DISPOSABLE HEROES + THE LONGEST LINE + SHARP EDGE + THE FLOOR + THIRD MAN - Y-Rock "Battle Of The Bands", Dexters, Dundee 04-03-08
The ethos behind the Y-Rock set-up is to focus on the young musicians of the city, get them focused, get them realistic, get them helped and get them a platform on which to work. To that end, tonight's Dundee heat of their "Battle Of The Bands" was a first step - and up stepped five young bands for us to see what they're all about.
I'd got the call about 8 or so hours earlier, to see if I was available to be a guest judge on the night, an oportunity I am always happy to take if I'm not committed to anything else, so I said I'd be there, not knowing anything about any of the bands that were playing, including who it was that were actually appearing. This is how I like it - no preconceptions, no prior oinions - just straight in there and letting the bands do the talking and me doing my usual bit of honest critique. So, what you're about to read, is pretty well how I judged it - there were three judges (or was it four?) so this is just the way I saw it.
Disposable Heroes were up first, announced as the only heavy metal band of the night, a prospect that definitely excited me. A trio of guitarist, bassist/vocalist and drummer, they took the stage and immediately the bassist - and bear in mind we're talking young guys here - exhorted the fairly large audience to come upfront and join in, exuding confidence that you don't always see in bands who've been around longer. Then, when they started up and erupted into this big beefy sea of riffing, somwhere between Core and The Rebelhearts at their wildest, and pertaining more to a slighly more hardcore Classic Rock style of things, I just knew they'd got it spot on. You could feel the energy, the passion and the excitement, not to mention the quality and ferocity, coming out of every pore as the band got into their stride and powered out. Then two unexpected things happened - first, the vocalist delivered the songs with more of a throaty roar and a holler, kind of like the aceptable face of death metal, only more palatable, in keeping with the heat of what they were playing, for sure, but a bit akin to Sepultura's vocalist fronting Saxon, if you get my drift. The other thing was when the arrangement got to the part where the guitarist delivered a solo - hell's teeth!! - can this guy play or what!!! - his fingers flew over those frets as this searing solo just blasted out of the PA and made you sit up and take notice - and all this was just the opening song!! As the set progressedd, the standard was maintained. I guess the two main criticisms I'd have are that - and this will no doubt come with time - you feel the vocalist is capable of singing structured songs in a more traditional way which would fit with the band's playing talent - in a way, they're almost too classy to be thrashy - and the second is that the songs, although full of adrenaline and metal attack, are as yet still far from memorable, but, again, that should come in time. The drumming was rock solid and that bassist proved to be a fine frontman. Definitely a band to go and see, who deserve the metal community's support, there's real potential success in this band.
The Longest Line were up next and, honestly, you'd couldn't have had more of a contrast if you'd had an Abba tribute band playing. Another trio, this time playing what is essentially punk rock, they took to the stage to fire up and launch into the first number - but the playing was looose, the timing sloppy and all left you feeling it might just fall apart at any minute. The band could play, but it was ragged. The second track was not a great deal better. By the time of the start of the third track, you'd got the hang of the fact that the guitarist and vocalist's between-song chats were not only longer than the songs, not only quite funny, but, alarmingly, more interesting - making me think the guy's got a great future as a stand-up comedian. BUT... the third song began - something about the drummer's dad - and this really caught alight, all the ingerdients were right - tight playing, urgency, timing, power, even the vocals sounded a bit more upfront. Only trouble was that it lasted about a minute and a half!! As the set wore on, the band did produce glimpses of good and potential promise along the way, but the most bizare twist came last. The band invited a friend - least I hope he is - to be the "guest vocalist" for the final track - and, no word of lie, this guy outsang the lead singer in the space of about one minute, the powerful voice just what had been lacking all the way down the line so far. Look! - the band were clearly enjoying what they were doing, having fun and in some ways it was a bit like when The Getdowns or Tartan Riot first started, only without the spark of creativity. There may be something in this band to come out - but right now it's well buried!!
Then came Sharp Edge, a quintet largely clad in black, where I spotted Merkin's guitarist (least I think it was Merkin - are they still going?) and a young female drummer who really hammered that kit. It's probably a bit unfair on the band to say that, the moment they opened up with a fiery, fast and furious punk-y rendition of "Monster Mash", three words sprang to the front of my brain - Dirty Wee Middens! When, later on in the set we were treated to a rousing version of The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop", the thought was even further cemented. However, before you think I'm going to be negative, let me say that it's just the opposite - this band were great. In their singer, they have a fine frontman, leather clad and raging, striding around that stage and providing this powerful vocal that ranged from structure to a blur. The guitarist I mentioned earlier seemd to take the lion's share of the leads and his metal guitarist stance and style of playing proved to be every bit as visually enjoyable, not to mention sizzling to ear. They don't - and thankfully, 'coz no-one could - try to recreate the Middens, preferring to take that brand of almost tongue-in-cheek punk rock songs, and provide them with this wicked metal edge, that gives them a whole new dimension. The covers, albeit brief, did tend to expose some of the lack of memorability of the originals, but a couple of the songs towards the end of the set, showed promise in that stakes. But they were exciting to watch, they played superbly, were tight, fast, dramatic and worked well as a unit - the Midens without the horror, the unpredictability and the mayhem, but with a strong sense of hardcore allied to a punk rock sensibility that should serve to get them noticed.
The Floor were up next, the first "indie" band of the night, but definitely "not just another indie band". A quartet featuring two lead guitarists, drummer and bassist, they also fired up right from the start and let looose this massive blast of dual guitar riffing that was propelled by the most thunderous and dynamic bass work plus the necessarily solid sounding drumming to keep things rolling. In many ways a bit like Boy Orchestra only more direct and less angular. The vocalist delivered the songs with enthusiastic emotion, as on fire as the playing in many ways. BUt if you thought that the band might be a bit of a one-trick pony by the middle of the second track, you'd be soooooooooo wrong, for their sheer inventiveness of arrangement meant that this band who worshipped at the altar of the great god riff, had manage to inject this interplay and togetherness of guitar attack that really hit the spot as the songs fired out like rifle fire. Yet, amid all this nuclear mayhem, there was real melody, real structure and a guitar driven set of songs that really had you riveted to what they were playing. Not only that, but the two guitarists also realised what stage presence meant and moved around to provide this effect of duelling while really playing off and with each other to amazing effect. As a sort of purposeful, structured, slightly hardcore indie styled set, there was nothing left to waste, and everything counted. The songs sounded like songs, albeit injected with fiery adrenaline for the most part, and the playing was potent throughout. Although you don't want to comapre bands in this sense, but for something like this you are duty bound to do just that, they did - pardon the pun - wipe the floor with the opposition.
Third Man were the only band of the night to inject any real subtlety and dynamics into their set. A quintet, with a lead guitarist capable of providing some seriously tasty leads, a rhythm guitarist playing with restraint and riffing, a rhythm section that played things in a far more dynamic manner, fronted by a vocalist who sang structured songs in a structured manner, for the most part. The set clearly revolves around the songs, with not too much room for instrumental showcasing, although some of the arrangements let this creep in from time to time. The vocalist delivered the songs with strength, but I did feel that the voice lacked character, all a bit "dry" at times, and you just ached to hear some harmonies at various points along the way. In a way it was a bit unfortunate for this band to be on last as they'd had to follow four deeply intensely electrifying bands. But, they do have very inventive arrangements and the songs themselves command your attention in a live setting, although fail to stick around in your head for that long after they've gone, but this might be that old "first hearing" situation, coming into play. Visually they came alive a bit more towards the end, and they've clearly got the start of a fan base, but for me to be fair to them, I'd have to see them again. Difficult to compare with anything else I'm aware of, although I daresay someone out of the audience could have helped me on that score. In many ways, their songs are quality - only I'm not quite sure what quality that is just yet!
Now, these are young bands - but, regardless of age, the moment they get on that stage they are in an arena where they will be compared with the more established bands on the Dundee Scene, and their potential has to tell, their improvement has to progress. I've said great things about three of them - but I just want to say that if those three bands let what I've said go to their heads and start to think that they're better than many more well known local bands, they're doomed before they start - attitude is everything, but over confidence is a killer!! Time will tell! I have to repeat all this in a week or two's time - just don't tell me who I'll be seeing!!