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Rockstone Aid

Venue: The Rockstone
Town: Southampton
Date: 16th February 2013
Website: http://www.therockstone.co.uk/

The mood at the Rockstone tonight was a positive one. Local pride had surfaced in the form of staunch loyalty towards a pub that had been through its own fairshare of trials and tribulations. The Rockstone has faced a stubborn minority of grumpy neighbours, petty civic bureaucracy and delay after delay of its opening before rising to surpass all obstacles with enigmatic charisma and oldskool pubbing. The call of live rock music seemed the perfect rallying cry for Rockstone Aid, a local live music night to help replenish the funds so wrongfully stolen in a recent daylight robbery from a lone thief sneaking into a busy local boozer and taking advantage of the intimate, friendly atmosphere. The reality of such a deceitful act in such a trustworthy community makes the pain felt by landlord Max and wife Aimee personally as much as financially, the outrage had echoed throughout the valley and beyond.

The love has come in many forms, various articles in the Daily Echo, local facebook buzz and the greatest offering, a free live band gig called 'Rockstone'aid' to shake off the struggle and oppression of crime, poverty and bureaucracy. The headliners 'Bemis and the Sweetchunks band' serenading jolly punters with a blend of all time faves covers and their own material snuck in brilliantly.

I walked in on an exceptional acoustic cover of Neil Young's ' Rockin in the free world' and the party spirit hit me long before the beer. Bemis and the Sweetchunks band had a lot going on with renditions ranging from Tracy Chapman 'Talking about a Revolution' alongside the Band's 'The Weight' which is always a pleasure to hear performed live. Strong homage to Crowded house was present throughout ('Weather with you' included in the set, naturally) but their own offerings had electro acoustic soul really lifting that Saturday night vibe. 'Personal Demons' had the charm and stamina of a Finn Brothers song and really melted your heart over a cold beer.'Kick the satellite' was as poignant as it was mellow with an electro acoustic twang with a form of defiant snarl with the lyrics 'we're gonna make it 'really capturing the spirit of 'Rockstone Aid '. 'Stuart Sweetchunks Blakeledge' himself an accomplished solo acoustic act he took a placid role in the band tonight with utter enjoyment plastered over his face at all times, as did everyone else.

The merriment ringed throughout the Rockstone in musical form and will hopefully give some comfort to the slight betrayal of the recent theft, not everyone gets what the Rockstones is until they step through the doors. The Rockstone will live on with support from the BevoisValley community.

Lewis MacLean
Pictures Chris Meany