Friday night, beginning of the weekend and what better way to start it off – going to a gig! Ready as ever, I headed to the Garage where the Automatic where playing. To my surprise and my guests – they were infact playing the smaller venue down stairs and around the back!

The support band did their best to get the crowd in the mood, but I don’t know what was up with everyone! They stood about yapping away to each other pint in one hand and other in the pocket! My mood was starting to deflate a little...The electro-disco-punk-rockers (that’s a mouthful) came on to the small stage, crowd still looking as if they had just woken up. The Automatic are renowned for jumping about like absolute head cases, and they did try there best. If they could have had a medal for effort, they certainly deserved it.

Older tracks from the bands first album got the crowd a little involved, but nothing like I had expected. Even when their biggest hit to date “Monster” came on, the lighting engineer in the corner looked to me as if he was having the time of his life unlike the rest of the crowd.

Newbie Paul Mullen, showcased his excellent talent and to me he seemed to fit in perfectly, giving Mr. Patrick Swayze a run for his money – moving those hips and body just like the dirty dancer himself, using his guitar as his partner.

The bands sound was on form all night, at one point of the night the band introduced a photographer who had been following them around the U.K for years. Up on the stage he got, guitar in hand. Turning his back to the crowd for the whole song, I felt a bit robbed! Here this guys been given this great chance to show his hidden talents and I can’t even see his face! I wanted to shout, “Turn around” but the fear of everyone knowing it was me over came my boldness!

A cover of Usher’s “Make love in this club” was an interesting choice for the band to cover, giving it a little bit of an emo/punk twist. Not bad, not bad! Newer track “Steve McQueen” was the only song I feel that had the crowd singing along!

The guys have been away for some bit and I feel that people have forgotten all about them, they will need to continue to tour and bring out numerous singles in order to get noticed again. Good gig, it was missing something though, I don’t know if the crowd being that little bit older didn’t help, not that I have a problem at all, but I think a little bit younger crowd would have injected some life and soul into the gig.

By Emma Jackson
Photo by Peter Hill (http://www.peterhill.net/)

www.myspace.com/theautomatic