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Hitting the
stage at 10.20pm precisely the band that captured our imaginations in
the mid 80's with their outrageous looks and equally bizarre songs
presented themselves before us.
When we told people who we were travelling down to see tonight we were
met with sniggers and laughter. Why? One thing you have to admit is that
this band was always up for a good time and was also quite musically
talented, even if their subjects were a little corny.
We fully expected to see the room full of new age Cyber Goths. How wrong
we were! Instead the room was stuffed full of a much older crowd who
looked more like old style punks with their bovver boy combats and
mohican hair cuts.
We began to wonder if they realised who it was that was going to be
playing here tonight, not only that but would the place go up in fury
once the band hit the stage.
We needn't have worried because as soon as the band appeared the place
did in fact go up, only not quite as we expected it to. Instead the
hardest looking chaps you have ever seen ran, yes ran! to the front and
started to bop about! This continued in a frenzied manner throughout the
whole night. To say it was a very surreal scene is an understatement.
Onstage we had 3 blokes looking more camp than a field full of boy
scouts and then gazing up in wonderment at them were these really
dangerous looking chaps.
On lead vocals we had Martin Degville dressed in bleached denims and a
silver sparkly sleeveless top. His hair was bleached blonde and his
fringe reached out from the front of his head about 4-5" at least
in a huge rock-a-Billy quiff.
On Bass we had Tony James with his flamingo pink tressels. Looking like
an extra from Miami Vice we had guitarist Neal X. Lastly tucked away at
the back of the stage was the lovely cyber-rock goddess herself Jenny Z.
The band started with the wonderful 'Sex Bomb Boogie', which had the
whole room jumping. It didn't take long before we realised that we had
made the right decision to come here tonight to see this band perform.
Perform they did and it was not simply a case of singing a few songs and
managing to play the right chords to the right songs. No these guys gave
a PERFORMANCE.
What's the difference I hear you ask? Well if you had seen their
flamboyant costumes and they way they really hammed it up for the crowd
then you would have realised that they are not only very talented
musicians but also give their fans a show to remember.
The person operating the smoke machine must have been a bit excited to
see this all happening here in Hartlepool as he went a bit wild with the
old smoke machine, a problem a lot of bands seem to have during their
performances.
However once the smoke had cleared you could actually see the band as
well as hear them.
The band played on and the crowd went mental. How many other lead
singers can thrust and swivel the way Martin can? The spirit of Elvis
looked like it had possessed this man.
The band went through songs old and new and thrilled their fans with
each and every one of them. It wasn't long before they invited a female
fan up onstage to strut her stuff with them. During which they broke two
strings and laughed it off by saying that you'd pay £85 to see Madonna
in concert and you wouldn't get it as good as this.
Tonight's gig had cost us a measly £6 and I have to agree these guys
are soooo much more fun to watch than old Maddy would have been.
The whole gig was full of hilarious moments like when someone tried to
sabotage the gig by setting the fire alarm off and the bands power was
cut mid performance. It didn't take long to reset the system but it was
rather amusing for all who were there.
The band seemed to take it in good humour too. This and their groupie
female fan who's dress barely managed to stay up much to the approval of
guitarist Neal X who's eyes were out on stalks as he watched it fall
further and further down her ample bosoms.
The thing is with this band they really do give you a good show, not
only musically but also visually.
They have more than handful, more of a bucketful of songs that would go
down a storm in the clubs we have around today. And yet you never hear
them mentioned let alone played at any of these places, why?
Is it because they are not seen as serious musicians? Is it because they
looks like a bunch of grown men who have decided to play dressy up with
their kid sisters Girls World?
Whatever the reason they clubs should be ashamed of themselves as they
are depriving a lot of people out of a lot of great fun cyber rock.
Soon it was time for the legendary 'F1-11', the song that really shot
the band into the big scene back in 1986. There wasn't a TV programme or
magazine cover that didn't have these guys on back then.
They still have what it takes to give you a thrill and I have to say
that tonight's performance was a one I will not forget for a long time
for so many different reasons.
I liked the cover of The Rolling Stones 'Pleased To Meet You' which they
slotted into causally in the middle of 'F1-11'.
The set was completed with an encore, which strangely enough sounded
very similar to a Brian Adams one, although I doubt that's what it was.
A stage invasion took place as the room on mass ascended onto the stage
to see the night off with the band.
Great fun! Can't wait to see them again at the next one!
Setlist
included: Sex Bomb Boogie, Everybody Loves You, 21st Century Boy,
Alien Christ, M*A*D, Teenage Thunder, Suicide (?), Virginia Plain, Jayne
Mansfield, F1-11, Atari Baby, Rocket Miss USA
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