The Courettes – Live In Stockton-On-Tees

The night has finally arrived, the night when The Fabulous Courettes hit our wonderful Teesside with a bang, and to top that, it’s not only a sell out gig, it’s The Soul Of…. Album release day, what more could you ask for!. I was gonna start this review with all the waffle about how I got to the venue, what I had for my tea, and some not so interesting facts about Stockton-On-Tees, but then thought, why would I make this anything else than a write up on the event of the month, I know you all might have been waiting especially for all those moments, but sorry, you’ll just have to wait for another instalment of Mark goes to a gig.

So, how could I describe this venue in Stockton to those of you who have never been, and want to get a feel for what this night felt like actually being there. Lets say, have you ever been to a gig in a room this roughly the size of an average shoe shop (no not box, although, when full it feels like that), a family run place, that serves the area with live music at least 3 to 4 times a week and more sometimes, a place where music is the prime reason to exist. Its filling up nicely, I’ve had a chance to speak with Martin and Flavia from the band and they are really looking forward to playing the new songs from the album in the set, and especially like the intimacy of this venue.

First up though is a band I’ve like for a while, but never, for some reason or other seen live, Nervous Twitch, a three piece outfit from Leeds, with passports in hand (yes you do need them to enter Beautiful Teesside) hit the stage running, with songs that are beyond catchy, they grab you by the ear and drag you with ease to a place filled with snappy pop songs that are filled with down to earth lyrics. This is old school punk that’s been dragged kicking and screaming into the now, with songs like ‘Don’t Be Mean’, ‘Johnny’s Got A Gun’ and the ridiculously amazing ‘Snowball’ just to name a few of  the many, then they end with a song that just sealed them and their set in my memory for a very long time, ‘Bad Reputation’ took me all the way back to the 70’s DIY explosion, cool as fuck and no messing around melodic Punk with ear worms all over the place.

All that excitement over, and plenty more to come from the headline, this mixed with a room that was filling up to its max, body heat reaching high levels, and drinks going down rapidly, it was my time to take some refreshment too, that done and some very meaningful chat with like minded friends old and new, it was time to party. The Courettes hit the stage with a bounce that comes from having an album out on the same day, but more than that, an album of songs that hit a new level in their history. ‘You Woo Me’ was the song they chose to hit is with first, one of six in the set from the new album, it sets the tone for an amazing nights mix of Pop, Rock n Roll, and energy that’s infectious.

There’s also plenty of room in this blinding flash of lightning music for some Back In Mono songs, Ringo, Want You Like A Cigarette and Misfits and Freaks all get this room so sweaty that even the walls drip like a Swedish sauna in winter. No matter what this duo play, this is a crowd that eat it up, after all, the pure love that Martin and Flavia give off for what they do is intoxicating, this is a force of nature unleashed upon a room that want every second to last forever.  Flavia makes her way to and from the audience, onto the bar, and most of all into the hearts of all who attended, with some soulful yet grounded vocal, and Martin hits those drums like a caged animal with meaning.

After now witnessing this band for my very first time live, I can simply say, don’t blame me if you get a chance to see them and miss it, because you have been warned.

The Soul Of… The Fabulous Courettes is available through streaming platforms here and via Damaged Goods Records.

This event was hosted by Stephen Harland and his wife Wendy of Big Figure Promotions

Sound for Nervous Twitch was thanks to Will Body

All Photo’s from the night can be found HERE for Nervous Twitch & HERE for The Courettes