Sheldon Marquee 12th July 2008.

After a short drive over to Birmingham with some friends we arrived at what appeared to be just a local pub in the middle of a housing estate. The Chestnut Tree pub seemed a strange venue for a rock gig. But the pub served a cracking Curry for a fiver in the bar. As the punters arrived they all drifted into the lounge where the bands played.
We made our way through to the lounge also, where I was greeted by Mr Shades and told I was on the guest list (Thanks mate) before he disappeared back stage.
First up were a young thrash metal type band that I was not keen on although they seemed good at what they were playing. I went outside wanting to save my eardrums for the Handsome Beasts. I got chatting with the drummer Mick while out there.
The band hit the stage and it was the Mr Rocky Shades persona we were entertained with, instead of the DLW character I’d seen a few weeks earlier. From the moment he hit the stage we got the full on Mr Shades banter that we come to know and love (or hate) from the Wrathchild days. The band hit the stage minus the 2nd guitarist for the 1st tune, After Blood. And after the 2nd tune there were sound problems forcing the band to take a break while it was sorted. I joked with Rocky later as to if this was a new thing for bands to stop for a fag break.
Anyway on with the show and some brilliant guitar work and full on guitar poses (beat that Tone) from Alan the guitarist. The rest of the band was solid throughout too. We got 3 new songs from the band too One of which was Shaken and Not Stirred which was rather good. Roll on the new album they are recording. Rocky went through several changes of clothing and ended with what will become the trade mark at the end of the show of the Beasts mask being worn by Rocky. For some unknown reason I never took any pics of Rocky in the mask.
The audience seemed to enjoy the show, but I can only imagine that as there was no one down the front that they were all of the mid 40’s age range and getting too old to rock. It was good to chat with Rocky after the show and get some pics of us in our wigs! Lol. Would of chatted longer but my friends meter was running in the car.
Incidently I have video footage from the recent gigs I've reviewed. I tend not to post them as the bands may not want them all over the net.... But if anyone here wants to see them I'll get some up on here.
Incidently....I bought a cd while at the gig too... Handsome Beasts studio album called '04'. The reason I mention it is.... That the album was recorded, produced and mixed at Sable Rose Studio's in Coventry by Spike (Andy Faulkner). For those who don't know we (Guttercats) also recorded with Spike in the same studio for all three of our demo's. Wardi of Iron Horse fame also sings and wrote some of the tunes on the album too.

I went to an odd kinda pub, for a gig, in Coventry, The Shakespeare, to see a band called Iron Horse.
The place was heaving and seemed to be a trendy kinda hangout... the kinda of place you would go for a drink, before going night clubbing. So it seemed strange to look around the place to see the odd (old I might add) rocker.You could tell who they were, with the tattoo's and leather and the girlfriend /wife hung on the arm still wearing the same short dress they'd probably worn at the rock club of the time, many years ago. And that's not to say they didn't look bad then or even tonight (most anyway), although some were a little more filled out!
Anyway back to the band. I'd gone down expecting to see in the line-up, my old band producer Spike (Andy Faulkner) but got Tim, a bass player from years ago, off the Coventry rock circuit, that I'd been part of myself. Also from the same scene was guitarist Baz Eardley (from Chevy) who I'd also known.
But the main focus of the band which was noticable from the off, was one Brummy (I think) lad, Wardi. The kind of showman/vocalist that even in a small venue like this can get the audience going and you feel you don't want to miss any of his antics, ie slapping a girls ass as she walks past on 2 ocassions. She obviously enjoyed it as she was at the front by the end of the set, ogling him. But take note she was a typical trendy but amused by this rocker.
Anyway on to the music and yes they were all covers but what great tunes they are, we got a couple of AC/DC, Hell Ain't a Bad place to Be, Riff Raff, Flick of the Switch and a bit of Highway to Hell, (Sorry I can't count) some Lizzy, Emerald, Rosalie, ZZ-Top,Tush, UFO's Doctor Doctor and a great version of Stay with Me. We were treated to an excellent drum solo, about 4 mins long, which seems unheard of in a pub nowadays I would think, but brilliant all the same.
Wardi did some walk about stuff, which went down well, but with a cordless mic would of worked better. The guy still backcomb's his hair from the look of him and reminded me of Stevie Jaimz.He got the crowd going from the off by getting them to tell him to F' off and also played onthe fact that he and his band were old, reminding us at different intervals. But considering he is old, he was stripped to the waist from the start and encouraging others to do the same. One girl who, got more pissed as the night went on, asked for a song request, to which the reply was'yes if ya get yer tit's out' which she proceeded to with a quick lift of her shirt.
So a great night, I'm deaf now by the way, but hope to catch the band again. Spoke with Wardi after the show and seemed not a lot of gigs currently on the cards.I asked them if they had management and he said no but could do with it.... Almost as though he was expecting me to say I was interested......

Oh and one last thing.... Ain't it strange when ya go to gigs these days , there are always people you recognise..... cuz they are all friends of yours from My Space...lol