Tindersticks

I got a call last night from 'He who doth not want to be named' HE for short, to say that if I wanted something to blog about I could go with him to see Tindersticks at Shepherds Bush Empire. HE had obviously been blown out by someone, hence the last minute invite, and I had no idea who Tindersticks were, but for the love of BLog I said yes. TINDERSTICKS are a band from Nottingham (don't you love Wikipedia). The main man is called Stuart Staples and he sounds a bit like Leonard Cohen/Nick Cave and he has the biggest lamb chop side burns you've seen since Elvis. I spent the first half an hour of the gig thinking he had accidentally left his blue tooth ear piece in. Anyway I had absolutely no idea what to expect. If HE had said they are America's equivalent to Chaz and Dave I would have believed him. But no, this was 7 unbelievably talented musicians, proper incredible musicians playing more instruments than Wikipedia could care to mention... the vibraphonist was hot (wedding ring).... clocked it in the bar afterwards).