My Ruin - The Mill (Preston)- 13.5.04

Is this a gig or an open audition for the new Adams Family movie. The large proportion of Goths in the vicinity is hard to ignore and in casual jeans and T I feel very plain and ordinary. The majority of the audience are young girls, flamboyantly dress, caked up in make up, but eye catching and distinctive. My Ruin are playing Preston for the very first time as there were no venues available at their usual visit to Manchester. Outspoken, feisty leader of the pack Tarrie B shows her contemporaries Courtney Love, Melissa Auf Der Maur and Brody Dalle how to cut it in the  rock world.

New album "Horror Of Beauty" is an absolute belter and well worth investigating. Tarrie B may be aggressive on the surface and uncompromising, but the American lass is also rather glamorous. Her deep, growly voice is triumphant and with a foxy babe on drums, the male to female ratio is an equal battle of the sexes. "Made To Measure" is one of My Ruins most electrifying songs with the guitarist relishing every elaborate guitar lick with consummate professionalism. Slowing things down some what, the guys play "Burn The Witch" which is a bit like Marilyn Manson but with a decent tune, good lyrics and hedonistic urgency. "Haemorrhage" gives the green light for the fans to really go wild and crazy with gay abandon. "War Machine" is a Kiss cover the band have especially recorded as part of a session for XFM radio and this was a rare performance of a song which is unlikely to appear on anything forthcoming album or single. Tarrie B introduces new bass player Johnny Chow who has only been with My Ruin for 2 weeks, he plays like a true star though. They play a song dedicated to their ex bass player, but when it's entitled "Stink Face" you can only assume her departure was acrimonious.

My Ruin climax with "War" which has their touring DJ, David Stamp hollering away with aplomb. The party didn't stop when the band left the stage. They joined their fans for a drink, dance and chat as the DJ spinning records to the early hours of Friday morning. A treat for fans and the band alike

Nicholas Paul Godkin

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