02 November 2006 (gig)
03 November 2006
As we floated up the cold stark stairs of ULU in anticipation of that initial waft of hot sweaty air that would blow away the nights chill, we noticed the sign which read 'By purchasing a ticket for this event you are consenting to be filmed at tonight show'. There was no mention of this on the ticket and, I though, what if I was an international hit man looking for an anonymous bit of fun I’d probably be well and truly pissed off. Luckily I’m just an average Joe looking for nothing more than a couple of pints of Strongbow, some mutually shared body warmth, and decent music. Initial signs looked as if I’d find all three tonight.
The Sheffield based Support band Tiny Dancers came on to a very homely looking stage complete with lampshade, TV sets, and Christmas lights. That warm feeling was further endorsed by their brand of upbeat quirky acoustic pop and penchant for throwing balloons into the crowd.
Soon enough though tonight’s featured artists took to the stage with eager determination to dazzle in front of their extended audience. The Delaware six-piece cracked into a blistering set with energy and vision brandishing guitars like excited children in a school play. Singer Nick Krill sang with an awkward beauty that immediately endeared the audience as did his co-singing partner Thom Hughs. The chemistry in the up-tempo swagger was visible to all as they tore through their rich tapestry of finely woven pop, which could be described as half way between They might Be Giants and Neil Young. The acoustic nature of the music delivered with a passionate honesty was a pleasure to peruse and the heat that consumed us all was, for once, pleasurable. In fact the only downside occurred when a reveler threw a full pint of Grolsh (I can be specific as at least half of it landed on me) over a passerby for pushing and a brief fight ensued. That aside we were serenaded with mandolins in 'Oh Mandy’ with ’Brown Boxes’ and 'Did I Tell You’ other personal favourites.
Deserving of the 'ones to watch’ badge, catch them before they get shot by an international hit man looking for an anonymous bit of fun.
