Fast Trains – Live Review
It’s been a while, what with Covid n all, but for over 25 years the Wedgewood Rooms has been Mr Teeth’s second home… and boy did it feel good to be back.
Mr Teeth Reviews – the Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea
The pandemic has seen not only a horrendous loss of human life but also a number of venues fall by the wayside. Luckily, however, with a little help from the Music Venue Trust, the Wedge is still standing. Not only that, but they’ve spruced the place up a bit during lockdown, while still very much keeping its age-old charm.
The first week of reopening has seen a handful of socially distanced gigs. With this evening’s offering being that of Fast Trains, featuring ex Kassassin Street‘s Tom Wells.
With the original support Tom Bryan, unfortunately, testing positive for Covid himself, Chris Peace from Foxer became a last-minute replacement.
Solo Chris performed riffs with a touch of the acoustic blues during a couple of his own tracks. All while rather successfully transforming the grunge of Foxer into a much more subtle format.
Chris Peace – Foxer
As for second support, a stripped-down version of Me and the Moon played an array of folk-inspired tunes as a duo. The balance between intertwining guitars and vocal harmonies both wonderfully executed.
Fast Trains – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Starting the first half his set with “Measure by Measure” Tom Wells as Fast Trains had the Wedge mesmerised. In essence, coming across as a rather catchy acoustic number, but on record it delivers much more.
This was soon followed by Tom pressing play on an old tape deck as he sat behind his keyboard. In contrast to the beautiful opening song, it also helped showcase an intriguing and experimental side of what’s to come in the future.
Tom Wells – Fast Trains
Although while we may have to wait for a full-band version of Fast Trains, Tom did welcome a couple of special guests on stage.
Andrew Foster being the first to experience the wobbly chair before Chris returned to provide guitar and backing vocals to Tom’s heartfelt lyrics.
Following an out of character cover of “Somewhere in my Heart” by Aztec Camera, the night ended on another upbeat tune. This time seeing Tom return to the keys before saying goodnight with a vocal loop and programmed beats fading away into the distance.
Approximately a 3rd of ticket holders had been absent, a percentage likely due to having too self-isolate. Which, combined with the already socially distanced setup, hopefully, isn’t a sign of what’s to become of live music. However, with 3 superb local acts on the same night, it’s at least one step closer to normality.
“ourWorld Volume 1” by Fast Trains – Out Now
www.fasttrains.bandcamp.com/album/ourworld-volume-1
Stay safe people. Love life, love music and love each other. X
