"Energetic and Dramatic performance"

by Mike Richardson, Head Editor

  Having seen Polly Poison and Her Electric Antidote a few times previously, expectations were high for this, their first headline indoor gig since Halloween 2010. Polly and her band have spent the intervening period crafting a slew of new tunes and honing their performances to the point of perfection and it shows. Playing to a near capacity crowd already revved up by a long night of music from amongst others Lá Reblá Fam and The Future Shape of Sound the punters were eager to see something special and Polly Poison were more than happy to deliver.

From the moment they let loose with the the Doors-esque intro of "Devil Comes to Dine" the crowd were enthralled. With a virtually brand-new set, the band took the audience on a wild metal rollercoaster ride of songs filled with tight guitar, solid, pounding drums and some of the sickest, fattest sounding bass work I've ever heard. Highlights for me had to be "White Snow" and "Little Miss Lead" with old favourite "Re-Arrange" sending the crowd into an absolutely frenzy halfway through the set.

You could see in her eyes just how much vocalist Katie Masson was enjoying being back on stage after such a long hiatus, and it shone through in her energetic and dramatic performance. Never one to stand back she lead the crowd through the new songs with gusto, the effect greatly enhanced by the excellent sound system and engineers at Proud letting her vocals cut through the massive wall of sound the band generates. Drummer Duncan Clarke and Bassist Lee Voss' tighter than tight rhythm section drove each and every song perfectly, while the hooks and riffs guitarist Sami Resua has pulled out of the bag for the new songs were infectious and furious.

For a band to come back this strong after a nine month break shows that they must have spent that time working damn hard. Make sure you get along to see them at a venue with a decent sound system as soon as you can and you too will be able to say you got "Poisoned" before they hit the big time.

Photos by Mike Richardson, First Sound Images