5/9/2014 Gasoline Queens, Bamboo Vipers & Far From Life @ The Unicorn

This Friday finds me at The Unicorn for another great value for money night - free admission and beer at normal pub prices. That's normal North London pub prices - not inflated Camden prices. Unlike many in Camden or the West End, this is a venue that really encourages you to go back - provided the music is to your liking. And tonight it is to my liking.

First band of the night is Far From Life. Rather an odd mixture visually as they all look like they should be in different bands playing different styles of music - one rock 'n' roll guy, a couple of serious looking indie or prog types, and a chav. Fortunately, they sound a lot better than you'd expect.

The frontman is the only livewire in the band and the only one to hold your attention. The other guitarist and the bassist play well and have a good sound but come across as very dull and pedestrian in comparison. Rather than feeling you are getting a real performance, it's more like some guys practicing in their bedrooms or earnestly toiling away in a rehearsal studio - only the singer seems to be making any real effort to engage the audience. The music is decent enough though, and the band are certainly interesting to listen to with influences ranging from the likes of Metallica to indie and alt-rock.

The next band certainly take things up a level or two with their performance and particularly their attitude.This is Bamboo Vipers. They may look pretty much like a standard pub band, but they certainly don't sound like one.

They play with conviction and attitude - these guys mean it. There is something about these guys that suggests these are not people you want to mess with. You definitely get the impression that although this is a new band the members have all been around the block a few times with other bands over the years and have 'paid their dues'. They all look old enough to have been playing in bands in the first wave of UK punk back in the late 70's, and they way they sound backs that up. These aren't just oiks who've picked up guitars - they can really play and their no-holds-barred performance and attitude is totally convincing. The sound is hard and heavy without being 'metal'. Oddly, they claim to be a 'Punk/Glam Rock 'n' Roll' band - but this is possibly the least 'Glam' band I've seen all year. The sound is more 1977 gritty UK punk, with a singer who sounds a bit like a British Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys fame. To help you remember Bamboo Vipers the singer hands out free promo CDs of their album afterwards. The songs are good too, and there is some humour along with all the punk attitude.

Main band tonight is the Gasoline Queens - playing their last ever show. Maybe. Splitting up seems to be all the rage at the moment...

Rejoining the band on bass for this gig is former rhythm guitarist Dave Renegade - more recently seen playing in Healthy Junkies.

Also joining the band for a few songs (for the second time) is Chris Röckson who has come down from Manchester to kick out the jams and give us some New York influenced rock 'n' roll - which fits in perfectly with this band.

The Gasoline Queens knock out  a sleazy dirty brand of rock 'n roll - heavily influenced by Dogs D'Amour (they do a great cover of 'Last Bandit') Johnny Thunders, The Ramones, Quireboys and old school UK punk.

It's good time rock 'n' roll with catchy memorable original tunes. Their shows are always good fun, and as usual at this venue they get a good atmosphere going.

The end of the show sees more guests joining the band on backing vocals - Shaun Morris from Bamboo Vipers and Paul Brightman of Swampstomper - a band to be seen at this venue later in the year...

Hopefully we haven't seen the last of the Gasoline Queens, but in the meantime singer/guitarist Nigel has a new band called The Kult 45s who are already out there gigging.