I think I last went to the Roadmender about 4 years ago to see Electric Six. Since then, it shut down, reopened, and is now Northampton's main venue since the demise of it's sister club, The Soundhaus (which was far more to my taste).
Architecturally, the Roadmender is a giant purple concrete block. In fact, everything in the interior, from the tables to the DJ booth is made from purple painted concrete blocks. It's like a tribute to what can be created if you rob a building site. It's hideous. But hey, it's there and it serves a purpose. I'd had some good nights there in the past so off I went in my new shoes to see what was new. Which was actually very little as it looked a lot like it used to, just with less rooms open, and, sadly, less people.
Our Souls are a band from Corby. Do you see what they did with the name? How clever! *Duh* Not a big fan of "wacky" comedy band names over here. However, it is worth noting that a lot of good music is coming out of Corby (it being, spiritually speaking, somewhere between Glasgow and New Jersey). They did also give us Raging Speedhorn but I can't hold that grudge forever. They had a good sized following as well (who, in Corby tradition, drank like fish, danced like maniacs, had a punch up and got kicked out). The thing is, I have no idea what they were hearing with such enthusiasm, because I wasn't getting it. The band were nothing really to look at or listen to. The music was bland sub-Oasis tribute act, and their fans were infinitely more interesting to watch. There was the odd catchy moment, but it always sounded faintly like there was a record of a different song playing in the background. In their defence, the sound set up was bloody awful. Still, the band and their music were in no way as memorable, or as wacky, as their name.
The Retro-Beat clubnight went on in it's usual fashion (i.e. mild chaos). When we arrived someone had quite ingeniously set it up so that the decks were wired into the mixer "backwards" i.e. the crossfader went the opposite way than you would think. Not a biggy, though, we can handle this stuff. We have Pete for that. :) I went on first and, whilst I don't remember everything I played or in what order, I know it included the following:
What Will You Do (When The Money Goes?) - Milburn
I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend - Lush
Shut Up & Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
A Life Less Ordinary - Ash
Stop Your Crying - Spiritualized
Free Things For Poor People - Infadels
Shine On - The Kooks
Faster - Manic Street Preachers
Standing Next To Me - Last Shadow Puppets
That's about all I remember. I did then start enjoying the supply of Fosters behind the DJ booth at that point so it gets a little fuzzy (and who stole my bottle opener!?!). Rock and roll people. James & Gaz did their usual one-deck-each thing. After the band, Jay (who I had never met IRL before but is in another local band thingy called The Importers) went on aided by a guy with a beard (not really the social butterfly, me). Really liked his set... quite dance-y, making its way from Madchester to Hot Chip via Reverend & The Makers (possibly... I was
reasonably merry at this stage). Then Pete did his funk/soul/mod/freakbeat thingy. This was the highlight of the night for me. Not just for Pete's excellent DJing (ahem) but more for the fact the the little dance floor more than resembled the Blue Oyster from the Police Academy films as a selection of industrial looking lads in bondage trousers threw shapes to some very un-industrial music! It was awesome.
After that it was a bit downhill as the lights behind the DJ booth got hot and set Nes's coat on fire (rather that than the records but still...), Pete burnt his thumb on said coat, Nes got mad, and just to cap it all off, the Roadmender very kindly gave us all parking tickets.
Good night? Hmm... bit of a mixed bag really. Was a bit surreal, given the the band and the clubnight were booked separately, so noone appeared to be running the night which gave it a disjointed feel, and a serious lack of finesse. I'm glad the Roadmender reopened and good to see it carrying on some of the Soundhaus' role as an alternative venue, however given the prices after 11pm for entry to most of the nights (£5.50 after 11 is pushing it) I'd expect it to at least have a bit of a refurb to justify it. Or at least make the toilets vaguely sanitary. Yuck!
Our Souls
http://www.myspace.com/oursoulsforever
Retro-Beat
http://www.myspace.com/retrobeat
The Roadmender, Northampton
http://www.purplehaus.com/
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