Lummy, Stackridge are back!
YBG debated long and hard over this one - nostalgia for the Colston Hall, Bristol and all - but, s*d it, everyone deserves a mid-winter treat, so off down to the Dad pit it was. Labelled in the press as 'Prog-rock', the moniker doesn't do this band any favours - they're quirky and unique, dating from the time when the 'Prog' bit applied to just about anyone who wrote a song over 3.5 mins long. To the basic line-up (guitars, keyboard, drums) add violins, flute, trombone and you start to get the idea. Top this with catchy lyrics (famously the student favourite, Syracuse the Elephant) and you're nearly there. But performance and execution is all - and this they had in spades.
It was good to see most of the original line-up too - Andy Davis, James Warren, Mutter Slater and Jim 'Crun' Walters, plus fine contributions from Glen Tommey and Andrew "Codge" Marsden. Sarah Mitchell and Rachel Hall on violin added the essential string section to Stackridge's unique sound. The band seemed reconciled to the fact that the Stackridge brand is bigger than their individual musical careers and are making sure that this is (at long last) their big comeback year. The delighted punters were of the variety who would book Genesis for their school dance BITD and a hero's welcome was given to the die-hard who had flown in from New York for the occasion. Happy in the Lord were we.
A new album is promised for the summer and the band returns to the 100 Club on 23 May - go and see for yourselves - I promise it'll be fun (and it's not that often you can say that these days).
