It's the launch night of The Steelhouse rock club in Ebbw Vale (tonight featuring 4th Street Traffic and Story To Be Told) and I know, I know, I know I'm supposed to start at the beginning but I'm kicking it in from the end. As I hot foot it (as I have done countless times over the decades from one rock club or another) into the dark cold night following tonight's proceedings, there's no kebab to shop for, and no waiting for the mini-bus to turn up to take a tired and drunken bunch home, no wait a goddam minute, I'm ten minutes walk from my home in Ebbw Vale....Result!!!!!!!

In all honesty I was dubious but extremely hopeful beforehand of the success of this launch of The Steelhouse rock night, especially in this hard hit ex-steel working town and of course you also have the Friday night at the local to overcome with the heavyweight  Market Tavern ready to come out fighting from the other corner.

Ding, ding wait a minute...what's this??? It's a knockout in the first round and the winner is.......hang on, hang on, it's back into my Uber-Tardis now as I return to the start of my evening.

As I wander in I'm immediately confronted by the queue stretching out and up the stairs, everyone trying to get into the already near capacity venue, but thanks to the gracious peeps at Limeface I'm on the big G.list tonight....Double Result!!!!!!.

First band up tonight are punk-pop quintet Story To Be Told, it's their first gig too, but as the young upstarts take to the stage there's certainly no sign of nerves as they look like seasoned giggers. They bop around, both on and off the stage, with tunes like 'Be With You', 'Turn On The Radio', 'Crush Of The Century', 'The Fall' and 'Autumn Leaves' that even saw the need for security to dampen down the over exuberant minor moshpit that had erupted stage front. Keep up the good work fellas.

A brief chat with 4th Street Traffic prior to them taking to the stage involved me partaking in a sneaky whisky with the guys (shush don't tell URHQ, I'm drinking on duty), well you've got to get to know the bands haven't you? Once on stage though the guys reveal what a tight little live unit they are, and also why they have been chosen to headline this opening night. Having already opened for the Stereophonics at their recent Summer gig at Cardiff City Stadium, the 'Phonics influence shines from top to bottom within this four piece. Throwing in a smattering of their heroes' tracks for good measure, tonight was all about the band's original tunes, and they had plenty on show with the likes of 'Astray', 'Second Thoughts', 'Perfect Circle', 'Friend Of Mine', 'Givin' It Up' and 'Long Way Around' all sounding fresh and exciting. The band found time for a happy birthday to one lucky fan, whilst my normal shop window dummy stance was destroyed, as I suddenly found myself undertaking some serious pelvic thrusting during 'As Long As We Beat The English'. Which incidentally is the other side to the band's double a-side single due for release on the 31st of January, the other side being the band's own song 'Together We '.

There's no hiding the fact that the Steelhouse females of the species were having a lynx moment over vocalist/guitarist Alastair Britton, and the night reached fever pitch on the dancefloor with a rather fitting finale as both bands got together for a run through Bon Jovi's 'Living On A Prayer'.

Tonight however wasn't all about two great bands though, and a shout out must be made to Sally Ann Evans and Matt Rhead for having the vision to put on such a club, to sound engineer Lyndon Webb for making things happen, and to resident DJ Mikey Evans, the mighty Liam Coughlin and all the Steelhouse team for making it all so enjoyable, we wish you the best of luck for the future.

Talking of which  with The Steelhouse and The Ebbw Vale Institute (EVI) both offering live music maybe Ebbw Vale will once again shine musically for the masses. Who knows? But one things for certain and that's you guys can make it happen by attending these events in the future.

Oh and before I forget.... that first round knock out.........The Steelhouse all the way. See you at the next one in February.

http://www.steelhouselive.co.uk

http://www.myspace.com/4thstreettraffic

http://www.myspace.com/storytobetoldmusic