Collars unfortunately had to drop out, but Alex and The Christopher Hale Band (also known simply as ACHB) swooped by to save the day...
It was a series of unfortunate events tonight. to start with it clashed with the Beerheadz’s sixth birthday party - for which I showed my face, drank some very good beer and had cake JT Soar had announced Collars had to pull out sadly and so did The Sweet Nothings. I’m sure, given time, they will both be back.
The night then morphed into three bands From Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield. Stepping in, and first up was Vom Vorton, from Derby. Solo singer-songwriter Tom has been playing a few years and had a few CDs he had found down the back of somewhere and generously provided them as freebies. It's always a pleasure to see and hear him - Robot Son with a bit of what sounds like a White Stripes riff from Seven Nation Army.
Middle band were Ye Woodbeast from Sheffield; a psych garage rock sound. Kicking off with thumping repetition and great bass lines and duelling vocals, they followed this with a series of haunting soulful ballads; overall a bit gothic in an alternative indie sense. Check out the song Heal Thyself.
And headlining were ACHB, or to give the full name, Alex and The Christopher Hale Band. New bassist Shelley has joined them and keeps Alex in hand. Belting out with passion and vigour, Alex sings from the heart, complete with some bizarre chatting about private ambulances.
ACHB sing with a element of anger and frustration about the world around them. Today, Henry Kissinger had passed away, and so Alex managed to link this in with a song in which he mentioned American Imperialism. Quick paced tunes such as Fast Forward spill out from Alex’s life and with the complement of the band, they burst forth into the world.
Keep an eye out for our interview with JT Soar in the January issue of LeftLion
ACHB performed at JT Soar on 1 December 2023
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