I seem to be finding myself at the Hope & Anchor quite a lot these days. Quick and easy to get to on the train, often only 10 or 12 quid or so to see 3 or 4 decent or very good bands, and quality beers (including real ales) at much more reasonable prices than other London music venues - what's not to like? 🎸🍻😃
First on tonight is the excellent Glitter Kick. Singer Roxi is 'Pretty In Pink' tonight - reminding me of a time I saw her in her previous band The Transmitters when she had pink hair!
This is a band in a state of flux. Glitter kick formed from the ashes of a rather good band called Bexatron after their singer Bex decided she didn't want to be in a band any more. So guitarist Greg and drummer Belle Star reinvented the band with new songs and a new singer - enter Roxi. Things were looking good and an album was in the can, but before the band played their first show tragedy struck with the sudden and unexpected death of Belle - who as well as playing drums in Bexatron previously had played drums on, produced and mixed the forthcoming Glitter Kick album. This was a
massive blow to the band - both on a personal and musical level. Bassist Adam decided not to continue with the band, and the drum stool has remained vacant with temporary stand-ins filling in at gigs.
Tonight Roxi's former bandmate in The Transmitters Aaron is standing in bass duties - and demonstrating that the bassist is usually the coolest person in any band. 😉 And he plays a Gibson bass instead of the usual generic Fender for added cool points. 😎
Not withstanding half the band being deps tonight the core members of Glitter Kick with Greg on guitar and Roxi give a sterling performance.
Greg looks like he could have just stepped out of Guns 'N' Roses, with Roxi fronts the band with a polished and professional assurance.
Glitter Kick have a good selection of original pop/rock songs and a commercial sound. I hope they can find the right people to fill the rhythm section soon, and finally get their album out so they can take things to the next stage...
Things take a different turn with the next act. It seems a little odd putting a solo musician on inbetween two full bands instead of going on first, but what do I know? However, the musician in question is guitarist Will Crewdson from
Rachel Stamp and he's pretty good! Going under the name Scant Regard for his solo outings he shows that has the stage presence and star quality away from his main band to pull this off.
It takes some front to step out onto a stage on your own with just an electric guitar as a weapon, but this lad is not short of front. The songs he fires at us are purely instrumental pieces of work - mostly in a surf-rock style and sound. But played with enough style and verve to keep our attention.
Then it's back to the more usual band format for tonight's headline act - also featuring a (once) well known guitarist. This is new 'supergroup' Thrill City.
The guitarist is Cobalt Stargazer of the infamous
Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction, and ex-members of Gaye Bykers on Acid and Crazyhead on bass and drums respectively form the rhythm section.
I don't know who the singer is but he's the least convincing member of the band with his short hair, suspiciously new looking leather waistcoat and Led Zeppelin T-shirt - he doesn't come across as a genuine rocker. The rest of the band are definitely the real deal though.
The band's hard/blues/rock songs aren't particularly memorable and as an act they don't really live up to their name. Although things do liven up when Cobalt launches into a rousing version of the Thin Lizzy classic 'The Rocker' - a song he used to also play with Zodiac Mindwarp. I suspect this is
his band, so he can afford a little self indulgence - but it's actually the highlight of the band's set so I can forgive him for that.
It's a decent night's entertainment for a bargain door price as usual for the monthly 'Rockaway Beach' club night at this venue, but personally I thought the opening band were the best act of the night. 😎
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