Thursday 2nd March - HULLucinations Launch at Silhouette - Dirty Dreamers, 10,000 Things, Your Vegas and The Johnsons (1/5) By Michelle Dee Gallery by Darren Rogers

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

Photograph Gallery   The Johnsons Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Your Vegas Gallery 1,   Dirty Dreamers Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,   10,000 Things Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,   People Gallery 2.

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 page press release the week before in the local free paper, including a tasty picture of the Dirty Dreamers.

Raw Talent plugged the night at least twice mentioning the gifted guitarist from the aforementioned band and playing a track by Leeds band Your Vegas. The dynamic duo also created and made good use of myspace.com to garner as many friends as possible, sending out daily bulletins and posting flyers in every comment list. Through this action they managed to catch up and overtake the existing club nights' friend totals. They must have been glued to their screen day and night. When I arrived the crowd must have numbered well over a hundred noisy gig goers with more people turning up every minute.

Hullucinations had asked people days before what music they wanted from DJ Jumble. This enquiry resulted in an interesting and varied soundtrack featuring past and present tracks across different genre. The play list included my favourite Oasis track Cast No Shadow, Jolene by the Pixies, Nancy Boy from Placebo, Stone Roses and many more. Who ever asked for Art Brut can you...not.

The Johnsons, now in their second year have coped with numerous line up changes but hopefully now have found the missing element. Matt is still lead vocal with Danny on guitar and secondary vocal. Matty remains on bass, John Paul ex-drummer now alternates between lead and rhythm guitar and Dan Laney ex Fraction of the Cost, drums for The Johnsons. Everybody with me? These changes have certainly benefited the bands overall sound, indeed it seems to have revitalised the group and the rekindling of old alliances should steady the future.

The band explodes into life with a thunderous drum roll intro on She's So Easy clearly announcing their intentions. There seems to be a darker, slightly angrier tone to the opening song the fast chorus sounds seasoned with bitterness and venom. I was pleased to see the Danny Tacey penned number about a tramp called Herbert has found its way on to the set-list. It's faster and livelier, when given the full band treatment, but the strong melody shines through.

Originally an acoustic solo track, Ballad of Herbert and Margaret is a welcome reminder of past origins. Old news comes with a fuller more rounded feel, meatier far more adventurous percussion from Mr. Laney. Strong vocals at the front from Matt ably supported by Danny.

Continued..... Next Page (2/5).

Photographs courtesy and Copyright ©  Darren Rogers 2006

Photograph Gallery   The Johnsons Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Your Vegas Gallery 1,   Dirty Dreamers Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,   10,000 Things Gallery 1,   Gallery 2,   Gallery 3,   People Gallery 2.

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