Who the Hell are.......THE BRIDGE GANG ?!?!?

Right, let me just get one thing straight. There are plenty of bands out there; hundreds, thousands in fact, but sorting the wheat from the chaff is not so easy. Most of the problems we have in this day and age is actually being able to find these bands, as the radiowaves are clogged up with the tar of mediocrity. With John Peel dead (God bless his soul) things don't look set to change, and the once popular pirate radio stations have died long since. Pushed out by the establishment scapegoating them as the cause of radio interference for the emergency services....I digress.

The fanzines, and the amateur online websites are the only chance people get nowadays. That, and attending the small venues, that unfortunately, are few and far between unless you live in big cities like Manchester and London. So word of mouth is the only medium left for their 15 minutes of fame. The underground is there, don't get me wrong, it's just as alive as ever, but its just more difficult to find. Its more of a 'who you know' thing nowadays.

The Bridge Gang are one of those 'special' bands that one only comes across through 'word of mouth' or sheer luck. They desperately need promotion because, lets face it, they need to be heard by the masses.
They would be the first to oppose 'selling out', which is not what I refer to. I'm talking about necessary 'exposure'.

They are a 3 piece hailing from the Hackney region, of London. They have been together only a relatively short space of time, but when you get a band that gels as well as The Bridge Gang, that matters none.
They have recently been signed to a small Independent label called DogBox Records, who have a number of other artists under them, such as 'Luxembourg' and the awesome, 'Mitten'.

The Bridge Gang have just released their first, download only single, entitled...

'Pangs of Guilt / Sarah's Brother' (www.dogbox.co.uk)

What a fucking start I can tell you. 'Sarah's brother', is a syncopated, rhythmic gem. Well paced and melodic with refreshing guitar trills. An exploration into the vocalist/guitarist, Jose' Ross' emphatic views on the 'National Front'. The song grows on you in an instant without being predictable and repetitively frustrating. I can imagine it becoming a bit of an anthem or signature track hotly anticipated at each gig they play. A clever 'marching' bassline ,by Miss Lucy Dee, keeps the whole track blissfully smooth and is the necessary backbone for the strong, stomping rhythm.

'Pangs of Guilt', immediately invites you in to The Bridge Gang's realm, with a....wait for it, 'angst-ridden' ( I know you hate that term!), rock n' roll riff that gives you a sense it was just destined to be written. You cannot help but feel the haunting overtones of Frank Black, but their style is by no means a replica; more of a subtle, respectful acknowlegement, of sorts. The drumming , by Mr Bret Blue, build and build at the beginning, until they kick you in the fucking head only to continue on their exuberant journey by riding the rhythmical waves of one of the best, punk based tracks, which I can honestly say, have heard in the last few months, if not all year!!
This is another one of those tracks which will have crowds going absolutely ape shit at their gigs, to which I have not, as yet, had the good fortune to attend.

I look forward to what the future has to bring for The Bridge Gang, if their other tracks are half as good as these two tracks then we are all in for a treat!!

So, If anyone out there gives a damn for the future of guitar bands, you will make a point of downloading their single, and mentioning The Bridge Gang wherever, and to whoever you come across who has an understanding of 'real' music!

Just remember kids, whatever you do....... "Don't go out when your blades are blunt!!"

Copyright EyeCeyE 2005