Brute Force / MistyÕs Big Adventure @ The Cellar 5/5/04

 

MistyÕs Big Adventure are a top ten band waiting to happen.  They have tunes, vibes, lyrics and quality to rival anyone currently residing there.  Fronted by Grandmaster Gareth and featuring an array of musicians Jools Holland would be proud of, MistyÕs at times make an almost perfect noise.  It is impossible to tie this down to any one element of their multi-faceted sound.  The combination of sax, trumpet and scratch DJ gives them uniqueness, whilst the more conventional instruments of guitars, drums and keyboards are utilised brilliantly.

 

Drawing influences from bands as diverse as The Beatles, The Specials and Captain Beefheart, Grandmaster Gareth and his merry mob are constantly exploding their happy bombs in the minds of any onlookers.  Failing to smile during a MistyÕs Big Adventure set is now considered a medical definition of Riga Mortis.  Their single ÔI Am Cool With A Capital CÕ is a stand out tonight, as is GarethÕs tribute to compilation tapes, ÔHome TapingÕs Killing MusicÕ.  Tonight, as always, MistyÕs were simply brilliant.

 

The crowds disappointment at MistyÕs curtailed set was soon allayed when Brute Force took the stage, backed by the entire MistyÕs band.  Bedecked in a dapper suit and mesmerising eyebrows, Brute carried on exactly where MistyÕs left off.  His opening song, ÔHelloÕ was the perfect example of how to use measured tweeness to get an audience onside without ever going over the edge into self indulgence.

 

His set continued in the same vein, including a rather bizarre duet where his daughter played the role of his wife and his last two songs, ÔThe King of FuhÕ and ÔTapeworm of LoveÕ which were genius slices of 60Õs melodies brought bang up to date by a intricate musical mind and a mad 9 piece ensemble.

 

Once again TrailerPark succeeds with the business of bringing unabashed quality to Oxford.