11:25am Tuesday 9th February 2010
Mobsta Promotions started its 2010 gigs at The Old Bear in Staverton with a real corker of an evening on Saturday, featuring three young acts from the Melksham area.
Keli Shepherd started off the evening with a mix of covers, All Saints’ Never ever being particularly impressive, and her own originals, of which Player and the beautiful Diamonds and Pearls made the most impact.
Up next was the always entertaining MC Liveo with his usual mix of original lyrics woven onto popular backing tracks from the likes of Neyo and Dizzie Rascal. He is about to write more of the backing music to his rap, a progression which should serve him well.
Lauren Dobbin took to the stage with a new hairstyle and an air of total control.
Opener One In A Million, taken from her first album, is a wide spacey pop ditty with a bit of attitude, and nicely prepared the audience for what was to come – a real mix of beautifully-crafted originals and well-chosen covers, including Rihanna’s Take A Bow, Snow Patrol’s Run and the excellent Broken Strings by James Morrison, each one given some Lauren originality.
Outstanding tracks for the music professionals present – Lauren was being watched by her new management team, Allan James and Nick Robinson, of BUT!Music Group, who had travelled to the gig from Brighton and London, and Holt resident and record producer Dan Austin – were Lost For Words, for which Keli joined the band for vocal harmonies, closing track Naughty, with Lauren’s producer Mel on keyboard and the acoustic guitar rendition of Because, with a rap from MC Liveo.
And a round of applause for the backing band, performing with Lauren for only the second time since being recruited just before Christmas – tasteful and melodic support from Jack (13, drums), Joe (20, guitar/vocals), Tariq (17, bass) and James (15, guitar/piano/vocals), whose original, Crash and Burn, co-written with Lauren, received some of the loudest applause of the evening.
The next Old Bear Mobsta gig is on March 27, with Luke Bailey and support.
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