Before
Abstraction Engine, before Raze* Rebuild, before Nudy Bronque, The Shudders,
even You Are Here, there was 101… The first “local” band (i.e. from Swindon,
unsigned and largely plying their trade around the pubs and occasionally clubs
of the town) that I properly took notice of – indeed the first such band to
merit a gig blog entry in their own right! – 101 were a post-grungy mix of
strident guitar noise, quiet/ loud Pixies-ish dynamics and a clutch of fine
hooks to boot, more than enough to attract me along to attend a half dozen of
their mid-90’s sets. The fact that my close friend (and subsequent Best Man at
mine and Rachel’s wedding) Tim strummed the low notes for the band was an added
bonus! Their journey however came to an end in Autumn 1997 (gig 362), vocalist/
guitarist and songwriter Andy Ashley deciding to “give it a rest”, with the loose
intention of reviving the band under a new guise in future. Didn’t think it
would take 28 years and an apparent chance meeting between Andy and Tim in a
field (!) for this to happen, but still…
A few rehearsals and one false start later, the band – now rebadged as Mezzanine – were finally ready for launch, booking their first gig “proper” (one run-through in Andy’s barn notwithstanding!) at the Vic on a dank and drizzly Thursday. So I drove up the hill and hit the venue about ¼ to 8, meeting Tim plus the boys from his “other” band The Shudders, who’d turned up for moral support. Renewed acquaintances with Andy and met drummer Simon, who’d apparently also drummed for The Dollyrots (although not at that landmark BFS support gig in 2016, gig 974 and Logan’s first gig!). This took us to 8.30 and openers Ursa Way; their first gig as well, apparently, this painfully young bunch were billed as Britpop-inspired, and their material reflected this, with a couple of dull Oasis plodders for starters before a better and more upbeat “Chasing The Sun”. Fair play to them for giving it a go as a band, as Shudders drummer Jim noted, but they lost several points for me due to their “Swindon Shit-town”, which seemed unnecessarily white-privilege whiney. Guys, if you don’t like your town, do something about it, create a scene, whatever, don’t just moan about it!
Anyway, they and many of their college mates laudably stuck around for Mezzanine, as did the Shudders guys plus Tim’s sister Michelle and her mates, arriving just on the witching hour of 9.30. So a hardy score or so welcomed opener “Turn It Up”, a startling sleazoid opener with an almost Cramps/ Iggy/ 70’s NYC growling primitive punk hook, setting the tone for this early set selection. “Staring At The Sun” was an early highlight for me, almost Doors-like albeit through a slight 80’s Goth filter, before a muffled weird radio transmission heralded 101 oldie “Freon 5”, the slow-burn intro build to a riff-heavy, grungy crescendo more how I’d remembered 101’s musical template, Andy’s comment of, “we used to play together back in the day a bit,” referencing those times.
So,
a slight departure/ development of the band’s sound to these ears at least,
perhaps, but this was still a dynamic, hard-edged yet tuneful alt-rock set as
expected, delivered with the hoped-for power and purpose of old, and also a surprising
level of cohesion, if their claims of only having practised a couple of times this year (!) was anything to go by. A shout out from Andy to follow them on
the usual socials (which clearly worked, given that their facebook following
subsequently rocketed up from single figures to 32!) preceded the massive
chorus of oldie “Alien”; “Down By The Ocean” was the poppiest number of the
night, featuring an almost “I Am The Resurrection” drumbeat and a particularly
strident vocal from Andy; and after an unplanned, herky jerky “Aspirin”, the
heavily reworked best number “Lycra” (formerly “Like Your…”) was tremendous, a
rampant four-to-the-floor powerpop anthem and a serious contender for my top
track of 2025 (oh yes!), closing out a splendid, well rocking 40 minutes.
So, overall a triumphant return for these 90’s favourites in their new identity. Chats and compliments afterwards before I hit the road, promising to return for more Mezzanine shenanigans in the new year – their appearance at January’s SwinterFest at the Vic, for starters! After sadly waving goodbye to a “live” staple in October Drift last time out (gig 1,319), the return of this old favourite to my gig itinerary, albeit under a new guise and slightly different sonic template, is very much a development to be welcomed. Happy to have you back, chaps!
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