Caught in the Crossfire

London King’s Cross Water Rats
15/3/06

Hats off to the folks at Gravity DIP Records for putting on this show; it’s a line-up that certainly warrants leaving the house on a freezing Wednesday night. Kill Kill Disconnect’s propulsive indie rock is a welcome treat for the early birds, but it’s Boom In The Diamond Industry who really get the party started, mixing up scratchy guitars with supremely addictive grooves on anthems-in-waiting like ‘The Gift’. It’s still early days for the ‘Industry boys, but they’ve got confidence and tunes in spades, and even manage to get most of tonight’s previously static crowd dancing. Awesome stuff.

Next up is Kingston’s very own folk-pop troubadour Dave House whose heartfelt but often witty tales receive some much deserved crowd accompaniment. Plus, it’s always nice to be reminded that a handsome young man with an acoustic guitar need not equal James Blunt-esque blandness.

“We’re still here, and we’re more up for it than ever!” announces Capdown frontman Jake, three songs into their set. He does not lie; the band clearly relishing the intimacy of the venue as the sold-out crowd goes seven shades of apeshit.from the start.

If ska-punk’s popularity is on the wane, then this lot either don’t know or (more likely) don’t care, because the clutch of new songs aired tonight boast even more righteous ska-core firepower than the storming renditions of ‘Act Your Rage’ or ‘Cousin Cleotis’ – if that’s possible. Make no mistake: Capdown are back with a vengeance, and you’d be a fool not to pay attention this time

Alex Gosman

The Circle
The Golden Cross, Coventry
08/04/06

Rarely the roles reverse at a gig when the supporting band draws a larger crowd than the headline act. Originating from Leeds/Sheffield Volcanoes are a less than conventional Indie band, attracting a diverse audience.

These guys pride themselves on their live gigs and if tonight is an accurate representation I could see why. The varied set carried a consistent momentum and the enjoyment experienced on stage was transferred through the venue. Infectious beats of Indian and Slo-Mo united the audience into a mellow rhythm whilst their newest material encouraged a more energetic response.

Released on the 8th of May, downloadable single Room with the Red Door was greeted with a jovial reception; the audience were happy to sing along to the already established track. In the middle of the set never-heard-before King Of The Hill was welcomed with a colossal cheer energising Volcanoes further. The snowboarder track reinforced how it’s refreshing to witness a band defy the limitations of an otherwise saturated genre.

Following their departure the impact of Volcanoes music became embedded as the crowd dispersed before The Circle emerged. A local band from Coventry, their music resembled a chilled-out bluesy rock sound compared to the likes of The Beatles and 22-20’s.

A solid set was delivered but the lack of crowd interaction became evident and affected the overall performance. However, The Circle managed to wake-up the filled venue as their last track increased in tempo and engaged the on-lookers. It felt they waited too long for a buoyant song and in response they played an extra, equally up-beat track.

Their final numbers injected the positive vibe that Volcanoes had left behind, by far the most inspirational band of the night.

www.volcanoesband.co.uk and www.thecircleonline.com

Sian Cartwright