In my humble opinion the most criminally underrated band over the last 15 years is a band from Norwich called Sennen. They formed in 2002 and were named after a Ride track and have produced five excellent albums which I return to on a regular basis. They are in the post-rock Mogwai mould with a softer side and they produce hypnotic music with hushed shoegaze harmonies.
I think what has hindered them is their aversion to touring and in those 19 years of existence they have not yet totalled 150 gigs, UK Subs and Status Quo would probably hit the total in a calendar year. Prior to me becoming aware of them they played the Cellar Bar in Blackburn. I was aware of a Deaf Institute gig but couldn’t attend but in retrospect was glad I didn’t make it as it transpired, they only did a short post-midnight set.
Thus, when I heard they were playing Night and Day on Easter Monday in 2010 I ensured I would be in attendance. I recall Uncle George and I trying to find somewhere beforehand to eat in and around Rochdale Road near the Wing Yip supermarket and we ended up in a little noodle bar. The area we were scouring that night is now unrecognisable as it subsequently turned into the regentrified Ancoats area.
Rather sadly, there cannot have been more than 20 people in the venue. Despite the band being somewhat rusty I thoroughly enjoyed their 45-minute set. I also had a parlay with them afterwards and they turned out to be genuine down to earth lads. They were supported on the night by Rarely Spun.
The following year we saw Slaughter and the Dogs, the old punk band who formed in the local suburb of Wythenshawe. They were in very good form with a terrific crowd interaction and it was a fine gig. The night ended in chaos as we miscalculated the time and subsequently missed the last train from Victoria. This resulted in an expensive cab home on a very filthy rainy night, and I was very glad to land home that night!
In 2018, I attended a gig there with my North East correspondent Jamie Young. We had a pre gig visit to the infamous Marble Arch pub and a pizza in the Mackie Mayor food hall. The band in question was Black Delta Movement, a psychedelic garage rock outfit from Kingston Upon Hull. Regretfully, it was a disappointing set and they were outshone by the support band Mr Strange, an engaging three-piece band from Isle of Wight.
Later that year, I went to see the Orielles from Halifax accompanied by Gill and one of the brightest people I know, Dr Laura Buckley. The bands fortunes were on the upswing at that point, but they honoured a commitment to play Night and Day which was gracious of them. They have a quirky off kilter sound but were an enjoyable watch. They were supported by a mournful downbeat set from Laetitia Sadler, who is better known as a member of Stereolab and Le Price Maori.
Saving the best to last was one of those random gigs that you very rarely encounter by catching a remarkable band at the inception of their career and you know instantly it is a privilege to be there. At the Dot to Dot festival in 2018 we happened to wander into the venue just before a very early performance from Dublin’s finest Fontaines DC.
They wandered on and had a captivating presence with lead singer Grian Chatten prowling the stage like a caged tiger and the band in perfect synch behind him. They only played a 30-minute set (perfect pint supping timespan) but what a fabulous half an hour they produced. Algarve Ray was also in attendance and he looked as awestruck as me after the gig!