| The Line-Up | Dyslexic Seven
+ Dan Foden
+ Aflightoremember
+ Tuscan Raiders
+ Grogan
+ Peter Cat
+ Marc & Lard
+ Mark Coldham
+ S2A |
I'd heard good things about the last 'all-ages' acoustic night that took place at the Steamboat so I made sure I was there this time round, and I'm pleased I made the effort. Yes ok there was a range in the quality of music being performed but none so bad you thought twice about whether the £3 you paid on the door would have been better spent on a pint somewhere else. I admire anyone with the guts to get up in front a pub full of their peers and perform something they've written, I've done it and I know how nerve-wracking it can be. When it's just you, your guitar and room full of expectant faces there is no-where to hide, so it was great to see the vast majority of the pub giving each performer the support and encouragement they deserved.  | | Tuscan Raiders |
The stand-out acts from the night for me were Grogan and Tuscan Raiders, they seemed tighter and offered more rounded performances while still hanging on to the passion and energy displayed by many of the others. It was a shame to see the crowd shrink for the start of the Tuscan Raiders' spot. They pulled more people in from the garden as their set progressed but I suppose when much of the young audience were there to see mate's bands they were never going to get the biggest crowd.  | | Aflightoremember |
Dan Foden and Aflightoremember let fly with great performances and they have every right to feel proud of themselves but as time ticked by the focus of the gathered crowd began to shift towards what was still to come, an acoustic set from local purveyors of punk-metal, Dyslexic Seven. I had a quick chat with Jon, Dyslexic's bassist, before they took to the stage and he assured me they'd improved a lot since I last saw them live. However, an acoustic session (obviously not their musical home turf) where percussion was delivered through the medium of kitchenware was possibly not the best environment to put Jon's claims to the test.  | | Jon from Dyslexic Seven |
To give the guys their due though, they tried damn hard and their passion for their music would have translated into a much more successful performance had this been a regular electric gig. They clearly enjoyed themselves and the crowd of fans who know what they really sound like were obviously enjoying the musical novelty in front of them but I heard more than a couple of comments from those less experienced in Dyslexic Seven's 'crazy' ways to suggest they certainly weren't a hit with everyone in the Steamboat that night. | 
