Andchuck @ Hoochie Coochie - March 23

Nick Seymour (alto saxophone), Jack March (guitar), Tom Chapman (electric bass) & Gabriel Alexander (drums).
(Review/photos by Russell)           

Hoochie Coochie presents some of the finest soul, funk and jazz acts on planet Earth. Proprietor Warren Thomson offers performance opportunities to emerging musicians and this evening’s gig presented four students from the Royal Northern College of Music calling themselves Andchuck.

With an average age of something like twenteen, the Andchuck guys can play, no question! Four immensely talented young men, Andchuck gig at Matt and Phreds, Manchester and have played Manchester Jazz Festival. Tonight was an opportunity to hear them right here at 54 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle.

Alto saxophonist Nick Seymour fronts the band in as much as he does the talking. Stating: We are an original compositions band, the closely-cropped Seymour and band mates Jack March (guitar), Tom Chapman (a young man from these here parts, bass) and drummer Gabriel Alexander didn’t waste any time, they went for the jugular from the off. Chapman dropped the anchor, shuddering bass and bass drum beats rattling bottles of London Pride and cocktails glasses in the hands of a supportive Hoochie Coochie crowd. Tubular (a debut 7” single, no less), To Remember, to Remind (comp Jack March), this was exhilarating stuff. Seymour plays alto with intent; precise articulation, insistent, dancing lines. Guitarist March responded time and again, throwing riffs back at Seymour, occasionally stepping up to develop a mature solo of his own.

Seymour cited American skateboarder Gilbert Crockett as an influence on the band’s writing. This is clearly a generational thing, perhaps something to do with free-styling (leave it there, Ed). What transpired – Crockett’s Pocket – Alexander’s killing drum intro, the band razor-sharp, suggests the legendary Mr C has something to say to four kids at the RNCM. Horizontal Refreshment (A groovy one, said Seymour) written by bassist Chapman incorporated take-your-time solos (guitarist March particularly impressive, developing solos from a standing start) amidst turbo-charged full-on riffing, topped-off by Alexander’s powerhouse display.

 Irrelevant Elephant (comp Chapman) featured a killing drum solo and the unison lines of Seymour, alto, and March, guitar. Quasi illustrated Chapman’s chops, Chloe (comp Seymour), approximating the ballad form, an intense, slow-burning tune. Andchuck and audience were having a good time, a couple of tunes to close – House of Cards, then Flat Out. It’s great to hear an ‘eyeballs out’ number to send the audience on its way. Andchuck will return, when they do, be there. 

Russell.