Wednesday 19th December 07 - Off The Road at The Adelphi (2/3) By Michelle Dee

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

Dr Q, front man of multi instrumentalists Hayokee, is from that once quiet town of Beverley in the East Riding. A town which was, of late, named as one of the most desirable in which to reside, according to some polls. That same town is busy spawning a highly exciting and varied music scene. With folk and more recently metal genres well entrenched in the firmament of the market town and the alt genre being pursued by Alison Angus et al there is a desire for experimentalism the likes of which prepares the ground for creativity and invention to grow.

Dr. Q known colloquially as the hurdy gurdy man took to the stage instrument in hand and an array of electronics producing various sampled beats and programmed sequences. What followed was my first introduction to Tarob techno; thoroughly danceable in a freeing tribal manner. The music, not dissimilar to Affro Celt Sound System replaces the Celtic and Masai influences with N. African, particularly Moroccan, melodies. If the didgeridoo player from the band Hayokee comes in on this particular side project between them they could create something of an Affro Aboriginal Sound System. Exciting times lay ahead for Dr Q and his band Hayokee.

Scarlet Lights, who by now should need no introductions, on hearing about Sam Jones' musical plans took popular number from hit musical and box office smash Chicago and re-set it within the walls of Hedon Road prison. They took the stage apart much to the chagrin of Ted Keys (guitarist Keep It Cash) and then brought the house down with their impious reworking and stage performances. I revelled in the screw you attitude, adopted for the masculine roles they were to portray. I spent most of the number open mouthed in awe and admiration of their talents. Gold, pure gold!

Mike Watts is a fairly new performance poet but his popularity is growing all the time. Mike often appears on the same bill as Joe Hakim - a spoken word artist strangely ignored in Hull by other media, yet hugely popular elsewhere in the country. Tonight Mike wore the mantle of street poet and showed once again you can't argue with talent. Being privy to the new material Mike submits to the thisisUll.com poetry section, I know that the shocking tale of family pet, Rocky The Rat, was written only weeks before, then polished for tonight's performance; as was at least half of Mike's set.

Continued...Next Page (3/3)

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