Sherlocks at the Electric Ballroom

Sadly I haven't yet found anyone I know who likes the Sherlocks, so went to this gig on my own. But enjoyed it very much.

Opening support were a Birmingham five-piece band called Ivory Wave. No, never heard of them. But they were actually excellent. Will definitely listen out for them. Sort of cross between Oasis and the Happy Mondays. Didn't much go for the chav appearance, but the music was first class, layered, quite sophisticated and certainly a lot better than one might expect for an opening support act (playing sadly to a sparse audience at this time of the evening).

The second support were a Welsh band called Trampolene. Better known (well known at all), and very Welsh (one of the strongest Welsh accents I have come across), but did not enjoy this three piece, a sort of post-punk band, anywhere near as much as the openers. Although the lead singer was certainly a lot smarter!

Best shot I could manage of the drummer

The Sherlocks are in my opinion a vastly underrated band. They have to my mind stalled a bit career-wise, in that their first album, Live for the Moment, is vastly better than their second, Under Your Sky. They opened with, as is not untypical, the best song from the latest album, Magic Man, but really none of the new stuff matched the material from the first album. But that is not to detract from what an enjoyable gig this was. Apart from the excellent anthemic songs, strong guitar work and terrific vocals, they just seem a really nice bunch of lads enjoying what they do. Maybe this shouldn't be too much of a surprise given they are two pairs of brothers, from South Yorkshire. Although of course brothers do have a history of falling out (eg the Davies brothers from the Kinks). But this lot seem very happy on stage.

Lead singer Kiaran Crook has a very fine voice. Any rock band would like him at the front. Powerful enough voice to get over the three guitars, but without resorting to being at all "shouty". And actually a good looking guy, but without attracting a girly audience. Much more a lad's band, but not a macho one. 

They finished with a storming rendition of "Chasing Shadows" which really is their signature tune - a song whose chorus the audience can, and was encouraged to, sing on and on after the band stop.

One of the Davidson brothers. To my shame not absolutely sure if Josh or Andy, but think it is Andy

The other Davidson brother

And the only decent shot I could get of the drummer Brandon Crook