Saturday 17 November 2001

Big Boss Man In The 'House.

What a cool night. First we were treated to some choice cuts from Rhythm Hive, laying down some should-have-been classics with an emphasis on mid 60's lysergic garage rock and some funky soul nuggets. This was the perfect appetiser to Big Boss Man. As well as guitar and drums, Big Boss Man use an upright bass, various keyboards and extra percussion which is unusual to see and was refreshing to hear. The band played a blistering set to a very receptive audience, who had paid their £4 and were determined to have a good time.

Most of their set comprised of tracks from their album 'Humanize'. (Catalogue No: BU018, distributed thru Vital, fact fans.) Their sound is essentially based around mid 60's mod styles, some old skool R n B, lots of soul, a touch of ska and a big hunk of funk .And I'm not referring to any band member in particular. There's some Spencer Davis Group here, a Jimmy Smith organ flourish there, topped with a less smooth (ie: better), cheeze free JTQ. However, the big Bosses make all of this their own, and particularly live, they pump this stuff out with tons of energy and enthusiasm, with a spiky edge. Like the Poets of Rhythm, Big Boss Man play a kind of retro music, but there's also an acknowledgement of hip hop and dance rhythms. Indeed, dancing was going on in unheard of proportions for the Yorkshire House. Even I was guilty of shaking my thang. (Public decency restricts our mentioning which thang Richard was shaking - Ed.)

So, a good night was had by all, in spite of my dancing. To be sure, the fact that the place was packed definitely helped. Where do these people come from? Where do they hide when the Puma-Sutras play? Enough already. Big Boss Man were cool, you should have been there. Respect to Jon Carter for making it happen.

Richard Turner