Alcatraz (Houseband)

16th January 2008

Jenn Normandale             Vocals 

Graham Haswell               Lead Guitar/B.Vocals 

Lee Tucker                       Bass

Mark Dodds                     Drums/B.Vocals

I wasn't going to do a review tonight as I wasn't sure I'd be finishing work in time. As it was I arrived with just two numbers of the first set remaining, but what I was about to hear impressed me that much that I had to put fingers to the keyboard. It is very rare that we have female vocally lead bands at The Quaker, but here we are two weeks on the trot. Alcatraz were performing here for the first time. They have appeared at The Forum under a different guise, as a Led Zep tribute band. Their website on Myspace has three of their own numbers to listen to, but also describes their musical roots as being embedded in 70's blues based rock - pure and simple.

Set 1. ( of what was left)

Instead of cash registers heralding in Pink Floyd's 'Money', Lee's bass line had that familiar riff, but what came was a much heavier rockier feel to both guitar work and vocals. This succeeded in not only altering one's mindset away from drifting into Us and Them, but gave us a real insight into their ability to change solo guitar work and vocal interpretation to their own style. This was reinforced by leaping next into a Led Zeppelin medley and even managed to include 'The Hunter', during an energetic and really very good compilation of excellent vocals and lead guitar work ably backed by a consistent rhythm section. Jenn does really have an excellent 'rock' voice, in pitch terms not far off what Robert Plant achieves but spot on in terms of inflection and passion.

Set 2.

The second set led off with Muddy Water's 'Baby, please don't go', but much more of the AC/DC influence. The group appeared to be enjoying themselves and were perfectly happy to extend songs to include guitar and drum solos at a drop of a hat. Even Graham stated after their performance, that no song ever was performed the same way, but it is mark of the tightness of the group, that they are able to ad lib much of the bridges between verses. Another Led Zeppelin assortment followed with 'Heartbreaker' claiming the majority influence. This was already the highlight to me, as use of echo on the vocals was timed to perfection...excellent!! David Bowie's 'Suffragette City' followed with barely a breath drawn and with much higher energy than even Bowie could muster. The speed change to the chorus at the end of the song was very good, and if I was to be picky, just went on a little too long. With an equally extended finish and  to the delight of the dancing crew ( Jenn joining in), came 'Jumping Jack Flash' by the Rolling Stones. It is very hard to not be blown over by the sheer enthusiasm of the band on this number. To end the second set, barring encores, came 'Whole Lotta Love', again a Zep song. This was something else!! This was their banker!! This was their great finish!! This was just so good!! The vocals and the entire backing was bang on the money. A female Robert Plant?..I think so.

The encore at the behest of 'Hoy another one in', consisted of Queens of the Stone Age's 'No-one Knows' and 'Led Zep's 'Rock & Roll'. Even here there was little resistance to adding bits of 'Hangman' amongst the guitar and bass solos.

Let me make no bones about it..these guys are good! It is due deference to The Quaker that they chose to compile their entire set of covers. Personally, having heard their own numbers on their website, they could have slipped the odd one in. They are off to Amsterdam at the end of March. They will be back later in the year and with more advanced notice, I would hope that the audience  would double in size.. you don't know what you are missing.