Reviews

The evening started with the sounds of DJ oneofakind spinning some laid back funky hip hop sounds in the Live Lounge's downstairs bar really starting the evening off gently before things started to get heavy later on.

The Buzzards.

The first band to take to the stage in the rock poster decorated confines of what I can only describe as the best venue the Channel Islands has to offer (other than The Vale Castle) were Jersey's The Buzzards, or at least two of them.

Playing an essentially simple form of blues, with the odd hint of real country, this two-piece version of the band, comprising a vocalist/harmonica player and guitarist really got the ball rolling well.

While theirs wasn't the best music to dance to, the room started to fill up as they played and demonstrated how a simple style of music can really be very effective and great to listen to, especially when played by two people who clearly connect well on stage and work together to make the sounds great. And it was also some the best harmonica playing I've ever heard.

Things took a swing to the darker after this as Guernsey's post-punk militia Gay Army came out all guns blazing.

Rear Gunner Reilly of Gay Army.

The band really benefited from the sound generated by the venues PA tonight as this was one of the first times I have been able to hear every sound the band makes at the same time and this showed the depth of the music Gay Army produce while at the same time showing one of the benefits of a dedicated venue.

Though this was the best I have heard the band sound a majority of the audience didn't seem to be getting it too well and were all, save two or three, standing at a polite distance watching. Rear Gunner Reilly, however, did his best to the fill this gap and spent a majority of the band's set stalking the dance floor and by the end had succeeded in getting a few more punters moving.

Next up were Ska-Rockers Zoohair, whose sound mixed classic hard rock with American style ska-punk. While the start of the set seemed to be a bit of a mess, once they got going and their sound leveled out they were a great band with an interesting style.

Arch-Deacon Chaos of Zoohair.

More importantly than that they were the first band to get a good portion of the room dancing and they really showed why they are one of Jersey's favourite bands. Even when the band had to stop as someone was helped off the dance floor they didn't lose momentum and finished their set with fantastic high energy.

I never thought hard rock guitar solos and ska trumpets would fit in one song, but Zoohair proved me wrong.

Not only was tonight a field trip for the Vale Earth Fair Collective, but it seems Bensonville Comprehensive School was having a day out too as Barney-Boy, Larry-Barry, Jefferson T. 'Doubleberry' and Chaddlebuck Benson made their way to stage in short trousers, shirts, ties and even old school caps (after a few warning shots from their pea shooters and catapults) to show Jersey the best way to combine fun, funk and rock.

Chaddlebuck Benson.

Once again the venues PA system really helped to show what sound the Bensons are capable of making as the blasted through a set of their trademark tunes and got one of the biggest reactions of the night with everyone at the front of the room dancing by the time they ended their set on 'Turbo Superfunk'.

Up on stage next were a band dubbed 'Jersey’s kings of Avant Garde', FalenizzaHorsePower. Combining metal, psychadelia, hardcore, stoner and more experimental leanings the two members of the band created a sound that was unlike any I have ever heard in the Channel Islands.

Dave S. of FalenizzaHorsePower.

Featuring only a bass guitar and drums the duo used loops of sound and feedback to create noises the likes of which the average listener wouldn't have thought possible from the two rhythm instruments.

Though their performance tonight may have been a little rough around the edges they got a few people moving and no one seemed to have a bad word to say about them, as they seemed to merge their experimental ideas with enough classic metal notions to make their music listenable while still clearly being something new and interesting.

Last up on stage tonight were Thee Jenerators who launched themselves from the stage like an explosion.

Mark Le Gallez of Thee Jenerators.

Playing against a time limit really seemed to bring out something even more energetic in the band, which is something I didn't think possible, as they usually are one of the most frenetic bands on the scene.

This increase in speed and force really highlighted some of the interesting generic ticks in the bands music as hiding behind the retro rock stylings came hints of classic punk and even some psychobilly.

It wasn't only the band who were in a frenzy during their set as the whole room seemed to be moving to the music and though they had to cut the set short, the burst of 'Crazy Little Love Machine' Thee Jenerators ended on served as a real highlight to a night of great music and an undeniably successful first trip away for the Vale Earth Fair.

Let's hope there'll be plenty more to come.