Why Coventry? That was the question most people had been asking. Of all the places Johnny Marr - legendary ex-Smiths guitarist could have launched his new band, why did he choose to do in front of 250 people in a small, sweaty club in Coventry. Surely he was meant for better things than this.

At one time he was co-songwriter with the defining British band of 80's music. A decade where people used to write songs according to a list of rules. The Smiths didn't just rip up this list of rules. They tore it to shreds and burnt it. Because with the Smiths, life was shit and told it how it was.

Tonight had been shrouded in mystery. Nobody knew what to expect. Only a handful of people had heard any of the bands new material. Could Johnny Marr sing? Would they be anything like the Smiths? Had he lost any of the guitar magic that had made him so famous? Nobody knew. What we did know was that Zak Star, son of Ringo, would be playing drums and ex-Kulashaker man Alonsa Bevan was playing bass.

Finally the wait was over and all our questions would be answered. No fuss, no gimmicks, they just walk on stage and begin. As you'd expect the set is full of elaborate guitar riffs and extended solos. Some hinting back to the Smiths sound others owing more to the Stone Roses.

Marr's voice, while not being brilliant, is enough to get by with for tonight. Alonsa Bevan shows himself to be an accomplished bassist and really adds a lot to the songs, while Zak turns in a performance his dad would have been proud of. Marr goes to great lengths to point out that he does have a band behind him and that this is not just a solo venture.

The songs follow a pretty standard format, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, long solo. But even now you can't help but admire Marr's brilliance on the guitar.

There's the odd shout from the audience for them to play a Smiths song. But to think that he would even consider doing this is both insulting and laughable and afterwards people seemed to be generally impressed by what they heard.

Whether the Healers will make it big or not, only time will tell. They head off on tour with Oasis next month, which will give them plenty of necessary exposure. The Smiths haven't faired well with today's younger generation. Where the likes of the Jam and the Stone Roses seem to have found popularity amongst today's youngsters the Smiths seem to have been forgotten. This won't help their cause, but as for tonight - mission accomplished.

Live Reviews
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