Is Facebook a guilty pleasure? Im a daily (ab)user but only have one person on my list who Ive never actually met. My very good friend Darlene insisted that I put Hughsie H on my list He lives in Leeds and hes the drummer in a band and youd love him cos I do you cant argue with that.
Turns out hes the drummer in the Rent Boys and when I saw a post from him that they were playing in Leeds, I thought Ill have to go and check them out. It was the same night as The Vaselines but Hughsie H assured me they wouldnt be on until after 11. So, after one of the best nights out in a long time (The Vaselines and Haight-Ashbury were awesome!) I dutifully got myself along to Santiagos in town.
I got there about half eleven and as I entered there was a rather unusual act on – looked like someones mum/aunty, singing along to a 77 Iggy Pop soundtrackcouldve been interesting..but after what Id just seen at the Brudenell.. I asked the very competent DJ (anyone who plays Jonathan Richman is alright by me) if Id missed them No, they should be on in half an hour.
Ive not been upstairs at Santiagos in a long time but assume that the soft furnishings, the underwear dotted about, the soft toy filed sofa, were all the doing of the band (they had a rather cool furry backdrop). I didnt recognise Hughsie in the frightfully young and well-dressed crowd until the band squeezed past the crowd to get on stage. Hughsie was wearing a spangly silver jump-suit and tiara and the whole band looked very RocknRoll!
As for the music Think The Stooges – Raw Power tinged with a psychedelic undertone. The lead singer didnt do it for me unfortunately but then I guess Im not their target audience. Still, I look forward to hearing the single when it finaaly arrives on my doorstep. My ears were complaining of too much noise after a few numbers so I had to leave still without meeting Hughsie. Next time!
Bob the chiropodist