International Teachers Of Pop

A while back, possibly just before the 2019 election, the Minx and I saw the Eccentronic Research Council perform with Maxine Peake at Night And Day café in Manchester. The reason I think it was just before the election was that Maxine Peake had some pro-Corbyn literature pinned to her back. (I am a fan of hers, but this is something on which we would have to disagree.)

This evening, the ERC's spin off band, International Teachers Of Pop, were back playing at Night And Day, and the Minx and I went along to see them, too.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Wet Man was the opening act, having previously played a couple of his tracks on the radio show. And it turned out that he was very good. His vocals and, indeed, aspects of his performance, are reminiscent of Iggy Pop, which reminded me both of The Human League's cover of 'Nightclubbing' and the brilliant ep that Pop himself recorded with Underworld.

Next up was Sister Ruth, who was also very good and I was disappointed to find that none of her tracks are available on Bandcamp (or anywhere else), thereby frustrating my hope of playing a track of hers on Sunday.

And then it was time for the main event. ITOP's usual configuration is the two chaps from ERC - Adrian Flanagan and Dean Honer - plus vocalist Leonore Wheatley, but tonight Honer was absent, and there was an additional vocalist and a drummer/percussionist, which led to a bigger, fuller sound.

All in, it was an excellent gig from start to finish: lovely little venue, great top of the bill, and I can't remember the last time I saw a gig with a really good support*, let alone two.

*Actually, maybe I can. Years and years ago, the Minx and I went to see Local Natives in Edinburgh, and the support was Balthazar, whom I enjoyed more.