21/5/2006 Neil Leyton @ the Purple Turtle

Subject	Neil Leyton @ the Purple Turtle
PostedDate	5/21/2006 9:33:00 PM
	Went to check out Neil Leyton as from what I'd heard this was going to be more of a 'rock 'n' roll' show than his usual more laid back acoustic/singer songwriter gigs. I'd bought his 'Evolver' compilation and hadn't really been able to get into it that much. However, this gig was to promote his new 'Dead Fashion Brigade' EP featuring Rich Jones (ex-Black Halos, Amen, and Yo-Yo's), Natasha Moledina (ex-Little Hell), and Stidi of the Wildhearts. Ginger Wildheart also produced four songs on the EP and played some guitar too - all of which promises a more rocking record than Neil's previous output. However, Rich and Neil are the only members of the recording version of the Dead Fashion Brigade to play at this show - the rest of Neil's band being The Ghosts from Sweden. The turnout for the show was quite good, although the Purple Turtle was nowhere near full. As expected, the show rocked more than Leyton's ones normally do - and he had even more guitarists on stage than Ginger & The Sonic Circus! As expected, songs from the new EP were played, as was a selection of Neil's earlier work - some dating back to his days in Canadian band The Conscience Pilate. Neil's trademark impassioned vocals were prominent and the band played well - bouncing off each other in the way that only well seasoned musicians do. I held back til after the show before buying the EP to see if the band's performance could 'sell' it to me - it did. Some of the songs are already familiar from the 'Evolver' CD, but with Ginger producing and playing guitar I like the new versions of the songs more -  I've been playing the EP in the car all week now so it was certainly a worthwhile purchase.