Dirt Track Records

Fri 10 Feb 2006

Launch Party

Tonight Dirt Track Records officially launched showcasing all their bands. With no headliner all the bands got a great turn out and response at this sold out show as the night's bands got slowly heavier and heavier. Go to www.dirttrackrecords.com to find out more about the label.

The Silk

• Munch – Vocals/Guitar
• Dan – Bass
• Joe – Drums

The Silk

First to take the stage and for some it might be a daunting task but that wasn’t the case tonight for trio The Silk, they were so confident they walked out without their t-shirts on and Dan appeared only in his boxer shorts. Kicking straight into the music The Silk showed what they were made of which was a mixture of rock/punk and even tinges of metal, yet the thing that made it come together so well was the smiles on the bands faces as they tore across the stage truly entertaining the crowd. With only a short set maybe not the best thing to do was talk so much in between songs but who cares it added to their set. A great way to start the evening.

Civilian

• Jodie – Vocals
• Jamie D – Guitar
• Jas – Bass
• Kevin – Drums

Civilian

Having only been a band for a little over a year Civilian showed experience and confidence beyond the age of their band. With little movement onstage they let their music do the real talking and staying clear of the familiar and breaking out into their own sound Civilian produce a sound they can call their own. Jodie’s vocals carried the band as Jamie, Jas and Kevin hold the band together like glue. Tonight’s bands just seem to be getting better and better with the crowd now in full spirits and praising the band after every song.

Mosquetta.

• Matthew Vowels – Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard
• Jake McCarey – Guitar
• James Mardon – Bass/Vocals
• Martyn Walker – Drums

Mosquetta

The first thing you notice is as it says on their website Muse are one of their main influences and it shows in the vocals of Matthew yet at times you ear much more of a metal assault as James screams in. Being the most lively of bands so far onstage this reflected into the crowd as small groups formed into mosh pits. Then Mosquetta showed they were more than just a rock band as Matt pushed away his guitar to play keys and play keys he did. Tonight with the sell out crowd in front of them Mosquetta won a lot of new fans.

Unused Toys

• Aaron Haverson – Vocals
• Tom Wenborn – Guitar
• Ryan Stuart – Guitar
• Mat Wilson – Bass
• Dan Harrison – Drums

Unused Toys

Their was a buzz going round the Phoenix even before Unused Toys even got onto the stage and the moment they kicked into it you could see why. Aaron and Mat threw themselves around the stage and even dancing together.  Their uplifting pop/punk got the crowd jumping along with the band. Aaron and Tom were definitely the centre of attention yet Matt, Ryan and Dan were equally as important in the overall performance and sound of Unused Toys. Tonight was finally in full swing.

Zubina

• Dave – Vocals
• Paul – Guitar
• Chris – Bass
• Si – Drums

Zubina

It’s been sometime since I’ve seen Zubina live and the first thing you notice about the band is that Dave no longer is clean cut, far from it, now with long hair and a beard yet their sound hadn’t changed for sure. They still had those bouncy funk sound that you couldn’t help but move to. With the crowd now in full swing after Unused Toys pumping them up Zubina had an easy job and they cruise through their set with ease. Brining a lot of their own fans along with them the response also was great for them. Zubina don’t really play that often but when they do it’s well worth seeing them live.

Idiom

• Matt Sharland – Vocals
• Little Kris – Guitar
• G Bird 5000 - Bass
• Dan Harrison – Drums

Idiom

So what’s happened to the band in little over a month since I saw them supporting Mendeed? Maybe it’s the bigger stage? Who knows but tonight Idiom have moved themselves on to the next level. With everything that little bit better than before Idiom were able to control the crowd and get some real pits going. Little Kris didn’t seem that little the way he was shredding the guitar and jumping around the stage providing the core to Idiom’s sound. As the night’s proceedings got heavier and heavier (as planned) Idiom were the perfect band to get everyone pumped for Rapeseed.

Rapeseed

• Oz – Vocals
• Ross – Guitar
• Dan - Bass
• Joe – Drums

Rapeseed

The night was finished off by Rapeseed easily the heaviest band of the evening. As the band made their way onto the stage the chants for Oz rang out around the Phoenix and when finally he did hit the stage he and Rapeseed proved why most people are calling them Exeter’s best metal act. Wearing a Soulfly top Oz’s vocals at times weren’t that far a field from the mighty Max Cavelera’s himself. Demanding the intention of all Dan pulled face at anyone in site and raised the horns at the end of every song.

Hidden away behind his kit Joe beat the shit out of his kit while Ross even though quite static onstage shredded away. As Oz leapt from the stage to sing the majority of the set from the barrier he enticed a great response from the crowd, finishing off the night with style.