Wednesday 05/10/05 Tom Vek, Dead! Dead! Dead!, Jamie T @ Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

"Tom is a bit of a multi-instrumentalist genius in my opinion. If you haven't seen him live yet, he comes on like a 12 year old geek and really lets rip", so said Rob da Bank recently. So with that 'recommendation' we find Tom in Portsmouth on the first date of a short tour. He certainly runs on stage like an excited juvenile but before all that, to the support acts…

If Tom looks 12, Jamie T looks at least three years younger. Youthful looks betray a troubled mind as he rattles through eight ‘street-nu-folk tunes’ on an acoustic bass guitar. Mr T’s on a musical protest mission rallying support by including a version of Billy Bragg's 'New England' and giving away self-compiled "bloody good mixtape".  Worth checking out. Next, Dead!Dead!Dead! were clearly a little nervous making the huge step to such a prestigious support slot. The band belt out a great set of their own brand ‘geek-chic-pub-indie’ with morbid themed lyrics - it’s little wonder their CD is selling out so fast in the foyer after the gig.

Finally, Tom Vek bounds onto the stage to join the rest of the assembled band. His appearance at Rob da Bank's Bestival in September has clearly left an impression, with bright yellow festival T-shirts popping up throughout the crowd. Playing his quite brilliant 'We Have Sound' in searing fashion, it's a fun show as Vek often loses himself in his own David Byrne inspired bedroom Tai Chi dance. It’s an excellent interpretation of the album with each track pulling in varying influences into an electro-funk base. Indeed, the songs sound even better live. The 'repeat' of the hook is a little overused, especially on the new 'rave' inspired 'Are You Prepared To Party?' But, luckily the fans are prepared overlook this. His boyish good looks and pop beats attract a varied crowd who enjoy the sing alongs such as the previous single 'C-C (You Set The Fire In Me)' and the encore, 'I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes'. In fact, most of the set is one big sing-a-long boogie. Great stuff.

Photo by: Gerry Hectic