A band to watch - The Eyelids

I was very impressed by Stiff Little Finger's support act in Falmouth. Dave said he'd seen them before last year when they supported The Damned in Falmouth. Dave's like that. He's so committed he arranges his holidays to coincide with his fave bands touring. Anyway, The Eyelids are a female four-piece outfit who play paired down spooky psychobilly punk. I think this stuff sounds easy to do but have a strong suspicion it isn't. I'd heard of The Eyelids before because I'd stumbled across their MySpace page and they're already World famous in Cornwall but wasn't sure if they played my sort of stuff.

I am now. They definitely do. I reckon the double bass gives them a USP - a unique sound proposition. It's certainly very distinctive and I reckon the four of them have really got something. Kelly's got a great voice, Michelle has to be one of the smiliest drummer's you'll ever see while she blats out complicated rhythms, Josie's guitar is suitably spooky and Louise's bass is sublime - altogether malicious.The drums and bass sweep you along like you're Piglet and The Eyelids are Tigger. They've been favourably compared to The Cramps and sound like Catholic High School girls going bad in the graveyard. But in a good way, y'know?.

The Eyelids are gigging extensively throughout the peninsula and the sub-continent this autumn and doing some recording.

Don't give them too clean a sound, though, Mr Sound Engineer. You need that live feeling to get The Eyelid's scary psychojilly sound right. just let me know when you've got some MP3s to buy.

Stiff Little Fingers rock Falmouth

Stiff Little Fingers played in Falmouth last Saturday (15th August) and of course we went to see them. As hardcore fan Mr Larcombe says, "It's worth going up to Bristol to see 'em because they're consistently so good." He's right, too, so I met up with the usual suspects of Gary and Dave outside the Princess Pavilion in Falmouth at 2000 hrs. Julie, who has at times expressed a fondness for Cliff Richard, came along, too. Gary has persuaded her that The Stranglers are a great live act and after hearing so much about SLF she had to see what all the fuss was about.

As Jake said to us that night, Falmouth is a long way west but I hope the reception they got will see Stiff Little Fingers down this way again soon. Dave was on holiday from Gloucester and looked fit and tanned despite camping in Cornwall for a fortnight. Mr Larcombe and Julie were staying in a guest house across the road and took three minutes to walk to the venue. I had travelled the furthest from Liskeard but was staying with my family in Goonhavern that weekend. It was so much easier than driving up to Bath or Bristol and back the same evening.

The tour shirts looked good, though - USA, New Zealand, Australia, Belfast, Falmouth.

I have many happy associations with Falmouth. I was a student at the art college from '81 to '82. Also, some of my forebears had houses, photographic shops and art studios down there. One would burn his photographic shops down for the insurance but his son founded the volunteer fire brigade so we're about even. And Stiff Little Fingers are still burning.

Julie was quite impressed. I don't think the crowd knew when to shout "Do-do-do!" or "Go for it!" as well as we seasoned Fingers fans did but they were definitely enjoying themselves. But they didn't play for long enough! All too soon it was time for the final "Alternative Ulster." I wish they'd found time for "Listen", another of my favourites.

Afterwards, as I walked back to my car (I'd parked opposite the art college) I fell into conversation with some other concert goers. They saw my old leather jacket and grinned, shouting "Fingers?" to which I replied in the affirmative.

"When they came on," one said, "I thought, oh no, they're past it but then they started to play and I was blown away." (For those of you who don't already know, Fingers come on after the rousing intro of "Go for it" and then blast you with four high octane songs). "Man, they were unbelievable! I love Old Skool stuff!" We shook hands and parted complete strangers but the best of mates, united by a common experience and an appreciation of the power of Guitar and Drum.-

(Picture of Ian leaping into the air courtesy of Tractor Boy)