Reviews

There’s a swirling organ-tinged style, reminiscent of the 70’s soul style, which would not sound out of place in Quentin’s Jackie Brown. The set closes with an Oom-pah band style variation that could accompany the scene where someone has part of his anatomy re-aligned.

In between, the Wythenshawe based four piece move through country era Neil Young electric grooves before stepping up a gear into a prog rock romp, just to keep the assembled on their toes.

The Ruby Groove (c) Ged Camera

In vocalist Ashley McGuire, they have a front man who – apart from hitting his head on the ceiling of the Roadhouse – can hold and deliver the notes. As he sings "Baby, I can’t dance", he might not be able to, but there are a fair few onlookers who are moving along to the beat.

A band that doesn’t want to hang about is Dead Fluffy Duck. The name itself will raise a few eyebrows, but it gives no indication to the sound that follows. While The Ruby Groove do indeed have some slick grooves, there’s not a duck in sight with DFD. Instead, it’s loud, blasting stabs of laptop-generated electronica, lashed with slicing guitars to the ragged vocals of Gibbo.

Think Soft Cell around the time of 'Falling Apart' forming the background to New Order’s 'Brotherhood' moods, all delivered with minimum fuss, but maximum pleasure.

Hailing from nearby Chadderton, they finish with a simple ditty titled 'Miles Plattin' Assassin'. Whether it’s autobiographical or not, the menacing threat in the air means that it’s an unanswered question.

No doubt, they will be tagged in the same bracket as The Whip but that’s no bad thing.