Lights Out, Leeds Josephs Well
***GIG WAS AT FIBBERS, YORK***
You can’t beat a night out in York. It’s a wonderful place, with a wonderful music scene. Its premier venue, Fibbers, always attracts major label bands, but still opens its doors to local acts, which bring in a decent crowd and all seem to get along. Or at least that’s how I see it. Where I’m from the music scene is pretty drab if I’m honest, and the gigs I’ve been to at Fibbers have always gone down well. Anyway, enough of that, tonight’s entertainment came in the form of 3 local bands, and one out of town group, which had agreed to fill in less than 48 hours before. I didn’t really intend to review the show, but after the first few songs of the opening band, I realised it’s a long, long time since I’d done my bit and promoted some small scale bands to the world, so here we go….
Up first at Fibbers this evening was a band I had never come across before, TRUE VINE. At first when the band kicked off, their typical post - hardcore – emo sound was impressive, but my view was obstructed. Their vocalist had a great voice which I spent the rest of the set trying to draw a comparison with. However, when I moved, so I could actually watch the band, I was disappointed to find the four piece were either very nervous, very self conscious or bored. They didn’t move around or even try to hold the stage at all, nor did they seem to get into their music one bit. Music like this is all about power and energy and True Vine didn’t seem down with whole idea of taking their eyes off their guitars for one second. The four – pieces vocalist, did conduct himself well, and in the end I plumped for a Senses Fail meets Hiding With Girls sort of voice. Great singer, let down tonight. (5)
Next up were a band I had had some small interaction with, a bit of a demo listen and now I was actually looking forward to watching for the first time. THE INTENT or Intentional Fallacy are another local group which are brought through on a slightly more hardcore background than True Vine, but are boasting the tight jeans dressed up emo boys look at heart. Again this band posses a great vocalist, this time though, backed up with musicians who actually get about the stage and throw their instruments around a bit. The Intent supplied plenty of vocal variation as well, which is always an encouraging thing to see, screaming, speaking, whispering, harmonies, cross overs and clever break downs. These guys played with a lot more confidence and I’m sure they’ll breach the walls of their local scene before long. (8)
On stage next came some great friends of mine from my local town, A DESTRUCTIVE ISSUE. These guys had made the trip over due to Penknifelovelife having to pull out of the show. ADI rarely fail to impress me each time I see them, and tonight was no different. Smashing through track after track, their ever developing, ferocious sound was in my head all the way home. Tonight I noticed the band had taken their onstage performance one further as well, with front man Rich seeming more relaxed when approaching the audience between songs, whilst during songs being at the forefront of the action. This is the liveliest and probably the best I’ve seen A Destructive Issue, and yet they still are able to drop 2 or 3 of my favourite tracks. (10)
If tonight was all about appearance, then headliners LIGHTS OUT would sweep the award for the “Just out of Top Man” look, (Don’t laugh, The Intent would have easily claimed the “Best dressed from my sisters wardrobe” look and ADI would have bagged the “Long Service to outrageous hair” award for the 3rd year running.) These guys are quickly becoming firm favourites of mine, and their infectious combination of screamo with a dash of pop punk is something I can’t explain how it works, it just does, and it’s damn good. Front man Ben Myers is the leader of it all, with excellent stage presence, and a towering voice, which pitches perfectly on the long, high notes, and growls and attacks as he screams and cries at you when the bands power picks up. Each song drifts through melody and harmony, before ripping into heavy, driving guitars, all whilst the front man holds the stage. I assure you this band will be one to watch over the next few months. (9)
Now I’m going to name drop each of those bands again, so you can all check them out at your own leisure…
(No links for True Vine)
www.myspace.com/theintent
www.myspace.com/adestructiveissue
www.myspace.com/lightsout28
Pete Punktastic
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