Thursday 17th April Rebel Music Presents Pog Wob Joseph Porter CrackTown with DJ Eddy And Dan Van By Michelle Dee (you'd better believe it) (1/3)

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

Photography Gallery Pog Wob Gallery,   CrackTown Gallery,   Joseph Porter & Pog Wob Gallery 1,   Gallery 2.

Billed as Another Class Night. The Rebel Music Presents night featured alt acoustic folk from Brighton, Pog, Wob ex Blyth Power, Joseph Porter also ex Blyth Power and Hull's own CrackTown (the love affair continues). Whether class described the classroom feel that some of Joseph Porters' delves into Greek history brought about or whether it referred to the assumed social status of the audience members, or perhaps, and much more likely, the words class night referred to the high standards of musicianship and song writing on show tonight.

First to show his hand was Wob, singer songwriter and also percussive swashbuckler, Pog (more of Pog later). Wob sings a song about shopping in charity shops and then takes an emotive turn with a wistful number about a scabby girl, his voice akin to that of Levellers front man, sings stories about people and things. Good songs that tell stories about people and things, sung with this kind of quality, vocal range are special indeed. Next one dedicated to Wob's 95 yr old gran living somewhere off the A1, about buying and playing 78's and the nostalgic feelings evoked from such aural pleasures.

He cleverly equates the turning of the vinyl disc with imagery of a hippy girl dancing as she turns circles again.

Later he picks up a ukulele and plays through a festive number about a chocolate thief. The silly song. What friends are for provides another chance to witness Wob's considerable lung capacity and vocal control. The last was a song called Mini sung to the tune of Summertime by Eddie Cochran. This automotive ode was a tale of love and loss of a K reg automobile. The song is played in the key of A minor 7 to pre-empt the much loved vehicle's sticky end. A rousing opening set. The crowd seemed to be rapt by the songs, stories and animated playing style Wob employs.

Next we had CrackTown playing to an audience more attuned to the idea of satire and sharp social commentary. When they do Please Look After This Band, that song about the current state of British music - all those over paid bands that promise much but deliver less - I feel slightly guilty having backed them to get out of their bedrooms and onto the various makeshift stages on Hull's circuit.

Thy Will Be Done By Me is a brutal attack on religion, God and other ecumenical concerns. Tonight, banter makes up maybe half the set but the long awaited Nazi Girl makes an appearance. I felt strangely at peace as I tapped my pipe in time to the song of love fated to fail and the polar opposite political persuasions of the two protagonists.

Continued .... Next Page (2/3)

Photography Gallery Pog Wob Gallery,   CrackTown Gallery,   Joseph Porter & Pog Wob Gallery 1,   Gallery 2.

Photographs Copyright © 2008  Michelle Dee

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