• Released: 14.09.2006
• Plays: 126
• Label: unsigned

• Released: 14.09.2006
• Plays: 83
• Label: unsigned

Mn4 play the ‘Crown & Thistle’ – Friday October 6th

09/10/2006 By Tom Adams

And so we came to Rockcliffe, guitars in hand, ready to preach our message of sonic overload with the denizens of this small Northwest Cumbrian outpost. The ‘Crown’ has recently been refurbished and we were impressed with the slate floor, new carpets, original beams and warm atmosphere. Not to mention that they had Theakston’s bitter on tap. We played on a raised area which was slightly cramped leaving us having to face the audience through banisters and oak posts. However, we took things in our customary stride. Which means that we set to work putting the PA together while Jamie ordered his first pint of the night! We didn’t have time for a sound-check and so launched straight into ‘Take it easy’ – a perennial crowd-pleaser. We were especially excited tonight as we were playing all 3 songs from the latest CD – ‘The Driftwood Session’. This was the first time we had played ‘Smuggler’ live – a challenging song, but a reasonably tight delivery. We were pleased that in the second set, ‘Loaded’ was well-received with some punters actually dancing to it! We plugged the new CD and had a signing session at the break over a plate of sandwiches – kindly provided by the ‘Crown’ kitchen staff. We played our longest second set ever – 1 ½ hours! The crowd kept asking for more. We even resurrected ‘Living after Midnight’ (which we were) and ‘Whole lotta Rosie’ (guaranteed to do Jonth’s voice in). Apparently, we are the first true ‘live’ act to play at the Thistle under new management and we would thoroughly recommend it as a venue.They were a great crowd and we had some great conversations. As I was wearing my Led Zeppelin t-shirt, a man at the bar recounted the time he saw them play at Leeds university, including the spectacle of Robert Plant pulling up in a pink Rolls Royce. Ah! I can only dream of such rock excesses. Tom’s recommended listening – Once you’ve listened to Mn4’s new CD, the new CD by UFO – ‘Monkey Puzzle’ is a must. Phil Mogg with characteristic tales of a traveller of life’s highways and byways; and Vinnie Moore – guitarist extroadinaire.