Silent Film Project have made giant strides since their victory in the 2006 Scunthorpe Rock Open so the opportunity to catch their
gig at Smokey Joe's with Alternative Disco legend Steve Bird on the launch night of the new UDJ Sessions was too good to miss.
Although
originally from the Scuthorpe area, the band are now based in Sheffield and normally operate as a 5-piece, but tonight vocalist Lisa
O'Hara was missing from the line-up due to other commitments leaving Paul Musgrave (guitar & vocals), Tom Dakin (guitar), Jim
Keown (bass) and Phil Vernon (drums) to fly the flag.
Prior to the band's set, Steve Bird's Alternative Disco fleetingly took
us back to those heady days at The Baths Hall with Weezer's "Hash Pipe", The B-52's "Rock Lobster", Muse's "Plug In Baby" and a whole
host of cracking tunes from his, and I believe I quote Terry Wincott here, "slightly left of centre" playlist. He brought us
up to date with Franz Ferdinand's "Cheating On You" and The Hives' "Tick Tick Boom" - It was all there - thumping PA and dancing lights
- Steve Bird at his best.
At about 10:30, Silent Film Project took the "stage" in front of a disappointingly small but appreciative
audience kicking off with "The 25 Year Debt", a bright, lively opener which pretty much set the tone for the rest of the night.
I was impressed with the quality of Paul Musgrave's voice, strong and very assured, as he led the band through the first few numbers
alternating 6-string electric and acoustic guitars between songs.
tight, obviously the result of their very busy gig schedule and there is an energy and presence about a Silent Film Project live performance
these days.
"Singer Songwriter" is an excellent song and one I remember from the band's Rock Open triumph. It featured
some neat snare work from Phil Vernon and although Lisa O'Hara's close harmony vocals were missing tonight, which for me
are an integral part of this particular song, the guys performed it well which just goes to show that if the song is good enough it
will always stand up with or without the frills. And that is what this band are all about - you won't hear soaring lead breaks or
drum solos from SFP, just a tight unit
playing well crafted songs. Tom Dakin and Jim Keown told me prior to the gig about the band's new songs "Two Days" and "Good
People" both of which are now available on iTunes so it was good to hear these for the first time. "Good People" had a bouncy shuffle
feel to it broken by an unexpected offbeat in the hook line, and this, twinned with jangly guitars and breezy vocals arguably showed
SFP at their best. "Two Days" is a warm, snappy pop tune. I particularly liked the rhythm change in the hook line but I was caught
out, as always, by the sudden ending.
The band closed their shortish set with the upbeat "Josie's Choice" leaving us all to
reflect on a highly entertaining collection of original songs from a young, up and coming band who aren't afraid to work their
socks off in the pursuit of something they strongly believe in.
So, a great night at Smokey Joe's. Well played Silent Film Project and
well played too Steve Bird who is doing his best to champion live original music in Scunthorpe.
If you want to know (and
hear) more of Silent Film Project visit their website at:
PJF
