The Beat Surrender

The Cockpit have made a lot of great strides in the last few years as far as I’m concerned. They are putting on more gigs in the middle room so that a band isn’t playing to a half empty larger room, the main room now seems to have a bit of air conditioning in it which has made it a lot more pleasant to watch a gig in, but it’s still far and away the worst venue for guest list problems.

It’s the only venue that I have ever had any issues at, once you could forgive, twice is a bit unfortunate but this is now the fifth time that I’ve either been left arguing my case with security, missed the gig completely or as was the case last night, relying on the promoter to take pity on us.

Having finally got in to the venue with a feeling of relief and frustration washing over me, it was nice to hear the pounding rhythm of The KBC as the support act. I’d missed the first couple of songs but the Preston three-piece were possibly better live than they are on record a definite band of the future to watch out for.

A couple of swift beers and I was now back in the mood to see Milburn play, they’ve always given good value for money on the two previous occasions I’d seen them play and I was looking forward to seeing them playing their biggest tour to date.

The album has generally been well received and the crowd are clearly up for the gig with various terrace style chants breaking out before the band even take to the stage to Groove Armada’s Superstylin’. The band arrive and they look in very confident mood with smiles all round.

The opening track sees the start of a mosh pit that doesn’t subside until the last bar of the night, the crowd at the front are frenzied in their support of the band, to the point that it takes the singer slightly aback. At one point his microphone gets knocked over as stage divers take to the air on a fairly frequent basis throughout the night.

Musically the first song or two don’t sound great and it’s only after the opening couple of tracks that the band really find top gear, within the forty minute set though they play all the favourites, including robust versions of Well, Well, Well, Cheshire Cat Smile and Send In The Boys, closing with the forthcoming single What You Could Have Won.

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