LIVE AT THE BRICKMAKERS FRIDAY 12TH MAY 2000

Raol Crane - Lead Vocals and Guitar
Richard Payne - Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals
Daryl Wardock - Drums and Backing Vocals
Phill Murphy - Guitar

Ahh!! The memories came flooding back on entering the dim and slightly dreary surroundings of the Brickmakers Public House Rock Venue on this buzzing and sticky May Friday Night.

Those Rawkas Boys were ready to tread the stage boards as I ripped my sticking soles from the well impregnated carpet and adopted the usual wall leaning, beer holding lilt, looking for that invisible shelf to rest my beer when trying to applaud.

How those lads rocked! At first being relatively indifferent, my expectations traversed from half interested to totally impressed. A succession of well-executed covers with their own interpretations filled every nook and horrible cranny of the pub; one of the last truly band orientated venues in Norwich.

Rawkas obviously live and breath, music and all things bandy on a 24 hour basis, and it shows. Musical bits and details were abound and it made for a very entertaining set. The music was tight and punchy and the band obviously are well aware which musical details are required to catch the punters attention.

The set developed and the crowd became more involved, by the end of the night the band had rocked, kicked and impressed them utterly with their inventive choices of covers and arrangements. The guitar medley was especially good with hints and nods from Deep Purple, Lenny Kravitz, Sabbath and a number of other choices from the 70's and 80's. A wonderful cover of "Come Up And See Me Make Me Smile" by Cockney Rebel delighted all.

Their Manager Tim Crane went on later to explain how busy the band are with approximately 75 gigs between June and December lined up and even though they are horrendously young (all at 19) the Band has been in existence since 1996. At the moment they are collating their own material and are looking forward to furthering their Management Connections which will be followed by studio work in August. Their musical talents are confident and accomplished and they embody the necessary stage attitude which separates them from an average local band. Maybe a little less off the cuff swearing and more side-wards wit would work although I dare say this will develop with time. Swearing is fine; you bunch of *#@** but everybody in the rockworld does it, and "Ozzy" always was a bit bonkers anyway! The sound quality was quite good at this gig with the guitars being both aggressive and cutting.

Oh! those young Rawkas Boys; they of the pert stomach muscles and confident barnet. Good Stuff and keep it going lads, if your own material captures your stage attitude and confidence you could cut the cake with the chiefs of music worldom.

As for the Brickmakers - those of questionable toilets and interesting stage design - thanks for supporting local music.