Initially, this gig could have been a right carry on as the saying goes, but it all turned out nice again as, erm, another saying goes … firstly the BOBI-mobile was playing up so getting the gear to the venue wasn’t as easy as it sounds and then LA85 sadly had to pull out late on due to an injury. It didn’t bode well for BOBI’s first Friday showcase but you know what? A positive can-do attitude from everyone, the rest of LA85 still coming along to support the gig, not to mention Endeavour FM’s Off Beat Hour DJs spinning some class 7's on the decks (“Fade Away and Radiate” by Blondie for Debbie’s sake!) and a real warmth of feeling from everyone in attendance, we all had a cracking night.

Opening up proceedings were ELECTRIC VENDETTA, a duo based around an electric drum pad thingy plus guitar and piano. Their songs were highly evocative, especially the piano sound echoing around the old stone walls of Blackfriars Revue Bar. Gently melodic, there were hints of the Electro Indie sounds of Electronic but in a sparser, more haunting fashion. It’s almost like they were made for this venue! Great start to the night and next up were another duo.

Terry and Liz, who are usually behind the scenes at BOBI gigs, took some of the limelight for themselves for once with a splendid HEDGEHOG REALITY set. It’s a while since I’ve caught the Hedgehogs live and by crikey, it appeared initially that they’d gone all synth pop on us! Two guitars and a backing track, there was a big slice of 80s infecting their tunes this evening and even a bit of spiky shenanigans in some songs. A number of the youngsters present found it all too much and even started dancing such was the frenzy! Crumbs!

These youngsters just so happened to be the next band on, and due to the line up issues, the final band of the night. WITHERED, a bunch of youthful rascals from Grimsby took to the stage like seasoned pros and after two relatively “poppy” acts, put the pedal to the metal! A mixture of hair farming Emo-Metal and Pop Punk – bit of Green Day in there – it was a rambunctious round of riotous rocking and led to yet more jumping about and yet more carrying on … but a carry on in a good way. Phew! Another top night of grassroots, original music at the new home of BOBI that is Blackfriars Revue Bar!

[Photos by BOBI resident photographer Graham Campling.]

[Review by Marv Gadgie (Gadgie Zine)]