Well this was the plan. Leave JJM studios at around 10.15pm. Maybe stop off on the walk to town for a junk food hit. Hang around outside 'The Rising Sun' for at least 5 mins - long enough to hear a bostin' tune from the front door step, before heading towards one of the three live muso venues within easy walking distance of the town centre, to catch a stomping gig. Well, empty belly and no bostin' tunes later I found myself on the waterfront paradise that is Walsall's Wharf Bar.
In football they say that a team is as good as it's last match. I guess it's fair to say on that basis that a band is as good as their last gig. And whereas teams rely on their manager to shape, motivate and inspire them, the fate of performing musos is often in the hands of the often forgotten engineer. Ok, I'll come back to this point later. For now, let's talk 'Caught Off Guard.'
If you like your musos to be loud and proud, oozing in teenage bravado, bright and colourful yet dark and meaningful, you'll like C.O.G.Lee (Guitar/Vox), Si (Bass), Matt (Guitar/Vox) and Dan (Drums) make up a formidable muso four piece that packs a formidable muso punch. No surprise to see their mainly feminine fanship making waves at the front line.
We quite expect to see C.O.G shaking up a few venues over the next few years ~ if they don't happen to implode like so many young bands tend to do. They certainly have the talent, they just need the will.
C.O.Gs songs came fast and furious. They obviously have no problems in the songwriting department, but to be honest it was more than difficult trying to understand any of the words. So unless you were a life long C.O.G fan or was fortunate to be crashed out near by when the fab four were putting pen to paper, then, fantastic melodys aside you were in for a rough ride. Not the band's fault I hasten to add. The Wharf Bar needs to invest in some equipment that will bring out the best in the talent that it appears so willing to promote. Either that or the engineer needs his ears waxing. (Or maybe I do?).
Nevertheless, we did somehow manage to hear enough of 'Mewtins' and 'Armageddon' to be able to say, this band have some pretty good songs that will probably grow on us the more we hear them. Keep up the good work lads!!!
High points: 'Open To Fire' drummer jumps on stage to join Lee in a battle for the mic contest. And who's the party animal in the paper hat? Nice one guys!!!
Low point: We don't mind the Wharf Bar deciding to close earlier than usual. They have their reasons. But we don't like being told the bad news by a miserable bar maid who seemed more interested in packing up and making for the door than being warm and friendly to her customers. Don't work behind a bar if you don't know how to smile luv!
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