Queen’s Head patrons of all ages, shapes and sizes were wowed on Saturday night by the band AsIs.
Whether it was the larger space, the acoustic, the wooden floor or just that indefinable mojo, AsIs were on fire. Sally Ballet had an immediate rapport with the audience. Rye Retreat staff were out in force enjoying a leaving do and AsIs obliged by deviating from the set list “just for the girls”. There was considerable exuberance and wielding of selfie sticks on the dance floor and huge grins all around.
It would be invidious to single out one musician over another but there is an indefinable quality in live music bands whereby the whole becomes greater than its parts. The band lifts and feeds off itself and bounces to another level.
I don’t wish to catalogue the set list but a couple of particular numbers deserve mention. A good covers band has an ability to reproduce the sound and the feel of the original. The ability of musicians in a band to impose their unique quality creates an altogether different entity.
It was not the Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar” but the essence of the number with AsIs putting their mark on it. As Richard Kingsman laconically put it: “Well we don’t have a saxophone.”
With “Love Shack” my notes read “consummate – again” they were very tight and the harmonies were spot on, the band were in the groove and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
AsIs were having a blast on Saturday. As were the audience. Happy, happy people. “Dancing in the Moonlight” (Toploader) and “Wonderwall” (Oasis) were examples of audience involvement and band chemistry coming together to create a little bit of magic in The Queen’s Head.
There were even a couple of times during Beatles and Stones songs when I noticed the baby boomers struggling to stay in their seats.
AsIs have no plans to gig locally in the near future as they are focusing on private engagements but as and when they do, if you get the chance, check them out.
Photos: Gerard Reilly