MUSIC IN MANCHESTER

More Research Here

"We don't have a guitar", apologises front - err, well only, man Russell Searle, "but I do have a Casio keyboard" before the 3 piece move into set opener "No other". So what will bass (Georgia Lashbrook), drums (Sarah Williams) and Casio (Searle) sound like? How does one quantify fun? It may be cheapish thrills that fizz along, imbued with a sense of humour, but that would be to ignore the clever word play and lyricism that are displayed. "I can't hear a word your saying" could be a sarcastic side swipe about most bands that take to the stage, whilst being fully aware that everyone can decipher theirs.

At times it may be endearingly cheesy, but the later half of the set provides an more aggressive, meaty performance

Reared on a diet of Tammy Wynette and Elvis ballads, the band wear their his heart on Searles's Elvis emblazoned jumper, and he delivers devastatingly simple and beautiful lines such as "It's not that I don't love you/I'm just scared of f***ing up"

So it appears as though the majority of Mancunian concert goers want to see a band that started out over 20 years ago, has already packed it in once and is merely living on memories, (New Model Army) across the road, rather than the latest EMI hopefuls the Research. If that's the case then the future of non prefabricated music looks bleak.

At least some of the Wakefield contingent have made it across to support their home town hopefuls and attempts at generating the intimacy that their set deserves does not go unrewarded

Searle is ever loquacious, allowing the between set banter to resemble a discussion between friends rather than the shouted dialogue across the seemingly cavernous area of Jabez that it actually is.

Comparisons are made between student loans and dole payments, and it's this eye for the minutia of everyday life, which probably flourishes in a small town, tightly focussed environment, that's reflected throughout their lyrics.

Yet it's the event is not coldly cynical or sneering, but humorous and engaging. They even manage to produce the best Xmas record since the Waitresses (as in Xmas Wrapping)

Who need guitars anyway?

Back to Home Page