This really was a case of "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly". The Good was the bands, both of whom were superb and played amazing sets. The Bad was twofold, the state of the PA (bloody awful would be being too kind) and the somewhat low turnout. And the Ugly was the state of the stage - I'd complain about the lighting, except there wasn't any! First (and hopefully last!) gig I've ever been to where the audience was better lit than the bands. Not sure who was responsible for the PA, but the venue needs to get some stage lighting installed if they plan to put bands on with any regularity.
However despite all that, it was a great gig, and both The Way Of All Flesh and The Ghost Of Lemora played a wealth of new and very interesting material, I shall be eagarly rushing out to buy the next albums from both bands.
It must also be said that the Gloominati organisers had gone to a lot of trouble to organise not only the two bands, but a "Gangsters and Molls" theme for the event, and entertainers including someone playing with an angle-grinder and a fire-juggling stilt-walker. Quite a few of those who did come were dressed in 1920s Chicago finery, which added to one of the organisers and one of the dancers stalking the venue in suits, hats, and carrying replica '20s Uzi machine guns, plus half an hour of 1920's swing played between the bands, really built an amazing atmosphere.
Both bands were allowed to play long sets, which they used to maximum effect by treating us to loads of new (or at least as-yet unreleased) songs. There was some seriously impressive guitar work going on from both bands, a truly memorable performance.
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