Evening Echo
TAKE the Darkness, Creme Brulee, some old Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and some tongue firmly planted in cheek, and you could come up with the blinding Southend band 4ft Pimp.
Could you possibly imagine a combination of classic rock, sea shanties and lounge music? No, neither could I until I heard their demo EP Head on Demand.
The band formed in 2001 at Southend High School for Boys. The current line-up features founder band members Graham Walker on keyboard, Liam Ambrose on drums and Nick Durant on lead guitar along with lead singer Greg Kiss and Andrew Moore playing bass.
"Our sound is strongly influenced by classic rock and to a lesser extent, Eighties' metal, Deep Purple and Metallica," says Greg.
"These influences come out strongly in the demo - in particular in songs such as Human Sacrifice and Cabin Fever and also the solos that appear regularly throughout the EP."
He's not joking - my own favourite is the bonus track eight which is clearly an homage to fromage - it's all about cheese.
But you can't knock Lost Cat Blues - about a missing soggy moggy who makes good in a Dr Feelgood style - or Cabin Fever which is so very Thin Lizzy mixed with a slice of Captain Pugwash.
Don't take my word for it, get along to see them.