The TR5's

While experimenting with a lens in London's dimly lit Good Mixer recently, I serendipitously captured images of a band called The TR5's. Named to evoke the spirit of the iconic '60s car, this cultish five-piece seamlessly blends '50s skiffle with '60s Rock 'n' Roll. Their sound offers a nostalgic nod to a bygone era, and their performance is both captivating and infectious, drawing the audience into their vibrant world.

During their live set, they dedicated the song 'Everybody’s Screamin’ to another cult figure, Lord Sutch, proudly declaring him to be Britain’s last honest politician. This brought to mind a story shared by my good friend Sharon Isgoed-Williams. She recounted how, during her time in the music industry, Lord Sutch had invited her and her late husband Bill out to dinner at a fancy West End restaurant. At the end of the meal, he politely excused himself, cheerfully waving as if to suggest he had settled the bill. Of course, he had not.

During the interval, I had a brief discussion with one of the guitarists, Sid “Lucky” Stovold, and we agreed I would write a review of their debut album, 'A Triumph!', inspired by the sight of spontaneous groups jiving along to their performance around me. On this album, the band displays their impeccable mimicry by recreating the music of the times, providing an ideal backdrop for the ostensibly sweet, dulcet tones of lead singer Rusty. But don’t be fooled - there’s more depth in the phrasing, as demonstrated on 'The Thing You Call Love', which features an almost Dolores O'Riordan-like Celtic inflection.

'Drummin’ Man' showcases a '60s take on Elton John’s 'Don’t Go Breaking My Heart' intro before expanding into a paean about the importance of drummers. This allows stickman Ted to showcase some impressive drumming gymnastics, complemented by chiming guitars reminiscent of The Bluetones. My favourite track on the album is 'Mr. Lucky', where Rusty’s voice takes on a subtle Country twang, reflecting production values that make this a pleasant and confident debut.

Ivan De Mello