Gig Review

Scandal at The Cricketers - Sunday, 26th January 2003.

Reviewer: Rob Vernon

Finally, a new band to review... well, they've been together for some time, and were actually down at Liz-Eds a few weeks ago... Angie showed up to do a review, but hardly anyone else did, so Liz suggested that they go home, which they did without playing a note! I missed this night, doing something else, I expect...

Well - Angie missed a treat!

Stumbled into The Cricketers about 5pm, still half asleep, having been to our annual Company do the night before. Just enough energy to order a pint for me and a Coke for Mrs V. Not very busy, I counted about 25 at the peak, but they were VERY well entertained.

Scandal are:

Rob - Bass
Jay - Drums
Paul - Guitar
Susannah - Vocals

I have to say that this is one of the best bands I've heard for ages! Paul is a brilliant guitarist, obviously influenced heavily by Gary Moore, and Susannah has an incredibly powerful voice... and the engine room is solid, and very together.

So, 5.15pm and the three guys warm up with an instrumental, close your eyes and hear Gary Moore.... open them, and take in the power that they get.... wow, fabulous sound. (If a bit loud for a small pub like The Crick!)

susannah joins the band, and we get
Mamma Told Me Not To Come
Still Got The Blues
Walkin' by Myself (I just wrote "wow!" on the pad .....) Incredible vocals and powerful guitar on this, one of my favourite GM tracks!
Gimme some lovin' (More Spencer Davis than Blues Bros)
Can't get enough
All Right Now mmmm.... nice version

Paul likes to show off with those extended endings....
But they stop for a break, and the assembled guitarists start mumbling things about having a LARGE bonfire, and burning their own cherished instruments. I kid you not, you'd be hard pressed to find a better sound from a lead guitarist anywhere ....!

Time for music journo stuff, Christine points me out to the front-lady, who comes over, and I tell her where the website is (so I'd better do a review!.... better late than never, I suppose). We talk about the local venues, The abortive Liz-Ed's gig, and the price of fish ....

However... 6.20pm, and they are keen to get back at it .....
Don't Wanna Miss A Thing
Word UP
Bitch
It's My Life
and nearly made Mrs V fall off the stool with : SHOUT!
I reckon if Lulu had been in the Cricketers, then she'd have been applauding as loudly and enthusiastically as we did! Power, and delivery.... superb!
Another chance for Paul to dazzle us with the flying fingers....
Johnny B Goode
We Will Rock You and We are the Champions provide a Queen interlude
Susannah takes her leave, whilst the guys do Hey Joe, as an instrumental. Very long, very loud, and VERY good!

We scream for more, and they come back with Purple Rain...
and that's it...

I took a few pics, which should appear somewhere round here, if the Wizzo Webmaster can squeeze them in!



Summary:
A superb band, great sound.... I'm looking forward to hearing them at Liz-Eds, where the level might be a bit better!

Keep It Live!!!!!
I welcome your comments, emails and guest reviews .... [email protected]
 

Scandal (and the recording studios) at Liz-Ed's,
Thursday 14th November 2002
Comment (ie not a review as the band didn't play!!)... by Angie Gray

Words almost fail me (for anyone who knows me well, this is a rare occurrence indeed!) - I was the ONLY person to turn up at Liz-Ed's this evening! So, it was just me, Liz, and barmaid Linda - plus the band, Scandal, who I was really looking forward to hearing (not least because they're one of the all too few local bands to have a female singer!). "Oh well," says I, "you're here anyway, a great chance to rehearse!" (well, I wanted to hear them!!), but, no, they obviously weren't keen on the idea and sat around nattering, waiting for more punters to turn up...... which they didn't! Liz quite understandably chose to call it a night around 9.45pm and so the band packed their gear and left. Still, gave me a chance to ask for a peek upstairs....

First up is a real cosy snooker (pool?) room (sorry guys, I'll go all 'girlie' here and confess I haven't a clue as to the difference!): lovely lighting, pale green decor, TV and, equally important, a bar! It's the sort of room any young - or not so young - lad dreams of... somewhere to chill out, forget life's hassles, and have a few beers with your mates (will fit 20 or so I guess - excellent!).

Through the next door, we come to the 2 recording studios. I can't help but smile at the red 'In session' light outside - nice touch! Again, I'll struggle to find suitable words (bear in mind that this is an outsider's - rather than a muso's/user's - impression) but this is how it struck me....

Entering through double doors, the first room's much larger than anticipated; Liz explains that this is where the musicians will do their thing..... Second - middle - room is dedicated to the mixing desk and relevant equipment (never seen a desk that close - simply zillions of knobs, feel in awe of how anyone masters them all!). Another room next door - for the singer apparently; Liz
says they'll be installing electronic shutters to maximise privacy in case they have two different people/bands using each room. With no hands-on knowledge of such things, this just looks 'the business' to me - carpeted doors and walls to ensure privacy and insulation, I left thinking of all the talent - established and up-and-coming - that will hopefully make good use of this much-needed new facility (and what an ace opportunity for like-minds to get together and to feed off each others creativity and enthusiasm!)...

So, again, I left wondering where everyone was tonight...! Liz said it was rumoured that the Quireboys were playing the Cricketers... Intrigued, I rang the latter at 10.45pm - to be told that, yep, this was indeed the case, but - I could hardly believe my ears! - they'd already finished! One person turning out at Liz-Ed's.... the Quireboys ending pre-10.45pm........ no wonder I'm about to pour myself a large Bacardi!!!

Footnote from Rob:

I arranged to meet Sean, to let me in to see the recording studio/rehearsal rooms last Tuesday, at 2.00pm, but he didn't show up.... let's hope he shows better organisation if the local bands start using the facilities!

On Thursday, I showed up at Liz-Ed's about 10.20pm, to catch Scandal's second set, and was totally dumbfounded myself..... 4 people in the bar, Liz and Ed looking stunned and unhappy.... Really it looks like Thursday's are not going to work.... Pity really, as this is one of the friendliest venues in the town. The grand opening is next Friday, and the advertising has just started (see Times & Citizen 15th November edition, Go! pages) so, we'll see if this venue begins to turn the corner... I hope it does, and I'm SURE it will do..... given your support!

And another thing ... The Quireboys packed The Cricketers to the roof... I called in there, on my way home. The band had finished, but the pub was so packed I couldn't get anywhere near the bar!
The place was full of many familiar faces.... You wanna know what REALLY FCUK's me off? Well I'm going to tell you whether you're interested or not!

Nobody, and I mean NOT one of them, including the landlady .... thought to give me a ring, or drop me an email.

As a result, I missed what was probably the best pub gig for YEARS. A number of people are no longer on my Christmas Card list as a result. I am also considering whether it's worth doing this (free, gratis) job promoting something that I love. Sure, it's fun .... but it should come with some perks ... like being told what's going on!

Still.... Keep It LIVE!, but DON'T keep it to yourself......

Re-reading this, it's a VERY negative footnote .... bit it reflects the way I feel!
Rob

Oh, and BIG thanks to Angie for caring enough to spend time keeping us all 'in the picture' I wish there were 100 more like her... it would make the job so much more rewarding.

Review - The Melting Pot - Scandals 

Date : 10th Nov 2001
Venue : The Melting Pot, 30 The Broadway, Bedford , MK40 2TH 
Tel : (01234) 341431 

Your Host : Liz
Commitment Index : Growing. It seems that this venue has decided to advertise aggressively of late. "Under New Management" is displayed everywhere, and the new manager ,Liz, is obviously keen to attract some people to this place. There have been FULL page ads in the local papers over the past few weeks, and it seems to have been working.... 

Band : Scandles
Format : 4 piece (I think - read on)

Ok, Rob is off playing in his shorts and woggle in the wilds of Derbyshire so once again your stuck with another of Nick's reviews!

Nige rang me "are we on the p**s tonight? is there a band on? there's nothing on your gig guide?" Hhhhhhmmmmmm, leave it with me I'll phone The Melting Pot and see what they have on. Quick chat with Liz reveals that Scandals are playing - are they any good? yes they are brill (bit of a stupid question really she's hardly going to say "well actually they are rubbish, if I were you I'd go and spend your money somewhere else"). So I phones Nige back give him the s.p. "well I'm not really in the mood now". Bah! wife doesn't want to go out so that it then another night in front of the TV.

So there sits Nick, pizza on the way and the phone rings, Nige again, were down The Melting Pot, are you here yet!!!! But! But! you said you were staying in!!!!!!!. well we are here now and your two rounds behind. I've ordered a Pizza!!!!!! It will be there when you get back replies Nige. OK give me half hour for shower and taxi and I'll be there.  As I leave the Pizza guy arrives and I watch as my wife takes my nosebag into the house, this band had better be good!!

The Melting Pot once again is best part empty, Nige, Jim and James are at the bar and the band have only just started setting up, 8.45pm and not set up yet, this does not bode well. Nige shoves a beer in my hand, things are looking up. 9.25pm still no music but 3 pints gone, nothing to eat, feeling much happier now! 9.30 band fire up and I have to say they were well worth waiting for. The Female vocalist took a couple of songs to get in to her stride but when she did she was absolutely fantastic, what a voice! My only criticism would be that the band were not loud enough for the drums but they corrected this in the second set. I still struggled to hear the guitarist but this could be because he was the furthest from us, but sounded very good. I have not heard of them before but will certainly go and see them again, very well received by the punters with five or six dancing for most of the second set. At this point I would like to apologise for such a naff review but can only state smooth bitter induced amnesia in my defense  for forgetting to write down your set. If you get to see this please mail me with some info, gig dates etc.

By the end of the evening there must have been about twenty of us including Vince and Simon - Barflies and Bob Peters was there for a while - Ocean (sorry I didn't make it on Sunday I had the worst hangover). 

Why is this place struggling to get people through the door, as Rob has previously said the place is well presented, clean and tidy, Liz and the staff are really nice, beer is cheap for a town pub, varied entertainment throughout the week - what more do you people want!!!!!!!!!! There are even two doormen to ensure there is no trouble as they are so close to town. Please, if you are undecided on where to go on a Saturday night, call in and take a look, you're at the top of the high street with plenty of options - what have you got to lose.

Regards

Nick