Lighthouse, Poole
Featuring 27 Days, Robert Lowe, Solcura & Creeke
The Lighthouse in Poole, formerly known as Poole Arts Centre is the home of local monthly music night “Live & Unheard”. The event is hosted by local musician and owner of Dorset’s Hangover Hill Music Studio Matt Black, along with his partner Mel Berkhauer. The event is held on the first Wednesday of each month and gives a platform for a host of local musicians. Tonight’s event has a Rock theme and Matt has gathered together three of the area’s most up and coming bands.
The first of these is a band I had the fortune of catching when they played a charity event I was hosting back in December. Creeke are a four piece band from Bournemouth who were founded in 2018 by two childhood friends Ryan Jaszek and Billy Jones, who got together out of a shared love for music. The duo added Huw Tucker on drums and tonight their line-up features bassist Ed Flynn of “White Heat”. The guys open with their recently released single “Circus”, which shows their slightly grungy influences and obvious natural talent. Frontman Billy at just 17 shows a maturity well beyond his years with some really great vocal delivery. The original compositions include the dark and moody “Wolves”, along with “Cut me Loose” which features a well put together lead guitar piece. The band’s second single “Smokecreen” really sees them reach their stride with a great delivery of an infectious tune, that the audience seem to really enjoy. The boys save their best ’til last and play a new untitled tune that is really well crafted, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. They leave the stage after a memorable set to lots of positive noise from the audience.
Next up we have quite a different proposition altogether, a local four-piece alternative rock band called “Solcura” who only formed last year. The band have brought together a wide range of different influences from the rock spectrum and are working to release their debut album “Serotonin” very soon. In comparison with any other artists that have played this event, these guys are a whole heap louder and the amazing facilities here handle it well, with the band really benefiting from a great sound system. It’s I’m sure quite a different place to where they are used to playing; as compared to a sweaty rock venues, all of us are sat down. The band take everything in their stride and impress from the start with some really hard-hitting tunes including a great cover of Stone Temple Pilots “Plush” (which sadly very few here seem to have heard before), and a tune called “A Moment” where guitarist Dan Rowe impresses us with his skills on his effect-fed fender Stratocaster. The band show their lighter side with a tune called “Bliss” where vocalist Harry Young shows off his impressive vocals. The backbone of the band is as solid as a rock and groove-laden with Sam Taylor’s 5 string bass work, along with some spot-on drumming from Jacob Gower. They end on an epic tune called “Through The Night” which starts off with some light cymbal work before the bass joins in with some spine chilling electric guitar, before Harry once again delivers some substantial vocals. A really great set that I really did not want to see come to end.
After a short intermission, we are treated to a slide show and musical presentation by Dorset musical maestro “Robert Lowe”, who has previously worked with a whole host of local musicians including tonight’s host Matt Black, Si Genaro, Chris Straits, Pyro and a plethora of others. Robert’s music is very hard to pigeonhole as he has very few boundaries and hardly any rules. There is plenty of experimentation in his sound with lots of progressive elements including electronica which creates a sound like no other. The presentation gives the audience a fantastic insight into Robert’s long musical career. I’m sure as Robert who was in the audience, was mightily proud of his achievements as he watched along with the rest of us.
The Final band of the evening is local glam-rock revivalists 27 Days, who formed a few years with a love of bands like Poison, Guns ‘n Roses, Bon Jovi and of course the mighty Motley Crue. Tonight the band have a special guest bassist with them in the form of Alan “Teabag” Osbourne who is the “alter ego” of local hero Chris Payn.He has dressed specially for the occasion in a tasselled cape and exceptionally high-heeled boots. The band are in a really playful mood and kick off strongly with “Too Hot For Your Love” – these guys are all very talented and really know how to impress an audience. In the past, I think they may have taken themselves a little too seriously so to see the lighter side of the band makes for a much more enjoyable set.
The whole dynamic of the band tonight is so much improved from the previous times that I have seen them live. You cannot fault their sterling efforts; from the epic guitar solos of Steven Speck, to the impressive vocal delivery of Jordan Watts; along with the skilful stickwork from Phil Shambrook, and of course the rock n roll swagger of Alan “Teabag” Osbourne. There are many highlights to saviour including Jordan’s unexpected trip to the piano, a great version of their latest single “Dead Man Walking” and an epic ending with a brand new song “Drop Dead”. The band have a busy weekend ahead with a date this weekend at Teddy Rocks Festival and also a support slot with rock legend Marco Mendoza. If they perform like they did tonight I’m sure that greater opportunities for them will follow. A great end to what has been yet another fantastic evening at the new local music “must see” event Live & Unheard.
Set Lists
27 Days
Too Hot For Your Love
Speed
Tell the Devil
Heaven the Devil
Welcome To the Party
Life on the Edge
Dead Man Walking
Stay Close to Me
Live Fast Die Young
Drop Dead
Solcura
Serotonin
Honour Amongst Thieves
Plush (Stone Temple Pilots)
A Moment
Are You Here With Me
Bliss
Through The Night
Creeke
Circus
Wolves
Cut Me Loose
Home
Smokescreen
Blind
Untitled
Videos
The Next “Live & Unheard” events at Lighthouse, Poole are as follows:
Wednesday 5th June – Helena Mace + Marky Dawson + Edd Bleach
Wednesday 3rd July – Barefoot Soul + Matt Griffiths + Jade Norris
Purchase your tickets here.
Links
https://27days.org
http://www.robertlowemusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/Solcura.UK
https://www.facebook.com/CREEKE
Words Pictures & Videos by David Chinery (Chinners).
