Here's my review of last nights gig (my ears are still ringing)

Vent414 - Bristol Fleece & Firkin, 22nd July 1996
=================================================

This was the first time that I'd seen Vent (sorry,..Vent414 if you want to be exact), having only ever heard "Fits & Starts" from the Radio1 session before, so I wasn't too sure what to expect.

If you don't know the fleece it's a pretty small venue which has been recently refurbished after a fire. The new stage is slightly larger, and raised higher, than the previous one which resembled a coffee table (a small table to those of you unfamiliar with this) rather than a stage !! It was stiflingly hot inside the venue after another one of those scorching days that weUve been having recently.

There were about 100'ish people in attendance (not too bad for a fleece gig) including one Martin Gilkes who stood admiringly near the bar and was spotted having a chat with Miles out the back of the venue (does anyone know if all the ex-stuffies are still in touch or are they glad to be away from each other ?) It seems strange seeing someone like Miles or Martin in a place like that, when I last saw them they were playing to thousands at Phoenix !? it must have been a bit of a comedown to go back to the small venue circuit.

The band played 9 songs in total and as I haven't heard anything by them before I can only give as much info. as I can remember. They started with a very broken song in the sense that it was constantly loud bit quiet bit loud bit etc. and Jim started as he meant to continue breaking his first stick half way through this first song (my that guy really knows how to hit a drum, I don't think I've ever seen anyone hit dums quite so hard) Next came a pulsating 'Fits and Starts' and another song which I couldn't identify. The next one started off quietly before exploding into the chorus "What was I supposed to say" was the refrain I can remember (anyone know which this one is ?) Fixer was next (the debut single as Miles announced, out September 9th) and was great, a definite highlight of the show. Gilkesy was then grabbed by one of the roadies to help mend Pete's bass drum pedal (I think they did it with a guitar string ot that's what it looked like ? good to have another drummer in the audience ?) The next one had quite a strange start with Miles talking in a cod-american accent as if it was the voice over from an old western (?! most bizzare) followed by a wild song. The next one started with Miles on his own on guitar before the rest ofthe band kick in, I seem to remember it having a loud chorus and Miles using a lot of wah-wah during the verse. The last two were a lot faster songs the last one especially with Morgan wacking out a mammouth bass rhythym before Miles and Pete began their onslaught.

Overall I was pretty impressed with what I heard and even though the Vent414 stuff is a lot harder than some stuffies purests would like it is still unmistakably Miles at the end of the day. Pete really did kick ass on the drums and I'm surprised that given the temperature in the fleece and the way which he played that he didn't melt away - a ballistic drummer. Morgan was pretty much hidden behind the speaker stack from where I was standing but from what I could see he there was still as much maniac fretboard action as there was when he was in the Senseless Things.

It was quite strange feeling walking home as I walked past the Colston Hall (a massive, impersonal, all seater venue) where I last saw Miles and Co. in Bristol, strange how things change in the world of music.

Looking forward to Fixer and the debut album.

Get those tapes ready for Mark Radcliffe next monday

Matt.