In another universe, the Saturday night crowd at Radio City would be watching a garage-pop trio called The Marshals instead of a pop-rock quintet called Television Room. In our little corner of the universe, though, it’s the latter who are cramming the stage with keyboards and band members, prime-positioned TV sets, and a clutch of top-quality songs that transcend banality.
A change in direction by core Marshals members Michael John and James O’Brien was apparently deemed necessary for their newest musical adventure, but it’s pulled off with experience and aplomb. The unassuming John in particular has proven a versatile and talented songwriter, with the impressive singles ‘Tinabelle’ and ‘Modern Boys And Girls’ attesting to his worth; as a vocalist, too, he’s capable of filling space ably with his robust, soulful thrum.
Inevitably, it’s not long before the dance-soliciting TVR are unwittingly inciting merry crowd members to perform Full Monty-esque stripteases, or whirl their friends across the floor like human spinning tops. ‘21st Century Show’, ‘Stars For The Weekend’ and ‘Coffee Houses’ are all thoroughly enjoyable, intelligent pop numbers wrapped around deft, clever idiosyncrasies, while new songs like ‘Pancake Dreams’ and ‘Engines’ are particularly striking. A barrage of instruments is used to supplement their too-short set; from glockenspiel to trumpet, this is a band who are obviously embracing the possibilities of music-making like never before, and it’s a joy to watch. The Marshals are dead – long live Television Room.