Reviews

Following the Vale Earth Fair the previous weekend, any dedicated gig-goer could be forgiven for feeling something of a sense of burnout for live music, so it was with a slight sense of this I headed to The Golden Lion to see indie-punkers Third Time Lucky.

Mim and Danny.

From the off things weren't looking great as, by nine o'clock, when the band were due to start, only the drummer was there, but within the next 40 minutes the rest of the band turned up and set up the PA and launched headlong into their first song by quarter to ten.

Starting off with new track 'Three Squeaks' and not letting up for the best part of an hour, Third Time Lucky celebrated their singer, Danny's, birthday in great fun style.

Playing without a set-list the band took suggestions from the small but highly appreciative crowd and themselves to create a set running the gamut of almost all their material including every track from their 'Love Etc' EP.

James.

The Golden Lion once again proved to be a surprisingly good setting for this band as, while the sound wasn't of the same quality some other venues can offer, the intimacy with the band made it a much more fun and personal experience.

This intimacy coupled with the easy confidence and charisma of Danny Phoenix really made for a fun and uplifting show. Not that it was just Danny who shone in the respect of stage presence, as all the members of the band seemed to be on top form with Mim, James and Andre all clearly having a great time on stage, which was something that came through to the crowd and lifted the atmosphere even higher.

Andre.

Third Time Lucky's sound at this show highlighted the more pop-punk end of their style and James Clinton's bass really stood out with moments where comparison to Rancid bass man Matt Freeman could easily be drawn and Andre Marsh's drums were really blasting out a great beat.

While tonight's show probably wasn't the tightest or most technically precise set the band have ever played it made up for this in the amount of entertainment and the fun atmosphere the band brought to the pub and for a birthday show that's what people look for and I think it's safe to say a good time was indeed had by all, especially birthday boy Danny.