Anyway, I went to Rios to catch up with two of my own bands, so forgive me for being slightly on the biased side. Guildford’s OVER AND OUT remind me of New Found Glory mixed with the three-way harmonies of Midtown; they’re predominently poppy yet maintain a punkier edge. And the fact they have three vocalists mean they have such depth to their sound they can pull it off better than most. Add the fact main vocalist Kyle is South African and the band have a So-Cal edge which is natural and not as forced as many UK acts who do the same thing. The band run through most of the songs on their new EP, throw in the 30-second song to feature on Un-Scene 4, and then round it off with a slightly off-key version of The Beach Boys classic ‘I Get Around’. Energetic and a hell of a lot of fun, there aren’t t too many bands around that do it better. (8)

It’s DAY OF RISING‘s first trip to Leeds – although as Spaniards it’s actually their first visit to every city on this tour – and their Foo Fighters-esque rock blazes a trail among a sparse turnout. Despite a dodgy start during ‘High Hopes and Empty Homes’ the band eventually warm up and tear the place apart. ‘Destroying Dialogues’ sounds much better live than on record, but it’s the Biffy Clyro-esque ‘Olympia’ – set to be released on PT Recs later this year – which stands out a mile; a song which drives and twists and batters in a whirlwind of guitars and drums. They’ve had a lukewarm response since moving to the UK, but they’re a great live band and top guys and deserve a better response. (8)

SHORT WARNING have come a very long way in the last 12 months. Progressing from an average skate punk band into one of the UK’s premier pop-punk outfits seemed to come out of nowhere and their live show has progressed with equal amounts of swagger and confidence. Watching from the back of the venue rather than the front, the band seem to have developed an on-stage arrogance which is strangely compelling; frontman Carl has gone from being a little shy to brash and confident, making ‘Mr Bigshot’ and a number of other tracks sound better than anything they’ve done before. If they continue to make this kind of progress, they could be dangerously good… (8)

Okay, so after a hardcore weekend at the Birmingham Give It A Name, it?s fair to say that I did not have the energy to go to this gig, but after having religiously played the couple brilliantly catchy Powerpop tunes on their myspace (over and over), I?d grown an underlying curiosity as to whether they could crack it live or not.

Apparently, there are two Packhorse pubs in Leeds, one at the top of town (near where I parked my car) and another just off Briggate. I was in the one just off Briggate (a.k.a the wrong one), so 10 minutes before Fleeing From Finales were due on I discovered my error, piled into a taxi and ran on in. Fortunately, they hadn?t yet arrived, but I was just in time for Dave House.

Dave House appears to be the main attraction tonight as the majority of the 50-ish kids here cheer, whistle, clap and sing along passionately to lyrics varying from school days on slightly rockier song ?All D?s No Future? to women on ?Old Girl Back?, in which he also jokingly slates Hadouken (as opposed to Klaxons on the record). In between songs he cracks jokes and chats humorously to the crowd before bobbing and stamping away merrily through to the next. The fun is contagious and the kids love every minute of it, from the odd bit of lyrical improvisation and a song he made about being ?In town (Leeds) for a day?, to his mid-song silly outburst of ?You?re over-shadowing me you bastard!? directed at his backing vocalist/guitarist, which has everyone in stitches! Vocally, House is not the most talented. However, it?s his lyrical creativity and acoustic guitar skills that make it so enjoyable. Well worth a look, even though at times you feel like you should all be sat around a camp fire for it. (7)

Surprisingly enough, two thirds of the crowd appear to have vanished after purchasing their Dave House goodies (buy a CD, get a T-shirt free), just as Fleeing From Finales are coming on, but to be fair it is now past half 10. Their late arrival due to a rumoured 8-hour journey, results in a hurried set-up, no sound check and a shortened set. A slightly sketchy start due to Keyboard problems is overcome by an otherwise quality performance. They rock it out to the best of their ability and the vocals are impressive to say the least. Curiously enough, they look like they?ve been doing this forever, despite being about five years younger than I?d expected from the quality of the songs. The set reveals hit after hit, one of which is new song ?Holding Back? and the fans that are still here sing at the tops of their lungs to the genius ?Mighty Ducks Vs Thundercats?. Sheer brilliance with a glittering career head of them. Catch them supporting Zebrahead NOW. (8)

Carolyn

Glaswegian band Union of Knives confidently kicked off the night in style. Co-ordinated from head to toe in black, they broke into slick indie/electro beats with beautiful and impressive, harmonised male vocals. Despite the thick beats and hypnotic indie/dance sounds, towards the end of the set some of the songs sounded disappointingly repetitive, and so failed to maintain everyone?s interest. The main highlight of their performance was undeniably the massively catchy, ?Evil Has Never?, due to be released on the 5th March. For fans of Muse, Radiohead and Soulwax. (7)

The Sounds opened with vocalist Maja Ivarsson, dressed in tiny, high-waisted, black shorts, announcing that they?d ?travelled all the way from Sweden to be with you mother fuckers tonight!? as the band energetically unleashed song ?Death of Me? to a tightly packed, eager crowd. The audience were enthusiastically encouraged to join in by clapping and singing along, ?I wanna see some fucking hands!? shouted guitarist Felix Rodriguez to the intro of ?Hit Me?. Ivarsson?s provocative dancing beckoned everyone?s attention as she gyrated on the floor and straddled her microphone stand throughout the set. Song ?Ego? was the grand finale, complete with crowd-pleasing drum-off. The Sounds gave a hypnotic performance of punk/disco that undoubtedly exceeded numerous expectations. They are a quirky band that not only love to rock out, with smiles and passion, but also know how to perform thrillingly on stage, even on one as modest as the Faversham?s. (8)

Los Angeles headliners Shiny Toy Guns gave a melodic, gradual intro with ?Promise You Walls?, luring the audience into a false sense of calm before crashing into the glorious ?Starts With One?, with lights flashing wildly and Chad Petree?s bold, immaculate vocals
resounding powerfully through the venue. The vocal range from both Petree and Carah Faye is nothing short of impressive, from beautiful melodies to high-pitched screams that emphasise a definite rock element to the band, as do the heavy bass lines, thrashing drums, dramatic make-up, tattoos and skinny jeans. They?re blurring the dividing lines between rock, electro and dance and it?s good. Very good. The only anti-climax of the show was the much-anticipated track ?Le Disco?, which appears somewhat bolder and more dominating on the record than live tonight. Single ?You Are the One? stole the show with an astonishing 10/10 performance that was loved by the crowd even more than the band that played it, with such energy that they had the whole crowd clapping along and chants for encores. Shiny Toy Guns closed the set with ?Don?t Cry Out?. The lights were turned off; someone came up on stage and started cable clearing. Minutes passed, no one moved. The crowd chanted for an encore- more specifically for ?You Are the One?. Then one by one, the band made their way back on stage to perform an impressive three more songs, which included new material and a cover song. Chances of them playing a venue this size again are slim, especially since they are due to support Fall Out Boy on tour in April, meaning that their talent and fresh, innovative sound will be showcased to tens of thousands of people. Fingers crossed that they?re old and wise enough to appreciate more than just pop/punk. (8)

Carolyn

FRIDAY – My first night’s entertainment saw me travel to the East Riding town of Goole. Now I’ve only ever been to Goole once before and that was 9 years ago when I was a delivery driver earning a few coins in preparation of heading to university. Goole, it would appear, hasn’t changed too much since 1997. Still, The Old George is a decent enough pub, albeit on the very small size. Having missed the first band I prepared myself for CHASER, who are rapidly making a name for themselves. Now you know I’m biased because they’re on my label, but these kids are talented. Very talented. For teenagers, they’re probably on a par with any band their age. Fusing commercial rock bands like The Killers with more poppy Panic! At The Disco edges, Chaser blast through their ‘Best Seat In The House’ record with vigour. They’re tight, they can sing and they have tunes in abundance. They may have slightly been let down by the sound, but there’s plenty to suggest the ‘hype’ is warranted. (8)

THE RIVERCLUB headline in Goole and, despite the fact they play last, attract the biggest crowd of the night. While their EP is very polished, live TRC are far more energetic and thrilling. There’s a spiky edge which actually adds an extra dimension to their sound. There’s more aggression and energy, so while their sound isn’t as polished, it’s certainly just as fun. ‘My Girl, God, She Is Beautiful’ is the best way they can start their set and the Goole kids love it. (8)

SATURDAY – A swift train journey from GY to Leeds saw me visit The Royal Park Cellars for the first time for arguably the most solid 5-band bill I’ve seen in a while. RPC is an odd little venue – a big pub with, unremarkably, a cellar as a music venue, complete with stage. LOST ON CAMPUS start things up and Rob’s acoustic strummings get a decent response. With quirky off-beat songs, and a Kelly Clarkson cover thrown in for good measure, the talent is there despite the obvious nerves. If he can tighten his voice a bit, there’s a good chance of progression (6.5).

I missed a bit of KATE WILLIAMS as I was being a social butterfly, but even from the room next door you could tell that the songstress has a really impressive vocal. I didn’t catch enough to be able to give an accurate score, but it says a lot when nearly every band is talking about the same thing after the show…

THE RIVERCLUB carry on from the night before with another energetic performance, although maybe not quite as good. They do have a clutch of strong songs and there’s plenty of singalongs down the front. I don’t need to say too much more to what I said before…(7.5)

Unfortunately for CHASER, their laptop breaks after just a handful of songs and they’re forced to cut their set short. The first two songs are nothing short of great, with ‘Riot’ and ‘Best Seat…’ coming across like Ibiza dance anthems given a swift kick up the arse with a large dollop of rock. But when Nick’s laptop dies, the samples die too and Dan is left on his own to cover an Eldora Parade track before the band meekly leave the stage. (7)

I know I’m biased, but fuck it – there’s nobody better at what they do in the UK right now than THE MAPLE STATE. They get better week by week, the new songs sound strong and the older ones spark huge singalongs. They even get begged for encores (and a rare performance of ‘The Mariner Song’). The sound wasn’t the strongest by any means, but they always, without fail, leave you with a smile on your face. And, bias or not, that’s seriously all you can ask for. (8.5)

paul

Then I got a second wind when someone close to me suggested something a little smaller. So, the idea of POW was born and, maybe as a one-off, the idea of a weekend in small venues, intertwined with Punktastic’s first ever bowling tournament, began. For me it was more an experiment to see if I had the apetite to want to continue to do these kind of things, hence why not one single poster or flyer was handed out in Leeds. It could have backfired spectacularly, thankfully it didn’t. The 70-capacity Packhorse was full to the rafters, with around 140 people turning up during the evening. The atmosphere was fantastic too, so many smiling people having a great time – just how PT events should be. Not to mention just how good all five bands were on the night.

Local lads PENKNIFELOVELIFE open things up at 7.15pm with a short and sharp 20 minute set. One look at their skinny frames and dyed black side partings suggests they sound like the offspring of Poison The Well and Atreyu – so it’s no surprise that when they start playing the music is as aggressive as I thought it would be. Pete @ PT had copied me five songs of PKLL’s to prepare me for the gig and I thought they were really, really bland, but live these youngsters are so much better. The drummer double-kicks his way through a riot of guitars, while the frontman prowls the stage like the son of M Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold. For teenagers, and young ones at that, PenKnife are very, very tight and while their music currently sounds a little too much like their peers, there’s enough talent on show to suggest a very bright future ahead. They look and act the part, all they need to do now is nail the sound. (8)

I am biased, I know, but THE MAPLE STATE are so damn good it’s startling. They’re as tight a unit as any UK band I’ve seen all year and while their keyboard-fused indie-rock isn’t technically new, they are doing something very bright and very fresh. It makes tracks like ‘Mightiest Monster…’ and ‘…Martial Law’ (I’m not putting the full names, I’m too lazy and they’re too long!) instant singalongs and destined to grab the attention of thousands of unsuspecting music fans next year. TMS arguably get the biggest crowd of the night – people are standing on chairs at the back so they can see and hardly anyone leaves the room whilst they play. The drumming is excellent, the keyboards and samples clever and inventive and Greg’s vocals are spot on too. I won’t forget Christian’s guitar-work either, even if during one song he was a little out of tune (kidding fella…) If there’s anything to work on it’s holding a stage and working the crowd, but that comes with practice and experience. Their mini-album, due out on Punktastic Recordings in January, will blow people away. (8.5)

CHE came up all the way from Worcester and were probably the surprise package of the evening. It’s fair to say that not many people had heard of them before tonight, but they certainly left with a lot of new admirers. The five-piece are fronted by 16-year-old Lydia who has a fantastic voice and on record this really sets the band alight from the pack. But in a live environment it’s the band themselves, not the singer, which take centre stage. Che are insanely tight, there’s hardly a missed note and if there are any they are very well covered up. The two guitars very rarely stick to the same old predictable riffs, instead opting for lead riffs which they bounce off each other. While Lydia certainly has a voice that many would die for, her on-stage persona perhaps isn’t as sassy or showy as it could be. There’s one line I noticed “I can make you shiver, I can make you shake” (I think…) which should probably be delieverd with more sex appeal than Cupid’s arrow, yet it doesn’t quite hit the mark. There are also times when it appears she’s singing to the front row rather than the full room, but these are minor points that come with experience. She’s still got a belter of a voice mind and that’s one weapon that will certainly serve Che well. If they can seal the cohesion – and by this I mean the way they look and act on stage – then big things will happen. (8)

I missed about half of A DESTRUCTIVE ISSUE for various reasons, but they’re a band that I know will go far. They’re still learning and finding their feet, but older songs like ‘Stopgap’ and ‘This Could Kill’ sound great even if they are finally forging their own sound. They have a good, solid fanbase in Leeds and it’s only a matter of time before bigger gigs start coming their way. If they keep working hard, expect big strides forward during 2005. (n/a)

By Jove, are FASTLANE good! Having owned their as-yet-unreleased album for nigh on three months, I already knew just how good this band were, but until you’ve seen them live you really haven’t seen the real band. Mixing high-energy, pop hooks and a metallic edge, the Guildford quintet are arguably the best band in the country at what they do. Frontman Ben is a bundle of energy, while the twin guitar attack throw themselves around the stage with gusto. ‘Elevator’ and ‘Dreaming’ go down exceedingly well, but tracks like ‘Summer Falls’ showcase just how good this band really are. They were so good, and so loud, that the ringing in my ears only stopped on Monday morning. This time next year they’ll be one of the biggest bands in the UK – mark my words. (9.5)

There are too many people to thank really – Pete@PT was a legend throughout the day, Aza for doing doorman duties and not actually seeing the bands, all the bands for their gear-sharing and everyone who came for being fantastic. There were people from Scotland, Newcastle, Birmingham, London… it astounds me how much people will travel to have a good time. And boy, did everyone have a good time.

Paul

For those who haven’t visited The Cardigan Arms before it’s a quaint pub in the Kirkstall area of Leeds, usually frequented by an ‘older’ class of gentlemen who like to sup pints of John Smiths while they fiddle with their pipe, flat cap and slippers. I shit you not. Above the pub is a room which doubles up as a venue. It’s small-ish in size, probably struggling to break the 100 mark, with two large mirrors at either end. This makes for an amusing sight because the bands can see themselves in one mirror, while the crowd can preen their hair and add additional strands of Brylcreem in the other.

The PA system isn’t all that hot either and local heroes CATCH IT KEBABS have the worst of it. Signed to Do The Dog Music they have a really electic sound that takes in brass, keyboards and all kinds of stuff in between. The band remind me of a more manic Rx Bandits and their friends in the crowd lap it up as limbs flail all over the shop. The dual vocals sound pretty poor mind, but with the sound man doing his best with a last-minute patched up system, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. Ska isn’t really my bag any more, but CIK, on first glance, appear to be very good at what they do. (8)

With a beer calling my name, I missed out on THAT’S CALLED STEALING, but the Ponte boys sounded a lot like The Ataris from downstairs. Looking back, maybe I should have watched them after all. But after a long drive I really did need a beer to quench the thirst. With three-quarters of ROUTE 215 not present in the venue, it’s up to guitarist Ryan to hold the fort with an acoustic set. Now RYAN 215 (as he will be affectionately known), freely admits to being a little nervous on stage (“I’m fucking shitting it,” was closer to the truth) and the first two songs show that. But by the time ‘Jesus Was Sexy’ and ‘I Am What I Am’ come round, Ryan’s on form. Lazily you could make Dashboard references, but in sound there’s more of a Goo Goo Dolls tone in the guitars. For a last minute thing, Ryan did super well to pull this out of the bag. (7.5)

I haven’t seen SONIC BOOM SIX for a few months and in this time they’ve not only tightened themselves up, but they appear to be playing everything harder, faster and harder still. At times SB6 sound like the ‘new’ NoComply, with harder drums, squallier guitars and faster vocals. It’s not hardcore by any means, but it’s a lot darker and heavier than their ‘Turbo’ debut. For 30 minutes the kids go apeshit and SB6 lovingly participate and throw in a bunch of set pleasers, including ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ and ‘Blood For Oil’ from their Moon Ska debut. SB6, in style and influence, aren’t usually a band that I’d listen to, and I can sympathise with some of the lazy ‘Miss Dynamite on crack’ references I’ve seen before, but you cannot fault the energy, exuberance and enthusiasm that the quintet omit. (8.5)

FASTLANE‘S forthcoming album is the best record you haven’t heard yet. Simple as that. I was primarily at this gig to see the boys in action, I won’t lie, having heard so many positive comments. And despite the shitty PA and Ben’s fucked up voice, Fastlane show exactly why they are so highly rated. ‘Summer Falls’, ‘Elevator’ and the fantastic ‘Dreaming’ are all highlights, and it helps no end that there are a handful of people who sing along from the crowd. But what sets the band apart from the thousands upon thousands of pop-punk bands with good songs, is that Fastlane also look and act the part. There’s guitar swinging, star jumping and metal solo preening, while Ben owns the small stage like any good frontman should. The simple fact is that in 6 months time they will be your new favourite melodic punk band. (9)

Paul

Thanks to the generosity of Route 215, I made my first trip to the York Fibbers to see the second date of their jaunt with Solabeat Alliance. Truth be told I probably wouldn’t have travelled 100 miles just to see SBA – but after the gig my opinions changed for the better. Local bands NINEPOUNDNOTE (I say local, I mean Yorkshire based) and another whose name I did not catch warm up the couple of hundred fans who have gathered on a mild Saturday evening. Both bands do their jobs well, serving up decent, if unspectacular ska and pop-punk consecutively. Both bands lack a confidence and stage presence to make a mark, but for warm up acts both do their job well.

ROUTE 215 had been on the lash until 6am that morning and, unsurprisingly, their performance was affected by their dehydration and sleep depravation. The Londoners have always been spot on whenever I’ve seen them, but despite having a clutch of tunes more powerful than a rocket propelled grenade in their arsenal, tonight they are rather sloppy. Rod isn’t quite his usual self, missing the higher notes and fluffing some bass lines, while Nick looks like he may throw up at any point. The on-stage heat is blinding though, making Sean and Ryan’s constant jumping and pirouetting ever the more impressive. Old favourites ‘GTT’ and ‘Steal Your Soul’ are still glorious slabs of pop-punk, while newies ‘Jesus Was A Sexy’ and I Am What I Am’ (i think) show there’s plenty more miles in the 215 tank. I also must point out the fool (who I believe may have been a PT forum member) who proceeded to elbow, punch and roundhouse sweep every member of the dancefloor into submission. That was until he was told by one of my mates where to go – if he wanted to keep his teeth. Dance by all means, but don’t decapitate those around you. An off night, but 215 still wipe the floor with pretty much every pop-punk band in the country. (7.5)

If you’re yet to catch SOLABEAT ALLIANCE on tour you are really, really missing out. To be honest I was expecting slick, no frills ska punk, but what I wasn’t expecting was a band so tight, entertaining and armed with a set of anthemic tunes that I was left gasping for more. Although much maligned, Moon Ska certainly know a classy band when they see one and SBA are surely one of the best in their genre. By far the best live set I’ve seen so far this year – and I’m not a huge ska fan – SBA have the crowd eating out of the palm of their hand. Frontman Tim is as charismatic and energetic as any singer I’ve seen this year, constantly prowling across the stage, while the brass section are tighter than Linford Christie in a skintight leotard. I thought ‘Island Fire’ was good but not great, but listening to it after you’ve seen them live brings a whole new dimension to proceedings. ‘All Or Nothing‘ has some immense melodies and huge hooks, throwing back comparisons to Catch 22 or the Mad Caddies. I could go on forever, but the plain and simple fact is that I was converted, big style. If the sun shines this summer, expect Solabeat to blow up big…(9)

www.route215.com
www.solabeat.com

Paul