Oh Sees - Deaf Institute, Manchester, 23/5/2008
by Helen Tipping
published: 24 / 5 / 2008

intro
Helen Tipping finds former Coachwhips' front man John Dwyer's new band Thee Oh Sees' blend of quirky rockabilly and 60's psychedelia infectious at the Deaf Institute in Manchester
It's Champions' League Final night in Moscow, with Manchester United playing Chelsea. The pubs are packed with Man U fans cheering and shouting, except the Deaf Institute, which has a smattering of bright young things in for cocktails and a light bite, and a few people in to see tonight's bands. We catch all three bands. The first band up were called Beach Fuzz and I couldn't connect with them at all. Call me a philistine, but their experimental sound was a step too far for me. Next up were Mayming, two classically trained women using cello and vocals and some impressive computing kit. They build layers of sound from the cello and vocals, starting with a chilled out sound and building up to an unsettling ending. Vocalist Seaming To has an amazing vocal range, and can also be seen playing with Homelife. Thee Oh Sees come on at 11, after the football has finished, and quite a few people seem to have arrived post match. They are a guitar band, with a huge rockabilly influence and a bit of 60's psychedelia thrown in. The two guitarists hold their guitars right up at chest height, which is not seen that often these days. John Dwyer is the main vocalist and guitarist, with wonderful harmonies being added by Brigid Dawson. The band will be glad to hear that I did not think they sounded like the B52s in the slightest. They were really infectious and threw everything into their performance, I was glad we stuck around to see them play. In fact we liked them so much we bought the CD and we've been listening to it in the car ever since. It's great driving along music. The photographs that accompany this article were taken exclsuively for Pennyblackmusic by Neil Bailey.
most viewed articles
current edition
Spear Of Destiny - InterviewRobert Forster - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pistol Daisys - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Nils Petter Molvaer - El Molino, Barcelona, 24/4/2025
Credits - ARC, Liverpool, 17/5.2025
Gary Numan - Berserker
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPDwina Gibb - Interview
Boomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Serge Gainsbourg - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Brad Elvis - Interview
Susie Hug - Interview
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleGarbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Little Simz - Lotus
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Vinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
HAIM - I Quit
Eddie Chacon - Lay Low
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart