The Keatons Plinston Live, Letchworth Garden City
7 November 2003

And so to tonight's headline act - The Keatons - Welwyn Garden's finest return to the first Garden City in triumph after their show in the town centre as part of the 'BIG noise' in the summertime.

Their 'Fresh Local Produce' set tonight brings together many of the band's recent compositions plus selected highlights from their magnificent "to" CD release from the year 2000. Singer guitarist Leigh Omer leads the band with bass, drums and drum machine provided by Andy Holloway and the twin guitars of David Miller and Paul McDermott in outstanding support.

Neither conventional rock nor rhythm n' blues, the Keatons are truly unique as tonight, once again, it's the songs that steal the show. 'The world is beautiful' sings Leigh in 'Stand up tragedy' and indeed it is, once these songs infect your mind and body.

The 'Fresh Local Produce' office has been in raptures since June having picked up the Keatons bug. We have yet to recover from a bout of "to". The symptoms are quite infectious and there is no immunisation programme available. New cases are being reported on a daily basis, most frequently the outcome of casual 'let me play you this' encounters. Once hooked...

The rich tapestry etched out on "to" is very much in evidence tonight as the band recalls two masterpieces from that splendid year 2000 collection. The awesome sound of 'About suffering' fills Plinston tonight, regal, majestic.

'Let there be spaces where there are none' sings Leigh. Dave Miller's swooning glissando takes us onward ever onward towards a chorus of celebration. 'Love is at your table' sings Leigh.

The set ends with five songs that feature live drums. Paul McDermott takes on bass duties as Andy Holloway picks up the sticks behind the kit. 'Wake up the man' is not a million miles away from "to". Based on yet another Miller-inspired chord sequence, this nifty number throws up everything from 'Starman' to 'R2D2 and 3CPO sing The Beatles'. Believe me, it's quite a combination.

Without a doubt, The Keatons are very much THE find of 2003. Despite the fact they have been around for quite a while, their time has very much come. Let's hope they can be encouraged to commit their new songs to CD in 2004. 'Fresh Local Produce' just doesn't come any better than this.

Set list: Little secret; Lay down with your love; Stand up tragedy; Shadow; Mister chain mail; A thousand people; Repeats; About suffering; Beauty within; Wake up the man; Chemical head; There you are; How do you know?; Amazed; Caravan (encore)
 

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