Simon Rushworth
@ The Trojan Rooms, Whitley Bay, June 8 2009
Border raiders with big riffs and even bigger choruses, Serpico are set to be huge. It’s just such a shame so few of the North East’s rock brigade were present to witness Mikey and his mob lay waste to Whitley Bay’s Trojan Rooms. Fair play to the Scots rockers – they ignored the fact that no more than 20 people were present and the fact that the sound was patchy to say the least and went on to deliver a set worthy of Download. Oh, did we mention they’re playing the world’s most diverse rock and metal festival on Saturday…
Incredibly it wasn’t hard to imagine Serpico’s transition from club class to first class. Despite the sparse audience the band performed as if they were playing in front of the Donington masses and this is a big stage act paying their small stage dues. Right from the opening chords of rushonrock favourite Last Honest Cops this looked like it was going to be a show to remember and as Mikey battled the venue’s demons his band mates won the PA war.
In drummer Johnny McMillan, Serpico boast a truly talented stixman and his riotous rhythm work brought the set alive. Don’t expect a smile from the super-focused drummer but do expect a stellar display from the band’s prize asset.
We Own The Night would have been so much better had Mikey been heard belting out the band’s best known anthem but sadly it just wasn’t to be. This was a set dogged by sound demons all night and Serpico deserve immense credit for seeing it through – that they did suggests a big future for one of our favourite new bands. Fantastic. But where were you?