Wooden Soldiers back on track after brief retreat

Last time we saw the Wooden Soldiers they were growing into a broad shouldered and confident band, perfecting a hectic set of snappy pop songs, and looking as much ‘the next big thing’ as any other band currently gigging around the city.

Sadly, two months down the line, they have played no more gigs, do not have a demo and have been forced into a change of personnel. Saturday night, in front of a busy Preston Mill, was their chance to prove they are still on the ball and determined to make it work.

The night was kicked off by Blackpool band Limousine and continued by Overtone, a fuzzy feel-good Manchester five piece that despite impressive over-use of ringing, scratching guitars, failed to drag themselves away from obvious influences such as Radiohead, Haven and Muse.

The Wooden Soldiers sauntered into view at ten o’clock, dragging a reasonable crowd to the stage, but failed to start with any noticeable momentum. Feedback problems, unclear vocals, quiet bass and a lack of gigs all initially taking their toll.

It took an exuberant, frenzied drum solo from Gareth Jones, the bastard son of Keith Moon and The Muppets’ Animal, to kick the band into a secure Northern swagger during The Late Show, that would last the rest of the set.

New bassist John Malcolmson fitted in well but stood out as the least confident of the four, but this is hardly surprising playing a high profile gig having been playing bass for only a matter of two or three weeks.

The Wooden Soldiers did not treat this purely as a ‘getting back on track’ performance, they threw in an unnamed new track, carrying a distinctly, hillbilly, farmyard rock feel. The song appears more thoughtfully crafted than others in the set, driven by drums and based around a short, catchy riff that provides the songs’ whole southern fried character.

An encouraging comeback despite a slow start and the odd sound problem. If the band continue to gel as quickly as they did tonight, they should be excelling past glories before you can say Buzzcocks.

Written by Dan Jeoffroy

Photography: Dan Jeoffroy