The Chameleon Arts Cafe
The Lobster Boat band sailed into Nottingham this past Wednesday and played a terrific set against the odds of illness, poor promotion and a occasional sound problems.
Running through most of the new LP, an a cappella Will Oldham cover, and a couple songs I didn't recognize (but presumed may be Coming Soon tunes) I was stunned by how tight the band was. Stand-up drummer Jaune pounded the skins like Mo Tucker on speed and instantly became my favourite sticksman, Howard Hughes and Billy Jet Pilot looked like proper rock stars from the 60s while Tattersall and Franic flanked the stage in a twin guitar attack. As my upcoming review will testify I really love the new album so I was amazed to find the songs sounded even better live - the drum break of the title track, the Beatles-like "yeah yeah yeah's" of He Has Come Back Home and David ignoring flu to shred as only he can over pretty much everything. They also played a new song, which hopefully means this collaboration will continue.
That said, I could forgive them for not carrying on. The Chameleon can be a magical little venue when filled but when it's mostly empty the wrinkles really show. Sadly less than 30 people made it out to this decrepit room, the sound-man seemed to struggle controlling feedback and the whole event had the air of being engineered by the support band in order to play in front of their friends. I left feeling elated with the performance whilst simultaneously depressed with a musical industry which rewards marketing over substance. I'm sure it's not their goal, but if they got to play just one of these songs on Jools Holland, or some similar exposure, people would flock to see them. Hopefully, their day will come and their continued good nature, Tattersall being as funny as ever between songs, shows they must still enjoy doing what they do and won't let indifference put them off.
