RGG July 2015 - p.37
Stourbridge heroes The Wonder Stuff are set to join Birmingham
Indie loons The Twang next month at the Wulfrun Hall Support
comes from ‘Cow punk gospel blues’ outfit Rhino & The Ranters
Ok let’s start with a brief history lesson The Wonder Stuff
formed back in
and actually celebrated their twenty ninth
birthday this year (though they were inactive between their
split and
reformation) Anyone who caught the band at
their Sleigh The UK gigs a couple of years back will know that they
are very much still alive and kicking though only singer Miles
Hunt remains from the original four piece line up Sadly fellow
original members Rob ‘The Bass Thing’ Jones and Martin Gilks are
no longer with us while guitarist Malcolm Treece
departed in December
That said the current line up hold
their own with violinist Erica Nockalls providing a colourful stage
presence
Blending the big guitars and emotional swagger of Brit pop with
a subtle but clearly felt dance friendly pulse The Twang quickly
rose to fame in the U K after making a splash on the club scene
and earning the respect of the music press The Twang were
formed in
in Birmingham by singer Phil Etheridge and
bassist Jon Watkin under the name Neon Twang Inspired by
guitar bands such as Oasis and the Streets as well as "Madchester"
acts like Happy Mondays Neon Twang were created as a reaction
to the dance music that was sweeping the U K at the time and the band developed a reputation
for melodic but straightforward guitar based rock and an unpretentious approach (As Etheridge
told a reporter "I ain't going to sing about rivers man I don't live by a river I live by a canal and
there's bikes in it ")
Rhino and the Ranters are infamous for their high octane live sets and have been exciting audiences
across the UK since they were formed by Ryan Webb in London in
Their raucous delivery
and on stage charisma have won them a loyal army of fans Their music has been described as
Cow Punk Gospel Blues a mixture of Roots Rock and Roll and Bluegrass Difficult to pigeonhole
their sound is simply Ranter Music There is no one else like them
Two West Midlands Indie giants get together to
co-headline at the Wulfrun Hall this July with some well
known faces playing support!
Just send an email with
Wonder
in the subject
to:
WIN TICKETS!
Celebrating
Years
r
gg
since
1995
