18/6/2010 The Black Mollys & Dead Identities @ The Gaff

Subject	The Black Mollys & Dead Identities @ The Gaff
PostedDate	6/18/2010
	Some good bands at The Gaff tonight, although attendance was a bit sparse due to England playing in the World Cup.  However, the England team's performance was so pathetic that all those losers who stayed at home to watch it would have been far better off going out on a Friday night to see some decent live bands instead. At least staying in would have spared them having to put up with the gents toilet at The Gaff though, which is getting more disgusting with each visit.  The real ale pumps seem to have fallen into disuse recently as well - I hope things aren't going to continue to slide at what is otherwise one of my favourite venues.  Those who could be arsed to tear themselves away from their TVs tonight were rewarded with an excellent set from Dead Identities - a band who's songwriting has been steadily improving. Their tuneful style of punk 'n' roll is not a million miles away from the late lamented Yo-Yo's or their current incarnation as the Loyalties. Dead Identities were never a bad band to start with, and have continued to improve into the tight and punchy unit they are now - I'm looking forward to their shortly to be released debut album. Next up are Exit State. It's the first time I've seen them, and to be honest I wouldn't go out of my way to see them again. It's not that they are a bad band in any way - they play well and look like they mean it - although the constant gurning and shape throwing by the attention seeking bassist gets irritating very quickly and draws attention away from the rest of the band. As I said, there is nothing wrong with Exit State - but somehow they are totally on a different wavelength to me and fail to connect in any way.  Headliners tonight are the Black Mollys. Two thirds of this band play in Ennuff Z Nuff as their 'day job', and as they were already over here for a few gigs with that band they thought they may as well play a few Black Mollys shows as well. The remaining third of this band is probably very familiar to a lot of you - it's 'Bass whore' Laney 74. I've lost count of the number of American and British bands I've seen him playing with over the last couple of years or so as well as with his own 'day job' bands Teenage Casket Company and DIP. The Black Mollys know how to write a good tune - check out their album 'One Man's Treasure Is Another Man's Trash' for proof. Some of the lyrics are very entertaining as well with their digs at self obsessed people and those who complain all the time. Even though the second band didn't float my boat, tonight's show was another great value for money night out from Pure Rawk and TrashPit.

PS: This venue has since closed.