Live music review - Pull up the Roots @ The Old Queen's Head 24.09.08

Once again, Broccoli Music took over the upstairs room at The Old Queen's Head for their successful 'Pull up the Roots' night.  The concept is to break new bands in the capital in slightly more comfortable surroundings than is the norm (naming no names Camden Barfly...).  Entry is free, and punters more often than not find themselves lounging in one of the venue's comfy chairs veiwing the stage, adding a certain living room vibe to the whole affair.  On Wednesday, music came courtesy of The Black Lies, Carlotti, Rock City Sixteen and De Shamonix, with the gaps plugged ably by the excellent Coathanger DJs who entertained with dancefloor indie a-go-go.

Indie-punk foursome Black Lies swaggered onto the stage to the strains of their track 'My House is Your House'.  So far, so Arctic Monkeys, and it was this sound that they stuck to resolutely throughout their set, assisted by a small cabal of hardcore fans leaping about at the front of the room.  It's being done plenty elsewhere, but these boys give it a sense of fun at the very least.

Carlotti offered something a little more fulsome - there was even a mandolin at one point!  Melodic rock with a fine country/blues edge, they were my pick of the crop for the night.  Grabbing debut single 'Your Guess Ain't as Good as Mine' on iTunes is a highly-recommended move.

Of all the acts performing, it was Rock City Sixteen that wore their references the most proudly on their chests.  Their myspace is the epitome of self-conscious 50s cool, and their music owes much to the work of Blondie and, though they don't admit to it in their list of influences, The Strokes.  Their set was all angular guitars, overdrive, and some very very large shades indeed.  The crowd lapped it up.

Last but by no means least were De Shamonix, who blasted through an excellent set to the appreciation of a sizeable audience.  I had been told beforehand that they knew how to own a stage, and own it they did - stagecraft is often the big differentiator between a band making it or not, and De Shamonix offered it up in spadefuls to round out a fine night's entertainment.  

Verdict: You may not be a fan of broccoli as a vegetable, but you can't fault it as a clubnight...

Where next:

Black Lies: @ Monto Water Rats, Fri. 31st October

Carlotti:  @ the Hope & Anchor Fri. 3rd October

Rock City Sixteen: @ the Ryhthm Factory Tues. 7th October

De Shamonix: @ Monto Water Rats, Sat. 29th November

Pull up the Roots Thurs. 20th October @ The Old Queen's Head