2/3/2011 Rhea and the Bitches @ The Water Rats

Subject	Rhea and the Bitches @ The Water Rats
PostedDate	3/10/2011
	Wednesday night finds me heading down to Kings Cross. I don't get to the Water Rats in time to see The Great Malarky as they are on so early. However, the real ale pumps are actually working tonight (a rarity at this venue these days) and I manage to sink a few pints of Spitfire.  I do manage to see the next band though. Rhea and the Bitches have evolved from Quick Ticket To Nowhere. That band's feisty Janis Joplin style Canadian singer has now returned to her homeland, and in the space of a couple of years they went through several singers - now the guitarist is the only original member, although much of the setlist is the same. What was a basically a pub blues/R&B covers band with a bit of a Led Zep influence has now evolved into what visually looks like some 'lounge' outfit from seedy Soho clubs. Keyboards have been added and the rough 'rock' edges smoothed out - I can't help but be reminded of Roland Rivron's 'Raw Sex' comedy cabaret duo!  As with the previous version of the band, they are all good players - but they look out of their natural habitat in this rock and indie dive on the Grays Inn Road. Rhea is certainly a good singer and shows potential - some of her own personality showing though although she seems slightly nervous. A few more gigs under her belt and I'm sure she will start to show a little more stage presence. The set of blues standards ends with 'Bullfrog Blues' - always good to rock it up a bit at the end!