Keith - Good, "Hey Keef" - Bad

The attempt at writing a review for The Damned's new album "So, Who's Paranoid?" has been aborted due to a lack of interest. After the first few plays of an otherwise forgetable album, I've decided to put it on the shelf where it's to be filed under "could do better".

Instead, this post will deal with last night's entertainment - a bunch of lads that tried their best on a stage with a considerably good turn out in front of a loyal following who just about managed to pass the test by the skin of their teeth even though they displayed a shaky performance alongside their peers. Personally, I wasn't entirely convinced by what happened last night and that's all I'm going to say about the Germany V England game.

Kings Cross was once a den of kerb-crawlers, a run down area of the capital where nearly every grimy alleyway temporarily housed a sad brass flaked out in the gutter with a needle dangling precariously from her arm. Indeed, there was a time when even Maccie D's wouldn't move into the place due to the overpowering stench of slum. Things are better now, what with the recent regeneration and the renovated building of St Pancras station, which means that a safer social scene has arrived for people of most ages.

The Water Rats theatre, a small venue with a pleasant atmosphere (reminiscent of the Sir George Robey of old - but without the sawdust), provided the right setting for a showcase of bands. The group topping the bill was a quartet called Keith, which is a great name for a band and Mark the guitarist filled us in on how they came to be christened with such a monicker, but that's another story. With Keith, you get the tried and tested four piece of drums, bass, guitar and a lead vocalist who doubles up on keyboards (note to organ freaks; if you fancy, but can't afford a Fender Rhodes, get yourself a Nord Electro 2 as used by this band as well as The Vandebilts). Keith made excellent use of their forty five minute slot with songs that immersed you in some very imaginative soundscapes, they use their instruments unconventionally as well as traditionally to great effect. I must admit, I'd never heard any of the songs before - some were showcased from a recent studio session - the only song I know has a title that I always have difficulty remembering and was one that was played on an old Depcast.

You can't go too far wrong with this lot, to my dogged ears they were well rehearsed, well received and they managed to have a sympathetic soundman manning the desk. The other good thing about them is their degree of individuality and creativity, so with more promotion they certainly have the potential of grabbing a much larger audience. Already winners of an XFM competition, I'll wager that we haven't heard the last of Keith.