LiveJournalScreaming Banshee Aircrew at the Coven
16 07 07 - 13:49The Coven, five years young lies at the dark heart of Luton's seedy underworld. Well actually it lives at present in the basement of a rather obscure council building.
Run by self proclaimed 'sad old Goth', and all round top bloke, DJ Nephlimbabe, the Coven endeavors to cater to a wide range of dark subversive types. Everything from from hairy metal kids thru confused punks in black thru cyber creatures from planet goggles to all out art-punk ponces.
So that would be a Goth club then - the usual diverse and friendly crowd.
DJs CovenAlex & DJ Nephilimbabe spin an eclectic mix to suit the crowd, and educate too. But this night was special. To celebrate 5 years of dark spooky fun and games the Screaming Banshee Aircrew are here to entertain the local denizens.
The Coven's cave is rather long and thin, without clear demarkation between, dancing, prancing, posing and moping spaces. The advantage of this is the room offers a long stage which suits Mister Ed and his band of merry players.
On stage the Screaming Banshee Aircrew have a full presence, with Tori brooding over her bass (and she wonders why she intimidates men!), Don tethered to his drums like some home half crazed anarcho-punk (oh hang on ...), Jo flowing from Violin to vocals, Neal hunched phantom like over his organ of bleepness, Chris tenderly strumming himself to ecstasy on lead gutar, and of course Mister Ed, a bundle of energy and expression that will soon be packaged and marketed by Evilpoppy Inc. in a convenient spray on form.
Now let's be honest, in a venue like this musical perfection is not what you are looking for. If you want to listen to perfectly delivered stadium rock then go and listen the Sisters of Mercy or whatever other dad-rock floats your boat. What you are looking for is energy and performance, and Screaming Banshee Aircrew deliver. Although they started with 'Creepy Crawlies' a track I don't like very much, most of the material here is off the new album When All is Said and Done, but it is fair to say, turned up to 11. Don's drumming shifts towards the tribal, Chris plays with depth, creativity and energy - not by numbers, and Jo's vocals lose the operatic edge and gain something a little rawer.
There were a few technical issues with the monitors, levels, and a little bit of speed inconsistency in places. But to be in the audience and not been entertained by the Screaming Banshee package would require brain death. Still there seemed to be a distinct aversion to dancing - in future venues should wire the floor up to develop regular feet shocks to get Goths moving - but to be fair art-punk scene gigs are no better.
With a member of UK Decay in the house it is fair to say that Screaming Banshee Aircrew's performance was far closer to Goths true roots in Arty Glam Punk than to the later drum machine driven drivel. They played their little hearts out, Luton responded warmly, and hopefully won't forget.
To round the evening off DJ Nephilimbabe played Physical by Adam and the Ants which gave me a chance to finally dance with some space, Luton responded warmly, and hopefully won't forget the spirit of '79.
Photo's thanks to The Coven and DJ Nephlimbabe.
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