I'm sorry to say I missed the first two acts here (apologies to them) but I got to see the whole of both Hangman's Joe and Mary's Garden's sets. Hangman's Joe's macabre moniker suggests maudlin folk rather than testosterone-fuelled US-style hard rock, but we got the latter. On the part of the capable lead singer/guitarist that meant some heavy posturing, yelping, Dive Dive-esque vocals and the occasional leap off the stage to serenade a drunk, dancing audience member. The usual drastic changes in dynamics to be expected from good old formulaic chug-a-chug-a guitar-led rock were slickly handled, as were the segues between numbers. The wall-of-sound volume onslaughts, cheesy lyrics ('I would die for you...yes I would die for you' - Bryan Adams, anyone?) and general style were not my cup of proverbial liquid but I must say that the four lads seemed well-rehearsed, together and talented. Energy levels were high, and I could see why people (male teenagers mainly I suspect) would enjoy them. I don't think they've been together very long but it was a tribute to them that you wouldn't have guessed this.
Mary's Garden were a different kettle of fish altogether. With Laima Bite as epic-voiced, waifish frontlady, and with a bassist, guitarist, keyboardist/backing singer and extremely stylish older drummer (in the form of the legendary Larry from the Music Box), they are as entertaining to watch as The Factory were depressing. If you can imagine a band whose sound combines flashes of Pink Floyd, The Selecter, Fairport Convention, Jefferson Airplane and Interpol, you might have a handle on their idiom. I've been meaning to see them for ages whilst fearing a let down, so it was pleasing to find them not only slick and professional but also original and fun. They produce a fair old fat sound, Laima skilfully adding depth to her voice with a reverb pedal and the keyboard playing a chunky, squelchy part in proceedings. True, I couldn't hear the lyrics that well, but this was more to do with the pub's PA than the band's set-up. The tunes were good fun, the vocal arrangements interesting, and they seemed to be having a reasonably good time. They deserve to get heard.
Hear some (unfortunately slightly dubious) recordings of both bands on their myspace pages: www.myspace.com/hangmansjoe and www.myspace.com/marysgarden, or better still catch either band at one of their increasingly frequent local gigs.
Mary's Garden were a different kettle of fish altogether. With Laima Bite as epic-voiced, waifish frontlady, and with a bassist, guitarist, keyboardist/backing singer and extremely stylish older drummer (in the form of the legendary Larry from the Music Box), they are as entertaining to watch as The Factory were depressing. If you can imagine a band whose sound combines flashes of Pink Floyd, The Selecter, Fairport Convention, Jefferson Airplane and Interpol, you might have a handle on their idiom. I've been meaning to see them for ages whilst fearing a let down, so it was pleasing to find them not only slick and professional but also original and fun. They produce a fair old fat sound, Laima skilfully adding depth to her voice with a reverb pedal and the keyboard playing a chunky, squelchy part in proceedings. True, I couldn't hear the lyrics that well, but this was more to do with the pub's PA than the band's set-up. The tunes were good fun, the vocal arrangements interesting, and they seemed to be having a reasonably good time. They deserve to get heard.
Hear some (unfortunately slightly dubious) recordings of both bands on their myspace pages: www.myspace.com/hangmansjoe and www.myspace.com/marysgarden, or better still catch either band at one of their increasingly frequent local gigs.