Anyone remember those old Bakelite radios? Big plastic box, speaker set in the front beside a big backlit tuning dial. Not that I'm that old but I remember my parents having one. So what has this got to do with me going to see a band at the weekend?
Well as hip young 50's teenagers tuning into their radio, the sound produced by Carmen Ghia & the Hotrods is just what they would have been looking for. The thing is, in 2013 at the Greystones in Sheffield, Carmen Ghia & the Hotrods are proof that good music played well never ages.
The set comprised a blend of Rockabilly, Swing and Blues based Rock 'n' Roll with some classic covers and excellent original songs all wrapped up in a flawless performance. Particularly worthy of mention was a Slim Harpo style version of 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor', giving a nod to fellow Sheffielders the Arctic Monkeys.
Carmen herself has a terrific voice, perfectly suited to the genre and a brilliant slightly scatty sense of humour that comes across well in any interaction with the audience. Equally the Hotrods are amazing as a band and seriously talented each in their own right. They opened up with an instrumental that's been buzzing 'round my head all week. I'm pretty sure it was 'Hot Rod', which I last saw done by the Dynamite Band way back. I hope someone can put me straight on that sometime 'cos it's a great tune.
I had to have me a CD and Carmen supplied me with both their first CD 'Tough Lover' and the new 'Flying Saucer Baby' along with a 10" vinyl of 'Blackjack' which although busy wrapping up after the gig Carmen took time out to sign along with the rest of the band. Very much appreciated.
A great night, great atmosphere, fantastic band. Thanks a lot folks.
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An absolute belter of a compilation of Surf and Garage Punk from Fuzz Overdose Records. Released in January 2013 this fifteen track sampler features some of the best artists recording on this Athens based label. Free download from Bandcamp.
