Breathe the pressure, come play my game I'll test ya. Psychosomatic addict, insane

Friday 19 February - saw a four person turnout at Fibbers when the Friday Nighters braved the chill winds in search of new music in York.

It's confession time, and I have to admit that I didn't take enough notice of the first two support bands to remember their names. In fairness, we only caught the final two songs from band #1, so I don't feel qualified to comment on them. Band #2 were distinctive in that they sported a trumpet player. Their vocals sounded a bit like Neil Hannon giving the overall impression of Divine Comedy playing in a Mexican cantina. They started with a couple of non-descript songs but got significantly better as they went on, playing competently and getting my toes tapping. I remember that the band's name contained the word "honey" if that's any help. Sorry.

Any way up, the next band were 3 Foot Ninja (and here), a young indie/punk trio based in the wilds of the North Yorks Moors/Middlesbrough area. The band is fronted by Jordan Bell on guitar and vocals, with his brother Joe on bass and Kane Waterfield on drums. They played straight-forward hardcore rock. I wouldn't class them as punk, their songs were far too melodic and their lyrics way too thoughtful "I even love your bones". They finished with a fantastic cover of The Prodigy's Breathe. Quite brilliant and highly recommended.

Top of the bill were Surprise...Fire, a five-piece from York comprising; Joshua Finn (vocals), Matthew Clarkson (guitar and backing vocals), Freddie Holden (bass), William Illingworth (guitar), and Sam Knowles (drums). They've been together since August 2008 and last year played the Leeds/Reading Festivals as well undertaking a UK tour. Certainly an energetic band with Josh clambering up the sides of the stage and at one point ejecting himself into the crowd. Even for a young band, they show considerable talent with two and three part vocals on, I think, Mountains. I didn't catch the titles of any other songs but there was plenty of musically mood changes, with picking patterns leading into heavier guitar sections, quiet spots with soft vocals, strong choruses, changes in pace, and guitar play-off between clean picking and heavy crunch.

Together we'll stand, divided we'll fall / Come on now people, let's get on the ball

Friday 5 February - There being a bit of a dearth of live music at the moment, we opted to go for something off the beaten-track and ended up in The Spread Eagle in Walmgate to listen to Sheffield four-piece R&B outfit The Hummingbirds. Now, it's been a while since I was last in this particular pub. I seem to remember having a meal there and eating a bucket of prawns for my starter. Anyway, I do recall that their range and quality of beers was pretty good and tonight that memory proved correct as I supped on pints of Marston’s Pedigree whilst Andy partook of Jennings Cross Buttock Ale, mmm.

Anyway, back to the music, and The Hummingbirds took to the 'stage' about 21:15. Actually the band; Bob "Saxbob" Swift (tenor and soprano saxophone), John "the Revelator" Houghton(five-string bass and vox), Stu "Steelman" Arfield (lead guitar), and John Scott(drums), were positioned behind some tables and playing to the front door. No worries though as we could position ourselves to see them easily enough. They were good, very good. Bob's sax playing was a tad too loud, and Stu's guitar was a bit muted, but he played like a demon whilst remaining almost perfectly still, resplendent in what looked like a Crombie coat. What style! I'm not fantastic at classic R&B tracks so I've little idea of what they were playing. For sure there was T Bone Shuffle by T Bone Walker, Double Trouble by Otis Rush, and Let's Work Together By Wilbert Harrison which was later a hit for Canned Heat and The Kentucky Headhunters for the soundtrack to the movie, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man. Lynn and I thought that Roxy Music also covered it, but after a bit of digging I found that this was a slightly modified re-cut of Wilbert's 1962 single Let's Stick Together (same tune?) that was later a hit for Bryan Ferry in 1976. I live and learn.

Highly recommended.