Life’s been a bit up and down for The Suffrajets, one minute their single‘s getting major airplay, they’re on tour with absolutely everyone, they’ve gained a fantastic live reputation and even had their own television series. Then suddenly, half the band leaves, drummer Gemma Clarke’s side project Babyshambles goes ballistic and The Suffrajets are left somewhat overshadowed. Then just as we prepare to forget them and move on, Gemma quits Babyshambles, The Suffrajets recruit new members and kick off their current tour at Cox's Yard in Stratford. The Heys are tonight‘s first act, a perfectly blended cocktail of groove, swagger and old school rock n roll. They’re a joy to watch and although the crowd are happy to nod along it is a little like night of the living wall huggers out there, which is a real shame as this is a band you really want to be getting down to on that dance floor. Main support Casino are about to embark on a tour with Stereophonics and if you’ve got tickets for that show get there early, because you’d be a fool to miss seeing this band. They are the daddies of rock n roll with soul, a nice set of matching leather jackets and absolutely everything a rock band needs to have, and then some. They are awesome. Casino play hard rock, but forget the current crop of 80s hair-rock wanabes this is what rock sounds like in the 21st century. In fact they literally rock! You can see the equipment on stage shaking from the sheer power of this band, not just because the keyboard player is stood on it spraying everyone with beer!!
 | | Claire from the Suffrajets at Cox's Yard |
Ultimately though they’ll leave you with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, because you know that somehow The Suffrajets have to follow this. We’ve seen the Suffrajets own a stage before, if they’re good at anything its making you sit up and take note. Front woman Alex Gillings is now flanked by Claire Wakeman and Vicky Kingston (the tallest women in rock!) whilst Gemma Clarke as ever remains a blur of hair, arms and drumsticks as she lovingly lays down her beats at the rear. The impact of such songs as Distinction, Don’t Count On It and new single Sold is as intense as ever, the band have a knack for writing some great angst ridden tunes and delivering them with just the right amount of fury. Yet there are moments in tonight’s set where it doesn’t always seem to gel. Whilst you can admire individual riffs or fills you can also be left feeling that, as a whole, some of their tracks aren’t as good as they could be. The Suffrajets are not a bad band, they never have been and to be fair they’re aiming at something different to the likes of Casino. Their music is openly raw, edgy and aggressive. On many occasions though we’ve seen the Suffrajets blow their support acts out of the water but tonight somebody did it to them. | 
