Rock and Tease @ Champions, 28.11.09 Review

December 2, 2009 | Posted by Dan Renton

Miss Fan-Teasy. Image by Tim Nokes Photography

The Mighty Mean Productions team held their first event ‘Rock and Tease’ at Champions in Bournemouth on Saturday night. Promising bands and Burlesque, the duo had chosen one hell of an intriguing combination! I’ve been well aware of the surfacing local scene but before this night I had never seen a Burlesque show. The night’s entertainment alternates between striptease and live rock music. Finally someone has caught on and put two and two together…

Steve Perry of Disco’s Out (Murder’s In). Image by Tim Nokes Photography

Disco’s Out (Murder’s In) are first on the stage. The band are dressed in an array of bizarre costumes and the beaming smile on singer Steve Perry’s face reinforces the fact that these guys go down a treat as a party band. Disco’s Out (Murder’s In) are not a band that I would expect to like given that I favour my rock music pretty straight laced. Guitar, drums, bass and vocals – you get the picture. This local band have all those things but add a brass section, keys and a xylophone. It’s an enjoyable and lively set that gets everyone loosened up. There are catchy, yet strangely familiar, songs aplenty and I don’t know where to look as the band rock out onstage in a blur of capes, masks and straw hats. Great stuff guys!

Amelie Soleil. Image by Tim Nokes Photography.

Between and after live acts we’re treated to some creative stripteases by the beautiful Miss Fan-Teasy, Candi Heart and Amelie Soliel. The beer flows freely tonight and the lovely ladies draw far more attention than tonight’s bands! Guys and girls alike close in on the stage (or stand on chairs) and all fall silent as each performer teases with their sexy routines… stopping just short of revealing everything. The standout performance was from Miss Fan-Teasy and her Top Gun themed tease. Unbeknownst to me now, that damn theme tune will be stuck in my head for days.

Nathan Evans of Deltorers. Image by Tim Nokes Photography

Rab Mcilrath from Dorset Stoner Rock band Dead Lettuce does a great job of compering tonight’s event from the sound booth. Rab introduces tonight’s second band ‘Deltorers’ and the three piece take to the stage in a blur of grungey fury, only letting up to swap instruments toward the end of their set. Nathan’s intermittently faulty guitar seems only a minor issue as the band play material from their back catalogue, recent EP, and even something brand new – ultimately winning the crowd over.

Candy Heart. Image by Tim Nokes Photography

It’s a shame that tonight’s entertainment is let down a little by both venue atmosphere and sound issues. There are harsh lights on everywhere which makes things feel like we’re still in soundcheck mode all evening. Because of this the stage lighting appears non existent. The music between acts is constantly tampered with and cuts out frequently, this is most tragic when it cuts out part way through a striptease. The quality of the sound falters most when dealing with the Deltorers mammoth output. Despite this, all acts perform professionally and never let us believe there is a problem. I’m already aware of the struggling sound system at Champions and this is something they really need to address if they are to truly floor people.

It’s a great start for Mighty Mean Productions and I hope organisers Eve and Vix will be bringing more entertainment to the local area. This team seem keen to do something different and they’ve certainly already achieved that. Onwards and upwards!

Many thanks to Tim Nokes Photography – www.timnokesphotography.com

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Categories: Event Review, Gig Review | Tags: Bands, Bournemouth, Burlesque, Champions, Dorset, Grunge, Live Music, Rock | 5 Comments »

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