12/7/2008 The Cut Outs @ Nambucca

Subject	The Cut Outs @ Nambucca
PostedDate	7/12/2008
	Back to one of Holloway Road's scruffier dives this Saturday night - Nambucca, one of those pub venues that masquerades as a club. It might be a bit of a dump, but there are plenty of worse venues in Camden and Shoreditch. The headline band is Plastic Heroes, who turn out to be quite good in a more rocking than usual indie fashion. Needless to say, I'm not there to see some indie band.  The reason I'm here is to see the Cut Outs. This female power-trio are one of the liveliest bands I've seen in the last couple of years.  Some female musicians are very 'girlie' in the way they appear on stage - like 'Look - we're girls and we are actually in a band!' Yes, that's great - but are you any good? Some girl bands like JOANovARC and now the Cut Outs get beyond that stage and demand to be taken seriously. These girls can play. And they look good too, which always helps - but those things aren't enough on their own. The Cut Outs have something extra - something most bands of either sex are lacking - they can write good catchy songs too. They also have an extra ingredient that most other bands lack - charisma.  It's one of those things you've either got or you haven't. Most bands haven't, but don't even realise it. It's that vital spark of 'star quality' that marks out the bands who make it from those who don't. OK - that doesn't explain how the mindnumbingly dull Coldplay or terminally dreary Keane ever got anywhere, but there are exceptions to every rule...  This band have that ellusive thing - stage presence! When the Cut Outs are playing you have to watch. This band has a life and vitality that really holds your attention.  They seem to have made an impression at Nambucca as after this show they have been booked for two more at the venue - see you there!

PS: This venue closed in early 2014...