Eccentronic Research Council

Sometimes you need an artefact that is truly leftfield to show you just how conventional the mainstream is. I mean, I expect people thought the electric guitar was a fairly thoroughly explored instrument before Jimi Hendrix came alone and said, "Yeah, but have you thought about doing *this*?"

The relevance of this is that I've been to quite a lot of gigs but the one I went to tonight was truly different and a great eye-opener as to how gigs *could* be. Not all gigs, of course, but some gigs.

The Minx and I pitched up in Hebden Bridge with some time to spare, parked the car and wandered along Holme Street looking for The Trades, which was the venue we were going to. We walked past a lady smoking by some closed doors, reached the end of the building, decided we must have past the venue, and walked back. "We're not very welcoming" the smoking lady grinned, as she opened the door.

But, actually, everyone was really welcoming. The gig was in support of the Morning Star (circulation: 11,000) and the MC for the evening seemed to be something to do with the paper. First off, he introduced Geoff Winde, a poet, who said he'd perform two pieces, one short and one long. The longer piece turned out to be an astonishing half an hour long, the amazing 'Money Is As Innocent As The Gun'. It was an extraordinary performance: fluent, unhesitating, totally absorbing.

The actual support band was Red Hippo. However, The Minx and I found ourselves sitting with the delightful and very charming Maxine Peake who told us that they were called Red Rhino, hence my Instagram posts. But that minor issue of classification aside, they were absolutely superb, playing sousaphone (thanks, Minx), violin and saxophone. If you're familiar with Dirty Three, then I'd describe them as a folk Dirty Three. (And if you're not familiar, well, let's just move on.)

At this point there was an intermission, during which there was a choice of free vegetarian curries and chillies, which were excellent, and Anne Scargill drew the raffle. I also took the opportunity to track down Red Hippo's sousaphonist and convince him to sell me one of their CDs. I'm not sure he's got this self-promotion thing sorted...

And then Maxine Peake and the Eccentronic Research Council took to the stage. Here's one of their songs. That's pretty representative; the melodramatic, almost cabaret but wonderfully analogue synths, with Maxine delivering the monologues in her gorgeous Lancashire accent over the top. Occasionally she'd wander to the rear of the stage to noodle on the Theremin but for the most part should stood at the front, unselfconscious during the instrumental parts and brilliantly engaging during her delivery.

I wouldn't want every gig to be like that but it was a great evening. And I really want to see Red Hippo again!

Promotional bits:
- The ERC are playing in Edinburgh on Hallowe'en: if you're in the vicinity, I highly recommend you go.
- Maxine's play about Anne Scargill is on Radio 4 on November 4th at 14:15.