Wednesday 02/10/02 Cracatilla, The Shining @ Barfly, Liverpool

It always happens to me, Spoff Griffin! I await my instructions from Gigwise, secretly hoping that I'll get the Quo at the Royal Court. When the word arrives though, it's the Masque again, or should I say the Barfly Liverpool! Yup, the top floor of the Masque has been taken over dudes, and it's looking an even better venue than it was just last week.

First up tonight were Cracatilla. These guys have got a laid back bluesy, folksy sixties sound, but also manage to sound surprisingly fresh, even to Spoff's battered ear drums. There's not much Beatles in their sound, which is surprising for a band from like, Liverpool, but they have that English sound if you know what I mean. Call me lazy if I compare them to other power trios, but there are hints of Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Supergrass runnin through these guys veins. Just like most threesomes, these guys like a little help for some of their songs, as the most un-keyboard player looking keyboard player that I've ever seen joined them on stage. He could sure tickle those ivories, even if he did look like the fella my uncle Cleatus used ta play find the mommy and go hunting with! At times, we were walking that tightrope towards muso-ville, but there was no fret-wankery here folks, just a set of mellow tunes that would sound ideal at any festival. My fave song has to be 'What Do I Know' it's a top top tune!

These guys are ok man. They're like familiar enough to be instantly likeable, but don't resort to the tired old rock and roll stunts that I've seen so many times before. They've got a few too many songs about the weather mind, but that aint the worst thing in the world is it? Oh no, that was to come dudes, that was to come......

Did I mention the tightrope over muso-ville? Have I talked about the danger that is bass players forming bands (Level 42 anyone)? Ok, where's Jimmy Page? He's not here for sure. Erm I was like thinking this was a Led Zep reunion for one small moment, or was it just me playing fantasy Stars in Your Eyes! The first three songs of The Shining's set were an unholy sight to behold, they've got the look, a monster sound, but bad news boys a whole heap of unoriginality. This is ****ing awful, be influenced by a band, don't try and ****ing be them!! Hello Led Zep, hello every cliche, too many moronic guitar licks that I have like heard somewhere before, oh erm with a singer who should have auditioned for model behaviour and not a rock band but then again he looks great does he not, the girls love him, did this guy fail to get into Boyzone?

"Are you OK Spoff?" My good friend Randy brought me out of my anger zone and reminded me to be objective. Objective! I object to being subjected to this second rate rawk. The Shining were formed out of the ashes of The Verve, and whereas Ashcroft turned to MOR section of the great Rock Encyclopedia, The Shining have turned to the heavy rock section, but that kind of weird 90's trying to do 60's part. I'm so disappointed man, so disappointed. Ok, they didn't sound like Led Zep all the way through, but the songs that didn't sound like an extract from 'Physical Graffiti' sounded like, well like you'd expect the bass player from The Verve's band to sound like. You know, a bit like The Verve really. Of course, there's also a bit of the S***e R***s thrown in there for good measure. Which, in itself isn't bad, but it just doesn't grip Spoff where it matters, you know dudes?

If you like good looking pretty boys who can wail like Robert Plant and have a tight, rocking band behind them, then you'll probably like The Shining. If you are a die-hard fan of The Verve, then you'll probably like them as well. If, like me, you're eagerly awaiting the Quo at the Royal Court, you'll know that there are plenty of great bands that have done this kind of stuff for years. Do we really need another one?