July 26, 2006
Long Drop
To start tonight off we have probably the youngest band in the competition, Long Drop. We have seen this band several times before and are always impressed with their quality for their age. They kick off with their fast punky style which is shows a mix of pop punk influences from the last 20 years such as Blink 182 and Fallout Boy. it is very catchy and has plenty of bounce even if at times it gets a little messy. The songs are based round fast guitar riffs and some great moving bass lines which show a ska influence. The bassist's vocals are deep and easy to listen to with out any crazy punk shouting and these work well with the higher backing from the guitarist. The drummer however is the one who really stands out with tight and varied beats and fast crazy fills, that also show a mix of influence with some cool more percussive moments, this keep the band fairly tight even though they still need to work on getting tighter but this should come in time. The vocals aren't always strong enough and the harmonies could certainly me tighter to add more power to the lyrics. This wasn't an amazing performance but the songs are catchy and fun and these boys seem relaxed and at ease on stage, for such a young band they showed great spirit and potential.
http://www.myspace.com/longdroprock
Captain Roger
Next are Captain Roger, who have a weird mix of grunge and punk which has a catchy edge. The vocals are strong but the patterns need to be more imaginative as many songs sounded to similar. The guitar and bass do some pretty funky breakdowns and this gives them a weird mix of 90's grunge with a more modern main stream edge of Feeder. However even though the songs are quite cool and interesting with some good ideas, this band aren't that tight and it gets a little sloppy and was crying out for more power and kick. The bassist seemed good at first with some funky slap lines but after a while it looked like he was playing the same bass line but in a different key for each song! Half way through the set a crazy old guy started dancing at the front and he was probably the most eye catching part of the show, later we were told he was the bassist/vocalist's Grandad and if it is true then I would recommend they got him to ever gig as he had some real star quality! Captain Roger had some great dynamic, interesting and original ideas and the mix of styles gave them potential but they needed to be tighter and have more power and edge to their sound I think.
http://www.myspace.com/captainrogermusic
Euler
Third on the bill are Nottingham band Euler. They mix 90's indie rock with major 60's rock n roll feel to great effect and they mixed influence from bands such as The Charlatans, Primal Scream, The Spin Doctors or The Rolling Stones. The vocalist had a good voice and also had good stage presence, moving around and dancing to the songs. The 2 guitarist's linked well and along with the bassist and drummer became a real tight band with good presence and upbeat, catchy songs. The backing harmonies were bang on as well and if you like your indie rock n roll these guys will really entertain you! The vocalist also showed some great tambourine work, keeping in time well and making it worth having it in the band! The vocal patterns were interesting and unpredictable with clever and catchy lyric lines and the frontman in general was top class with charm and charisma as well as good movement, making a great focal point for the band to work their music round. Euler were one of those bands who aren't gonna blow your mind with anything amazing and new but they played a tight set of indie rock that had all the best elements and influences and was good to watch and played well. Certainly worth seeing and they gave themselves a good chance to go through.
Blindsight
Finally we finish the night with a stomping metal band. Blindsight mix several metal influences with moments of Death Metal, Thrash Metal and Nu-Metal. The guitars are chunky and lock well, whilst the bass and drums keep it tight. The vocals are growling and filled with honest angst and anger. There is a constant barrage of bass with the bass lines, heavy guitar riffs and stomping drums crashing down and this gives Blindsight a sort of Pantera feel at times but with some softer moments it gets a little Papa Roach. The dynamic is good with some great build ups and break downs but they lack change in tempo and a few faster or softer slow moments would suit their powerful kick well. Their movement is pretty good and the singer chats to the crowd well, getting everyone in a positive mood. This band had great power and energy with a fairly good mix of style and dynamic and by mixing real crushing heavy moments with more melodic and catchy moments they certainly made a major impact.
http://www.myspace.com/blindsightuk
Reviewed by: Gaz and Steph
