Hackney Colliery Band @ Sage (2) Gateshead - Dec. 16

Thirty seconds into the first number from the Hackney Colliery Band and we’re being assailed by a raucous, overwhelming wall of sound that makes Phil Spector’s seem like a chicken wire fence. There are subtle interweaving melodies and sharp changes in tempo within the music that show the strength of the arrangements but it is high energy, thrilling music that impresses itself on the audience from the get-go.

The HCB is not a conventional colliery band, coming as they do from Hackney, an area noticeably short on pit-head wheels. Nor does it follow brass band tradition; it adds elements from Eastern Europe, the American marching band tradition, African and reggae rhythms and hot funk a la James Brown’s Famous Flames. The band doesn’t have a fixed line up but draws from members of a collective, which seems to be a thing these days down in that London. Tonight’s line-up includes Luke Christie on drums, sousaphonist Ed Ashby and Miguel Gorodi as second trumpet. The front line of alto and tenor sax, two trumpets and two trombones isn’t built for comfort, it’s built for noise.

Trumpeter Steve Pretty is the leader and MD for the night and provides most of the non-covers in the set. The covers include Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box, and, because it’s that time of year, and says Mr Pretty, it’s a contractual obligation, some Christmas tunes, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The Little Swallow (a Ukrainian carol; “A Ukrainian carol in Gateshead”, said Steve, “that’ll show them.”) and Mistletoe and Wine, the title of which was a bit of a cliffhanger until I recognised it.

The arrangements are not all sound and fury as for some tunes all the band except a soloist and rhythm section drop out before the others climb back on board creeping up behind whoever’s in front to raise a riot once again. They closed by disconnecting all the microphones and Christie strapping on a snare drum to become a marching band. To Toto’s Africa they led us out of Sage 2 into the foyer, to the bemusement of the crowd in Sage 1 who had been to see a Luther Vandross tribute. I know where I would rather have been.

They promise to be back next year in the big hall next door with a bigger band and a choir so that should be worth a visit.

I wandered out into the fag end of the cold snap, new T-shirt and CD in pockets wondering what they were going to change the name of the Sage to. The Onion, I presumed. Dave Sayer