HIVE PROMUSICA - GRIZZLY/FULL FATHOM FOUR/
KAYLA ST CLAIRE/NIC SAUNDERS
28th July Oxmarket, Centre of Arts, East Street, Chichester

Nic Saunders began the evening with some tasteful ambient-jazz piano. Next up were Full Fathom Four. With their drummer absent, the guitar trio played laid back versions of their catchy and immediate tunes. They produced a hook laden set of sweet pop songs with effective harmonies and pin point playing. The lyrics gave everyone something to latch onto and the melodies quickly wound their merry way inside the brain. Shades of the Beach Boys and Magnetic Fields, I liked it. Following this, Hive continued its policy of mixing media by presenting a dance piece from former University College student Kayla St Claire. Kayla is an infectious performer with the courage to carry out a solo piece. Titled ‘Am I’ the piece dealt largely with the changing moods and personalities of a girl faced with the dilemma of going out into the world and made good use of props, space and light humour. This proved an interesting counterpoint to the rest of the evening’s events. Finally it was Grizzly, the pseudonym now adopted by Phil Palmer in collaboration with Geoff Hense, Mike Smith and other local music enthusiasts. It was an interesting and stimulating show based around keyboard whirs and whizzes, off kilter shuffling rhythms and a charismatic performance from Palmer’s pulsating beard. Song structures lay off the beaten track, with heavily delayed guitar and plonking pianos and keys held together by rock steady bass and tight, innovative drumming. They score highly for originality, I found it difficult to find a frame of reference, only in one song did they sidle up to the Badly Drawn Boy. The stand out track was ‘How to Have Fun and Stay Alive’ and this is due to be featured on a forthcoming unsigned compilation. If they can nail on a few more hooks and not forget the wonders of melody their alternative vision could take them far. All in all it was another great chilled evening in the Hive of ideas...

Next month 30/8 Nic Saunders Trio, Rob Geall and more £4

With Rox unable to secure a venue for this year, all eyes and ears were focused on this council run event, and the sun was to shine on last years damp squib. There were still many things that could have been done better, but importantly it was a big improvement on last years event. There is always going to be a major learning curve for organisers of events of this magnitude and the event was beset by sound problems and the closure of the second stage. However, reasonable crowds turned up, the bands gave their all and the change overs were pretty quick. The event took place largely in the grounds of the Norfolk Hotel on the seafront, with a large marquee that was thankfully used for sheltering from the sun rather than the rain. Highlights included a bouncy, crowd pleasing set from headliners Bad Manners, a rock’n’roll ending to events on Stage 2 from Teen Spirit and the innovative psychedelic space rock of the Join. Perhaps the pick of the bunch was the entertaining farewell set of metal covers from local favourites Raw Power, that could only have been improved if Andy Crawley, who had arrived on a motorbike, had donned full WWE regalia, been suspended above the stage on invisible wires and had fireworks exploding from his cod piece. It would have been preferable to see a few more original bands, but the emphasis was on mainstream entertainment. All in all a good festival with a good vibe, the turn out and atmosphere proving the worth of these events to the community and the fact that there is always room for more...(bognorlive.co.uk)