Music Vice: WhiskyCats at Club Academy, Manchester, UK

WhiskyCats at Club Academy, Manchester
Concert review by Music Vice contributor Elizabeth Darke - February 28, 2009

Playing on home turf, Mancunian quartet, WhiskyCats, gave a perfected salsa-ska performance at the intimate Club Academy. Hosting a gypsy- jazz party on a cold British winter evening, WhiskyCats were upbeat, slightly Mediterranean in sound and achingly cool.

Despite currently being an unsigned act, the turn out was more than just friends and family - the night was a total sell out. At the peak of the gig, with renditions of Amsterdam and Dirtbox The Filth Queen, the entire room had broken into a sweat. If it were not for Club Academy being a basement venue, the floor would have most definitely caved in.

It was a case of down your drink or lose it at this gig: with the vibrations and bobbing of the crowd it was all of two minutes until liquid had decorated your chest and beer had saturated your shoes.

Indefinable by an exact genre, and as stated by Blur’s Alex James – “[WhiskyCats] sound like no one else in the world” - WhiskyCats are a refreshing contrast to all the current “indie” wannabes. These guys are here to play, not just to look cool.

The band’s saxophonist, Felix Hughes, offered a mesmerising performance. Displaying sheer talent (and sheer stamina) it’s a surprise that he didn’t pass out after an energetic solo in Locked Out Lover.

The entire gig was a vibrant and animated pop/folk/ska recital; the crowd was a constant carpet of bouncing bodies for just over an hour. The only lull was a slightly over-lengthy drum solo. Whilst showing obvious ability, after two and a half solid minutes of drumming the audience was hoping that the rest of the band would burst back into action. By the end of the solo I felt a slight sense of concern for the state of the drummer’s arms. He may well have had to reattach them to his shoulders before the after party.

The finale was a sterling performance of Yes To Fuck which capped off the set perfectly, what with it’s quirky, quick-paced beat and catchy lyrics.

With a tour predominantly gracing the north of the UK, I hope that WhiskyCats gain equal success in more southern locations where the praises of the Mancunian fan base have not yet reached. Providing a continuum of fantastic shows such this one I’m sure wider success for WhiskyCats is imminent.