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SACRED HEART, GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY (acoustic)
Stripes Bar, Brentford FC Friday 20 January 2006

A three band bill with a covers band Kross Fire (eek!) opening the night. They played a solid if unspectacular set although a riff heavy version of the Buggles hit 'Video Killed the Radio Star' was highlight.

I like covers bands as much as Dogs D'Amour (at least Dogs can pen their own tunes!) so I am maybe not the best person to review them...

Growing Old Disgracefully were appearing as a two piece in full acoustic mode and were damn fine. 'Cry Freedom' works well in an acoustic setting whilst 'Whisky and Westminster' had added topicality thanks to Charles Kennedy's recent alcohol admission.

Sacred Heart's Paul Stead joined in on 'Saerchin'. Sound wise you can hear bits of Lynyrd Skynyrd and also XTC in their quirkier moments. Be interesting to see how the band sound in electric mode as acoustically they have it just about nailed.

Sacred Heart have been getting better each time I see them live (this is the fifth time I think) and tonight's set is dominated by new material due on their new album due later this year.

The new songs like 'Promise' and 'Afraid' have a much harder edge to them - latter day TNT to these ears. Even my all time fave by the band 'Lost' has been revamped with harder edged guitar parts.

'Rock 'n' Roll Roll Away' is a stomp-yer-feet anthem that Slade never wrote, whilst 'N.Y.C' would put a smile on any lover of melodic hard rock.

The band seem to excel at penning catchy, hard rock tunes that keep a modern air about them but still tip a nod to the classic bands like TNT, Europe and Warrant.

I've said it before and will say it again this band has to be seem live to fully appreaciate them.

Review by Jason Ritchie