Twisted Nerve Showcases

Mandela Hall, Belfast

Very few people bothered to stray out tonight to catch a glimpse of what future stars Andy Votel is grooming at Twisted Nerve Towers. Rumours of Badly Drawn Boy’s presence obviously did little to bolster ticket sales and proved unfounded anyway. Then again maybe the general public was clued in as to what the performance was going to be like and knew to stay away…

Misty Dixon – led by Votel’s other half Jane Weaver – are first up. The heartbreaking and restrained music that this band puts down on record is lost in the live setting and they fail to inspire. Dave Tyack’s Dakota Oak on the other hand are a dream to watch and listen to. Tyack’s insistent plucked guitar melodies drive the sound. The second guitar follows and embellishes the almost classical leanings. Add the strains of cello and drums and Dakota Oak aren’t the average band you’ll find in the Student Union of a Friday night. And there’s the pity.

The Twisted Nerve hometeam themselves seem well up for Mum & Dad’s brand of Bill Baileyesque porn soundtrack. But the band made few new fans. If the task was to alienate the audience and make them feel uncomfortable then this band succeeded – the constant strobe light, the unnecessary X-rated visuals and the appalling sound were too much.

DOT – frustrated at the lack of audience enthusiasm – spent the first five minutes of their set picking on people from the darkest corners of the hall and demanding they move to the front. But even with Votel rounding up the folks, there were few that bothered to pay any attention to what at this stage of proceedings was just another band.

All in all, if this is the future of Twisted Nerve, don’t expect another hatted genius in the near future. While Votel obviously has an eye for style and presentation, on the strength of tonight’s performances Dakota Oak is the only band worthy of the effort.