Just in time for their debut UK tour, this 3-track sampler demonstrates the skills and talents of Philadelphia’s The Prize Fight, a pop-punk hybrid with horns. It seems weird they are partaking in a UK tour without an official release over here, but the chances are this lot are going to be pretty big in the future. It’s nothing particularly startling or original, indeed there’s more than a passing resemblance to The Starting Line (who happen to be their best buds), but it’s done in an accomplished fashion.
Opening track ‘Train Wreck’ has a gentle brass riff that floats in and out of a perky pop-punk riff, which seems to forever bounce around and is sure to be a favourite in the ‘mosh’. But that’s The Prize Fight all over really, as fun is the name of the game and I suspect lots of people who seem them on tour will leave with a big smile on their face. ‘Brand New‘ reminds me a bit of New Found Glory‘s version of ‘The Glory Of Love’, until the vocals kick in and there’s more of a groove, while ‘Summer of 98’ has hard hitting drums and more catchyness that your local sexual diseases clinic.
The Prize Fight would probably fit rather snugly onto the Drive Thru roster with their squeaky-clean pop-punk musings. There’s enough here to warrant further inspection in a live setting, and they’ll probably end up playing far bigger venues if they come back, but if you hate that stereotypical Drive Thru sound, you may want to avoid this band. It’s fun stuff, but relatively harmless all the same. Check ’em out and make up your own mind.
www.theprizefight.com
Paul