Censored's Club SOS - Junction 7 Nottingham 29 September 2007 From right across the region they come. From Nottingham, Derby and beyond. But most of all they come from the Censored home town of Ilkeston, or Ilkestonia as they describe it. Junction 7 in Nottingham is rammed tonight. Indie kids and mods and punks exchange banter and sip lager in the bar. They spill onto the street and hang out on the stairs. And then, finally, they cram into the upstairs auditorium itself.
"This is the first night of Censored's Club SOS".
Following on from the previous incarnation of The Great Escape, which closed its doors in May - and its going down just the way they planned it, thank you very much. Three performances of quality precede them. The recently tagged “majestic acoustician”, local boy Will Jeffrey with a class solo performance - check him out at http://www.myspace.com/willjeffery to hear tunes such as “Hookline And Sinker“ and “Travelling Man“.
Matt Censored Photo Kayne Clarke
Next up, The Arcane. They're one of the finest indie-rock bands on the Nottingham scene and they don‘t disappoint, with a strong guitar sound and well crafted tunes. Hear what we mean at http://www.myspace.com/thearcanetheband with songs such as “Seize The Day” and “Only Part Evil”. And then The Underground Heroes, who deliver wonderfully in your face vignettes about living in the identikit streets of the UK today - with an approach that their heroes The Specials or The Clash would have been proud of. Check http://www.myspace.com/undergroundheroes for a preview of what we hope will be a first single of “Alright Darlin“ and other songs such as “Skinny Twins“.
Nathan Censored Photo Kayne Clarke
And then there's a collective adrenalin rush when the trio they call Censored take to the stage. The band bound on stage and launch into a set that's as tight and fired up as any I've seen in a long time. They deliver the tunes that are known intimately by the audience and older songs - such as “SOS“ - sit well with newer tunes like “In The Presence Of The Lord”, which is destined to be a classic on its release. Then there are the crowd's favourites - “When You Come Along”, “Your Eyes Are Made Of Gold“, “Well Well Well” and the others. Not to forget the new song “Lonesome Town”, about Ilkestonia, with an incredibly addictive chorus - the sort you‘ll still be singing on Monday morning. And then there's the inevitable conclusion of Sam Cooke‘s “Shake”, complete with Chris Goring‘s drum solo.
Chris Censored Photo Kayne Clarke
Censored have made this stage their own. Its their space, an oasis of rhythm and soul quality, on which they strut and swagger and parade their tunes with panache. Because this is is more than a gig. Its a special night, about a new breed, a positive direction, a wave of creative energy that permeates through this club. The word about this scene is growing. Get some of it while you can. Rob Massey