Saturday 25th of February. Dear diary I really have to get out more, it's been ages since I've seen a band. I shouldn't be complaining, it's my own fault, love (of sorts), reared its ugly head and my brain disappeared off to where blokes brains go when there's a woman around. I could put it down to the drink, but there wasn't much of that either as she disliked smoky pubs. She didn't like rock bands either, so I can't think why I got involved. Well I came to my senses a couple of weeks ago, right about the time that I was pointed in the direction of Bristol Rock. "Take a look at this web site" said a mate "and stop wandering round looking like a sick spaniel." Well I looked and I saw MUSIC, lots of lovely MUSIC.
Anyway back to last Saturday night I rolled into one of my old haunts, the Reckless Engineer to see a band that I had never heard of and knock back a few pints of Otter.The place had a few more people in than I can remember seeing for some time, and I was soon to see why. Led Zepps "Bin a long time" is a great set opener for any band, but when I saw the slight form of Skin the singer I thought it may have been a mistake. Boy how wrong can you be. The band rampaged through the song like it was there own, and continued to try and bring the house down with more covers in the same vein. The applause, whistling and foot stamping  at the end of each tune caused several passers by on the street to stop and peer through the windows in case they were missing a secret "star" gig. The band took a short break about 10, as much to let the crowd get their breath back as for any other reason. Set two didn't so much start, as ease back in, with Rob and Scott giving a demo of some of their other talents. Scott who normally plays bass, appeared with  an electrified banjo, (a first for me), and lead guitar Rob with an acoustic. For a few minutes we were all in Hill billy country as the boys delivered a blistering version of "duelling banjos" which many will remember from the film Deliverance, to thunderous applause. Not to be outdone, Jerry got back behind the drums and soloed like a man possessed before leading into the opening number of set two.

What a set that was, with classics like "Run to the hills" "Sweet Child" etc. Too many to remember, but all uniformly top class and delivered full on to a very happy crowd. Toward the end of the evening members of the band took to disappearing out into the street or climbing on tables, but not a beat was missed or a word out of place.
When First Element tried to bring the gig to a close, the crowd just wanted more and more of the same. Our lovely landlord said yes and on they played until we all had to go home. Me with a long up hill walk as the last bus had gone, and me with  a gallon of Otter on board. Happy Days. Superb playing and singing. I can't wait to hear Skin when she has had a few more late nights a bottle or two of whisky and sung in some more smoky joints. It's a great voice and will soon be perfect.

Watch out for First Element playing near where you live, you are guaranteed a great night out.