16/12/2010 Tigertailz, King Lizard & Peckham Cowboys @ The Scala

Subject	Tigertailz, King Lizard & Peckham Cowboys @ The Scala
PostedDate	12/19/2010
	Tonight threatens to be Glam overkill at The Scala in Kings Cross but fortunately doesn't turn out to be too OTT. Quireboys seem to be cropping up all over the shop again - I saw the band at The Forum last week (see earlier blog) and now former Quireboy Guy Bailey is here with his new band Peckham Cowboys. This lot are nothing like the Quireboys, and not much like frontman Marc Eden's 'day job' band Men & Gods either - although Peckham Cowboys also feature M&G drummer Alric Guyler on keyboards and rhythm guitar. The band get an interesting 1970's blues/rock jam vibe going, although whoever reviewed the band's recent show at The Garage in Classic Rock magazine and wrote "interesting hats - abysmal noise" must have been off his face (or at another gig) as I thought they were the best of the 3 bands on the bill that night. This lot are certainly an interesting band, and worth checking out if you get the chance. Next up are King Lizard. My camera batteries gave up the ghost after one picture of them even though they had been on charge for 24 hours - so most of the remaining pictures are from my phone. This lot play well enough, although the new drummer seems a bit 'pub rock' and going through the motions. Unfortunately they don't seem to have any memorable songs in their sleaze rock armoury and they only song they play that I actually like was written by Chuck Berry... I haven't seen tonight's headliners since they played at The Astoria back in the day - I guess it must have been back in the 80's. As Bob Dylan sings - "Things have changed". Not only has the entire musical climate changed more than once, but this band's lineup has gone though a few changes as well - due to the usual 'musical differences' and also unfortunately death. In 2010 Tigertailz only feature one original member and one early member. However, they now have some might say the best rock drummer in the UK in the form of Robin Guy. The image of the band is a lot less OTT glam than it used to be - the most glamorous member now being the late Pepsi Tate's replacement on bass, who is actually female. I hadn't really followed this band in it's various incarnations (and name changes) over the years and so didn't recognise many of the songs apart from a couple of early ones like 'Livin Without You'. I thought 'Wazbones' (also the band's name at one point) was one of the better songs they played tonight. Although most of the material wasn't familiar to me, I was pleasantly surprised by one thing - even though instead of playing at the Astoria they are now playing to a less than half full Scala on a Thursday night Tigertailz were actually rather good! I could have done without the Crimbo cover though, but to be fair they did play it well - even if I can't remember what it was...