The Cougars @ Kapow, Coventry

It's normally at this point I should be busy writing a review about the bands who performed at Kapow (Phoenix) in Coventry this week, but the truth is I got a bit bladdered! The Cougars were up from Cambridge, even though they had van problems, they still made the effort to come and entertain the Coventry crowd. The Promenade Stories and the Bootleg Poets did the business of warming the venue up ready for the final act, The Cougars.

Ashley Read on lead vocals, Ross Castle on lead guitar, George Coupland on bass and new man Tom Harding on drums make up The Cougars line up and what a line up it is. The lads were up for a drink or two before getting on stage and as the pictures show below, know how to have a good time. At one point during the set, Ashley invited the crowd up on stage - which turned out to be good fun. All in all, it was another great night out with live music at it's best. It was a pity I had to get up for work several hours later.........

Check out The Cougars MySpace for more details of upcoming gigs.

The Cougars and a tipsy robmacca.

Ashley pouts, Ross dreams and Tom licks - perfect!

Sam joins The Cougars.








The Cougars in action @ Kapow, Coventry.





The Cougars - Chapter 2 @ Kapow! Coventry



The Cougars live at Kapow, Phoenix, Coventry

More pictures and mobile video can be found: HERE.

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Kapow!

Men in Caves from Coventry give an energetic performance at Kapow in the Phoenix.



Mommas In The Kitchen prove that blues and Jesus is alive and well!

Lipstick Gypsies "tune in and drop out" for the Kapow crowd.

robmacca looking knackered due to lack of sleep.....

Going out drinking when you have work the next day is never a good idea but when it involves three smart bands and a nice chilled out atmosphere - Kapow! @ Phoenix is always worth a hang over.

With the Bank Holiday just passed and the students all still away for the summer, it was quiet - but this didn't stop any of the three bands from putting on a lesser performance. I'd never seen any of the bands before so got quite a surprise when I heard Mommas In The Kitchen because I didn't expect blues music at Kapow. Yet I really enjoyed hearing something different, plus the lead singer Jamie Birch had a great sense of humour (loved the leaflet about Jesus on the stage!).

The Lipstick Gypsies had come over from Redditch and I wish more people had come out to give the lads a listen because they were worth it. they worked together well and looked good on stage - some might even say they were the best looking band of the evening...........

Final band of the night came from Coventry's own Men In Caves, Ross More on bass certainly packed in quite a few moves as he entertained us with his jumps while Tom Brindle on vocals/guitar and Pete Canning on drums completed the three piece. Hopefully this will not be the last time I see the band.

Oops..................... I slept in for work and had a hangover all morning but it was totally worth going out (thanks Patch!) and I'm going to have to make Thursday night Kapow! night from now on!

The Ripps @ Kapow! Coventry

The Ripps performing new tracks @Kapow (Phoenix ,Coventry)

The Promenade Stories @ Kapow, Coventry

The Bootleg Poets @ Kapow, Coventry

Hung over but happy is how I'd describe my morning after feeling after another night out @ Kapow! in Coventry. This time around Kapow was open until 2am, which meant you had time to enjoy the bands and the alcohol. The Ripps headlined at the venue and were well supported by two other bands with Coventry connections.

The Promenade Stories are more known around Nottingham because both band members are at University there but the singer comes from Coventry. For me it was unusual to see a two piece band where you just had a drummer and the guitarist on vocals. At first I thought something might be missing but once you heard them you soon realised nothing was missing and this duo worked together well. Lots of hair couldn't help but make me think of "Cousin IT" from "The Addams Family", but I'm only jealous!

Talking of hair, the Bootleg Poets had no shortage of it and were happily playing with it on and off stage during their Libertinesque set. This band had no shortage of musicians as all five crammed on stage and gave the Cov crowd what they wanted - a night of good live music.

The Ripps were back in their beloved Coventry after what seemed an infinity away, even though it had only been a few weeks since they had performed at the Godiva Festival. Getting back to intimate gigs is what I love most and we were in for a right treat tonight as Patch, Raul and Rachel shared a whole cluster of new songs they had been working on for the new album. You can check out the videos below, but live is always best and if you missed Kapow! then get yourself down to Taylor Johns next Sunday night for more new material.

Along with the new tracks we were soon bopping along to classic Ripps numbers such as "Loco", "Holiday" and The Specials hit "Too Much Too Young". One thing that hasn't changed since The Ripps became famous is the down to earth personality of each band member. Raul is just as happy stamping peoples hands as they enter Kapow, Patch will have a fag and drink with anyone and everyone, Rachel is her usual smiling self no matter what!


The Ripps "Loco" with Patch tuning up after having to change guitars because he'd broken some strings.





The Ripps "Holiday" @ Kapow,Coventry


The Ripps - "Too Much Too Young" was the final song from the set and always a classic to close on as this Specials track reminds everyone how great Coventry is musically.


Bootleg Poets - "Follow The Leader" @ Kapow, Coventry

robmacca on his way home after another very enjoyable night out in Coventry!