[kj]

Review by Avid Gig Goer

Hmm, an unusual venue this. Unusual in that its band area is the wierdest i have seen for a while. You enter the venue and upon entering, the place looks relatively small, but cosy, with a nice looking bar and atmosphere to go. The band area is located downstairs, via the cool spiral staircase in the middle of the floor, but one which i am sure has caused many an injury to those under the influence of...

The downstairs area holds a small lounge, which is nice, and to the left there is a cage door behind which is the band area. This is shaped almost like an L and the stage is a tiny area of the wooden floor hidden in the furthest away corner of this L shape.

Regardless of this, the sound that you get from the playing bands is quite good, even though the sound guy looks like he just smoked a bucket of weed before coming out of his little cupboard somewhere. He comes, does the setup and then disappears again, not to be seen for the rest of the night.

The room available for bands to move is quite small, and the tables and benches/stools scattered around the area doesnt help matters. Especially when you get a telling off from the bar staff for standing on em just so that you can see the band. Its the narrowest of venues in Dundee.

It can get quite hot in there at times, but i guess that just depends on the number of people in the venue for the show and what the weather is like outside, but its nothing a t-shirt wont fix.

Personally, i would have to say that the venue is suited to bands on their first outing as a live act. Any others should generally be looking at the Westport, Fat Sams and perhaps the Doghouse in future as a viable alternative.

It is however situated on Perth Road, Dundee, which means that you are surrounded by lots and lots of bars and the student union is but a 2 minute walk up the road.