Perry boards the Love Rocket (From Western Telegraph)

Perry boards the Love Rocket

Live review: Make A Wish CD launch, Merlin Theatre, Pembrokeshire College, March 8th

A special charity CD, recorded by Pembrokeshire College music technology students, has been released, showcasing 20 local acts, for their charity of choice this year, Make A Wish.

Be warned, you have keep your hand on the volume knob, as the levels are all over the place. But there were no such problems at the CD launch gig, which was topped and tailed by two of the area's best bands - Love Rocket and Dogzuki.

As expected, and as only they know how, Love Rocket throbbed (acoustically) their way back into the hearts of Pembrokeshire girls.

Actively seeking a new drummer when they arrived (if only I could keep time), Love Rocket have no peers when it comes to producing the nagging riff patterns of classic rock even without electrical help, and they were still as hot as a blast furnace.

For an amazingly fiery drummer, you need look no further than Shan of Strap On Happy.

As ever bassless, but forged nonetheless in the metal furnace that is St Davids, Strap On Happy are a scorched and scuzzy smack on the lips, but in a good way. Possessed of an impenetrable self confidence, they took us to the edge of exhilarating chaos with their hot brew of witty and lust-fuelled hard core and punk.

Articulated by Matt through powerfully mature and often harrowing and brutal vocals, Strap On Happy are not a band for anyone with vulnerable nerve centres, but they are exciting and the Merlin Theatre fairly crackled with malevolence - no radio-friendly lyrics here.

Sadly, Say No More, who showed so much promise recently, were outclassed on this occasion. Either overawed by the quality of bands sharing the bill or overcome with nerves, they spluttered a bit tonight.

But Love Rocket only had eyes for their drummer and snapped him up. So girls, the blond bombshell that is Perry is set for dizzying astral peaks as he climbs aboard the Love Rocket.

The show-stopping performance that is Dogzuki, all smudged make-up and challenging hair colours, wrapped things up magnificently. They have had a lineup change, with Jamie replacing founder member Andrew (who will be very much missed) on guitar.

Once more about to storm the gig circuit from Cardiff eastwards with their delirious antics and buzzing chunks of punk and grunge, the sheer ferocity of Dogzuki's playing is always impressive and dramatic, as in their face-meltingly fast ending with its customary frantic crescendo. All hail, music tech students for this tremendous line up.