Category: Music

Mean Fiddler
07.10.06

Despite having to go on a mere 15 minutes after doors opening, Gallows‘ performance still hits home like a machete to the senses. The way vocalist Frank Carter tears around the stage like a tattooed tornado of rage is unsettling enough, but his band’s twisted, discordant hardcore attack is the aural equivalent of a car crash from which you just can’t tear yourself away. Make no mistake, you’ll be hearing plenty more about this lot in the near future.

Fellow Home Counties hardcore types The Steal are not as much of a spectacle, but their break-neck speed anthems certainly deserve the small but intense moshpit down at the front. The fact that they’ve pinched more than a trick or two from the likes of Gorilla Biscuits is forgivable when they’re infused with this much vitality.

Lifetime never truly received the recognition they were due in their mid-nineties heyday, but guitarist Dan Yemin’s subsequent work with Kid Dynamite and Paint It Black has clearly spread awareness of his former band, to the extent that the New Jersey quintet’s recent reformation was hotly anticipated in hardcore circles.

Tonight, the atmosphere is dampened somewhat by a barely half-full venue and a pointless pit barrier, but the band don’t seem at all bothered as they rip through melodic hardcore gems like ‘Cut The Tension’ and ‘The Boy’s No Good’ with great gusto. You get the feeling that a sold-out show in a smaller club would’ve been a truly special occasion, but when band and crowd are feeding off each other’s energy as much as they do tonight, you might as well embrace the positives.

Alex Gosman
[Photos by Niki Kova’cs]

Brixton Academy
09.10.06

After a 2 year break in recording albums, A.F.I have made one hell of a comeback. Hitting London in May at the Electric Ballroom warming up after roughly 4 years, they follow their sold out performances with a bigger venue. The one and only Brixton Academy. They surely enough manage to sell out this venue quick enough, with touts not even having to try and push the high in demand tickets. I am lucky enough to arrive late, and get ushered through the same door as Davey. Seeing the band arrive in perfectly made up form it looks like butter wouldn’t melt in their straightedge mouths.

Gracing their immaculate, clean, white stage, the band is clad in matching white lycra pant suits showing off their new ‘buffer’ physique. Inspiration from the Darkness perhaps, or in step with their 70’s-esque track “Miss Murder“? Davey bounces around on stage strutting newly rehearsed moves to every piercing chord. Surely enough every word has a buttoned down move, which has been perfected and will be practiced over the next 2 months of touring. With a few months of rehearsing behind them, the band is sounding tighter than those lycra slacks, so its no wonder they receive a warm London welcome.

Playing tracks from their new love inspired album, Decemberunderground, vegan Davey Havoks’ voice has marvelled a miraculous recovery, after shattering his vocal chords many months ago. If you have heard any of the soaring songs of Sing the Sorrow it isn’t any wonder! As one of my personal favourite albums, I am only too pleased when they play “Silver and Cold“, “Dancing through Sunday“, “Bleed Black“, “Girl’s Not Grey” one of the top singles of 2003 and sing about it classic “The Celluloid Dream“.

Celebrating their 15th anniversary in June, classics like “Ever and a Day“, and the ringing out of “I want you, I want you, I want you…to stay” in their infamous track “Days of the Phoenix” from the album “The Art of Drowning” have people singing along. Definitely an older crowd than the Electric Ballroom in earlier May this year where Davey had to curl into a ball on stage to reach those high notes without straining his voice too much.

Playing one of his personal top 3s’ ”Love Like Winter“, and new to become bonafide classic “Endlessly, She Said” the new album Decemberunderground is well paced, and is a tangible example of a maturing band comfortable enough to experiment with their own sound without losing their identity. From tracks like double-edged “Kiss and Control” to hand clapping synthesised beat of “Love Like Winter” they are sure to steal fans from the likes of My Chemical Romance and the like.

After an encore they politely thank the crowd again before disappearing into the darkness.

Niki Kova’cs
[Photos by Jen Saul]

Kingston Peel
09.10.06

Tonight’s show may be Adequate Seven’s second-to-last before their imminent split, but a sombre evening was never on the cards with a bill this good. South London ska-punks Mouthwash are nothing short of outstanding tonight; playing a set almost entirely made up of new material that boasts a more soulful, expansive sound, whilst retaining the band’s trademark streetwise edge. Even old favourites ‘Fools Gold’ and ‘We Evolve’ sparkle with a new-found vitality that they lacked on record.

Against All Authority clearly have several fans in attendance, and tonight the Floridian waste no time in whipping the Peel into a maelstrom. Songs like ‘Sweet Televised Destruction’ and ‘Radio Waves’ are raw, raging ska-core at its finest, and it’s a wonder to watch vocalist/bassist Danny Lore’s fingers fly as he leads his band through yet another musical assault to the senses. It’s been their first visit to the UK in five years; here’s hoping we don’t have to wait that long for the next one.

Adequate Seven’s fans clearly aren’t prepared to say goodbye just yet; with the funked-up groove of ‘Head Up High’ soon giving way to the crowd’s chants of “Don’t split up!”. Indeed, it seems a shame for the Cardiff septet to split when they’ve arguably never sounded better or looked more confident onstage. Anyone not dancing tonight would be well advised to check their pulse, because songs like ‘Gotta Stay Focused’ and ‘Human Condition’ are arguably the finest meld of funk and hardcore since the heyday of Fishbone and Bad Brains. The sight of the sweat-drenched crowd baying for an encore says it all; this band are loved, and they will be missed.

Alex Gosman