It’s rock night at the Six Six Bar and people are arriving early in good numbers which is fantastic to see in these difficult times. The venue as ever has a warm and friendly vibe about it which makes a big difference. Openers Planet Fatale show real quality with some nice guitar work, enticing rhythms and vocals that really hit the spot. Their nuanced take on hard rock makes them memorable for all the right reasons.
Ballsy is a word often used to describe bands and here with Electric Black it fits a treat. This is a rock and roll show that taps into the very essence of the genre. We get slick licks, bass lines others would kill for and lyrics sung with infectious gusto. There’s also a drummer that entertains in a way that means they don’t really feel like they’re sat at the back. This is a performance packed full of confidence that has the crowd lapping up every note.
We’ve already seen two fantastic acts tonight and the bar has been set high but JOANovARC are a bit special. Their music has a quality about it like the bubbles in champagne or the cherry on a cake, it’s just that bit extra special. The writing is progressive and has clever little touches that gives it broad appeal. The musicianship is outstanding from tight drum work, sublime guitar playing to delicious vocals, both solo and harmonies. And when there is a hiccup (a broken string meaning a guitar change) we get a fantastic improvised bass solo that keeps that all important momentum going. The bass lines are a feature all night in fact. A cover of ‘You Oughta Know’ by Alanis Morissette is a classy addition too, in particular here the lead vocals are done with real respect to the original. In a world full of very good rock artists JOANovARC are a cut above most of the pack. Tonight they are magnificent.
Review and Photos by Gary Trueman