Reviews

Having missed Third Time Lucky's farewell show last August I was massively excited to hear that they would be reforming this summer, if only for two nights in June and July. But before the main event we were treated to a few of Guernsey's other young performers, including another band making a comeback.

Your Mum.

First up were new pop-punkers Your Mum, whose American style pop-punk covers had improved tremendously since I last them play, and this was with a stand in drummer and a bassist who was reportedly so drunk it was impressive he remained upright for the whole set!

While musically speaking they weren't the best band the world's ever seen, and that's putting it kindly, they were none-the-less entertaining with between song banter keeping things alive as parts of the drum kit was re-built mid-set and this time round I felt more that I was laughing with them than in the cringing humour way of their last show here.

Next up was a major contrast to Your Mum as young guitarist J.J. Corbin took to the stage armed only with an amplified acoustic guitar. Playing various styles of music from sounds similar to the lite-folk-punk of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. to more bluesy tunes straight from the deep south of the USA.

J.J. Corbin.

In the Spitshine Blues Band, Corbin has demonstrated his amazing talent with the electric guitar and tonight he showed the same talent on acoustic across a number of superb original songs and a few covers. The only down sound to his sound is that his voice still doesn't have the gravely nature some of the songs cry out for, though this is counteracted by his guitar work and should come with time given Joe's, still young, age.

Main support tonight came from the first of the evening's re-forming bands, FireFly. After only two practices since their resurrection the band really seem to have come on in leaps and bounds since I last saw them play nearly a year ago in The Golden Lion. Tonight their brand of emo-metal really blasted from the stage with the aid of a slightly more robust PA system than I have seen them play through previously.

Jamie of FireFly.

But it wasn't only their sound that made them come across so well tonight, but their improved stage presence and charisma, particularly from guitarist Martyn Brown whose time in Another Sinking Feeling over the past 9 months has really raised his game, and vocalist Jamie Ellington who has grown in presence immeasurably and has a voice which is growing to match.

Besides this FireFly succeeded in getting the first pit of the night going to one of their original songs and ended the set with the crowd wanting more following fan favourite 'A Moth In The Rain'.

Before moving on to the last band of the night I think that Black Star Tattoo deserve a mention for putting on the show tonight, as, while their previous gigs have been top notch, this represents a more musically varied set of artists compared to their usual shows, which can only be a good sign for local music.

Finally this evening we got to see the return of indie-punkers Third Time Lucky who really showed how pop music should be played. Mixing pop punk with indie leanings and a huge dose of fun they stormed through a set of crowd pleasers in a style unlike any other band on the local scene.

Danny Pheonix of Third Time Lucky.

Clearly being on stage to have fun, this really came across to the audience who were, almost to a person, grinning away, when they weren't singing along to 3TL's catchy and hook filled tunes.

While things didn't go entirely to plan with a few moments of out of tune guitars and the like the band filled the gaps brilliantly with a mixture of bantering comfortably with the audience and demonstrating their musical ability with a few bass and drum solos.

This ability to banter with the audience was just one aspect of the massive stage presence and charisma displayed by both guitarists, Danny and Mim. While Mim chatted calmly with the audience between songs, Danny was, as ever, the archetypal front man.

With highlights including jumping into the crowd for one track and holding out his microphone for people at the front to sing along too Danny's performance hit all the front man marks and never quite seemed to tip over into arrogance, though it seemed like it might at times, but with the crowd in the palm of his hand he was totally in the zone tonight.

After finishing on a storming rendition of the lead track from their 'Love Etc' EP, 'Forever and a Day', the crowd still wanted more, so, Third Time Lucky gave them what they wanted with a second run through the fun dance along of 'Knees Up' which had everyone at the front singing and dancing and after it was over still not wanting he band to leave the stage.

With one show down, it only leaves one more before Third Time Lucky leave the stage for the last time, which is a real shame as they are one of few local bands representing a more poppy, crossover, style of music and also are one of the most entertaining bands I have ever witnessed in Guernsey.