T’HUD RECOMMENDS HIPSTER X-MAS!
Submotion Orchestra @ Bar 1:22 - By James Wood
One of my favourite sights is watching big bands squeeze
onto tiny stages. I have fond memories of watching the Grand Union Orchestra cram themselves onto the minuscule platform at the old Hull Truck Theatre, leaving the poor Tuba player to perform a feat of great endurance. Standing up, elbows tucked in, and blowing his heart out for the entire set. Submotion are an entirely different sort of orchestra, but I still had to suppress a laugh watching all 6 of them trying to find wriggle room, with reams of pedals and percussion on Bar 1:22’s small stage. The band were more than used to their surroundings though, this being something of a homecoming gig for them. Bandleader and vocalist Ruby Wood proudly recalled her fond memories of singing in public for the very first time here, and was evidently thrilled to play the prodigal daughter, returning to perform in front of a whole new legion of adoring fans. Even though the crowd may have lapped up anything Submotion Orchestra would have offered, (my personal favourite super-fan was Rene ‘the crazy poet’ Thomas who spent the night bare-footed, madly shaking his limbs, swigging from a flask and sketching the singers portrait) the standard of the tunes was undeniably high. Although perhaps not as jazzy as on record, the combination of some stellar samba-style polyrhythmic percussion, huge swathes of classic King Tubby 60s dub reverb (props majorly due to the soundman) and a monster fat bass led to a highly danceable, slick wall of sound that Phil Spector’s groovy granddaughter would be proud of. This is an orchestra to watch out for, no doubt. WWW.T-HUD.CO.UK
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