Noddy’s Puncture restores Rochdale’s music faith…

Noddy's Puncture at The Hungarian Club, gig review

Noddy’s Puncture restores Rochdale’s music faith…

It’s amazing what you find when you look into the nooks and crannies of an alleged dying music scene.

Buried into the Rochdale woodwork hides an underground society of superb musicians and cultured fans who appreciate every note, it’s just that they hide away from the blurry lights of the high streets.

Amidst this refreshing discovery is Noddy’s Puncture, one of the country’s few surviving ELP (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) bands, who stormed the Hungarian Club, Milnrow Road, on Friday (22 May).

An array of talented and extroverted musicians took over the small, crowded club, bringing with them a warming reassurance that there is still hope for us dedicated music lovers.

And these are genuinely talented musicians, so complex and note perfect you think you’ve robbed the nice man on the door. A refreshing find.

Keyboard whiz Tom Szakaly stands out most, with genius-like talents and the stage energy of an acrobat. It is hard to look elsewhere when he is hammering the keys with his hands, feet and knees, while looking cheekily into the crowd and occasionally jumping onto nearby furniture.

The guitarist and vocalist, Graham Seaman, plays some impressive solos and doesn’t have a bad voice to boot.

But by far the most striking is the drummer, Steve Roberts. So much so he stole the show with his solo piece, which, one could argue, would equal the shining talents of Carl Palmer himself.

Lindsay Webber, from Rochdale said: “I absolutely love any kind of experimental music and it’s good to know it is on the doorstep.

“People think Rochdale has lost its musical charm, it certainly hasn’t, not if you look in the right places.”

“These guys have real talent and real performance quality, a complete bargain.”