Going Big at the Carlisle
AMANDA BROOKS takes in Not Now Norman, White Tyger and The Hot One Two.
The Hot One Two
The Carlisle Rock Venue in Hastings town, run by Gemma Weightman, now hosts live, explosive experiences for rock music lovers. See Ya There Promotions, the main event organisers, aim to promote the local original, independent, rock music scene, supporting new, sometimes explosive, music from lesser-known or unsigned bands. This was the first ticketed event for many years at the Carlisle, now equipped with a brand new, full 5,000W PA system operated by sound engineer Wee Jock.
NOT NOW NORMAN, A BALLSY APPETISER
Hailing from Berwick-upon-Tweed, the intergenerational, alternative hard rock band Not Now Norman (named as a tribute to a roguish cockerel) definitely know how to skewer down an audience. Fast, catchy tunes, powerful melodies, biting vocal delivery, solid drums, impressive, penetrating guitar jabs, and, holding it all together, Julie Plunkett’s delicious, tight bass lines. Displaying a feathery top hat (in homage to the cockerel), red hot-pants, and make-up to match, lead vocalist Taylor Grace displays unwavering energy, sound-puncturing tones and stunning vibrato. Belting out songs inspired by a personal message, the plumed young queen danced exuberantly, mesmerising the audience.
WHITE TYGER, WILD AND CRAZY
Welcome to ferocious heavies from the West Midlands, White Tyger, winners of the Hard Rock Hell-Raising Stars Award 2023. They generate an uninhibited and sonically fascinating show, with musical influences ranging from bona-fide classic rock to sleaze ‘hair’ metal and contemporary styles. The one and only Nip Turner slaps the audience in the face with his vocal range, three or four octaves and climbing. Die-hard and raw, White Tyger rapidly establish themselves on Hastings turf. Ten seconds into their set, they had already set the stage on fire with a thunderous, mixed style of ‘old-school’ rock from the 1970s, 80s and early 90s, played with original, contemporary panache.
The Hot One Two, sensational time machine
Hailing from Cambridgeshire (stomping ground of David Gilmour and Syd Barrett), it is no wonder that this formidable, heavy rock quintet get going with racing guitar riff wizardry, commanding, powerhouse male vocals and stunning guitar licks. It’s easy to see that the charismatic Hot One Two are driven by the spirit of rock ‘n roll, which remains at the epicentre of their performances. Though utterly contemporary, the band keep alive the classic 1980s rock style backdrop they grew up in. They transfix the audience with their no-holds-barred stage presence, arousing a host of emotions and memories that whisk us back to a time when ‘hair’ rock, leather and lace, were up-to-the-minute trends.
Find See Ya There Promotions on Facebook. The Carlisle: carlislehastings.com,
Not Now Norman: notnownorman.com, White Tyger: whitetyger.net/home, The Hot One Two:
thehotonetwo.com/bio. Bands played at The Carlisle, Pelham Street, Hastings on 2 February 2024
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