Live

Mr Hudson and the Library, I Was A Cub Scout

Charlie Southwell 10/03/2007

So once again at the Cavern Club, it's a Saturday, it's a free night if you so happen to get there before nine and all the places haven't already been taken. The place was rammed by half past eight, and people stood outside for hours to be let in, one in one out. It all added to the urgency of the evening for the fans of these bands.

Two-piece, I Was A Cub Scout, despite wanting to play Scout Huts up and down the land, settled for Exeter's Cavern Club. It's safe to say that tonight was better then their previous night in Merthyr Tydfil at a bowling alley, where no one was there to listen to them. They have a fantastically diverse and mature sound that grasps Nintendo synth sounds and adds it to a slightly progressive but more interesting take on emo pop. Forget Fall Out Boy, this is where it's at… Incredible drum lines truly transform these songs, with the “Will Power” bass drum.

Here is a quick guide to a good IWACS set;

One Double Bass Pedal
Two hard rocking guys that fully love performing their hardest.
Three minute long perfect electro tinged emo pop songs.
Four slippers, two pairs, one each to feel at home anywhere you play.
Five mind mashing guitar effects pedals.
Six, Seven, Eight Cub Scouts - we appreciate
Nine O'clock start, to have a whole night of partying.
Ten fingers from every fan to be thrust into the air fanatically clapping along.

Singer Todd, quoted by a magazine as never smiling, left the stage beaming via the crowd to embrace an old friend. A true people's band.

Mr Hudson & the Library appeared shortly after I Was A Cub Scout, with a nonchalant “Wotcha” and my God they took me by surprise. A huge Afro-Caribbean vibe emanated from this band, cream-suited and booted, and waistcoat wearing front man Mr Hudson led the crowd through a happy and essentially reggae based session in central Exeter.

Sounding like a modern UB40 or Specials, with half talked half sung lyrics, Mr Hudson & The Library were so much more exciting than I could have dared imagine: live steel drums and percussion drove this band on through their startling set. A smart looking crowd bounced in time with the songs, asking “What tune is this? I don't know but I like it” from great track “Ask The DJ”. Electric drum kit, played beautifully by Wilkie Wilkinson added a much needed urban vide to this band which suits them down to the ground.

A deceivingly happy yet haunting ballad was the highlight, a song about a boy that meets a girl and fails to win her, opening on the steel drums, to a rapturous response. Only for the Jimi Hendrix of the piano, to jazz improvise an incredible solo to bring it to a further uplifted close.

A completely rammed Cavern responded brilliantly to the band's charismatic front man, and percussionist Joy Joseph's sing-a-long sections. Joy has an overpowering but brilliantly note perfect voice. It's a fun soulful experience and truly, I can't wait to see this band again. On tour again in May, look out for them!!!