Touch the Sky
I got a fever, and the only prescription … is more prog rock!! I am starting to become a regular at The Peel, and the House of Progression is to blame. With acts like DeeExpus, Tinyfish, Panic Room, Jump and Darwin’s Radio, and that is just the gigs this month, HoP knows how to keep prog rock fans entertained.
This weekend it was time for Touchstone supported by Crimson Sky, or as the adolescent in me would call it; the Battle of the Babes.
First up was Crimson Sky. The first thing I noticed when Crimson Sky hit the stage was the lead singer, Holly, and I was not the only one. As my friend put it; What do you get if you cross Louise Brooks with Siouxie Sioux? The next thing I noticed was my foot tapping and my head bobbing, which explains why several of the photos I took were blurry.
This was the first time I have seen Crimson Sky, but they have built a reputation as a awesome live band and they arrived at the Peel with added confidence from playing the Surface Unsigned Festival Regional Final at the O2 Academy in Bristol, where they almost made the final. Based on their performance during this gig I would have put them through.
Crimson Sky’s new album Misunderstood is available through their website.
Martin Leamon is also featured in my 6Qs for … section.
On to the next babe … ehem … band, Touchstone. The Touchstone performance did not start inside the Peel with Academy Award winner Jeremy Iron’s introduction, but a few minutes earlier outside where Moo was giving the girls next door a run for their money by stripping down to his boxers and demanding a pound tribute for his solo performance. Unfortunately I had not brought my zoom lens so I am afraid I did not capture this for posterity.
Touchstone have matured as a band since last I saw them in February last year and from what I heard yesterday I am looking forward to sitting down and listening to their new album. Touchstone seems to have become more punchier and I like my prog on the heavy side. Al’s heavy beats accompanied by Moo’s complex bass patterns is a perfect counterpoint to Elkie’s heavenly voice and Rob’s Marrilionesque melodies. Adam’s guitar licks are not to shabby either 
I really enjoyed the gig and so did the rest of the crowd and we were threated to no less than two encores. I especially enjoyed Touchstone’s cover of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I started to do the dance. Another highlight was Al’s pants (you had to be there).
Touchstone’s new album Wintercoast is available everywhere and through their website.
[rating=5]
As for the battle of the babes I have to declare it a draw.