Orphan Boy - Victoria Inn, Derby, 3/10/3015

by Dave Goodwin

published: 23 / 10 / 2015

Orphan Boy - Victoria Inn, Derby, 3/10/3015

Dave Goodwin watches Orphan Boy, despite sound problems, play an anthemic set at the Victoria Inn in Derby

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The Victoria Inn in Derby is a strange sort of a place. The walls are awash with previous gigs lists and old photos of the bands that have graced the venue. There are some big names here too. It is a small, well-lit place opposite the railway station just south of the city centre. It is also home to local football fans, and as I walk in around 7.30 p.m. there is still a healthy gathering enjoying the post match analysis. The venue itself is at the back of the bar through a pair of tight double doors. Once the doors have been negotiated you are plunged into darkness. The only light offered comes from the multi-coloured backlights of the stage which is far down the narrow room towards the back. As Rob Cross, the lead singer with the Eastern docklands band Orphan Boy, tells me earlier, "It is all a bit claustrophobic." It is cold in the room too, which is also adorned with old band lists from years ago. It is Orphan Boy we have come to see after reviewing their latest album 'Coastal Tones' which is still at the top of my albums list for this year. The album is that good. On the same billing are two support acts, the first being the Thieves who play a good indie style set and the second being Nottingham's Same Streets who provide a polished bluesy sort of rock and roll set of all their material. Throughout the sets of both these acts, however, there seems to be problems with the sound system, and by the time Orphan Boy come on at around 10 p.m., even though they have already done a sound check earlier and a series of adjustments are made, these continue throughout the set. The sound problems don't deter the Grimsby lads though and they fire straight into their set. It soon becomes obvious that this is no ordinary band. I had the chance to chat to and interview them earlier and they seem quite a laid back bunch of lads, but when they hit the stage they obviously mean business and they are also absolutely tight musically. They have that anthemic edge that most bands can only dream about. And they make it all seem so easy. Effortless. They kick off with a favourite from 'Passion, Pain and Loyalty', the first track from that album 'Letter for Annie' which instantly gets the crowd moving with its atmospheric organ intro. They continue with 'Popsong', which is sandwiched between two songs from the new album, 'Transpennine' and 'Coastal Tones', which ease them through the first part of the set. There are a couple more slight hiccups with the sound as they drift through lovesick ballad 'Thirtysomething', and then the anthemic shout of 'Black and White (For You') before closing with 'Clover' and a fantastic rendition of 'Some Frontier'. All in all if you bought the albums by this little known but polished act you wouldn't be surprised that the live output is so, so good. It is a criminal offence that these guys aren't playing on the big stage. In one sense I want to shout it from the rooftops but in another I want to keep Orphan Boy my secret. Marvellous! Photographs by Dave Goodwin www.davegoodwinimages.com