Tonight is a launch party for Royal Treatment Plant's album. I bought the CD yesterday in HMV Oxford Street. I tried to buy it in the shop previously known as the Virgin Megastore. They didn't have it so I didn't buy anything, although I had identified a couple of sale items and one new release that I would have bought.
I came across RTP when they played with Joana and the Wolf in a cellar in Clapham Junction. I was immediately impressed with their high energy show, bordering on the manic. Their album is really good and my only complaint is that it is rather short. This is not a lack of material, but a lack of cash. It may be short by modern standards, but what is there is really worth hearing. A couple of songs have been mixed by Mike Chapman who is probably most famous for his work with Blondie on Parallel Lines. In some ways you could imagine Blondie's eponymous first album transported to 2008 and maybe you'd get something like RTP's first album (and maybe not).
Tonight the gig at the Monkey Chews has a nice intimacy suitable for a record launch. Lynch Rider Lulu are supporting. I've been meaning to see them since I saw a solo acoustic set at Paradise. Although I wasn't blown away by the acoustic set, there was enough there for me to check out their myspace and discover that the full band was worth seeing. Indeed they were worth seeing. RTP playing a storming set to a steamy room full of enthusiastic fans. Fortunately I have taken up a good position early on. I wasn't really expecting much in the way of light; they aren't too bad, but being from the sides, the band cast shadows on each other.
It's a really good evening and this band should really be listened to, so check them out at www.myspace.com/royalreatmentplant and buy their cd or download.