The GlamOrgans

A four piece band, based in The Vale of Glamorgan, playing covers of good rock and pop tunes from the last 40 years.

Made up of four highly experienced individuals, the band have played extensively throughout South Wales and even overseas, well over the bridge!

Chris Williams: Lead Vocals / Sax
Chris Evans: Guitar / Synth / Vocals
Fraser Scott: Bass / Vocals
Steve Richardson: Drums / Vocals

In September the band played a packed gig in The Poacher, Portishead, which earnt them the following review on the Lemonrock web site:

No Glam but plenty of Sax Appeal
The Poacher, Portishead on Fri 18th Sep 09

Fortunately the Glam Organs do not do what it states on the tin, no glam, not a mention of organs but enough top notch musical ability to transform The Poacher into a musical haven for a few hours.

Lead singer/saxophonist Chris Williams set his stall out for the night by enquiring if anyone in the packed bar knew the chords to The Stereophonics’ ‘Dakota’, a telling sign that his humour was intact and an equal match for his singing and musical prowess. Of course, hailing from the other side of the bridge (that will be Wales for the less geographically knowledgeable amongst you) what better way to start a set than with a perfect cover of a Stereophonics solid piece of Welsh rock. The song went down a storm and opened the door to a varied, talented performance of choice and sometimes very unpredictable songs.

With a drum kit that was designed to spill out of bay windows and a bass player with a great feel for his craft the sound was solid and tight for the entire evening. There was just a slight hiccup at the beginning of ‘Come Up And See Me, Make Me Smile’, a point I mention only because of the ease the song was recaptured and made you forget quickly that anything was amiss.

Highlights of the night for me included one of only two songs that I had predicted would be played, that being Baker Street, the Gerry Rafferty classic which was treated with respect and performed wonderfully to a very appreciative audience. Incidentally, the other song I predicted was ‘Valerie’, a song I have just never enjoyed by whoever covers it, or even the original, it just always seems disjointed and doesn’t flow like a song should but that’s just a personal opinion.

Another big and welcome surprise was to hear the sax solos on songs I would least expect to hear them and it worked wonderfully and held your attention, making you wonder why someone hadn’t thought of it before. It gave the feeling you were listening to a cover but a cover with a subtle twist that added a little originality.

The bass player introduced us to some Porthcawl Rock in the shape of The Clash’s ‘I Fought The Law’, I’ll credit it to The Clash rather than the writer Sonny Curtis of The Crickets fame as the song was delivered with the raw punchiness of The Clash version with the vocals delivered strongly by the bass player who also impressed with his strong bass lines all night.

I assume ‘Sex Bomb’ was also another reminder of the band’s Welsh origins and was delivered with Tom Jonesesque power but apart from the already mentioned song that I still wouldn’t like whoever sang it, the other major surprise was a stunning rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’. Excellent guitar work, that brilliant rhythmic pulse from the drums and bass that was a strong backbone to every song and Chris’s vocal interpretation encapsulated every one in the room. Brilliant.

Another helping of the excellent ‘Baker Street’ as an encore wrapped the evening up nicely. Four excellent musicians, a well thought out set and a decent real ale, what more could one ask of their local on a Friday night.
All in all, the night was a major success, which also raised a bit of money for St Joseph’s school, the band were both talented and friendly, played a great mixture of quality songs perfectly and I’m sure they will be welcomed back in the not too distant future.

Shayne, Sat 19th Sep 09