August 12, 2004
The next band on were a reviewers dream, and all for the right reasons too. Grain really couldn't have been more against the grain if they'd tried. With two electro-acoustics, a bass, drums, a harmonica, and a banjo, these guys demonstrated rather emphatically, that they knew their way around their instruments frontwards, backways and outside-in. The jazz style drums were not prominent at all. In fact you kept forgetting about them, until the instrumentals, the lead guitarist had mind blowing talent with fast, multifaceted riffs. They had more inventiveness than the Wheatos™ professor, and they were very comfortable on stage, with smiles that never left their faces, or those of the audience who indulged in the ever changing feel good songs that were being presented. One of the most incredible local bands I have seen for song writing ability, ingenious lyrics, and so well practised for such a complex and sophisticated act. The vocalist used his voice like yet another instrument, changing from gritty to smooth, from long sustained notes to skatt and even, almost, kind of, rap. Every bit creating one hell of a show. All round brilliant variation between high-speed and melodic, and incidents of immaculate timing and ingenuity by these guys, resulted in an amalgamation of Presidents Of The USA, Primus, The Levellers, and Rage Against The Machine, as I've said very inventive, very original.
The most aggressive band of the night Hinterland immediately proceeded to kick you in the face with a wall of sound, and another demonstration of dazzling timing, and mucho, mucho distortion. Using every inch of the seemingly expanded stage for bouncing, dancing, and generally throwing themselves about in, it's a good job Hinterland are now only a 3 piece, otherwise it might have ended up in tears. With a drummer who happily used the whole kit thunderously, a deafening six string, and a roaring 4 string played like a six string, they played with conviction and passion, and each song never failed to hit you hard. Good technique and clever use of riffs accompanying the vocal patterns from the frontman, which was impressive seeing as he was thrashing around so much. This band seemed to insist on drilling their lyrics into your head so damn far that they weren't coming back out again all the way home, no matter how hard you tried to find a different song, oh no, no chance. Something rather obvious tells me that Hinterland strive for a big crowd that actually get into their music and get moving, unfortunately, The Cabaret couldn't provide this for them, but they carried on recklessly and regardless
Written By Steph
