Well, what a day in Boston! It all started with a fine afternoon watching The Pilgrims beat Hartlepool United 3-1 in a cracking game that saw 500 plus Pools fans make the journey down here. Later that evening, some of those travelling fans came to the BOBI gig, arm in arm with certain local supporters to sample the delights of Black Sluice Lock Cottages and BOBI #24!
Opening up the evening was our good friend Matthew Aylett, who had all entranced with his acoustic tunesmithery that takes in influences far and wide but always seems to come back to beautifully maudlin Americana. Like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen getting together in the twilight hours, sipping high end whiskey, and singing songs by a roaring log fire in a wooden cabin out west somewhere. Showcasing the classics that we know and love – including a cheeky Only Fools and Horses tribute – we were also treated to some new material that continues to capture that wonderful, melancholy that enshrouds Mr Aylett’s tunes. You could have heard a proverbial pin drop at one point … a fantastic set and I look forward to hearing those new tunes on the next release.
Time to ramp up the pace next, and oh lordy, what a contrast! Shadow Fen,, who hail from a dark realm (you may know it as Peterborough) took to the stage – well, floor, this is grass roots mate! – in full on Orc slaying, war hammer swinging, spell casting, sword wielding, armour clad defiance of their sworn enemies and the Dark Lord to carry out a bizarre, and rather loud, ritualistic performance that I am reliably informed is known to all who they encounter on their wanderings as Power Metal! That’s POWER METAL, mortals! Huzzah for that as well as many of the assembled acolytes gathered to raise their flaggons or casks of mead skywards and partake in the Medieval mayhem! It was most entertaining and folk took to the floor, sent giddy by the wild incantations and mystical music! Head banging and jumping about and all manner of tomfoolery and horseplay afoot. The frontman (Hadron the Collider) led the way brandishing a sword in one hand and microphone in the other as heads were banged, demons were vanquished and the Vanguard against the Evil forces amassing at the town gates stood firm! Gadzooks! Quite a sight to behold.
One band to go and the fabulous Family of Addiction, who had arrived from Nottingham, were a perfect end to the evening with a raging set of thunderous Grunge Punk. With powerhouse drumming and scathing riffs, they truly were a full-on, heavyweight experience. Each song was a tightly packed, dense number with a searing intensity that brought to mind the abrasive, yet catchy in a weird way, sounds of Nirvana’s “Bleach” LP but laced with the thunder-bastard heaviness of Tad, and all wrapped up in a snarling, aggressive Punk sneer. What a set! Great stuff and yet another BOBI gig that showcases a wide variety of original music where all the bands are pretty much right here under your nose. Marvellous.
[Photos by Marv Gadgie]
[Review by Marv Gadgie (Gadgie Zine)]
