Apologies to Cha Cha Heels whose set failed to get reviewed due to a long, ill-timed phone call - next time, guys....
I got there for the last three tracks from 14 Miles From Home. Just in time to hear them announce "Rainbow". Now, after the less than enthusiastic way I viewed the last time I saw them, I am delighted to report that as a 1-off, certainly on the evidence of this showing. The lead singer dominates the first part oif the track with this ansolute howl to the stars as the vocal just flies into action, pouring more energy and passion with every second as he stalks the stage, even on his knees at one point, the sheer emotional intensity of the singing driving it all forward as it all threatens to explode at any minute. When the main riff hammers home, it really does lift off and proves to be one stellar performance of what's a quite complex song. After another driving number, they close the set with "Please Forget" and if you think "Rainbow" has complexity, this is even more the case, particularly the acapella mid-number vocal bit that they have to get spot on for it to work. Tonight was a bit loose, but they got through it well enough, although I'd say to them that it's the sort of song that if they don't get it spot on, it sounds a bit messy - time for a different set closer perhaps?
Whigs And Rakes are a young trio from Perth - two electric guitarists, one played by vocalist Kitty, and drummer - and they blew the judges away, winning the recent "Battle of the Bands" contest at Dexters, defeating 8 other bands. Sufficiently impressed with their set, this was my second time - would it live up to the first?
They began the set with a surprisingly slow-ish track, but behind the pace lies this strength that's like an approaching storm and a herald of what's to come. The track began with a burst of electric guitar followed by a rush of riffing as the undulating drum rhythm flows back and forth. lead singer Kitty soars into view and delivers this sea of verses with a voice that just towers over the backdrop yet infused with a glorious mix of purity and distinctiveness as her decidedly Scottish accent is the icing on the cake. The song just flows like a river, threatening to break out but staying within its framework of restrained dynamics as the almost jazz-like drumming has you staring in admiration at the band in front of you making this incredible sound from just three of them. The chorus of the song lurches into action proving to be just mesmerising. The dynamics of the piece drop down to earth before this tidal wave ofdrums and guitars introduce the main riff for "Black Cat" as Kitty puts down the guitar and really lets go, clutching the mic and pouring her heart and soul into the choppy chorus as the band drive it all forward to the second central riff where they just go nuclear as the guitar, now sounding more like two guitars and a bass all in one, hammers out the riffs, textures and leads with an intensity that takes your breath away. The drumming, way more than just yer average beats, is monumental as the guy uses the whole kit and rhythms that sway and swing all over the place keeping the thing firmly propelled yet so inventive while the guitar work is huge. As the song drops back to the contrast of the the dyanmic vocal mid-section, Kitty just stands out as one of the singers on the scene right now, her mix of delicacy, distinction and strength rivalled only by the female from Farewell Singapore, for this type of indie music, that is. From here it's back into the big riff as the band erupts to drive to the end of the piece. The third track is introduced by way of more guitar bursts as the cymbals crash into stomping drumming that is still more wide-ranging than most and if this guy wasn't so young you'd swear he was some kind of jazz-rock drummer. The drumming thunders under the guitar work that once more sounds like three of the things, as Kitty's vocal climbs ever upwards, biting and attacking a song that lurches forward before breaking out into a vast, driving supercharged sea of dyanmics, band and singer raging like a tornado, back and forth. "My Jaw" starts with an almost reggae/ska-esque beat then suddenly pounds into this nuclear blast as the vocals rise above it and strongly soar to new heights before dropping back once again, and the song twists and turns in ways that make the mind boggle. As a jangly guitar leades the ride into the bouncing thunder of the approachiong storm, Kitty and the guys hammer into this wordless cataclysm of a chorus as the players fire off like a rocket, the flare of fire provided by the roar of drums and guitars against the uplifting power of the three-part harmonies and you're elft open-mouthed by the time it all abruptly ends. The next track is announced as "Feel The Cold", with an initially quieter intro from the bottom-end guitar propelled by the solid drumming as the vocal flies in then starts to climb as the band intensifies the approach, still keeping the sense of dyanamics intact. The song goes thrugh several changes including a stop-start middle that's just superb with Kitty's vocal naturally intense and lightly echoed as she sings into two mics alternately. The vocal and instruments hit off each other to dramatic effect before the whole band rise up, the song coalesces and you're inexorably uplifted by a really strong slice of dynamic magic. "Away With The Green Fairies" is up next as delicate guitar and flowing vocal take the reins over the slowly solid druming that punctuates the song at this point. The song builds as the drums lurch yet the guitar work remains restrained. The guitar work, still jangly, starts to get louder, faster, then back to slower as Kitty's wondrous voice just flies like an eagle as the drums start to get beefier and the intensity strides alongside melody to provide a song with crunch, emotion and dynamics. As the vocal continues to mesmerise and fly, the guitar sways from ringing delicacy to threatening intensity with clever use of dynamics in the arrangement as you almost long for the explosion that never actually comes, and the effect of this is astounding on a track that's as solid as a rock and yet so melodic at the same time. Then, for the final track, all hell breaks loose. A gigantic guitar riff takes the lead as the drums hammer and thunder as the heaviest sound on the planet goes nuclear powered, Kitty's vocal almost effortlessly powering out above it all, on a track that wopuld leave most metal bands gasping in awe of its power, passion density and intensity. As a set, it's awesome - just awesome!!
I'd not seen Alaskan Moustache before and knew nothing about them - so, there they are on stage - drummer, bassist, guitarist and, who's that? - oh look, another female singer/guitarist - wonder what this lot are like? The first song gets going - upfront vocal over bouncy beats - seems strong enough - then suddenly - kerrrrrboooooooommmmmmm!!!!!!! - the bouncing beats become bouncing bombs that explode in a blaze of guitars, crashing drums and rumbling bass. Although not as diverse in their explosion as Whigs & Rakes, they nevertheless make up for dynamics with the utter brutality of power as the lead singer's smoky mid-range vocal has an almost bluesy feel to its strength. Rhythms clatter and drive as the guitars sizzle and burn and the singer goes from sultry voiced to sky-high thunder in a heartbeat as the band take off and never look back. The second song is slightly slower and less intense as the vocal cycles, drives and roars as the band erupts once more, the smouldering guitar riffs set to explode anytime as the song flows and twists in a myriad directions. Song three is full of furious riffing, thunderous rhythms and sheer cliffs of vocals as the band stutter an derupt, this time more urgency and flying into the universe. Song four came across like a howling metal answer to Pearl & The Puppets as this melodic undercurrent held together a raging band going over the top. From there it's a case of transfixed by the wall of sound that shoots like a tsunami out of the PA system. All in all, absolutely superb - not as memorable song-wise as Whigs and a bit more one-dimensional, but I'd go and re-experience this band anytime - it's a blast!!!