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The Tommys with support from Soundstripe and The Exorsisters The setting is perfect, an underground attic sized room is waiting for an exhibition of rootsy and rugged grass roots music. It is just as well, as The Tommys are not only becoming renowned across Europe for their own blistering live sets, but they also help to unearth some of the region’s more intriguing outfits. Continuing that trend is the grinding, backward gazing Soundstripe. Brimming with funky bass, courtesy of Jenni Holt, opener ‘One Night Plan’ sets a rustic mood that is glossed by the earthy cries of the amiable Paul Wright. Twangs of Free spring out of the air-tight ‘Weeping Tom’ and the early birds in the audience switch from intrigued to buoyant, as the trundling riffs sets bodies gently in motion. The most pleasing aspect of the set is the new direction shown through ‘Don’t Look Down’. This gruff, folk speckled indie flit around, incorporates a punchy vocal to and fro betwixt Wright and Holt, with the latter providing a rugged Katie Jane Garside touch for variety. It is this sort of expansion that is going to get interesting parties interested in this engaging local outfit. Blunt punk with outburst of psychobilly and an erratic, wandering front man makes The Exorsisters and interesting proposition. The brazen 70s, bass fuzzed, old school punk strut of ‘Manikin’, provides singer Kurt Dirt with the opportunity to utilise his slightly intoxicated, punchy vocals that match his exuberant manner. The Rock N’ Roll simply gushes out of ‘I Love The Night’ and the spirit and defiance shown in it wakes the crowd up, to feed off Dirt’s seemingly limitless energy. Some people and bands are just born to perform. Some bands never recover from losing a member, but since lead singer Jess Bell left the band in January. The Crewe based primal rockers of The Tommys have re-recorded a blistering demo and toured Europe and the UK with Mark Hoppus’ new venture +44. This tight setting is perfect for them and even the established set opener of ‘You’re Not The One’, takes on new life. Bassist, Anna Naberrie’s deep yelp assuredly backs the earthy cries of Stevie Shepperson, who is well and truly in a groove as the front lady now. Anna’s bolting bass-lines drive the rugged ‘Set It Off’ up a notch in the live setting and it is a song that must be recorded live. If ever the public are to get a true feel for what this fiery femme trio is all about. The tormenting, teen anthem of ‘Wait In The Line’ picks up the momentum with rattling percussion. It also sees Shepperson put in her most accomplished vocal performance, building up with menace and snarl to a throaty, punk spiked chorus. Tonight, expansion is shown with the mid-tempo Hole and Throwing Muses flirting ‘Fresh Meat’. It’s performed with attentive precision and shows a flitting of moods that is a slightly different direction for the girls. Continuing the new trend is the molten and ballsy ‘Kamino’ that would send any pit into ruptures. The difference between this performance in a small, sweaty venue and their frolic in front of a large gathering at the Academy 1 supporting +44 is…. Well there isn’t one. The Tommys throw everything into each performance and unlike many myspace bands they are not neglecting the importance of a live show, no matter where it is and who it is with. -David Adair
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