Saturday 1st February 2014.
SuperEvolver, Titan and The Brandy Thieves at The Cookie Jar.
by Keith Jobey
Photos © by Digital Mechanic
Viva la SuperEvolution! SuperEvolver are back… did they ever really go away?
The Cookie is buzzing again. Jostling for position amongst the crowd who have come for the DJ set in the main café, are the friends, family and fans that have come along to see tonight’s bands in the basement.
Photo Rob Gurney
Opening the show are The Brandy Thieves who are Andrea Kenny, Cain Barriskill, Joe Carey and Bernando Mendes. Joe however is unable to perform tonight so we have a 3-piece. Not that this seems to diminish them too much. As the vocal only opening verse rings around the room, the crowd hush and pay attention. This is a great voice, gravel tinged and melodic. Then the instruments burst into life followed by a banshee like call to arms scream and The Owl and the Pussycat kicks off.
Built around the firecracker that is Andrea Kenny, The Brandy Thieves exude energy and surely must appeal to any type of crowd with their gypsy, ska, punk sound. Midway through the set Ben Smith of the Dirty G’s is called to the stage for one song and introduced as a potential new member on guitar.
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Photo Rob Gurney
Next to take to the stage are Titan. A four-piece rock band from Leicester with heavy to indie influences. Composed of James Shaw (Vocals), Sam Walsh (Lead Guitar), Rees Clissold (Bass) and Matt Allen (Drums). All of whom have been in previous bands before coming together as Titan; and it shows in their confident, self-assured, lad rock attitude. The pace is fast, mostly, with some silky guitar shredding skills on show.
They have some great songs, for instance Backdrop and Life In Slow Motion, the title track off their debut EP. A song about sleepwalking we’re told.
Photo Rob Gurney
Headliners tonight are Leicesters SuperEvolver consisting of Mab (guitar and vocals), Brew (drums) and Guy (bass).
A few years back, SuperEvolver seemed to be heading for big things. Lots of mentions in the press, some high-profile gigs, touted by Tom Meighan, it seemed names were always being dropped when they were mentioned. But then there were line-up changes and things went quiet, apart from the odd gig. Now they are active again. They’ve evolved once more. I guess the name is apt.
Tonight marks their 2nd EP launch show (EP included in entrance). The EP features Dan Hawkins of the Darkness. Good to see the name dropping is still evident.
The venue is well populated and from the opening track Nymph Pink Angel the crowd are energetic. Latex pigs head masks are donned and people squeeze to the front to join in the dancing. Toward the end of the set Mab announces that they’re going to play a song live for the first time, cue Viva La Revolution , cue frenzied crowd. The set is closed with 9 Lives, lead track on the EP, although there’s no guest guitarist on stage.
This is stadium rock being played in a little basement venue. Their next appearance is later this month alongside Black Onassis (ex Kasabian member Chris Karloff’s band) at the Academy. Interesting, are we witnessing some warming up for a little gig in Vicky Park in the summer perhaps?
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