MUSIC MATTERS: Ferris wheels out debut track - The Coventry Observer

MUSIC MATTERS: Ferris wheels out debut track

Coventry Editorial 15th Sep, 2018 Updated: 19th Nov, 2018   0

Courthouse

Courthouse are a five piece outfit consisting of David ‘Dubs’ Davies on vocals & keys; Sean Clarke, guitar & backing vocals; Joseph Scoltock, guitar & backing vocals; Tom Scoltock, bass guitar; and Joey Adkins on the drums.

They describe themselves as having ‘Innovative funky grooves’ and “The best band you haven’t heard of yet.”

I doubt if that will be the case for long, as Courthouse are making all the right type of sounds. Vocals are slick and compliment the instrumentation perfectly. Catch them on September 15, 9pm, at The Bell Inn, High St, Rugby CV21 4HD.




Andrew Ferris and The Merciful Wizards


Former The Institutes frontman Andrew Ferris is back on the scene. Fresh from his starring appearance on the Godiva Festival flyer, he releases his debut track ‘The Feel’.

I played it once, played it again and again, yeah it really is that good. Those great vocals much in evidence, with a chorus to die for, one of those that you just don’t want to get out of your head.

It even opens with what sounds to me like a homage to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Over The Hills And Far Away’. ‘The Feel’ is just a great song, can’t wait for the album.

The XCerts, looking back

Alphabetically speaking, the XCerts were at the far end of the pecking order. Chronologically however they stood at the vanguard of the born-again Coventry music scene of the 80s.

The XCerts had actually formed in 1978, a year or so before the Specials charted, and at that point, both bands were just good local groups, pushing their wares for a chance of success.

The band was three guys (Dave Pepper, Gray Summers and Kev ‘Zero’ Summers). No great image, just good honest guitar-based music, with some great two-part vocal harmonies, a rarity in those days.

They started life as the Monitors. Chris King, former manager of the Flys showed a keen interest in them and immediately the gigs materialised after rehearsing together for about 5 or 6 weeks.

After they won the battle of the bands at Warwick University they changed their name to the XCerts. They played all the usual places like Market Tavern, The Dive, The Swanswell, Dog and Trumpet, The Wolfe, Climax, etc.

They also played the surrounding area’s prime spots of the time, Nuneaton, Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick, etc, plus London gigs. They even supported The Specials and The Selecter, and gig-wise worked their socks off.

The band looked to release a single of ‘Feeling In the Groove’ c/w ‘Satisfied’. Sadly it didn’t materialise, the indie record label ZAMA Records kept re-mixing it all the time.

It was the potential B-Side ‘Satisfied’ that for me remains one of the finest pop songs to have ever come out of the city, it’s infectious Police-like chorus was an absolute classic.

Sadly Kev Summers tragically died aged just 20 in a car crash and the XCerts dream was over. Dave Pepper would later reform the band but to no avail, and that amazing track ‘Satisfied’ would be lost forever.

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