The Zoo            Sat July 10

From all accounts The Good Ship’s live shows offer a unique experience full of jigging punters all out to let their hair down the way only a pirate can. Tonight is the launch of the band’s debut LP and audience members are certainly embracing the nautical theme with eye patches and striped outfits a plenty. Local cult-format 10-piece Inland Sea prove to be a band to watch with their sorrowful yet uplifting blend of experimental, acoustic folk intertwined with chanting vocals. The Rocketsmiths provide a solid performance sporting their recently revamped sound, which diverges from their country/rockabilly roots and takes a well-executed turn down the indie/punk rock path. But it’s obvious from their attire who the crowd are here to see. The Good Ship are enthusiastically dressed with a banjo and accordion in tow. Unfortunately my initial excitement quickly dwindles as the band’s obvious aim of producing fun, frolicking sea shanties remains unrealised. What unfolds is a set of essentially average folk rock tunes trying, but not succeeding, to be something more. While I’m in no doubt many crowd members are enjoying themselves thanks to the raffles and stage banter, this isn’t the gig I came hoping to see.

Lee Hutchison

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