(Review by Russell).
The Bridge Hotel could be said to be the spiritual home of ACV. Familiar territory, familiar faces. Two sets of familiar and not so familiar tunes, although the ‘not so familiar’ are fast becoming the familiar. Tunes culled from the debut CD Fail in Wood and tunes from the soon-to-be-released second album engaged the audience from start to finish. Degree Absolute (with a light touch from guitarist Mark Williams), Waking the Sleeper (Graeme Wilson’s baritone, Williams’ guitar and Main Man double bass man Andy Champion all excelling) and What’s for Breakfast? (Wilson and Williams right on the money) scored heavily. Wilson ’s tenor on And I Do concluded the first set. McMullen’s Bitter proved to be a good choice at the bar.
Second set. A Line Made by Walking (with a new intro?) invited the quintet to stretch out and produce the best live take yet. Never Ever (one of the newer tunes) spotlighted Paul Edis (keyboards) and Wilson (tenor). Hearing this one again the thought occurred that a Norma Winstone (or Z.Gilby) vocal wouldn’t be out of place. Much mirth followed as front row mad man G.Milburn had his leg pulled about being a mad man, so it was apposite that we heard Nutmeg State (drummer Adrian Tilbrook taking the honours with some first rate work). Giant Mice danced playfully along Edis’ keyboard then took fright as Wilson wielded his baritone once more. Sensitive bass playing won Champion applause on Dust Red, the calm before the storm. And so to the storm. Champion, Wilson, Williams, Edis and Tilbrook = Without Bones. Williams floored them. Tilbrook left them with jaws on the floor. Champion wiped the floor. Bravura playing. Bravo!
(Photos (2) from Jerry Edis.)Russell
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