Nottingham Rock City 20.9.97

It's such a shame when you miss the first support band 'cos you're too busy getting pissed next door. It's less of a shame when you turn up and find that they'd cancelled anyway. The shame is lessened yet further when you realise that the support band was to have been Carrie, who whilst having energy, an ex-member of EMF and skirts, do not a thrilling live band make. So it was to the sound of Cable that my ears were almost treated as a prelude to China Drum. I say almost treated, as there was little to actually treat them with. Cable certainly seem to know what they're doing, but me, I don't know *why* they're doing it. They're not bad, but they're frighteningly average... China Drum, on the other hand, are not average. In the past, they've had heavy criticism from journo's and so-called fans of the genre alike. Suggestions that they're 'just another generic punk-pop-rock band' abounded, and they were largely ignored despite the scorching 'Goosefair'. This tour, though, is in support of 'Self Made Maniac', a new album with a new, darker side, both musically and lyrically. But bloody hell, when a gig's this much fun you don't think of 'darker sides', you jump around, hop up and down, wave your arms about or just stand and smile. Adam's promotion from drummer to frontman has now paid off, as he's completely at home bouncing around the stage and climbing onto the bar. They reeled off almost every classic song, including of course the famed 'Wuthering Heights'. Both new singles made their appearance, yet the only album track they aired was 'Guilty Deafness', largely because the album was, and as I write, is not yet released, and there'd be no sense in turning a hugely enjoyable sing-a-long into a first-time playback of the new album. So yes, impressed I was and impressed I remain... it'll be interesting to see how 'Self Made Maniac' changes the setlist on the next tour...