Changes are afoot. After last year, when hardly anyone was going to gigs, there are now bands who look like taking over not only Oxford but the world (mwahahahah). The Point was packed, a complete opposite to The Rock of Travolta's last gig at the Point when it was eerily empty. But who could tell how many were here for TROT or for Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia?

No doubt helped by repeated airplay by John Peel, there was already a large audience for MBICR. Imagine Holy Roman Empire, double the members, take away the singing and the comedy, and add a bit of Black Box Recorder. That's what MBICR are like. The female vocalist has the air of Sarah Nixey, but unfortunately all she did was mumble. Far more interesting was the guitars etc., playing behind her.

X-1 are stuck in a timewarp, but a good period in time. All they want to do is rock, and they do. Just in case they forget what they're playing or who they are, they've got it written down on their instruments. The lead singer has a sneer like Johnny Rotten, but with much better hair. And the award for truely rock and roll behaviour of the night, must go to them. The lead singer's dedication to his art was such that, even though he cut his finger and it was bleeding, he played the last song with even more force than any other.

This gig marks a transitional phase for TROT. Ros Travolta has left for her holidays, and it was the last gig before Joey Travolta went off travelling. Joe Travolta was unavailable to play, due to increasing commitments with his other band, but Death was back, but in a different role. No longer was he just standing at the back but he has become a fully fledged member of the band, by playing the instruments too (multi-instrumentalist of course). It's strange to think that they are still less than a year old, but they are still improving with every single gig, which is beyond belief, as they are already so good.

It can only be a good thing that bands are getting recognition, because it means that there'll be more attention on bands from this area. Just waiting for the day when The Rock of Travolta will take over the world now...

Relevant Links


Related Links for The Rock of Travolta
The Rock of Travolta live review (March 2001)
The Rock of Travolta live review (February 2001)
The Rock of Travolta live review (December 2000)
Juggernaut EP review
My Band's Better Than Yours review

The Rock of Travolta website


Related Links for Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia
Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia live review (March 2001)

Meanwhile Back in Communist Russia website


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