Miss Black America

And I’ve waited… and waited …and waited. For months now, all I’ve heard is "Miss Black America this..." and "Miss Black America that!" Heaven forbid I should actually get a chance to see what all the fuss is about! So, last night, on a desperate mission to unearth the truth, I found myself dragging a group of friends off to Nottingham’s Rock City all in aid of “_celebrating the end of exams” _.

First onstage is ‘Sufferkiss’. If I’m entirely honest, I’d never heard so much as a mention of this group prior to last night, and apparently neither had anyone else. All I can find is six words that describe this band as accurately as anyone ever could; ‘King Adora; less glam, more rock’. Everything from the harsh, abrasive tone of the lead singers’ voice to the Maxi Browne clone bassist screams King Adora – but in a good way; Sufferkiss rock harder. They’re definitely one of those bands I’d really like to see again in a year-or-so’s time. I get the distinct impression that they haven’t been together all that long and whilst they are instrumentally sound, what they are lacking is that originality and personality that interweaves itself into a bands music and performance over the years, as they develop, experiment, learn and improve.

So, finally I’m presented with the so-far elusive Miss Black America set upon a brightly-lit two-foot-high stage, right before my eyes. It was set to be an incredulous task for Miss Black America to meet the standards their reputation had led me to expect; but I have to admit; I was not disappointed.

During the course of the evening, lead singer Seymour Glass demonstrated the two entirely contrasting personalities within himself. Offstage, he came across as being a quiet, polite and very self-conscious young man, but given a microphone and a stage, his alter ego came to play. As though influenced by drugs, he stomped about the stage, convulsing, shouting and letting the music guide him through short, sharp bursts of adrenaline-infused energy - but it would seem that the only drug causing such wild behaviour was his passion for the pop-tinged rock these four aspiring rock stars were pelting out at a reserved but undoubtedly appreciative small audience, in the basement of one of the best alternative music venues in the UK.

I would hazard a guess that about 99% of the people at the gig last night didn't know much at all about Miss Black America, although I did spot one or two other members of the audience who, like myself, knew the words to the odd song. However, it was clear that by the end of their short but oh-so-sweet set, the band had won over the majority of the audience. So, maybe Miss Black America are in fact almost everything they’re cracked up to be. And perhaps, a year from now, they may be promoted to playing upon Rock City’s upstairs vast expanse of stage with a crowd heaving with enthusiasm for this band and all they that they can offer to the everyday alternative music fan.