Aftersin & The Lowlifes - Roadhouse - Tuesday 22nd July 2008.

Ever since seeing the last gig Creeper performed, at the Flapper back in April, I've been waiting for the new project of half the band. Seth, the vocalist, and Mark, the original bassist, have teamed up with ex-Sweet Seduction guitarist Paul, added in a drummer Kirk, and tonight was the first gig of new band Aftersin.

Opening with Party Trick, and leading into A Little More, Aftersin proved that this was going to be a successful grouping of talents. Thankfully about 30 seconds into the a cover of the Stone Temple Pilots' Sex Type Thing the sound man re-adjusted the mic-ing on the drums, and sorted out the ridiculously high snare sound. From here on in the band obviously had relaxed into performing, playing My Sins, before worrying us... Seth had picked up a megaphone. Now bear in mind this guy has powerful vocals anyway, I was fairly confused. Until, this is, they launched into the fabulously catchy Prize. Instead of producing a louder sound, the distortion of the megaphone into the mike was sublime. By this stage it was easy to forget this was their very first gig.

Controls ended the set, after an amazing cover of Velvet Revolver's Slither; which I would go as far as to say surpassed the original, and I hope that they will be able to release it one day! If this is what is left over after "the water has washed the sins away" then I am eagerly awaiting the EP, currently being recorded, and to see them opening September's special Millennium of Blood.

Bill had commented when Creeper came off stage all those months ago, that Seth had a voice that was crying out for a stadium gig. I think that with Aftersin he may have found the band to take him there.

The Lowlifes took the the stage with a definite swagger, and opened with Lady Whiskey, track 2 off their new EP - Back to the Heavy. A fantastically fun set followed, and I felt honoured to be sitting in on what was basically a jam session (the give-away was the "what shall we play next?" and "be with you when the drummer's ready!"). I felt the grin exploding off my face several times during the set as they traversed several genres, speeds, and styles in a 45 minute set. With two guitarists, a bassist (with a lush 5 string - shame it was fretted!), and a drummer who should get anyone that says drummers are useless and pin them to the wall, the sound was perfectly balanced. Add to this the two vocalists who have different but very complimentary styles, I never got bored, or thought "this sounds like the last track they played." Currently unsigned, I don't think that will be the state of affairs for long, and I will keeping an eye on their gig schedule.