3/8/2018 Syteria & Porcelain Hill @ New Cross Inn

This is my first visit to the New Cross Inn, but I'm sure it won't be the last. The venue used to have a rather dodgy reputation, but with a change of management things appear to have improved and there now seem to be bands regularly playing who I want to see. I've not been here before partly because of it's reputation, and also this South London pub not being very easy to get to from North London. However, things have changed recently with a new Overground train service and the Night Tube. Tonight there are four bands on the bill and a low price on the door - what's not to like?

Syteria are the main reason I'm here and the other bands are all new to me, but they are all worth seeing - one in particular , but more about them later...

I arrive as Bexatron are playing.

I've heard the name, but don't really know anything about the band and this is the first time I've seen them. They are fun! They play sort of punky sleazy rock 'n' roll - with a very strong 1970's glam rock influence. Regular readers might recognise the drummer Belle, who also plays with Maleficent, Lilygun, MGT, among others and also Killing Miranda in past times.

Bexatron play catchy tunes and have an entertaining frontgal - I will be looking out for them in the future.

Next up are a band so new to me that I haven't even heard their name before, although I suspect we move in different circles and don't inhabit the same scene.

This is Bled The Fifth. This is modern sounding metal of the sort you might find on Kerrang! Radio. If you like Marmozets you may well like this lot too. I think the biggest thing about this band is the bass players ego as he seems to spend most of his time strolling about with his wireless system and trying to upstage the singer. The band all seem decent enough musicians, but none of their songs really grab me and they look a bit too 'band from the pub' to make much of an impression.

Next is the big surprise of the night. Earlier I noticed these weird looking guys hanging around - looking a bit like 'rock stars'. Are they in the right place? Suddenly they are on the stage, with instruments in their hands - yes, they are in the right place!

I have absolutely no idea who these guys are, but I make it my business to find out - they tear the roof off the place! They are called Porcelain Hill. They are like a Jimi Hendrix Experience for the new millennium, with Cream and early fired-up hard rocking blues/boogie ZZ Top added to the mix. These guys can play!

They rock really hard, but there is also blues, funk, and soul mixed in - it's a powerful combination. Apart the obvious Hendix comparisons with the band's singer/guitarist, the bass player is like a mixture of Noel Redding and Rush's Geddy Lee - on speed! The drummer is no slouch either. This band are electrifying! As well as top quality musicianship, there is also showmanship - I've seen plenty of guitarists do the old 'playing guitar behind the head' trick, but this guy takes it further and plays a whole song with his guitar slung behind his back - including ripping out a terrific blues solo!

This band have come over from the USA for their first ever tour of the UK and are playing in every pub and club they can get a gig at - what started out booked as a short UK tour has been constantly extended with added dates and they have now been over here for months! These guys work really hard, and play hard too.

Porcelain Hill are a powerful and dynamic force - I can't recommend them highly enough. This band is my best new discovery in a long time.

And finally comes the band I have actually travelled to South London to see.

Syteria have travelled all the way from Leeds just for this gig - and been stuck in traffic on one of the hottest days of the year - so the least I can to is travel over from the other side of London to see them. It's well worth it!

Syteria are Jackie from Girlschool's new band - well I say new but they have been going for a couple of years or so now. Girlschool are still going, but Jackie likes to keep busy during that band's downtime. Syteria are a very different band though, maybe a bit heavier than Girlschool, and also with more of a punk edge with Jackie going back to her roots - emphasised by a cover of the Ramones classic 'Rockaway Beach'!

The standard of musicianship in this band is high. Keira on bass in particular being very impressive - I have never seen anyone play slap bass on a Rickenbacker before!

Julia on vocals is dynamic and engaging, while Pablo on drums really powers things along - although he escapes from behind his kit during the last song of the set.

Jackie really tears it up and seems to be thoroughly enjoying being able to express herself more freely musically than she can in Girlschool, although I know she absolutely loves playing with them too.

Syteria have been developing the show(wo)manship side of their performance over the past year or so and are definitely raising their game. They have their first album 'Rant O Bot' out now and are eager to get out and play to promote it - go and see them if you get a chance.