Chris Long, a well known champion of local Manchester music through his work for BBC Manchester kicks of the evening by announcing this is the last BBC Introducing gig of 2010 at the Ruby Lounge. Christmas alarm bells ring loudly in my ears and the realisation 2011 is only a whisker away brings on a cold sweat. These feelings are quickly banished by several gulps of lager and the anticipation of what promises to be a great evening of free – yes free, music.
On comes the opening act of the evening, A Boy called Doris who in fact is actually a man called Tony Bolton. He has clearly dressed up for the occasion and wouldn’t look out of place as an extra on the Mighty Boosh. His style is fitting for his music, different and quirky. It’s a shame the crowd is thin on the ground this evening, I can only put this down to the shock of the freezing weather and people deciding to stay at home to hug their radiators. Time for the thermal pants to come out me thinks!
Following A Boy called Doris are Becca and the Broken Biscuits, who are the first of two acts tonight from independent Manchester record label Debt records. Debt have a strong ethos (like a co-op) about music and the industry it works in. It is obvious Becca and the Broken Biscuits are seasoned performers as leading lady Becca Williams quickly builds a rapport with the now growing crowd. They open with their new single ‘Train Driver’ which is an upbeat number reflecting on all the things Williams wanted to be growing up – strangely none being a singer songwriter. Although a biscuit down the music doesn’t suffer and the double bass fits perfectly with Williams on guitar. The next few songs are of a much quieter folky nature which is more their style.
After a quick dash to the bar the headline band of the night and the second act of Debt records are on, Louis Barabbas and The Bedlam Six. I’m amazed by how many there are, I count seven and feeling like a fool sees the connection between band name and number, hmm. Front man Louis Barabbas is sporting an amazing beard but all the band all look fantastic and you can’t help feel they’ve just stepped off a horse drawn cart hailing from Texas 1900’s stylee. I’m half expecting to see a tumble weed blow across the stage; if it does that would indeed be genius. They open with one of my favourite tracks ‘Mother’ which sets the tone for the rest of the evening. The sound is big, energetic and theatrical with guitars, trombones, piano, and drums etc flying all over. They avoid singing about love in the conventional way and instead play with the darker side of lust and deception – I love it.