Another Saturday night, another live gig from Rogues and this one promised to be a good one. With local favourites Remainder 3 and Gay Army opening the night's festivities followed by UK acts Waxed Apple and Cakeboy & Doublethink. It has to be said that whenever a Rouges gig is in session it feels like the opening acts don't really get a fair chance, as, being a nightclub, Rouges never really gets going until later on in the evening. Having said that with its impressive stage, nightclub sound system and ideal live venue shape, Rouges just might be the best place for a live band on the island of Guernsey.  | | Steve Lynch of Remainder 3. |
Despite the club being basically empty, Remainder 3 got things going nicely with the hard hitting, heavy handed 'indie' rock that they have become known for over the years, with Rachel Dodd and Steve Lynch's combined vocals the band oozed their alternative rock sound all over the room. A mixture of funky bass lines, fast, old school guitar work, Steve's southern rock vocals and Rachel's blissful harmonies, Remainder 3 could be compared to early Alice in Chains with a female edge. Four songs in and Remainder 3 delivered a softer song, which really showcased Rachel's splendid vocal range, blend this with the fusion the rest of the band create and it makes for a great musical experience.  | | Nick Dodd of Remainder 3. |
Finishing with a brilliant track called 'Soothe Me' full of fast passed piercing guitar work from Nick Dodd (who is also bassist for Guernsey favourites Thee Jenerators) Remainder 3 will be a tough act to follow. Gay Army however are not fazed by Remainder 3's shining performance and paraded onto the stage with their own brand of experimental, anthemic, alternative rock. A combination of indie funk instrumentals, keyboard synth and electronically enhanced vocals, seems to suit the club atmospheres well as the dance floor speedily filled up. Although the hoard assembled on the dance floor seemed more content with gentle rocking and head bobbing, there was one poor drunk soul determined to dance his heart out, which provided great side entertainment for everyone present.  | | Major Dirt of Gay Army. |
Vocalist Rear Gunner Reilly showed himself to be a talented front man, not just in vocal talent, but with his short, snappy and almost robotic movements he has great stage presence, proving this further when still in the first song he took to the audience, a move he repeated several times throughout the performance. Pulling out all the stops Reilly even took to banging a cow bell in front of the mic at one point, and, with the the drunk guy down front doing cartwheels, finally got his wish and more started to dance along with him,  | | Rear Gunner Reilly of Gay Army. |
Although Gay Army rely heavily on electronic trickery for their set there are still some good old fashion rock riffs to be heard throughout and they proved once again that they are always one to watch on the Guernsey scene. The club filled up nicely as Brighton act 'Waxed Apple' got stuck into their set, with an arsenal of equipment ranging from a keyboard to an electric instrument resembling a violin. Waxed Apple was a world away from the first two acts of the night, but the dancers seem to love it. However Remainder 3 and Gay Army fans seemed less excited with the sudden genre change the night took.  | | Waxed Apple. |
With all the weird and wonderful sounds coming from the stage the lead singer (if that is what he is) sounded more like something straight out of space, and although you might never have noticed the band aren't completely devoid of real instruments, with a drummer and guitarist on the stage. I'd love to be able to tell you that Waxed Apple won me over in the end, but I'd be lying, being a humble rock fan myself, me and my photographer decided we could stand no more of the trance style music floating over the room and we followed the line of rockers heading off to the White Hart for pint.  | | Waxed Apple. |
Sadly we never made it back for the headliners Cakeboy & Doublethink but seeing as this is a 'band' review and Cakeboy & Doublethink are nothing more than a DJ and MC glorified by fancy visual mixing, I'm not that heartbroken having missed them. To sum up the nights events, two UK alternative acts were completely outshone by some fine Guernsey rock 'n' roll. Photos by Tony Robins. | 
