 
After returning from the interview with the lads, I re-entered Unit 22 with
Christian their roadie. The first band, whose name escapes me, had just
finished and it was the main support group, Kody, who were just setting
up.
Unit 22 is a very promising venue actually, with two live rooms. Tonight,
the bands were playing in the smaller room, with a very linear set up
of stage, crowd, bar; but along the corridor was a second room where the
crowd slightly spread around the side of the stage with some seating,
and vast windows looking out over the quay. This, was a nice room. Never
mind.
I purchased my pint of strongbow, and took position stood amongst the
crowd, which didn't really consist of that many people, sadly.
When the band came on, the first thing I noticed was their interested
image. As in, they appeared to be just a total mix of styles, which made
for a very weird viewing. There was the drummer who was obscured by the
vocalist, so I can't really comment on him, but the others I can. There
was the bassist, very Incubus, very laid back, wearing his bass quite
high up and gently plucking along and walking back and forth in his little
area. Then the guitarist, who was talented yeah, but was stocky and kept
adopting the spread-leg rock stance we all learnt about in School of Rock.
And then the vocalist/guitarist, who really fitted the band. Really really.
Smart casual dress and a general style that worked with the music, quite
shy yet really got into his music.
But as for the music, fucking awesome. There was something in their sound
that kept reminding me of Minus The Bear, another really awesome band.
Perhaps it was just the tone on the vocalists guitar, I'm not sure. But
it was a a definite resemblance between the two bands. And I loved it.
There is nothing about the music I can really fault, all the songs worked
and the sound was good, with a vocal sound very similar to that of the
front-man of Reef. But yeah it was just fucking great, the only thing
that let them down, was this crazy amalgamation of stances and looks.
Kody left stage, and roadies shuffled here and there, setting up for
tonights headlining band, Talula, who have previously supported Muse on
a few occasions, including their latest tour, up in Birmingham
A three-piece, drummer, bassist/backing vocals, and guitar/vocalist.
They opened with a new track, not featured on their forthcoming 3-track
EP “Ripped Up And Violent,” which was called “Guapa.”
And, according to the vocalist, “goes spastic at the end.”
As they started playing, the previous bands, and their fans, seemed to
leave. And I'm sorry, but that's not on. It's the kind of thing that happens
at a shitty little venue when you're in a band at the age of fourteen,
and even then it's just disrespectful, let alone at a professional level.
It's not as if Talula are bad, in any way, shape, or form. They're very
good. Extremely good.
They combine heavy riffs, awesome vocal melodies, jumped-up choruses
and slower verses, to form an altogether brilliant mix which works a treat,
the two voices working in harmony stupidly well even though they're very
different, the singer's being very unique and hard to compare to anything
else, really.
The second song, was called “Beers At Beneras,” whatever
that's all about, followed by “Million,” (or that's what it
said on the set-list, maybe that's a shortened version of the real title,)
and then “Chica,” which I was told before, was one that girls
seem to like. It's a slower one. And it was very good as well.
By now the room was virtually empty, but the band were still giving it
their all. Although it did feel a bit rushed, which I guess is understandable,
it was still awesome. With the vocalist standing centre-stage and doing
a strange neck-lurch as he played, the bassist singing away, and the drummer,
who upon first glances looks slender and shy, beating the crap out of
the kit, tearing his top off mid-set.
The fourth song, Martyr, started with a sample played of Islamic chanting
and voices, gradually building up until the guitar broke in with a jaw-dropping
riff, and from then on the song just maintained it's brilliance.
“Dean's Song,” was written about a friend who died. A long
song that comprises of mainly gentle picking and sweeping vocals, which
remain even when the guitar gets heavier. It's not their best song, but
it certainly isn't bad.
The final song, is the title track of their new EP, “Ripped Up
And Violent,” and a personal favourite. This song in particular
highlights the two vocals mixing together effortlessly.
All in all, a very strong gig, considering the lack of crowd support.
Review By Thom
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