Rocksperth Drives - the northern trek

The first (last and only) time I saw Doll Eyes they were doing a 'last time with lead vox' set and after that they went off radar for a while. Then I hear through IG that a band called Donna Jo (who I appear to be following) were doing their first gig. First time I've followed a band before they existed - I must be getting good at this. 🤣

A'ight - review. I like. A chunk rockier than I was expecting, and OMG where has Holly been hiding that voice? 🤯🤩 Quite impressed with band professionality - talking to the punters between songs, playing through technical issues (and calmly making light of them with a quip) - GJ! A couple covers - they new, I can allow that, plus I seem to be becoming more cover tolerant, plus plus, mid-set I was thinking 'wouldn't it be awesome if they did Error by The Warning'. Can see myself getting to know this band - hopefully they are thinking of putting stuff on Bandcamp. Will see again. Especially if they can stray down south. 😁

Next were Maple. Rocksperth likes funk, apparently - but I'm guessing it has to be good, and Maple are good. The overlay of the more traditional rock guitar over the waca-waca if the funk guitar was brilliant. And then the sax guy comes in. Pretty sure I've seen their chick vox in another band recently. Large-ish band works together and the set was done really, really well. Will see again, and I might even look for these guys. That was unexpectedly fun! Video colouring courtesy of the usual suspect.

Navy June were the third set. Outta nowhere (I think Bella promotions 😁 was the first I heard of 'em), and now I've seen 'em twice in the last week or so. A cover of The Chain (Fleetwood) had the Indy rocking - that song is nearly as old as me, and they were all young'ns - but most of the rest was all theirs. I do like the fact that lead g recognises the 'missing solo' 🎸aspect of that song. I like Navy June. Vox has a rock voice, there's solos, drummer is a pounder, and they seem really good together. Video did not work for this set 😢

Finishing the night were Kenny Drives. I have to admit I still don't get it - but I'm very obviously in the minority. Too bland for me, and then the cover medley - Freebird and Sultans of Swing mash??? It sort of worked, a bit. Finished with am I ever gonna see your face again. Nope, finished with an original (there was 2x 'one more song'). I must be missing something, the punters loved these guys. I got some IG size vids, but the songvid was on wrong settings. 😢

hmmmm, given there were literal screams when the post-gig PA started playing Wham's Last Christmas and punters surged back to the floor to dance, the appreciation of good music is obviously not a prerequisite for 21c life. 🤣

Report card: Video quality has increased to D+. I've now managed to dial in some useful settings, but then switched them off for 1½ sets. Also I used a weird resolution for some reason, so even the good ones aren't that good. "Still plenty of room for improvement". At least I got there on time!