Review of “Men in Frocks” at the

Hog Rally, Towcester Racecourse on Saturday 16/07/05

This was an interesting and disappointing set to say the least!

Full blown stage theatrics were used from the start with the band taking to the stage all fully dressed as brown hooded monks with crosses and incense smoking.

To start with I must admit this was quite a cheesy but entertaining beginning to what was to become a somewhat lame, confusing and disorientated gig in which this supposed “rock band” played a little bit of everything from AC/DC (which I must say suited the gavel laced singers voice to perfection) to the more surreal soul, pop and indie offerings of the night which at best were only average and at worst very poor indeed.

I’m a great believer that an audience votes with their feet and this particular gig was no exception as a well attended crowd of bikers greeted the band with mild curiosity and interest and by mid set had vacated the marquee in mass. Not even the; by now well over blown and stretched out , monks gag could save this band from what was an exodus of people as the gig deteriated into an overblown karaoke night of oblivion with members from their much diminished audience taking to the stage to show the band how it should be done.

This seemed such a shame especially as the gig seemed to start with such promise with numbers from the likes of Led Zeppelin, but by the time we got to Steve Wonder it was already far too late. The tide had turned and for all their theatrics and over blown confidence and cheek the gig was lost.

It has often been said that no crowd is as tough as a biker crowd when it comes to the music supporting their rally’s and nor would I say are as intelligent when it comes to the music they like, respect and expect.

Bikers party hard and expect a soundtrack to their partying to be just as hard. Rock music crosses many musical boundaries but alas for Men in Frocks the boundaries they crossed this particular night should never even have been attempted, not even on a Harley. 

Gaby