Saturday, and a return to uncle alberts, with its odd decor, and ear splitingly loud p.a.
So.. Saturday night's action lined up something like this....

* Colour in the slow dance
* No School reunion
* Wonderswan
* A broken robot
* Dave House

WONDERSWAN

We showed up just as Wonderswan were done sound checking ... a 4 piece ,from leeds i think, all toni and guy carefully posed scruffy hairdo's, ultra tight t shirts, skinny jeans falling off backsides and lip piercings.. this although i try not to make a judgement based on aesthetics, did not fill me with hope, ive seen this act (act being the operative term) a million times.

And were off, dig if you will the picture (i stole that off prince) 4 lads in theyre late teens/early twenties thrashing blindly through theyre set, their drummer admitedly has talent, as does theyre lead guitarist.

The problem however is is the 2 front men, obviously the ego of the band, are the stuff of nightmares doped up the eyeballs on self belief , screaming alternately " i hate you"," i cant replace you" in put on californian accents, come on lads you from yorkshire!! the drummer, and lead guitarist as i said wernt lacking in talent, and would make half a good band, all they need to do is sack theyre talentless, o.c loving frontmen, completely change musical direction, and realise the music theyre so desperate to inflict on everyone was a fad, a fad that ultimately died a few years ago, i have no doubt it still has followers, but come on people.. this is a sub genre with no future.

A BROKEN ROBOT

Were next to take the stage, they are 4 lads from southend, Now ive been to southend, a couple of times and although it isnt know for producing quality bands on mass.. it is a town that has produced a couple of gems.

By the end of the first track i know this is something special, punk at its finest... punchy, heartfelt lyrics , top notch guitar riffs, An enrgy that makes you dance wether your willing or not, everything youd hope for from punk, but dont let me be misunderstood, this isnt an ordinary punk band, theres more to them than this, they state theyre influences as widely as Elvis costello (who they covered well!),the clash, the specials and the smiths.. and all of these influences are evident, claping and chiming bells feature, This truely is a different kind of punk. inteligent punk!
Does southend need to be on the musical map? no idea, but if A broken robot get the exposure they deserve, it could well squeeze its way on all the same!

http://www.myspace.com/abrokenrobot

Finally we reach...

DAVE HOUSE

A great singer songwriter who has allready played support for some esteemed company including get cape, wear cape, fly, and the king blues.
This was rangey song writing, in a 45 min set we scaled the heights of joy, and went the other way too..
Dave house has his very own brand of energetic, guitar led pop, (if he doesnt object to that term) I dont like comparisons, but if i had to id say think somewhere between an early r.e.m, and james and you wont go far wrong.
Here check him out yourself!

myspace.com/davehouse