Two Tone SPECTREcle

So why should you read what I've got to say rather then anyone else? I'll tell you.

If you want to find out who's on where then you can look in the HDM or the Spotlight. If you want to read self promoting press releases then you can look in Ten Foot City or again in the HDM. But me, I actually like to go to the gigs and listen to what the bands are actually like. But why should you listen to me? Either listen or don't listen, it's up to you. My aim is to tell it like it is then you can go and make your own minds up. At the end of the day it's my views and you can take it or leave it. But if you chose to read on then what you will get is an accurate first hand account by some one who has spent over 20 years in the entertainment business as both a promoter and a performer so I'm not as green as I'm cabbage looking.

Well the Honour of my first band review falls to local outfit THE SEPCTRE.

If you're of a certain age (like me) then you will have lived through some strange times, The Winter of Discontent, The Thatcher Years, The Miner's Strike, and The Falkland's War. But the main thing about all of these events was the brilliant sound track that accompanied it. I remember growing up with 3 older brothers, so I had spent the previous 10 years of my life listening to Rock, Glam, and then Disco. Punk really wasn't my thing, but I remember the first time I heard Madness I was hooked. 

That is what THE SPECTRE does to you . It's like taking a trip back in time to the heady days of the early 1980's.  I've seen this band 3 times now, and every time they just seem to get better. They're a 6 piece outfit. consisting of drums, bass, guitar, keys, sax, and trumpet, and I'll tell you what, they can play as well.

The interesting thing about the line up is that the vocals are shared by 3 of the band:-  Rachel Brown, (trumpet), Paul Scrivener (guitar) and Dave Hardcore (bass). What this means is that the band has a brilliant, repertoire not only covering the usual two tone classics by Madness, The Specials, and Bad Manners. But because of the unusual addition of female vocals, they also do a superb job of covering the brilliant songs of Selecter as well as good backing vocals.





What also comes across from the band is the pure energy of their performance, jumping and bouncing around the stage like utter lunatics. (you can't really help it with this music though can you..lol..) This added to the on stage personality of the spiky haired Dave Hardcore winding up the crowd into a frenzy makes for one of the best live cover band shows in the area.

They've got a good well balanced sound that is controlled from on stage, clear vocals and play as tight as the proverbial duck's rear end.  There isn't much I can pick fault with really. I found the balance between the brass and singing a bit out the second time I saw them, but there were no such problems the last time I caught them, so they've obviously been working on their sound.

All together a brilliant band and a superb night out, Watch out for them appearing soon.

http://www.reverbnation.com/thespectreuk

Pictures via Facebook