no one would have wanted the food, and the smoke from it would have made everyone smell like charcoal, but hey, it would have looked good.

I start sizing up a wooden table for firewood, but then I hear The Johnsons start to tune up so I go to the bar for another pint. The Johnsons open their set with a really choppy riff. They're four young lads, and they get things going with a spiky urgent sound that makes people turn around and pay attention straight away. Their second song sounds like the bastard offspring of the Smashing Pumpkins and the Ordinary Boys, with the lead singer asking: Why won't you listen to a word I say? during the chorus.

The next song settles into a groove that could have come straight from CBGB's, and the Charlie Watts boom-tat drumming underlines a sharp Television-style guitar break. I notice that the place isn't packed out just yet, which is a bit of a shame for The Johnsons. They obviously know their stuff; the drums always manage to keep on the right side of simple; the guitar and bass gives nods to everyone from The Doors to Siouxsie and the Banshees and the lead singer has that I'm fuckin' wired to the national grid, me mate, look about him.

They play You're a superstar - a great summer sound for the summer and the first song to get people up dancing. They're not quite there yet, but with a little time and effort I think they could be really good. They don't really seem to have a distinctive look that separates them from the crowd and makes you say, Look, it's the fuckin' Johnsons, but I'm sure that it will come with time. Watch this space.

After The Johnsons leave the stage I go for a quick piss and get another pint. More and more people are filing in, and the sweat on my back makes my t-shirt stick to it. Lighting up a cig, I see The Vels take to the stage. I was a little harsh on The Vels in my first review, but as soon as band begin to play it's obvious that something is different this time. The smaller venue really plays to their advantage, but it all clicks into place when the lead singer takes the mike.

It's one of those, Ah, right I get it now, kinda moments. I realise that a big part of The Vels sound comes from the distinctive voice of Danny, the lead singer. He has a throaty, raspy, bluesy voice, quite different from the other bands that are emerging from Hull right now. It's such an integral part of the band's sound that when I saw them last week, the muddy quality of the vocals rendered the rest of the band's efforts meaningless. They have a real foot stomping noise, and it teaches me a lesson about live music - it doesn't matter how good your band is, if the venue fucks up your sound then you're fucked before you even take to the stage. Elvis, a corking shuffly number that is almost rockabilly sounding is the stand-out track of the set. The drums are a little skiffle sounding in their execution, and it really gives the band its own unique spin.

Continued... Next page (5/7).

Check the thisisUll.com Gallery Photographs courtsey and Copyright © Darren Rogers thisisUll.com

Photograph Gallery   The Paddingtons Gallery 1,    Gallery 2 ,    Gallery 3 ,    Gallery 4,    Gallery 5,    Gallery 6 ,    Gallery 7,    Gallery 8.

Music Reviews - Saturday 5th February 05 - Sidewinder, Mr. Mojo and Tekoba at The Late Room, Manchester By Richard Kemp (Racing Pulse Records / Tardis Music)
	Saturday saw Hull's latest assault on the Manchester music scene in the form of Sidewinder, Mr Mojo, and Tekoba as well as two coach loads of some of the city's most dedicated music fans and followers. The event organised and run by Red Oktober Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 2nd February 05 - M.J. Hibbett at The Lamp By Michelle Dee
	Tonight the Lamp is filled with an eclectic crowd all anticipating the return of M.J. Hibbett to Hull. He has brought a Validator with him this time, in the shape of the violinist Tom Mc Clure who appears on many of the Hibbett Recordings. Looking around Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 29 January - ThisisUll 'avin' it large in Liverpool with Blue Sand and Park and Ride, Courtesy of Under the Influence By Michelle Dee
	The last Saturday in January 2005 is sure to become one of the most treasured days of my life. Long before we arrived in Liverpool, the excitement was overflowing. Owing much to all the fun and great atmosphere that my fellow Park and Riders created Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 23rd January 05 - Tsunami Benefit Gig at The Welly By Daniel Laney Photos by Mo
	The Freaks Union, Silence In The Streets, BB Bruce, Diverse Unit, The Favours and Face to Feet. The winter's bitter chill began to make my hands weak and numb as I walked along the street in the pitch black. Whilst listening to my walkman I began to ask myself what the Read more...

Music Reviews - Park & Ride, Andy (The Sneaks),Andy Cornfoot Tue 18th Jan - The Sesh at The Linnet & Lark By Daniel Laney Photos by Michelle Dee
	For two Tuesdays in a row now The Sesh has proved to be the venue of choice. Last week it was almost impossible to move, due to all the people that turned out to show their support for the tsunami benefit gig. This Tuesday the whole place is again full, it may not be as Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 11th Jan - Hull Aid Tsunami Benefit Gig at The Sesh By Lee Atkinson Photos Darren Rogers
	A Turismo acoustic session, a new member of The Bonnitts, The Johnsons making their live debut, all at The Linnet and, most importantly, all for a very important cause. The date is 11th January and I am standing in the middle of an enthusiastic crowd at a very special Read more...

Music Reviews - The Reputations, Jonny Panic and When Water Comes at The Ringside - Mon 17th Jan By Daniel Laney
	You know it's been a good night when your face hurts from smiling and ears are ringing from the evening's entertainment. The performance given last night from all three bands made the evening highly entertaining. It was also the first time that I had managed Read more...

Music Gig Gallery - Freaks Union, No Comply, The Unknown and Diverse Unit at the Adelphi 9th Dec 2004 by Lucy Kynman
	This 8 page Photo Gallery of Freaks Union, No Comply, The Unknown and Diverse Unit at the Adelphi 9th December 2004 by Lucy Kynman is too good to miss so I'm publishing it even without a review for all the music fans to enjoy... great job and thanks Lucy. Read more...

Music Gig Gallery - 25th November at Asylum, Hull University Keiser Cheifs and Kasabian with Radio1 DJ Zane Lowe by Darren Rogers
	Occasionally we get photographs of a Gig emailed in and no accompanying review to go with them. Never-the-less this 10 page Photo Gallery of Kasabian, Keiser Cheifs and Radio1 DJ Zane Lowe at the Asylum Hull University 25th November 2004 by Darren Rogers is too good to miss so I'm publishing it for you to enjoy. Read more...

Music Reviews - 10,000 Things at Jaz Bar - 26th October 04 By Caroline Murphy
	So what do the music magazines know about the sensitive side of a group of sexed up 20-some-Things! Their stage show gives anything but that impression, but close-up and personal in the smaller venues of Hull Jaz Bar and Shrewsbury Buttermarket, I can tell a different story. Read more...

Music Reviews - The Morphines and The 89 80s at The Sesh, Linnet and Lark - 30th November 04 By Andy Dykes, Photos by Darren Rogers
	Once again tonight, Princes Ave's Linnet and Lark plays host to a evening of live bands. With a stage littered with instruments and a bar crowded with rock n roll types, it looks suitably like the home of what is fast becoming one of the most widely respected and indeed played evenings in Hull. Tonight's headliners Read more...

Music Reviews - 27th October - CrackTown, Wooden Ghost and Attila the Stockbroker at The Adelphi By Jason Karlson
	We used to pose for the Grattan's catalogue, and sometimes Kay's if money was really tight, declares Silver Fox as they strike another of their notorious and hilarious catalogue poses. Tonight we're treated to the Space Hopper and Mr Frosty's Slush making machine. Yes, its time Read more...

Music Gig Gallery - The Supatones, Catch-it Kebabs, Critic, Alla Stoccata Skallywags Wednesday 24th November 2004 the Adelphi by Darren Rogers
	Occasionally we get photographs of a Gig emailed in and no accompanying review to go with them. Never-the-less this 10 page Photo Gallery of The Supatones, Catch-it Kebabs, Critic, and Alla Stoccata Skallywags at the the Adelphi Wednesday 24th November 2004 by Darren Rogers is too good to miss. Read more...