Gig Review: Milk Roar & Probing Cranks at The Old Tiger's Head, Lee, South London (By Tox from 14 Carat Grapefruit)

After playing on the same bill as Probing Cranks at the Punk-Rock-Til-You-Drop gig last week at the Dublin Castle, I really wanted to see them playing the following Friday at The Old Tigers Head on Lee High Road in sarf London, with Milk Roar, who are fronted by my mate, Ming the Mong.

It's a nice room (with a bar) but a very limited PA and backline. No mixing desk (only one mic.). Nice high stage and limited lighting. So if you're going to play there ... be prepared!

Otto and I were early and Ming was sound-checking as we arrived. Otto needed a dodgy burger so we took off and by the time we came back we'd missed most of the first act. Don't know who they were?

Then came Milk Roar ... the bastard offspring of Salvador Dali and Captain Beefheart after a good night out. I've seen Milk Roar a few times now and have always enjoyed their set.

I have not been able in the past to find a suitable description for them, a lot of people say the Fall with guitars but they are not as easy to define as that, after speaking with Tonal D, one of the guitarists, who let on about his Beefheart leanings it became a lot clearer. Some very interesting quirky guitar play. Singer Ande's original and surreal take on the world and its personalities making you think "What the ....?!" Tonight he left the carrier bag at home.

If you like The Fall / Captain Beefheart / Faust / Dada or Surrealism you will like Milk Roar, as much as I do.

Before last Wednesday at The Dublin Castle, I hadn't heard any Probing Cranks. They are a three-piece consisting guitar, bass and drums and play sarf London swamp rock. Like Milk Roar they are difficult to categorise but brilliant for that reason alone; great foot stomping tunes, powerful guitar and rolling bass held together beautifully by tight drumming. The tunes are infectious and for the second time that week they had my head nodding, my foot tapping, and my ears saying thank you!

A note on The Old Tigers Head.

This place could become an excellent south London venue if they invested a little on the in-house equipment. The bands on this night did brilliantly even with the obvious limitations of the venues "kit". But I play in a five piece band that requires a three mic set-up, I think we would find it difficult to get a decent sound at this venue. We would certainly need to bring a bit more equipment than usual. We would also need a fair old bit of time to sound-check.

That aside, it was a very entertaining evening, and big thanks to Milk Roar and Probing Cranks for the experience.

(Tox - 14 Carat Grapefruit)