Last Updated on March 4, 2023
Originally published in Beat Motel issue 1
Well, for me, it’s been one hell of a weekend-after providing the entertainment for the good people of the Pool Club on Friday (playing in Grogan), and once again putting on a brave show on Saturday (and spending most of the day wearing a Duck Tape thong to try and obscure a healthy rip in my jeans).
After the usual chilled Sunday, it was high time I took a back seat and let somebody entertain me… Cue Monday night, the Ice Bar’s first Birthday Bash, and the entertainers on this fine spring eve…perhaps 2 of the finest bands Ipswich has to offer- Reciprocal and ZEEB?.
It was ‘one of those nights,’ the rock ‘n’ roll elite of Ippo were out in full force, and the place was busier than I’ve ever seen it-even more so than the opening night but one year ago.
So, ZEEB? took to the stage and kicked off the proceedings with a splendidly sporadic version of The Who’s ‘My Generation’. This was my first ZEEB? experience, and one not to be forgotten-from their trademark wrestling masks, to (who I believe is) Gamma’s clothes-shearing exploits via a flying mobile phone and a tribute to the much-maligned 50 Cent-finishing off with a full-blown band wrestling match, somehow making it all seem so right.
And not to forget the music!! Heavy, guitar-driven, rhythmic, with tunes such as ‘Mothership Earth’ and ‘Galactic Sulk’ setting the standard for the night. That combined with the aforementioned theatrics made the show hilarious, bewildering and downright fun!!
Then came Reciprocal. After a 6 month exile, they have returned new and improved, having upgraded their rhythm section to include the colossal Chris Gilbert on drums, and Matt Cade on bass. The set saw the two nicest guitar-wielding maniacs in the world shred it up in the age-old Reciprocal style, except backed up with pumping bass melodies and some seriously brutal drumming… man, I feel sorry for his kit!!
The 2 songs that really stood out for me were ‘Eternity’s Broken Promise’ a true thrash-fest with a few treats thrown in, and, what has practically become their theme tune, ‘7 Minutes’. In fact, the crowd enjoyed the latter so much, it was re-iterated at the end of their set. Two totally different bands, one mind-blowing evening. Some ill-fated party games ensued, and I couldn’t help thinking that another band or two would have made better use of the late licence they had managed to obtain…not that it would have made a difference-in true Monday tradition, I was whisked off to Zest to drown my memories of the night in cheap piss-water and nu-metal.
The perfect end to the best Bank Holiday Weekend I’ve ever had… BUZZ
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