| Subject | Pure Rawk Awards 2012 |
| DateCreated | 3/15/2012 4:14:00 PM |
| PostedDate | 3/16/2012 1:44:00 AM |
So here it is, the night a load of us have been looking forward to for months
As usual it's a lot of fun - possibly the best yet. 2012 see's another change
of venue - moving from Bloomsbury Bowling lanes to the Boston Arms Music Room in Tufnell Park. This is a popular move as this venue is more used to holding 'rock' events and has a much better (and cheaper) bar with
Newcastle Brown at £3.30 a bottle.
The event was well attended, but not as full as it should have been although it was theoretically 'sold out'. This is because the limited number of tickets were offered free to people online - and although they were all taken up by people quite a few losers who just grabbed tickets because they were free didn't bother to turn up on the night.
 This meant that quite a few people who genuinely wanted to attend couldn't get in. This issue is being addressed for next year's event...
The evening's entertainment was supposed to be kicked off by the excellent Patchwork Grace - but during the week they decided to either split up or change their name and re-invent themselves - depending of which version of events you want to believe.
 This has left a lot of people who were looking forward to seeing them very confused - why not just play the gig anyway, and use it as a platform to announce the change and let people know the new band name to look out for?
So this left Pure Rawk with a new opening act to find at very short notice! Up to the plate step pop/rockers Shush to play a last minute set as an acoustic duo. Well it's supposed to be 'acoustic' but as the band start their set the sound coming out of Andy Brook's plugged in acoustic guitar sounds more akin to the distorted roar that emerges from Lemmy's bass bins!
  This isn't the only surprise of the evening - singer Milena has a little surprise of her own, as the bulge in her belly reveals! "Too much pizza!" she jokes, but it looks like that although the band have a new album in the pipeline - this will the be last Shush gig for a while... However, this doesn't stop Milena from giving a spirited performance!  Fortunately Andy's 'acoustic' guitar sound has been sorted out after a song or two and all too soon the set draws to and end with a rousing version of the band's 'F**k You!' popular audience participation number from their debut album - complete with the most powerful and agressive sounding acoustic guitar I've ever heard! Pete Townsend would have been proud of that performance.
There are various awards presented between the bands - I'll put a link to the full list at the bottom of the page.
The great thing about these awards is that they are voted for by real music fans - no industry back-slapping and 'Mutual Appreciation Societies' here. No music business politics and bullshit is involved in 'awarding' anyone tonight - unlike most music and showbiz awards, these aren't about who has sold the most 'product' and made the most money for the business. No 'media mafia' decide who gets anythinghere. - it's a breath of fresh air from the usual corporate bullshit - this is the real underground rock 'n' roll scene.
Next band to take to the stage are the James Warner Prophecies. This 3 piece from the Midlands are new to me, and turn in a gritty but tuneful performance. A bit 'alt/rock' and a bit grungey in sound, but bouncier and more lively than your average Seatle miserablists. Worth another look I think.
More awards follow, including one which I was supposed to present but things went slightly wrong and I wasn't quite in the right place at quite the right time.
 What a knob - and I wasn't even drunk. Yet. Well done to Darren Tite - sorry I wasn't on stage to give you your well deserved award.
The next band are Jonny Cola and the A-Grades. This lot seem to be building a bit of a following with their indie glam/pop.
 They seem to be good at what they do, but with me not being much of a fan of Suede, Pulp and their ilk they don't really float my boat. However, plenty of other people presentdo seem to get their boats well and truly floated tonight and really get into their set, so it's all good. I could imagine this lot on daytime Xfm.
More awards are presented by Pure Rawk head honcho Nix (who has done an amazing job organising everything tonight) assisted by Dave and Andy - who unlike me have their shit together enough to actually perform their presentation duties.
Next up are The Lost Souls Club. This is the nearest we get to a pure rock 'n' roll band tonight - they have the looks, the licks, and the attitude. Their music is dark and dirty - maybe a bit Black Rubble Johnny Moped Club mixed with a little BeJesus & Monkey Train
  I've not seen this band before, but they look sort of familiar - then a friend informs me that they have risen from the ashes of Plastic Toys - who I have seem once or twice and was quite impressed by. Another band I could imagine hearing on Xfm, but probably only in the evening as they are a bit raucous for the daytime indie kids to listen to.
Final band of the evening are Manchester's Obsessive Compulsive.
 This lot picked up the 'Best Album' award at this event last year. This year they add to their collection with another three awards! They seem to be going from strength to strength with performances at the Download festival and support slots on tours with Wolfsbane and Anthrax - they are obviously doing something right!  Obsessive Compulsive have been building up a reputation for powerful and intense live shows - and tonight's is no exception. With gutsy singing (as opposed to the tuneless screaming of most their peers) and an arsenal of crushingly heavy riffs this bunch always deliver a really 'in your face' performance.  Not many bands on the circuit can match the sheer passion and intensity of an Obsessive Compulsive performance - this band really mean it! BTW: They are playing a headline set at this venue on 20th April. I can't imagine hearing them on Xfm any time soon - far too loud, heavy and scary even for the evenings!
A lot of people seemed to be saying afterwards that this was probably the best Pure Rawk Awards yet - and I think they are right. There was plenty going on: Apart from the bands, the bar, and the actual award presentations, there was also a (free) photo booth courtesy of Trudi and Ila and tasty cup cakes cooked by Trudi (with ROCK names) on sale in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Harefield Heart Hospital - helping keep alive the memory of well known rock fan, photographer, and gig-goer the late John Rayner - who has a Pure Rawk Award named in his honour. I enjoyed the 'Rummstein' cakes myself.
Same time next year then?
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These Blogs mainly deal with the countless gigs I go to, but there is some other stuff in there too - and the odd rant! I've just finished adding over 900 of my old posts from MySpace on here - everything is now on proper chronological order from 2005 to date - there is a LOT to read. Some of the older links may not work anymore - just click on the highlighted text for links to more info.
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