IF you thought black blue fish... very beautiful... were weird before, wait till they play the Joiners Arms this Thursday.

The Southampton five-piece is emerging from the limbo which saw founder member and bassist James Cole and drummer Mel Motherwell depart.

Singer Dave Scard said of the gig: "Don't be scared by what you see. It is going to be a full-on visual performance."

Dave is 17 stone and six foot. Shut your eyes and think of what sits on top of a Christmas tree and you will get an idea of what he will wear.

NB: the costume has to be specially made.

"I couldn't just go into a toy shop to buy the outfit," he said. Time has been spent on new songs and unveiling an even more avant garde sound.

In that they have been aided by a new guitarist, Wookey.

A love of 1960s lunatics the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Captain Beefheart is coming to the fore. The band soon will go into the studio to record old and new material with CDs out next year. Meanwhile they are seeking a new drummer.

The Joiners gig price is £4.50. Support: Sonic Underground, Los Skeletonos and Stout. Call the venue on: 023 8022 5612.

The band is pencilled in to support Clinic when they play their postponed concert at the Railway Inn in Winchester.