21st April 06 - Chaser at The Bluebell Riverside Restaurant, Driffield By Steve Rudd

Chaser are a well-known band in Driffield, largely due to having been around for a few years now, and because they are mean purveyors of some truly awesome cover songs. Driffield, unfortunately, is pretty thin on the ground when it comes to great bands worth shouting about. Since the main venue in town, Mavericks nightclub, didn't renew its entertainments license, there aren't really many suitable places for bands to play. Thus, Driffield-based bands such as The Thief (who have previously featured on www.thisisull.com) now have no choice but to head out of town to play gigs and duly raise their profile.

Chaser still manage to play gigs in Driffield though, and have recently played at the New Rink (in aid of funds for the 2006 Driffield Festival, which is allegedly set to feature the likes of Jesse James and Spunge), and the Red Lion pub. This gig at The Riverside Restaurant was another fun fundraiser, this time in aid of Driffield Secondary School, which has boldly organised a life-enhancing visit to Namibia for some of the pupils. Naturally, a fair proportion of the gig's crowd was composed of school students who are actually going on the trip, along with a large number of parents and teachers; still, there was also a pretty decent-sized crowd of Chaser fans who came down not only to donate the entrance fee to a good cause but also to see the band launch into playing an hour's worth of fantastic music.

Fronted by singer and guitarist Ash Lawson, Chaser are a tight trio that also consists of the ever-grinning drummer Don Steel and bass-playing extraordinaire Nick English. In the past they have sat down and penned some original tunes, which were astonishing in their own right, but now they focus purely on playing covers. The great thing about Chaser, though, is that they play every single song in their set in a perfection-attaining note-for-note manner, cutting no corners whatsoever in terms of quality reproduction. Ash is both an incredibly versatile singer and a jaw-droppingly talented guitar player.

You just have to witness him imitate The Darkness' Justin Hawkins when it comes to hitting the high notes and letting loose on lead guitar in style.

Other standout cover tunes that are currently in the Chaser set include U2's mighty Elevation anthem, The Kaiser Chiefs 'I Predict A Riot,' The Hives 'Hate To Say I Told You So,' Greenday's 'Basketcase' and even Lynryd Skynyrd's immortal Sweet Home Alabama. And every last tune goes down a storm, with even legions of schoolkids somehow being familiar with the Country-Rock strains of the aforementioned Skynyrd classic. Truth be told, Chaser know full well how best to get a party started. Delivering a perfectly balanced selection of fresh new tunes and old Classic Rock numbers, they can entertain both young and old alike with exultant ease.

So much so that the good people of Driffield are surely waiting with baited breath for the band's next show in town...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 2nd May 06 - The Sesh With Ivy Sins, Cherry Cob Cartel and The Blueslide Circle By Michelle Dee
	This weeks Sesh night down the Linnet and Lark fell just after yet another bank holiday weekend. This meant that many regulars were spent up or still feeling the effects of partying till the wee small hours. I know my own weekend was full of drunken forays into various different pubs in the Avenues area. The highlight of my weekend was on Sunday night; yes the Sunday Sesh had Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 5th April 06 - John Copley, Afterglow and Sidewinder at Quayside By Emily
	This relatively new night has been running at the Quayside for just over a month now- named Quintessential Sessions- with live bands and fine Indie tunes every week. However, this gig showed the best turn-out so far. Regardless of whether this was due to the bands individual followings or simply word of mouth, it still proved that this night Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 19th April 06 - The Peasants, The Blackouts and The Landaus at Quayside Quintessential Sessions By Michelle Dee
	It was only a week ago when I met The Peasants for the first time but I had heard them being played by Alan on Raw Talent a month or two back. Also Steve Rudd had reviewed their CD on this site and as often happens round these parts I had been bumping into Jody, singer for The Peasants, regularly on the Avenues. Tonight, I was determined to see them. Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 5th April 06 - Heat 10, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Ten - The one with Violets and Right Handed Trousers ... Intriguing band names was the order of the night. I have met the 59 Violets many times and always wanted to know where the name came from. I don't know Franks Right Hand Trouser but in their case I dare not ask ... something to do with trying to get dressed when drunk? Tonik have been Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 29nd March 06 - Heat 9, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Nine - Turn left at Spaghetti Junction for Hollywood town ... Tinsel Town it ain't in Hull but I reckon our entertainment is just as glam and glossy as theirs. We had our very own A listers performing - our very own Brad Pitt alias David Elf, our very own Danii Minogue on bass and Meg Ryan on keyboards....not to mention Magnum PI as MC. Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 25th April - Swellbellys, Assert, C-Squat and Undefeated at The Ringside By Dick Spring Photo Gallery By Mo
	When it rains it pours, as the saying goes, and this was very much true of Hull this evening, with big shows on at pretty much every proper Hull venue. Ringside weighed in with a heavyweight punk show, literally, with the monster that is a Swellbellys and Assert tour, their first together in over three years. Kicking off tonight's proceedings rather early, it has to be said, were Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 12th April 06 - Tarifa at Quayside Quintessential Sessions By Michelle Dee
	I have known of Tarifa since they opened the Renegade Writers Live Event at Ringside last year. Since then they have been hard at work practicing, writing and strengthening the ties within the band. Tarifa recently played at Music Man but tonight was the first time I'd seen them since last year. After a delayed start (they didn't take Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday Sesh 2nd April By Michelle Dee
	To kick things off we had a few numbers from Mr. Baggott. He started with a new one I didn't catch the title then his usual Blur cover. The popular Turismo tune Skegness came next which went down well with the knowledgeable crowd. One person I think it was Rich Turismo was even heard to exclaim Amazing. He finished off with In Bed Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 22nd March 06 - Heat 8, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Eight - Sheriff Check, scenes from the exorcist and can't wait to be famous so I can get a guitar tech Callum Blackout! First on stage was Dressed for Stealing with lead singer Check Kilpatrick (great name!) on bass, sporting a smart full-western-jacket and tie. Looking like the sheriff who meant business he charmed his Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 15th March 06 - Heat 7, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Seven - Girls will be girls ... The night where Mr. Blake has, thankfully, recovered from his 'flu and is back on sarcasm and shirts. Good to see and hear, but beware the faint hearted. He never did tell us the Everly Brothers tale, by the way. Also a night for mysterious goings-on with the bands....two girls from Quick! went out shopping and never Read more...

Music Reviews - Mak's Birthday Sunday Sesh 2006 By Chu Nin
	Just come home from a top night at Sunday Sesh at Linnet and Lark pub. Unbeknownst to me DJ Mak decided to have a birthday (another one?). There were at least eighty to a hundred people in, maybe more. I walked in and caught the last of Matt Edible's set. I have experienced the intensity of his music before, songs that combine beautiful Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 1st March - Larrikin Love at UTI at The Adelphi By Emily Photographs by Mo
	Larrikin Love playing at Adelphi was a very interesting idea for everyone that turned up to the gig: they're known to be a very fresh and promising new band, yet although they have a wide internet audience, they still have quite a lot to prove. Me, I'm not so sure that they won everyone over. Park and Ride did their best to rouse the crowd, and put in a lot of effort with their Read more...

Music Gig Gallery - Republished with unseen pictures - The Ordinary Boys at Sweet N Sour at The Welly Monday 4th October 04 by Darren Rogers
	Checkout this incredible 7 page Photo Gallery of The Ordinary Boys at the The Welly Monday 4th October 2004 by Darren Rogers. Darrens photographs are brilliant, almost as good as being there and too good to miss so I'm republishing it with unseen pictures for all the music fans to enjoy... and thanks Darren. Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 3rd April 06 - Abrasive Wheels, Slander and Certified at The Ringside, Hull By Dick Spring Photo Gallery By Mo
	Tonight had all the promise of being a giant of a gig, and was eagerly awaited by the punks of Hull young and old. But, sadly due to a family emergency, one of the billed headline acts, Discharge, had to fly back home to the States where he now lives. Understandably there was massive disappointment at this bad news, though front man Rat turned up at the show (he was Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 27th March 06 - Raw-UK Launch at The Welly By Joe Hakim Photos by Darren Rogers
	So the night starts with me getting my wires crossed and spending twenty minutes standing outside the wrong venue. It's freezing cold and it takes two cigarettes to make the correct synapses in my brain fire up, and then I realise my mistake. Somewhat sheepishly I make my way to The Welly, my face half paralysed by the wind. Once I get there I have the task of actually Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 2nd March - HULLucinations Launch at Silhouette - Dirty Dreamers, 10,000 Things, Your Vegas and The Johnsons By Michelle Dee Gallery by Darren Rogers
	Tonight was the first night of the latest live music night to hit Hull. Organised by a team of dedicated music fanatics and not shadowy, uncaring corporate faces Hullucinations promised a top night of quality musical entertainment. Paul and Dave the men behind the project had used all tools at their disposal to start advertising the night well in advance. Along with the usual flyers and posters, they had a half Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 1st March 06 - Heat Five, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston
	Heat Five - A test for The Bonnitts This proved to be an interesting evening's entertainment between The Bonnitts, who were strong contenders in the final of BOB 2004, and two bands that are pretty new to the Hull scene. Secretly Soulmates, who traveled from Scunthorpe - yes there is a thriving music scene there and it isn't very far by car and Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 31st January 06 - The Sesh featuring Kill Surf City, Rednite Strip, The Chase and John Copley By Michelle Dee Photographs by Darren Rogers
	Last night I made my way down Princes Ave towards Linnet and Lark and a night of live music that promised to be rather good. By the time I arrived the newly refurbished hostelry was filling up quicker than the 5.30 tube from Fenchurch Street. After a few local demos, including a noteworthy new one from GST Cardinals called Dirty little, The Chase took to the stage. They had had to Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 8th March 06 - Jethro Tull at Hull City Hall By Dave Fox
	In 1968 Jethro Tull's first album titled This Was first hit Britain, and nearly 40 years later I'm buzzing my tits off at the prospect of seeing them live. So what is it about this band that has kept them going for all this time? Jethro Tull were the first real experimental/prog rock band to really make their mark, but what really makes them stand out is the incredible talents Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 2nd March 06 - Mr. Mojo, Arcade and Mr Big at The Mainbrace By David Smith
	Gigs were aplenty in Hull last night. With bands performing at both The Piper and The Adelphi, I felt obliged to check out the alternative choice. Following their highly enjoyable acoustic set at The Wellington Inn in early January, I attended the Mainbrace pub on Beverley Road last night, hoping to be equally impressed with Arcade's full band showing. Unfortunately I missed Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 22nd February 06 -Heat Four, Best Original Band at The Springhead By Anita Blakeston Photos By Jane Foster
	Everyone anticipated a busy night. Both Steve Fulsham and Meg Williams are very popular bands in these heats. The Gig Shop team flew in hot from a sound engineering course in Liverpool run by none other than 'Big Mick' Hughes who has done a massive 1340 gigs for Metallica. ('Glutton' and 'punishment' spring to mind). Also engineers from Scissor Sisters, Texas and Read more...