1/6/2010 Quick Ticket To Nowhere @ the Water Rats

Subject	Quick Ticket To Nowhere @ the Water Rats
PostedDate	6/1/2010
	It was a bit concerned when I arrived at the Water Rats to see Quick Ticket To Nowhere and found out their singer hadn't turned up yet! Some time went by and there was still no sign of her... I was starting to wonder if their new singer was already turning into some sort of female Axl Rose as the band's stage time came and went, and another band took to the stage instead.  Eventually, she turned up and the band took to the stage getting on for an hour late - just as well I didn't have any other plans for tonight. This band haven't been having much luck with their singers recently. The original one moved out of town so couldn't do it any more, then her replacement fell by the wayside without even managing one gig. Third time lucky? New girl Laura can certainly sing and seems to have plenty of gigging experience, but the band has now taken on a different vibe - more 'pub band' than club act. Lyrics taped to mic stands only seem to reinforce that feel, but this is a band who don't seem to play by the normal 'pub' or 'club' band rules. People don't expect to find an act playing blues covers in a club venue alongside the usual dull indie bands, but they seem to like what they hear. Other bands of their type usually stick to playing pubs on Friday and Saturday nights for a lot more money, but Quick Ticket To Nowhere seem to have a different agenda. It's a refreshing change though, and the musicians in the band seem to be stretching out a bit and developing a bit more stage presence than when I first saw them at The Gaff about year ago.