Working in a nightclub means that usually a weekend night out is a no go. However this week I managed to score a Friday night off at the last minute and decided I wasn’t going to do the usual of sitting in at home, with a cup of tea and this weeks copy of NME. No, I was going out.
When I thought it was going to be another tiresome night in Sumo (Empire’s Friday club night) the cup of tea seemed tempting. (I’d like to point out, I have nothing against Sumo or Empire, I’ve just overdone it in my time!) Then I got a Twitter notification through. A Mancunian three piece messaged me and just happened to let me know they’d be playing Mink on that very Friday. I was wary at first, and so before responding to their pretty personal invitation did a bit of background research to ensure I would actually enjoy this band. Well it turns out that their youtube account whet my appetite and it was decided, I was going to see Turrentine Jones.
As I had spoken to the band directly and not seen any sort of event information, I was delightfully surprised when Weird Shapes took to the stage before Turrentine Jones. Totally unsure of what to expect, the first band eased me into the night. It was easy listening at it’s very best (would recommend catching them if you can!).
Following Weird Shapes, TJ blew my mind with a powerful opening number that really got the audience going. It’s always amazing when a little known band perform an intimate gig for the first time in a town. That teamed with the fact that people danced to a band they hadn’t heard of before just screams success.
As the band tore their way through the set, it became clear that they should be big. With a sound that landed somewhere perfectly between The Rolling Stones and The Doors, these boys had tapped into something that I personally loved. It was clear I wasn’t the only one. My friend that accompanied me to Mink that night downloaded their album before they’d even finished playing! Now we do not usually download an album this soon into discovering a band. It’s more of a case of listening to them A LOT on youtube for a couple of weeks, but this gig excited us!
Lead vocalist, Julian Neville had the charm and charisma we all look for in a leading man and it was clear that he was loving every second of being on stage! Teamed up with Thomas Scotson on the electric organ and Rich Watts on the drums, this threesome created noises that sent intense shivers of rapture through everyone in the room that night.
Definitely a band to watch out for in the future! Check out their newest single through the link below!
http://youtu.be/DNAkxyd_6RM
