They looked
older & daggier, there’s much fussing with spectacles & the singer’s
been tonsured, but Milan & his Pub-rock cronies punched “1979” into the
Tardis controls & there we are. Milan, whose show it is (or will become,
anyway) makes the wry observation that the Tyger band ( the forerunner of this
show, via many generations & much in-breeding) played their first gig at a
party next door to The Trout. There’s some wry grins – as Pizz would say: 30
years in the biz & you’ve only moved one house up the road. That, sadly, is
Tassie.
Of course,
Milan churned through a number of admirable straight up, 4 on the floor rock
bands back then & has occasionally interrupted his visual arts career to
strap the tonsils on again over the years. I played with him in the early-mid
90’s & he’s a fine, fine man & ALWAYS has front & style. One of his
early bands (the Press) even released a record. That was pretty big in those
days – “The Press EP” produced by the guy whose playing bass tonight. I think I
have number 39 of the limited edition & he’s a limited addition himself : the
esteemed John Button, swapping 88 keys for 4 strings, which seems a fair
bargain. He & Brendan (a personal fave as a drummer, last seen behind the
kit when The Nonchalants served heroically at The Mooks CD Launch) prove all
the fish is edible, especially the tight bits. I always enjoy Brendan’s off the
wall stuff most, but here he’s distinctly straight up & the 2 grizzled
pumpers lay the bricks for the rest of the guys : Bob Keeling ( did he really
come all the way down from Sydney for this Gig – more strength to you, Cobber),
Ian & Lea honk, strum, try very hard to remember things & the front guy
sings in that inimitable Milan fashion through a variety of pub rock classics,
Stones, Beatles, Little Richard you can take any route as long as it’s old
& straight ahead. My personal highlight was a top little go at Al Green’s “Take
me to the river”, but it was all warm & cozy & grand drinking music. A
handsome turn out of fresh Mooks drank until they were thirsty & it was all
agreed, a good time had by all….ring me when the next one’s organized,
Coves……….