Battle of the longest band names!!

You Say Party We Say Die/ The Victorian English Gentlemans Club.
Manchester - Roadhouse 14/11/06.

Usual routine scuttle from work to catch the train to Manchester. Had to get the latter train this time (6pm) too busy in work. Get there 7 pm book into the Crown & Anchor and just have a couple of relaxing pints. I dont have time to go for a meal so the statergy this time is to go to a Chinese or Indian after the show. Get to the Roadhouse about 8:15 where there's a bit of a queue forming to my surprise, anyway soon get in. I buy a couple of beers and have a chat with a couple of guys by the merch desk who it turned out were from YSPWSD. I tell them I think ther's a lot of good stuff coming from their part of the world at the mo, which they say there always has been but it's promoted better now. Anyway I say see-ya and take up residence stage right (Louise' side). A band comes on stage (I didn't know there was another band playin') and introduce themselves as "the Suns" they play a decent set fairly standard rocky stuff but pretty good (I've just discovered they're actually from Chester, Ha!)

The Veg club come up next Louise is wearing the same dress with the black cross as last time I saw them. They start with Lou standing right in front of me holding her bass above her head while Emma drums the strings stood above her on the boxes at the front of the stage, and launch into "stupid as wood". Which is my fave on the album at the moment.

I enjoyed them more this time because I know the material now, they also play a new song called "pedestrian" which sounded good. At one point Lou and Adem put their guitars together to create some good effects.

I'm realy liking this band now they have different quirky sound and are good to see live. I like the way Lou plays bass and Adems vocal style, Emma is solid (no Janet, but then no one else is). I get the impression even though they're assured on-stage and pleasant to chat too they are still feeling their way into the rock'n'roll life but doing it their way. Good stuff guys keep it goin'.

Next up YSPWSD, by now the place has filled up nicely, enough room for some dancy action and packed enough for a good atmosphere. They take the stage with Becky wearing her trademark eye mask. I recognise the two guys I was talking to before the show as the guitarist and the drummer. They are a realy good upbeat band, Becky is very theatrical on-stage often droping to her knees then up again. She can also go into a sort of ballerina mode where she will emphasise the song more poetically with her hands.

As with TVEGC I recognise the material better this time round (I saw them earlier in the year, not long after the release of their album) So I think I enjoy it more, they too play a couple of new songs which fit into the set well. If you note from the pics they use the same drum kit as the Vic club which was cool.

At the end I head back to the merch table and buy the dual "A" side single on red vynil with a new song by both bands. I get Lou to sign her side and Becky to sign the YSPWSD side.

All in all a realy good night, so I head off and find a Chinese restaurant in China town still serving and end the evening quietly with some good food and a bottle of wine. (I had to get the food ref in Andy, you'd have been disapointed otherwise).