Anvil, Rock Bar, Bournemouth
Over the last year or so a new promotions company called “Originality Live” has graced its events in Bournemouth. The instigator behind this project is local singer/Songwriter “Dixie Dix”. With a host of live music events at a variety of venues across the county already planned, our grassroots scene will see a new desperately needed momentum. Tonight we are at the wonderfully air conditioned Anvil Rock Bar in Bournemouth for one such event.
First up is Shep “Ruffdog Elliot” a politically charged Dorset-based pioneer, who uses his acoustic guitar to defeat fascism and highlight political issues that affect us all. Ironically his first number “Free Speech” is spoiled by the constant chatter of a proportion of the audience, however Shep ups his “ruff” vocal tone and plays his guitar harder and faster demanding some decorum, which works a treat. This evening we are treated to a batch of new songs and this Punk Rock troubadour shows there is plenty of fire left in his belly.
With tracks like “Never Enough”, “Pip Pip Hooray” (highlighting the Government’s removal of Personal Independence Payment) and the powerful “Flags of Separation”, he displays what a thoughtful and championing lyricist he is. “Fire Deep Inside” takes a trip in the past to his days during his teens on Cornwall’s fantastic beaches, where he enjoyed the Summer’s gatherings playing his guitar under the moonlight. The crowd warmed to all he had to offer and by the terrific round of applause he received at the end of the set, the lyrics had clearly touched a few nerves.
Next we have the debut of Dixie Dix’s new band the Rebel Pixies; as well as guitarist Edd on guitar, we have Marty from aAnd? on bass and Andrei Dipper on drums who is also tonight’s sound tech. Up until this evening Dixie has previously performed solo and as a duo with Edd. Just to settle in though we are treated to a solo opening number called “Perfect Girls”, before the band joins in earnest. The first song with the full band called “Coffee” introduces us to the new layered sounds that bolster Dixie’s considerable voice. With their striking look of red hair, facial piercings and rebellious demeanour Dixie is fast becoming one of the bright lights of the local scene and beyond. The personal tone of the material is really deep and it’s great to see Dixie’s elderly Grandparents in the audience who are clearly a huge influence.
With tracks like the powerful “Surviving Not Living” and the sucker punching “21st Century Fucked Up Teen”; along with the fine new single “Smoking Kills”, it’s clear this artist has plenty to give. A recently written tune solo performed is dedicated to partner Gypsy Pistoleros drummer Pip, a tune that romantically tugs at the heartstrings before ending on a high with one of the creative highlights “Anyway”.
Headliners Gypsy Pistoleros arrive on stage in full facial white and black make-up wearing their ceremonial robes. With the thick black lines across their eyes they can’t help reminding me of cartoon character Secret Squirrel. The band comprises of frontman Lee Mark Jones on vocals with Kerry White on Bass/Backing Vocals, Shane Sparkz on Guitar/Backing vocals along with aforementioned former South Of Salem drummer Pip Sampson behind the kit. These guys are certainly entertainers and as well as theatrics; Lee’s sharp witted humour also adds to the show. They’re not really a band to be pigeonholed as their sound features a variety of influences from Punk Rock, New Wave, Rock and Metal amongst others. While “Like Tears In The Rain” is an early highlight, Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca” gets the Pistoleros Worshippers singing along.
The band’s chemistry is commendable and clearly these guys all seem to have a lot of fun when they are on stage and even after a long time of the road there seems to be no tour fatigue. Lee is the main focal point and as a seasoned entertainer, he clearly knows how to entertain an audience. The north/south divide jokes are funny as it is, while information about playing the forthcoming Rebellion Festival is delivered (where I think they will go down a storm). The much heavier “Shadow Walker” shows a different side of the bands creativity, while a lot of their other material grabs your attention with the instrumentation and infectious lyrics with “Wild, Beautiful, Damned” particularly standing out.
All bands have to have some sort of novelty or a gimmick these days to satisfy the TikTok generation, well Gypsy Pistoleros have a Rock version of the Dexy’s Midnight Runners track “Come on Eileen” and there are very few people left on this planet that have not heard this number. Minus its usual signature violin, the band use this track for their encore; raising a few eyebrows in the process, at least it was not Wonderwall, Mr Bightside or Dakota. Gypsy Pistoleros are a great live band and one that would be perfect for any festival, tonight’s audience loved all that the band have to offer. All Praise the Church of The Gypsy Pisteros!!
Set Lists
Gypsy Pistoleros
Church of The Pisteros
Revolution
Like Tears In The Rain
Close As You’ll Ever Be
Livin’ La Vida Loca (Ricky Martin)
Shadow Walker
Last Train To Nowhere
What Happened To The Old Town
Dance Naked in The Rain
Wild, Beautiful, Damned
What it’s Like To Be a Girl
Wild, Beautiful, Damned
Come On Eileen (Dexy’s Midnight Runners)
Rebel Pixies
Try to Make It Last
Coffee
Clint Eastwood (Gorillaz)
Surviving Not Living
21st Century Fucked Up Teen
Smoking Kills
Untitled
Anyway
Ruffdog Elliott
Free Speech
Never Enough
Gammon & Chips
Fire Deep Inside
No Pip Horray
Flags of Separation
Videos
Fore more details on all Originality Live events click here.
Links
https://www.facebook.com/GPistoleros
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083048753130
https://www.facebook.com/RuffdogElliott
Words & Media by David Chinery (Chinners)
