It's not often you get to see two up and coming British Rock bands together on one stage these days, and to see them for only a pound, yes one pound!, that's what Trillains Monday nights are all about, promo's on the beer and premium bands for less than the cost of a pint. You can't argue with that can you?

The two bands performing here tonight are bands that have featured very heavily over the past couple of years on this site, and deservedly so as these two band are some of the hardest working musicians around today.  No show is too small and with each and every show these two particular band's have put in 110% every time I see them.  Ah yes their names, well we have the infamous Rattlesnake Remedy hailing from Birmingham and more home grown talent we have Stockton’s finest, Get Vegas.

Opening up the night's proceedings are Get Vegas, a band that have come a long way since I first caught them supporting Stolen Sun at The Georgian Theatre.  The band then seemed to be another Datsuns in the making, but the band have primed their stage persona and turned their sound around and become an accomplished Blues Rock band, who now much more akin to the likes of rock legends Free these days.

The band open up tonight's account with 'Gypsy Lane' and instantly I think how the boys have grown, and with the inclusion of guitarist Rich in the ranks, he has been a true revelation to the band with his stunning guitar playing, which reminds me of a young Brian Robertson in his Thin Lizzy days, plus now he even has the perm to go with the sound!

The band carried on their smouldering blues with ‘Love Hound’, with vocalist Jonny just sounding truly soulful.  He too has come a long way from the shy frontman he once was when we first saw them, with his confidence on stage growing as both his vocal talent and stage craft have increased.

The band pick things up a touch with the excellent ‘Trouble On The Way’ before bringing it back down to a more chilled out pace with ‘Lying Dreams’.  Once again Rich shows what a great guitarist he is again on the more up beat, down and out bluesy rocker ‘Burning Soul’, which was the highlight of the set for me.

The blues are mixed with a little funky groove crossover on ‘What Did Your Mama Tell You’ before the band finished off another sterling set with the slow burner ‘Baby Stole Me Twice’, which rounded off another great performance from this band, who are surely destined for greatness if the music gods are on their side.

What can I say about the next band that I haven’t said before?  The professionalism and workman like attitude is second to none.  The band were touring their debut release 'Magic Man' well before the release and have continued on the road for what seems like a dogs age, only going home so their families can see their faces to remember what they looked like before it's back out on the road again.

Again this is another band that can do no wrong in my eyes because of their work ethic of taking their music to the masses.

The band opened up in true Rattlesnake style with the aptly titled ‘Paying My Dues’ before rocking things up with ‘Black Sheep Fiddle’ with frontman Lee Stone covering every part of available space on the small Trillians stage, while guitarists Ben Bartlett and Mark Buckler just ripped it up like two men possessed.

After a quick salute to the ale it was back to the music with the excellent ‘Killing Time’, another all out rocker that led the way back to the blues as Lee opened up ‘Hangover Blues' with a little harmonica solo.  He then announced that if he was prime minister he would announce Monday's as the new day added to the weekend, which would get my vote for sure.

Then it was back to the harder side of the band with the riff filled ‘Reach For The Line’.  Stone then paid salute to Get Vegas by saying ... they were younger, better looking, and would get to the top before them “B******s” ... then launched into ‘Nothing Right’, which was quickly followed by one of my own particular favourites by the band, the heavier ‘Falling Away’, which again saw Buckler and Bartlett rampaging on the guitars.

The set continued with a new one to me ‘Lonely Avenue’, which sounded great, then it was back to familiar ground with the Hendrix styled ‘Freestyle’ before another couple of new songs.  Firstly the more sedate tones of ‘Firing Line’ and then on to a track which for the moment apparently doesn't have a name, but sounded great anyway, and was the bands tribute to fellow Brummies Black Sabbath and featured a definite Geezer Butler bass vibe about it.

The band returned to their debut album for the title track ‘Magic Man’ before rounding off the night with ‘Drag You Down’, both of which rounded off a great set and capped off another great performance. 

With both bands firing on all cylinders the future of British Rock is safe in these guys hands.