We hope that you’ll join us in welcoming another new member to the team. Chris Cowley of Contrast TV tells us that he’s been following VB for sometime now and we’re really pleased to have him on the team of contributors. If you check out his Flickr site, you’ll soon realise that he has a love of photography and music. Ed
Last night I popped along to catch the Shutes headline gig at The Studio for Ventnorblog.
The line-up included Pretty Jacks, Claydon Connor, Sundown City and of course the Shutes.
This was the lad’s first gig back on home soil since touring in Germany with The Bishops.
My musical path never seems to cross with the Shutes and somehow I always manage to miss them when they are on the bill.
Despite looking forward to finally seeing the guys play I arrived typically late missing the first bands of the evening but catching a bit of Claydon Conner.
After Claydon finished whilst the crowd were waiting for the nights headline to come on, someone ambled up next to me and inquired “You having a good night?
Here to see the Shutes? Really good man, really good.”
Things were looking promising.
The band made a good entrance on stage with the drummer assuming his position without the crowd (or even sound and lighting men) realising and instantly started a thumping beat to get the now increased audience’s attention.
Once sure every head in the place had turned to face front the band joined their drummer on stage which evoked a heartfelt cheer from fans obviously glad to have them back.
Michael Champion took to the microphone with his trademark melodic vocals getting involved with the crowd from word go.
Rob Potter provided bass in the background whilst organ and general tambourine bashing was Doug Richards department, bringing us nicely back to the drummer that kick-started the set who was Chris Jones.
It’s obvious that the Shutes are musical brothers to The Bees having that distinct home-grown Island sound about them.
The Shutes describe themselves as making kaleidoscopic pop-psych to woo girls by and judging by the response from the loving crowd last night I’d say they succeeded.
