LIVE: Hellfire Harlots Launch Party

17/08/2010

Alison Emm went to the Hellfire Harlots Launch Party at The Central to see Hot Japanese Girl, Dick Venom and the Terrortones and Imperial Circus

Hellfire Harlots Roller Derby anniversary gig at The Central

Starting in the states at the turn of the decade, the Roller Derby resurgence has recently come across the water to England and us Nottinghamians are not ones to be left out of a scene, especially if it involves a bit of a rough and tumble.

The concept is simple; two teams of five girls each skate anti-clockwise around an oval flat track attempting to lap the opposition. It’s not all about speed though, tactics involve pushing and shoving opposing skaters in an attempt to slow them down, send them on their arses or flying over the barrier. Hellfire Harlots are one of Nottingham’s local teams and as a celebration of their foramtion and the 75 year anniversary of Roller Derby – any old excuse for a party, eh? – they organised a right old knees up that included bands, burlesque, a raffle, stalls and a plenitude of cupcakes and fun.

Kicking off the music side of the festivities were Hot Japanese Girl, unfortunately due to being incredibly disorganised I managed to miss their set but if their previous shows and general murmurings amongst the audience were anything to go by, they played a blinder. Dick Venom and the Terrortones were next to take the stage and took us into psychobilly territory. Charging straight in with guitars blazing and drums pounding, these guys don’t mess about. Dick Venom was every inch the front man with his quiff, wolverine-esque sideburns, leather trousers, Shure retro-style microphone and snarling vocals and attitude. Oversexed, loud and retro-proud, the Nottingham four piece are a force to be reckoned with and their sounds fitted perfectly with what you might imagine would be playing in Roller Derby’s fifties and sixties heyday whilst ten girls charged ‘round in skates . Theirs is not music for squares.

Hellfire Harlots Roller Derby anniversary gig at The Central

The venue by this point was too busy for the Hellfire girls to be on skates – crashing into and taking out party guests isn’t on their manifesto, thank goodness. There was, however, a face painting stall which was giving punters ghoulish masks, merchandise stalls selling accessories and official Hellfire Harlot tees and the best bit, in my opinion, the cupcake stall. A multitude of different flavoured cupcakes with the prettiest icing; I stuck to plain old vanilla but my friend thoroughly enjoyed the unusual, but tasty, chocolate and wasabi concoction. Burlesque act Betty Jane provided mid-band entertainment with her patriotic themed dance routine and stunning dark looks. You were hard pushed to get a glimpse of this lovely lady though as the gig room was rammed to the gills with the appreciative audience. As if the room wasn’t hot enough before, she definitely got the mercury rising.

The final band of the night was Imperial Circus, a five piece alt-metal band that wielded their guitars like they were weapons in a fight to the death. Heavily influenced by the late nineties and early noughties rock scene, their lead singer went from screaming choruses to melodic verses whilst accompanied by an incredible lead guitarist whose finger work appeared impeccable. If you like a bit of ga ga gung, ga ga gung in your rock music then these guys will surely float your boat. Impressive sounds that could drown out your Mum screaming at you that you shouldn’t treat the place like a hotel, Imperial Circus may not be ultra-modern but they know how to rock.

All in all, a hellishly good night in one of Nottingham’s newer - but stronger - gig venues. Who would have thought that boys, guitars, skates and burlesque would go so well with a nice bit of cake?

Hot Japanese Girl, Dick Venom & the Terrortones, Imperial Circus and Betty Jane played at The Central Bar on Friday 13 August.

Imperial Circus MySpace
Dick Venom and the Terrortones MySpace
Hot Japanese Girl MySpace
Hellfire Harlots Facebook