Ghost Woman at Bobik's in May

 

What I Did on Monday Night - Ghost Woman at Bobiks in The Punchbowl, Jesmond

 

I'm going to gigs this year. After a couple of decidedly dry years during Lockdown. It's partly something that I think will be generally good for my health and partly something I can afford to do because I'm drinking less. Anyway it's going well. Monday night was my sixth meaningful gig of 2023, in addition to my regular Jazz Jams. So far they've all been great too.

The Punchbowl Bar is in Jesmond, near to Jesmond Dene the miraculous natural public park established by William Armstrong in the 1860's. It's one of the best pubs I know and if it were closer I'd be a regular. It's got a nice range of beers, a great kitchen, friendly regulars and a cool interior. It just feels good being there. I arrived early and went upstairs to Bobik's, which is the small club venue they have inside. It's for band events mostly. They have a cool long bar at the back. Room for between 100 and 150 I'd imagine and a low stage. It's the best kind of place to see a band on their way up.

I forget the name of the support band but they were great. I chatted to their lead singer who was standing at the bar when I came in. A highly vivacious and friendly young lad in his early twenties with a broad grin, excellent teeth and a cracking haircut which made me think he was Noddy Holder's younger brother in 1973. He didn't mind the comparison, in fact seemed rather flattered when I told him. They set off to play.

They, whoever they were, the Something Something Band, were rather good. They sounded very, very 1973 and Noddy Holder's young brother had a fine shrieking, rasping howl that made me think of Ozzy. The band didn't sound like Sabbath but they did sound like an early Seventies Rawk band, which isn't a specialist area of knowledge of mine but I would hesitate a guess at Bad Company, Uriah Heep or Humble Pie. I've never heard a single note by any of these bands but this lot, whoever they were, made this sound like an error on my part and one I should amend. The band were fun, the audience enjoyed them and so did I. They're off on their first European tour soon and I wish them well.

Headliners Canadian duo Ghost Woman came on after a short break. I do know them and their records. They've already put out a couple of albums and they're excellent if slightly illusory because they don't sound at all what they do onstage. I've never had quite such a confusing gig experience and can't imagine I'll ever have one quite like that again.

So, on record they sound like a Psychedelic American guitar band from '66 or '67 Moby Grape, Buffalo Springfield and the updated equivalent Brian Jonestown Massacre. Kind of mellow.  

Onstage though they're anything but. They're something else and altogether a much more intense experience. First of all they look mean. Their gear is set up so their drums and guitar are facing each other with him on his guitar with one of those curly retro guitar cable that looks like 70s curly telephone wiring and her in her t-shirt and jeans and shoulder length hair. Frankly they're a hot and mean looking couple, the kind that Quentin Tarantino would write dialogue for.

They may not be a couple but they certainly act like one onstage and if they're really getting the hots for each other and don't really care who knows it. He looks like he'd beat the shit out of you as soon as look at you while she seems like she'd probably back him up and get a few kicks in too once you were down. They're both covered in tattoos. They're probably very nice but they certainly don't care to give you that impression and they don't talk much either.

She, the mean rock chick drummer, is wearing a Gun Club t-shirt and that's the clue to what they sound like onstage. They're 80s and 90s American Jack Daniels and heroin addiction alternative rock. They're Gun Club, Cramps, Pussy Galore, Royal Trux, White Stripes, The Kills, Boss Hogg and all those guys. Wrapped up with a bow. you get the impression the syringes are lying around waiting for them backstage so they can have a hit before heading back to their sleazy motel room. OK, there aren't any motels, never mnd sleazy ones in this part of Jesmond, but you get the image they definitely wish to convey.

They're relentless frankly and they barely pause for a second of their forty five set. They have eyes only for each other rather than us and this seems to be because they're horny rather than shy. This makes the whole spectacle even more impressive and I head for the exit before they finish as it's a school night, more than satisfied because they're cool, and smart and I've more than had my money's worth. They're certainly ones to watch because I get the impression they're only going to get better, and bigger. I'm glad I saw them early.