S.E.A.L

Starry Eyed And Laughing are a good little band – one of the best little bands in this country, in fact. They moved from the mediocrity of the pub circuit to the more comfortable surroundings of the Victoria Palace Theatre on Sunday night and, in the process, showed that they are a band that will be around for a long, long time.

They are entertaining and have the ability to hold the attention of their audience for most of an act. As has been said before, the band’s influence is very much bent towards the Byrds, and they play a few songs that that band has made famous. The majority of the songs are composed by the band, from the very-Byrd influenced songs of Tony Poole to the slightly-Byrd influenced songs of Ross McGeeney, to the very slightly-Byrd influenced songs of Iain Whitmore.

At the Victoria Palace, SEAL gave an accomplished performance of nice music with songs from their first album and newies as well. There were soft songs and there were loud songs, whilst always maintaining a balance. They varied from the soft, beautiful, Thought Waves (sic), with its “cosmic vibrations, man”, to the funky Givin’ You The Blues rockier Down The Street. Another song worthy of mention is One Foot In The Boat. Overall, the songs portrayed a more versatile SEAL than the band on the first album.

There was just one thing that annoyed me – I wish Tony Poole would try and control his movements on stage. He came over more as a nervous front man than the cool guy he is. That apart, Starry Eyed And Laughing are a band that’ll find themselves established before the year’s out.

They were supporting four individuals collectively called Country Gazette, and acoustic country outfit that includes a bluegrass version of Elton John’s Honky Cat. They were great, if you like that sort of thing but it wasn’t my scene … man!  - Harry Doherty