A nice easy gig to get to for me just a few minutes walk from Kings Cross Station. I haven't been to
The Water Rats for a while and there has been a change of owners and management since my last visit, plus a complete refurb - and guess what? Yes, a big hike in the bar prices at was once a reasonably priced venue. Still, at least this venue's notoriously piss stinky toilets don't smell as foul as they used to. More tables and chairs have appeared in the back room near the stage - NOT good for when rock acts are performing like tonight. I arrive just in time to see
Gabriella Jones.
This singer/songwriter from the Midlands doesn't mess about playing folky acoustic sets like your typical artist of that ilk. No, she goes out slinging a Les Paul guitar and a full rock band! She doesn't mess about. It's not a heavy metal or hard rock band, but this is no lightweight pop act - in spite of some of the "Future pop Queen" hype in her promotional material. There is a definite Led Zeppelin feel to some of her songs - with
Planet Rock presenter Wyatt Wendels helping out on drums and apparently channelling his 'inner Bonham' adding fuel to the fire!
There are quieter moments to the set too as Gabriella puts down her guitar, and then you can see where the "Pop Queen" hype comes from - she certainly has the voice to be able to sing 'pop' and well as kicking out the jams on the rock stuff. In between the more poppy and the harder rock material Gabriella also throws in a cover of the Bobby Bland classic 'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City' - later made famous by Whitesnake. Naturally, the set ends with the radio friendly crowd pleaser 'Take Me To The Party'. But it's not time to go home yet....
Stacie Collins is a new name to me. Country rock apparently, but the logo on her backdrop suggests far more
rock than country - which is promising. And that's exactly what we get. She hits the stage in a ball of energy - this chick ain't messin' around! Fast, loud, and brimming with a sassy rock 'n' roll attitude - you can't ignore Stacie Collins! Not a million miles away from the cow/punk of
Jason and The Scorchers this is high octane rock 'n' roll with a Country twist.
Stacie Collins is a real livewire as well as a harderned road warrior. She plays a mean blues harmonica too!
One minute she's on the stage, next minute she's singing from a table in the crowd, and a minute later she's at the back of the venue looking you right in the eye and singing right in your face! There is no escape - hiding at the back is no good! However, as the set goes on things slow down and quieten down. Things get a lot more 'Country'. It's Monday night and I've been up since six after only about 3 hours sleep. I'm sure the set will liven up again in due course, but it's starting to drag a bit now for me with several slow songs in a row. One or two I could take, but I have to be up again at six tomorrow morning and this is too much. I sneak out the door and head off home hoping Stacie doesn't spot me leaving and call me out! Fortunately she doesn't. It was worth coming out on a Monday night, but without the energy level being maintained through close to 100% of the headliner's set my attention isn't being held enough to keep me in the venue any longer. Sorry Stacie - maybe another time....
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