ITC Fringe Event Review, Sunday 18th October,

Shouting from the Sidelines

Kings Arms Bloom Street

Salford..

The Cougars, The Harks, AREA, ....China.... White, The Shills, The Suzuki Method & Special Guests. Kevin Cummins and Dave Haslam

On the edge of the city, in the shadow cast by Granada TV studios and the music legacy of Tony Wilson, stands the Kings Arms Salford, a hidden gem of a music venue. We stepped out Sunday evening to sample one of the many free fringe gigs that stand shoulder to shoulder with the glitzy official events and music magazine showcases that make up In the City.

As we enter the venue an urchin pop beat, delivered with attitude and humour is served up by ....Cambridge.... indie combo "The Cougars", raw, ramshackle catchy tunes, songs of life, love and living it up in the city. This band would drink you under the table then steal your kebab. Infectious, unpretentious music that makes you smile.

The small stage is bathed in a green glow, lights go up and the Harks launch into their first song; urgent, tight beats, fenders scratch and grind. The singer tall slim, has urchin charm. Highlight of the set a song called crime scène, fast, melodic, pop with an indie twist. The buzzcocks meet the Arctic monkeys played by 21st century boys.

Up next is the rabble rousing, indie rock sound of ..Doncaster.. boys AREA. The Yorkshire vocal twang penetrates the crowd, these guys can play and deliver a pure energy filled blistering set; solid drums, twin guitars and granite bass slam dynamically out of the PA. A rollercoaster ride with harmony and power, it ends too soon and you are left wanting some more.

Just when we thought we would overdose on fenders, bass and drums, a mesmerising, driving, electro driven rap dance beat fills the venue. The place is rammed and its shaking and grooving to a northern electro indie dance vibe. China White are faces from the estate, rap beats, congas, and synths. Add madchester attitude and a cocksure pose, these boys make you dance like never before.

From under the domed roof of this exquisite venue comes a twisting, quirky harmonious beat. The Shills, resplendent in black overcoats, mad starring eyes, nervous twist, flailing arms the singer is a man possessed. A tremolo voice with staccato pitch, it's moody, melodic, dark but strangely alluring,  a frenzy of flailing mike stands and crashing guitar posing, "delightfully deranged music".

The Suzuki Method, ..Salford.. lads who recently signed to factory music spin off label factory foundation. On home turf they deliver a blinding set featuring; Summner harmonies, Hook like driving bass mixed with a Ryder, Mondays indie pop dance vibe topped with a stunning vocal mix. The impish charm of the singer warms a cold night. In between songs he remarks, "You know you're in ..Salford.. when an audience member threatens to give you a slap". A cocktail of ..Salford.. influences shaken and well stirred. However, Suzuki Method appear too smart to choke on the past. In fact they could be the future of urban pop music and with an ounce of luck could infect the nation.

And so to the eagerly awaited finale of the night the second public outing of Kevin Cummins Film, Looking for the Light through the pouring rain. The venue plunges into darkness, the lone silhouette of Morrissey beams from the screens. A sound track composed by Graham Massey booms from the speakers. The music, cradles and frames the breathtaking images as the film segues through some of the defining music moments of the last 30 years. Kevin Cummins is a genius photographer, a quiet unassuming man who has partied with and befriended icons of the music scene from, Morrissey, to McLaren, Joy Division to New Order, and Happy Mondays to Oasis.

The film draws to a close, Tony Wilsons face beams down. The tall figure of Hacienda legend Dave Haslam is poised, classic Joy Division is first off his decks; the room is hushed, as the music resonates and echoes the past spirit of ....Manchester..... The perfect twists at the end of an ITC night of new music. We celebrate the past, remember it fondly, but, its time to move on. "As the past is past and has no need of us", the crowd drift away to look for next new musical adventure. "Without new artists shouting from the sidelines the music scene would cease to exist".

Buzz live Music Reviews
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