Emma Scott Presents....

The Whiskey Sydicate/Grace The Skies/Shatter Effect/Zombie Xtras and Venom & Apathy

The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton 21st January 2012

With Christmas and New Year celebrations fast becoming a spectre of the past, the combied anticipation for a few new musical experiences and the opportunity to rekindle a very familiar one, are most definitively high on my agenda tonight. Fates last minute intervention had sadly seen Arcane Rage and Charlie Can't Surf pull out of tonight's line up and I admit to feeling a few pangs of disappointment at this news, but the show must go on.

First new experience of the evening for me and late addition to tonight's line up, were Walsall boys Venom & Apathy. Even with their current line up still relatively new, their solid performance suggested that we can expect to see good things come from these guys in 2012. Sadly, only a short set from V & A but a good one at that, and I can recommend you hop on over to their Facebook page and give 'Concrete Veins' and 'Ladybird' a listen, or better still go check them out live for yourself. If you like your rock n roll pure and punchy, then these guys really should be on your radar.

With the experience of a ten year evolution, Zombie Xtras have found their metal niche and went about demonstrating just that as second band up on stage this evening. Some pretty intriguing stuff played in their set tonight, which kicked off with 'Nameless City' and also included the all absorbing song 'From Hell' with it's narrative story line about the infamous Jack the Ripper. But without doubt, the most mind-gripping moment of their set for me had to be the cover version of the Beatles song 'Eleanor Rigby' - I never would have seen that one coming in a million years!

Second late addition to tonight's line up were Shatter Effect. Given that they describe themselves on their Facebook page as 'Dance music for Rock kids', I really wasn't too sure that they would hit that special spot for me but it really is a wonderful moment when you feel yourself being drawn towards a new musical existence. Lead vocalist and synth starlet Rebecca Davies laid out an impeccable performance, as did the rest of the band, which ricocheted around the room and through the audience like a tsunami. If Shatter Effect are new to you too, then go, seek and find their debut single 'Rebecca' over on You Tube, you won't be disappointed.

Penultimate bad tonight were Grace The Skies and oh boy, do these guys pack a punch! With a wealth of originality in their sound and a style that delivers both melody and harmonies within a metal exterior, there was an air of unpretentious confidence to their performance that kept the audience bouncing. Highlight of their set for me was the charismatic song 'Fallen' but close second to that had to be 'A Man Divorced' both of which I believe will be on their impending debut album which is due for release this year. The future is looking bright!

Headlining band tonight were The Whiskey Syndicate and these guys have fast become one of my favourite musical vices over the past twelve months. Judging by the rapturous applause and cheers that their arrival on stage induced, this respect was shared by many others present and in my opinion, nothig less than what this band deserves. With a repertoire built for rock n roll pleasure, The Whiskey Syndicate delivered an adrenaline fuelled set with a feel good factor of 210%. Each and every song in their set list, whether it be an established favourite such as the 'Meaning of Life' or the relatively newbie 'Break the Chains' from their soon to be released album, was performed to the calibre of a band who are destined to go on to great things. Even after an hours worth of entertainment having been served up to all those present, there was still to be no hope of an early celebratory pint for The Whiskey Syndicate, as the audiences' call for an encore succeeded in bringing these guys back once more to the stage for one more session. And with their final songs taking tonight's event well past curfew and wholeheartedly proving what these guys are capable of, the good times did indeed roll .

So, without any doubt, my 2012 is up and running. Having just witnessed a wealth of skilled musicians who gave nothing less than their all, Emma Scott has once again delivered an impeccable array of up and coming bands. It has also been an absolute pleasure to see a full venue and a participating audience that rocked right down to it's core. This was most definitely what live music is all about!

Words and photographs by Sue Wardle