Meow Meows and The Slackers - 15th May

It was a horrendous night in Brighton as I made my way along the seafront to the Engine Rooms, and being my first visit to the venue I was a little lost when I asked people outside a bar where it is. The lad stepped aside to reveal a hand painted sign stating that I had in fact found the entrance to my desired destination.
Much to everyone’s relief the doors opened a little after seven and we shivered as we took in the warmth, and walking down a spiral staircase I actually got a little nervous – the place is dark, mysterious and underground. I took it all in, the little rooms with sofas off to the side and the dancing pole that I suspected was either a construction fault or a deliberate attempt to add to the quirkiness of this place. Chris Murray was playing over the speaker as the Meow Meows set themselves up to play.
With two singers and so many instruments it would be easier to just say they didn’t have a tambourine player crammed onto the stage as well. They played some upbeat ska tunes that had some of the – notably male dominated – audience dancing around the space in the venue that had not yet filled. I couldn't help but notice at this point that they did in fact resemble a group of pigeons in the park and I found myself giggling away at the funny dancing. Not for too long though, the Meow Meows were a captivating band, dancing amongst themselves and obviously enjoying making the music that they did very well. Brilliantly put together, brilliantly played.
The place filled up a bit more towards eight o’clock as The Slackers set up their array of instruments, and appeared to have a spot of bother with the microphones. After all was ready, the five men from NYC, casually, unannounced, begun their two hour set. To a cheering crowd they eased into their first two songs without saying a word to the audience, who didn’t seem to mind, the room filled with bodies bouncing in time to classic songs like ‘Married Girl’, ‘Bin Waiting’ and ‘Sooner or Later’.
Their appearance was wonderfully unique, bassist Marcus Geard sporting a white tux with a matching white bowler hat, supporting his bass on a stool and playing it upright in a way I have honestly never before witnessed and thought was utterly fantastic!
Lead vocalist Vic Ruggiero was on top form, his clear, strong voice not wavering at all. There is definately something different about his vocals that I just can’t pin down, but they are every bit as wonderful live as they are on record. Glen Pine shared his voice for a lot of the songs as well, I don’t about anyone else, but I was mesmerised by his facial expressions! Saxophonist Dave Hillyard wore a smile under his hat all night, clearly loving the atmosphere - which was incredible through the whole set.
Before an encore featuring a much sought after ‘Sarah’, they played ‘Peadophilia’ which they followed with an awe inspiring instrumental, in which each musician shared their talent and Pine and Hillyard took a wander through the crowd with their instruments. Who absolutely loved it. The band worked with their audience throughout the night, Geard reaching and shaking hands with the audience in intervals between songs, the band having a bit of banter on the stage and even inviting someone up to sing for Glen in ‘Sarah’, only for the poor lad to discover the microphone was off. They shared a hug and he hopped off the stage. This was a fine example of the camaraderie felt on this evening.
To summarise, they played fantastically, and it was wonderful to see a band enjoying what they were doing, and being able to play their instruments well. As a member of the audience, I not only felt I was watching them, I was with them. Like Vic Ruggiero said, everybody had ‘ska fever’ or even ‘reggae flu’ and if they didn’t to begin with they certainly did by the end of the night. 10/10