Firetype + Alias + Count the Days + Saving Skylines - 26th June 2009
Reviewed by Martin Stapleton
A gig, and a day completely overshadowed by the sudden death of the self-proclaimed king of pop, Michael Jackson. With the world's media working on overtime, everybody's comments and thoughts revolved around the demise of music's most complex character. Even the start of the Glastonbury festival is given less coverage. However, for this reviewer, the death yesterday of Sky Saxon had more relevance. Frontman and vocalist with The Seeds, he was one of the founders of the sixties garage rock scene, which certainly set the legacy and template for alternative music. Bands and sounds that are seen and heard here at Esquires every week. Check out Pushin' Too Hard as an example.
Of the four bands on show tonight, youthful pop-punk pretty much ruled the stage. Saving Skylines had variation courtesy of their young lady keyboardist, adding some deft finger skills to complement the frenetic guitars. Whether it's a statement of intent, but the T-shirts worn by the guitarist and drummer are worthy of note. One is Superman and the other is Batman! Even these superheroes dismally failed to get a crowd sing back going to "Hold on honey".
At least Count The Days had one keen fan in attendance, as said supporter applauded continuously on his own after the band had played one of their songs. "If I" and "No good for you" are performed diligently, if not memorably.
Contrasting, and for me dominating the evening, are the excellent Alias, who continue to impress. Impish frontman Tom Kitchiner could almost be an amateur meteorologist, as during these balmy hot past few days, he nods knowingly to suggest that we are due some "Stormy, stormy weather"! I must admit, level 2 does resemble a sauna tonight! The quartet buck the stagnant stench of pop-punk to deliver some good quality, lyrically constructed tunes. Amazing and gutsy with unswerving commitment. The start is strong, coming as it does with "24 wasted hours" and "Devils in the dark". The almost Stonesy/Dylanesque mixture of "Thieves and vultures" paves the way for "Big sleep", which is part of the much anticipated debut EP coming out shortly. The band reveal at the end of the set that they are due to perform at two separate gigs tomorrow in South Bedfordshire. Busy boys are Alias, and deservedly so.
Firetype appeared rather tame this evening. Although they play well enough, they don't seem to be operating at full throttle. Without the much needed stage energy, their average collection of songs rather meandered and merged together. Fittingly on this eventful day, they performed a cover of "I Want You Back".
White Clouds And Gunfire who were advertised to play made a very late cancellation call.