28/7/2006 Urban Voodoo Machine @ the Dirty Water Club

Subject	Urban Voodoo Machine @ the Dirty Water Club
PostedDate	7/28/2006
	I arrived in plenty of time to see all the bands for a change. First on were Tumbitas (at least I think that's what they were called) and they were rather good. A fairly standard punk 'n' roll type band, but with better than average material plus a girl on drums who also sang some songs and had a rather good voice. I noticed her near the bar beforehand - usually, a girl would be more likely to change into a leopard print top before going on stage, but she changed out of one! I'm not complaining though, as the shiny black number she changed into was pretty easy on the the eye.  Next band were the Stabilisers, a name which sounds familiar although I don't remember seeing them before. They also were a decent rock 'n' roll band with more of an accent on punk than the previous act and worth seeing again sometime. The place had filled up quite a bit by the time The Urban Voodoo Machine took to the stage. I saw this band for the first time earlier this year at an event just round the corner at The Dome. They were good then, but this show was even better. I'd downloaded some of their songs from MySpace to listen to on my MP3 player during the previous week, but their recordings bore no comparision to their live show - this is how this band really needs to be seen and heard. An Urban Voodoo Machine show is something you experience rather than just attend - I can honestly say I've never seen anything that really compares with it. A regular face onstage on the Camden scene for a few years now, Paul-Ronney has put together a large band that seems to become a living breathing entity on the stage with shades of everything from New Orleans sleazy blues, to punk, jazz, rock 'n' roll, swing, and a dose of bourbon soaked insanity. There are nine people in this band, all with their own distinct characters - so there is always plenty happening onstage. Paul-Ronney takes on the role of ringmaster or MC as much as the traditional band frontman on vocals and guitar. This is a band you really need to go and see live, you are never going to get anything like the full effect any other way. In fact you're really not likely to 'get' this outfit at all unless you attend one of their shows.  Thoroughly enjoyable!