I went to my first concert, as a wide-eyed 13 year old, when I went to see The Offspring back in January 2001. I remember being amazed at the scale of it – a reported 20,000 were crammed in to the M.E.N. Arena. A, the first support group, were to be the first of thousands of bands I'd be fortunate enough to see over the next ten years, and the gig as a whole remains a favourite of mine.
Since then other concerts stand out for varying reasons. Muse and their batshit-mental light-show, playing outdoors during one of the worst thunderstorms I've ever been caught in (Leeds, 2006); Snoop Dogg and his entourage performing to 30,000 pilled-up Europeans in a Serbian castle (EXIT, 2007); and Andrew WK, simply being Andrew WK in a tiny room to about 200 people (Manchester Academy 3, 2003). Right up there amongst those illustrious names*, though, is a band you may have never heard of before: Carousel Cartel.
Carousel Cartel – formerly known as Halagoogoo – are a three-piece from Bristol/London-ways, with a blues/rock sound that would not have gone amiss in 1972. Capable of a lot more noise than you'd perhaps expect from three short southerners, the group assuredly wear their influences on their spandex sleeves; from tight, Zeppelin II-esque guitar licks and pounding drums to the funky excitement of Ram Jam, Carousel Cartel clearly have the enthusiasm for classic rock and fortunately have the talent to match. Indeed, both the latter group's “Black Betty” and Zep's “Moby Dick” often make appearances in their live sets. And their live sets are really what this band is about.
I first saw CC/Halagoogoo back around 2007 at The Magnet in Liverpool. I was there to see my friend's band, a fine act in their own right, but it was hard not to notice the three people sitting by the stage waiting for their time to shine. Despite having had no idea who they were, if you see a band dressed in leopard-print leotards, fur coats and platform boots then you simply have to stay and watch – and I'm glad I did. While it was the outfits that drew us in, it was immediately obvious that this was a very talented, very tight band.
Simon Frost handles the tricky combination of lead vocals and lead guitar superbly – no easy task when you consider the Page-esque riffs he's expertly playing whilst maintaining strong - but not overbearing - vocals. Bassist Chris Neagle also provides backing vocals, furnishing the songs with some nice harmonies that complement his pounding, driving basslines. However it's drummer Ryan Woodland that invariably ends up as the centre of attention. Not because of his drumming – and he's certainly more-than-adequate, thumping but also capable of a subtle, jazzier style on songs like “Black Bryan”, for example, that provides an extra dimension to the group's rhythm – but because he seems to be on a one-man mission to avenge every drummer who has ever been roundly ignored, forgotten behind his kit.
Bounding across the stage, off the stage, into the audience and onto the audience at any opportunity, Woodland's energy and sense of (more than a little unhinged) fun is Carousel Cartel in a microcosm. Despite playing to about 25 people in the aforementioned Magnet gig, he was a dynamo; at one point he was in the crowd and miming performing fellatio on my friend Pete whilst playing a cowbell between his legs. Stood next to Pete, I couldn't help but wonder if I had had a close call or a missed opportunity.
Faux-homoeroticism aside, it's a shame that the band hasn't been given the wider opportunities their music, and especially their live shows, deserve. Considering the current nadir of British rock music, the energy and enthusiasm of Carousel Cartel would be a refreshing, entertaining change to the soulless guitar music that's widespread recently. Would you rather go and watch Snow Patrol croon through another forgettable rock-ballad or watch 3 men in headbands and leotards play – perform – out of their skin no matter the size of the audience?
For the last few years I've hugely overplayed my three-disc sampler (kindly given out for free at their 2009 Bumper gig, such nice boys) and tried to recommend them to anyone who would listen, converting a few friends along the way. Over the years their relentless touring has sure enough won them fans nationwide – to see them live is to more-than-likely love them. But sadly the band have decided to call it a day, and their last gig is Saturday the 28th in their HQ of Putney. I urge anyone nearby to call in for what will surely be a brilliant, worthy send-off. Disappointingly I can't make it but I feel privileged that I got to see them live, if only a couple of times, before they packed up for good.
And I haven't been able to look at a cowbell properly since.
Carousel Cartel are on Myspace, and are over here on Facebook.
*“and Andrew WK”, yeah yeah, you were thinking it. The man is a misunderstood genius
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