Free rock ‘n’ roll has been quickly been gaining a reputation around Liverpool since its inception around last year. People pretty much know what they’re going to get at this night; the sound is often a bit tinny, the bands (and most of the crowd) all have a 50s style that would make the cast of American Graffiti look out of date, and there will at least be one member of Zombina and the Skeletones wandering around.
This night is no different, with the headlining act being rough rhythm and blues/rockabilly band El Toro featuring the Skeletones’ very own guitarist ‘Doc Horror’ on bass
After a rather uninvolving start to the night with an acoustic singer guy whining about stuff and generally not sounding very good, the night truly starts to experience some good music from local lads The Lees. Despite having a rather tame name, they open with a number I was reliably informed was entitled ‘Don’t Fuck With The Law’. Imagine Johnny Cash being trapped in a drunken stumble home with a member of The Coral and you’ve got a good idea of how The Lees sound. It’s local ‘Liverpool’ music as you expect to hear it; sixties-influences, brown-ale sound, and lots of cynical self-mockery between and during songs.
However, The Lees aren’t really suited to the crowd of fantastic freaks at Mello Mello, and the atmosphere noticeably goes up a notch once the stupendously ghastly sounding and ghastly looking Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons get going. Hailing from ‘dannnn south’ these sound exactly like the Zombina and the Skeletones used to (there they are again).
The crowd love them, but they were more than good enough for people to pay good money for. The lead singer, complete with feline hair ears and furry tail fully lived up to all the expectation and merchandise that they brought with them. A smart young lad would keep an eye on this band.
El Toro then had to follow them, but thankfully (think of Liverpool’s pride at being upstaged by a bunch of southerners [crying, crying, crying]) they delivered a solid, pounding dose of rock ‘n’ roll to quash the uprising. Lead singer ‘Jimmy O’ stalked the stage in a sinister pair of black sunglasses as the rest of band hammered out I-IV-V rhythms. To quote my friend, who’d tagged along for the gig: “The last band was mint” – and who would argue with that?!
Overall, this was one of the best Free Rock ‘n Roll nights at Mello Mello in a while. Although, ZATS’ influence still looms, it has become clear – to me at least – that that band is coming to a close, and that El Toro (with a new album just completed and released) me be able to steal the market.
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