Thomas Truax @ Brel, 2 Apr

Tonight Thomas Truax has more important preparations than a soundcheck - such as ensuring the Hornicator and Mother Superior are functional. These curious, self-made instruments transform stage into laboratory, and guessing each contraption’s purpose provides pre-gig entertainment. The spikey bike wheel with robotic arms? Meet the aforementioned Mother Superior, Truax’s trusty analog drum machine. The open suitcase with extended rod from which a light-bulb dangles? Turns out to be a xylophone, with the illuminated bulb proving percussively useless but darn pretty. What about that red canister with extendable nozzle? Ah, that’s just the fire extinguisher - sometimes its difficult to distinguish instrument from non-instrument amongst Truax’s eye-catching paraphernalia. Unfortunately, his inventiveness is largely lost on oblivious, chattering boozers at the back of Brel’s conservatory, but hopefully next time he’ll get the venue he deserves. Where that might be - haunted house? Down a rabbit hole? - one can only speculate…