Stiletto Gig in the Alley Cat Bar, Competa
Saturday 10th May saw the first solo gig of hot new Competa band 'Stiletto' in the Alley Cat bar in Competa. They had played the previous week in La Roca in the town as part of a rock extravaganza with the popular Miguelito, who has returned from Germany for a few weeks after a long absence.
Licensing constraints meant that they had to finish at 12.30 at the latest, so had to begin the night at 10.00 pm, which is practically early morning in Spain. However, many of the people who had been impressed by them the previous week, turned out in force to cheer them on and give them their support. By 10.15 the bar was packed and the gig got underway.
It began in their usual loud and furious style with classic Lenny Kravitz song 'Are you gonna go my way'. This has probably one of the most well known guitar riffs in history, and soon had people singing along. However, due to the early hour and therefore near sobriety, dancing was left to a few brave teenagers. This song ran straight into Elton John's 'Saturday' and was so lively that a few more people were encouraged onto the dance floor, and from that point on it was filled.
The band plays an eclectic mix of music, with something for everyone – as long as you like thumping rock! Everything was there from the classic Skunk Anansie 'Weak', to new band The Hives 'Walk Idiot Walk'. The first set was slightly more 'tranquilo' than the second, with chilled out numbers such as 'Zombie' by the Cranberries, to U2's 'One' and Radioheads' 'Creep'.
The second set was more lively and energetic, and of course the crowd a bit more intoxicated, so the dance floor soon wasn't big enough to accommodate all the enthusiastic dancers. The enthusiasm seemed infectious and when they began to play Amy Whinehouse's version of 'Valerie' it seemed like anyone who wasn't sitting down was dancing.
12.15 seemed to come all too quickly and the set was over. The shouts of 'OTRO OTRO' seemed to make it pretty clear that the crowd wanted an encore, and of course, were duly obliged. Everyone was pretty blown away by the slick performance of U2's 'Verigo'. However they definitely saved the best for last as far as I am concerned with a blasting rendition of The Foo Fighters 'The Pretender'.
All in all it was a fantastic night for rock fans. The lead singer Andrea's voice is perfectly suited to their songs and its one in the eye for any men out there who say women can't sing rock. I'm perfectly happy to lay a small wager with any of the male skeptics out there who haven't heard this lady sing. None of the songs the band play are soft and she is note and pitch perfect on them all. Steve is a veteran on the bass and has played with many bands around Competa, including with Muguelito and ACDC cover band Bald Boy Boogie'. Rob, the new guitarist enjoyed success with 80's pop group Then Jericho and played session guitar for many years. And as for the drummer Kyle 'The Animal'? Who knows from where he came, but some say he's normally caged behind reinforced steel and only released out to gig. But who cares – he sure can bang those drums!
The band is being booked up fast for the summer, but anyone wishing them to play a gig can contact Steve on : 655067466
