"Sush On The Roof" by The Upsiders

I must have been a bit naive when back in late March I assumed that my articles in the magazine would become more infrequent: obviously there has been a dearth of live reviews but I salute our local musicians for giving me so many other opportunities to tell you about what they have been up to.

Few epitomise this more than The Upsiders whose third chapter in their "Reconnect" project has been released a mere fortnight after its predecessor "Sway": and that itself followed the series premiere of "Worth A Million" by a similarly short time span.

If you've been following the story of "Kenny" in his journey of meaningful reconnection with the things in this world which the Upsiders feel are worthy of such engagement (and check out the blog they are updating after each release with the story told from Kenny's perspective), you'll remember we left him at a disco funk party. Now, in "Sush On The Roof", having made a connection at the event, he has invited his new friend for sushi on the roof of Birmingham Library: a date it took him some courage to request given his previous alienation from social interactions.

Given the storyline, one would not have expected the same frenetic beat of "Sway" (it wouldn't have been appropriate would it?) and instead they offer us the nearest thing they can do to a ballad form, though being the irrepressible funsters they are, the Upsiders seem to strain at the leash and it continually threatens to break out and start a new party in the restaurant.

What also struck me was the amount of good humour in the lyrics: it certainly brought a smile to my face & I defy you not to respond similarly: you'd need a heart of stone to do otherwise. I'm sure humour will see Kenny through any understandable nervousness in his date in terms of the story & as a track in its own right it adds greatly to its appeal. Philosophically, it further reveals what the Upsiders are attempting through the whole "Reconnect" project: it becomes clearer with each instalment that they see reconnection in terms of good spirits, enjoyment, communality & positivity & as I said in the first review of this series, I can fully subscribe to these and totally commend them to you.