Gig Reviews

Genaro Project, Voodoo Vegas, Adam Boucher, Fearne

The Gander has a place high up in Bournemouth’s social history. When ‘shit happened’ last year and it disappeared as The Gander On The Green, it was a sad day for all that had sailed in her. Only The Gander name itself has been kept alive in the form of the glorified youth club. No one pretended or believed that things would ever be the same, but the fact that the name alone was still being used meant there was still hope. Didn’t it?

So, after a period of musical inactivity, The Gander’s re-launch back into the Bournemouth social scene is upon us. With it’s history being what it is, much could be expected. Whilst no-one expects things to be the same, surely we can justify having high expectations? Promoted as a night where acts would include Jinder, Si Genaro, and Adam Boucher (pictured) amongst others, we could expect to see some talent on show. It was disappointing to see Jinder disappear from the line up, seemingly sometime during the afternoon. Still, plenty left to see….

Okay, so it was a Wednesday night; in itself a strange choice. And yes, England, pre-World Cup, were playing a friendly match, being shown live on tv. But by the time Dave Warren hit the stage, the total turn out to embrace the re-launch was at tops 30. “Get on yer phones, text your friends, tell them what’s happening, get them down here”, pleads Rikmax, our energetic compere.

So, The Gander ‘Live’ is back! Who’s first up? “Please welcome, Dave Warren!!!”. Light applause. Followed by five minutes of guitar tuning. Unplugging, re-plugging, attempted amp blowing. More tuning. I’ve rarely seen a man look less at home or sound less like he should be on stage. After an attempt at covering ‘The One I Love’ by R.E.M, and for the next ten minutes trying his best to entertain, Warren finally picks up his mandolin; and he’s a changed man. The crowd respond and a heart warming smile appears on his face, and what for fifteen minutes was an embarrassment turns out to be at best, entertaining.

Adam Boucher follows and the difference couldn’t be more stark. Confident vocals, hardcore strumming. Billy Bragg meets Johnny Cash wearing skater pants. Boucher entertains the growing crowd with his energetic style, upsetting at least one observer with his obvious hatred of James Blunt. “How many albums have you sold?” jibes the Blunt fan. “I may not sell albums, but I don’t suck corporate cock” Boucher retorts, quoting hero Bill Hicks. Joined on stage for his finale by ‘Poet’ Hi-Ho and Si Genaro, the trio further enhance the feel-good factor which has developed during the set.

For a poet, Hi-Ho cuts a strange figure. Jumping on the mic throughout the evening, he mumbles his way through ditties about (I think) bread rolls and wanking. His appearance alone (fantastic mullet) makes him watchable, though the ability to deliver his writing needs some work. Or maybe not. I didn’t understand much of what he said all night; what I did hear made little sense, which I presume was the point.

Fearne enter the stage with a carefree swagger. The set comes across like they’re playing in front of 50 friends. Maybe they are. The lead singer shows signs of big talent in between longer periods of ordinariness. Medium paced songs, jangly and rambling with kooky backing vocals, highly entertaining at times, much less so at others. An interesting medley to finish, including the Dr.Who theme and Queen’s I Want To Break Free, helps maintain a homely atmosphere to a crowd which has peaked at 50.

Sarge further adds to the diversity of the acts. Dressed like a goth on fire, sounding anything but, Sarge sings powerfully accompanied by Si Genaro on guitar. You can see Sarge believes in what he’s singing, he didn’t captivate me but then he didn’t lose me either.

And so to Voodoo Vegas. Rock by numbers. No doubt these guys have some talent, and the lead singer some balls (probably), but as a band who sing with all the belief they can muster “born to raise hell, we do it fuckin well”, I can believe that as much as I can believe a Motley Crue tribute band is the future of rock ‘n’ roll. Wow, can the singer hit those high notes. He’s got the looks, he’s got the ‘style’. Nike trainers, cap sleeved t-shirt, jeans ripped (in all the right places), aviator glasses and a wrist accessorised with a bandana. Does this constitute rock ‘n’ roll style? I guess it does, but like the rest of the band, he doesn’t come across like he lives it, like he means it. This isn’t rock ‘n’ roll like they want it to be. This is the ‘rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of Pop Idol.

The Genaro Project bring the live entertainment to an end. Si Genaro is a talented man, musically, vocally and rhythmically, and seems to enjoy and thrive in the spotlight. His harmonica playing throughout the evening was a highlight. He looks totally at home on stage. Like John Otway, he shows a certain quirkiness, quintessentially English. The whole evening has seemed strangely low key, almost like a rehearsal for the real thing, and this is how The Genaro Project’s set comes across. Nothing other than Si Genaro himself stands out during the set. It’s good, not great, basic four-piece guitar-driven pop, with no sign of indie image or pretension.

From the night I expected and certainly hoped for more. It seems The Gander as we remember it will be a distant glorious memory. The Gander as it is will be a substandard venue with substandard sound, failing to provide what I perhaps foolishly hoped it might be; the slightest bit like The Gander of old. The venue cannot live on its name alone.

Tony Foster