I'm probably making this up
Another trip into town last night to check out We Are Scientists at King's College.
Just before arriving, I realised with delight that Test Icicles were the support act, making it an excellent night for fans of good band names. And also a good night for unexpectedly catching a band I wanted to see. After all, they are the fifth best band in the UK (or something). And have also recently scored a top twenty hit.
Well seriously folks.. what the fuck? WHAT THE FUCK?
They are TERRIBLE.
They certainly polarised opinion in the venue - with audience reaction running the entire spectrum from fucking god-awful all the way through to worse than my most vivid, most horrific nightmares.
My mate Steve told me beforehand that all they do is fuck around on stage and don't even have their instruments plugged in. And for some reason i didn't believe him. But yeah, all they do is fall into the crowd a couple of times while a backing track plays. Now I enjoy a tuneless racket as much as the next guy, especially if the perpetuators are willing to degrade themselves for my pleasure in the name of rock 'n' roll - but I'm afraid I just spent the entire performance bored stupid. It was like a bad sixth form art project. With even one decent song I could have forgiven them, but they are basically three twats shouting incoherently over a drum machine. Great.
Even the youthful crowd, mostly free of the cynicisms of age, were not impressed. The band left the stage to silence, save for two people frantically cheering (art students, clearly) and a far larger number of boos.
A joke without a punchline. Anyone who tells you they are anything but awful is lying.
We Are Scientists on the other hand were excellent. I get the feeling they have two fantastic singles ('Great Escape', 'Nobody Moves'), a couple of other tracks that don't quite hit the same heights, and the rest of their material is slightly 'album tracky'. The good stuff is great though, and it was a hugely enjoyable show. Even disregarding the music they've got enough charisma and jokes on stage to own any crowd. I won't attempt to repeat any of their banter... just believe me that they were / are very funny.
Having barely made it through a very heavy weekend I couldn't muster the energy to join the sweaty nubile teenage students down the front, but by the end of the gig I had a spring in my step. And when I left, the frozen London air felt a good ten degrees warmer.
If the Scientists are experimenting in a town near you, do poke your head in and say hello...
If you managed to get tickets to the NME tour in February (I did!) you'll be able to see them then.
Just before arriving, I realised with delight that Test Icicles were the support act, making it an excellent night for fans of good band names. And also a good night for unexpectedly catching a band I wanted to see. After all, they are the fifth best band in the UK (or something). And have also recently scored a top twenty hit.
Well seriously folks.. what the fuck? WHAT THE FUCK?
They are TERRIBLE.
They certainly polarised opinion in the venue - with audience reaction running the entire spectrum from fucking god-awful all the way through to worse than my most vivid, most horrific nightmares.
My mate Steve told me beforehand that all they do is fuck around on stage and don't even have their instruments plugged in. And for some reason i didn't believe him. But yeah, all they do is fall into the crowd a couple of times while a backing track plays. Now I enjoy a tuneless racket as much as the next guy, especially if the perpetuators are willing to degrade themselves for my pleasure in the name of rock 'n' roll - but I'm afraid I just spent the entire performance bored stupid. It was like a bad sixth form art project. With even one decent song I could have forgiven them, but they are basically three twats shouting incoherently over a drum machine. Great.
Even the youthful crowd, mostly free of the cynicisms of age, were not impressed. The band left the stage to silence, save for two people frantically cheering (art students, clearly) and a far larger number of boos.
A joke without a punchline. Anyone who tells you they are anything but awful is lying.
We Are Scientists on the other hand were excellent. I get the feeling they have two fantastic singles ('Great Escape', 'Nobody Moves'), a couple of other tracks that don't quite hit the same heights, and the rest of their material is slightly 'album tracky'. The good stuff is great though, and it was a hugely enjoyable show. Even disregarding the music they've got enough charisma and jokes on stage to own any crowd. I won't attempt to repeat any of their banter... just believe me that they were / are very funny.
Having barely made it through a very heavy weekend I couldn't muster the energy to join the sweaty nubile teenage students down the front, but by the end of the gig I had a spring in my step. And when I left, the frozen London air felt a good ten degrees warmer.
If the Scientists are experimenting in a town near you, do poke your head in and say hello...
If you managed to get tickets to the NME tour in February (I did!) you'll be able to see them then.
posted by headphonesex @ 5:13 PM
