 
After doodle-thons and accent impresentions we
made our way from The
Rummer Tavern to Cardiff's Barfly. Just in time
to catch a glimpse of
opening act, The Stencils. Typcially Sputh Welsh
in their vibe with a
distinct Ramones style flowing from their fingertips
along the sonic
stream. The Stencils were akin to musical sunshine
spewing through
dungeon bars.
Next up Starseed treated the sparse venue to
their own half hour of
power as vocals slid and soared above humungous
guitar noise and
Herculean sticks. See Through Your Lies chucked
the rule book out of
the window after the electric intro climaxed all
over the one mam
dance party, before the asymmetric arrangements
kicked him right out
of time.
Forthcoming single, Falling, is musically multidimensional
across a
definite vocal chord work out; Russell's larynx
worked overtime with
key changes switching from kitten soft to downright
abrasive. The
South African troop, plus unassuming Essex boy
and axe slayer Pete,
took the steps to "slow things down a tad"
by beating out The Untimely
Death Of Sobriety. Huge riffs dug deep throughout
but it's Murray's
cheeky bass licks maling a break for your frontal
lobes that made this
song for me.
On the flip side, The Last Time sent pulses racing
as lightspeed
breathey box ricocheted against heady guitar chords.
Starseed shot
from the hip with definite rockability; nifty
pace and key changes
intact. Hard rock mixed in melodies and enough
decibels to ensureyou
leave minus thirty percent of your aural range.
Axe magic and the sheer chaos coming from behind
the skins moved me as
well as sending the solitary mosher into oblivion.
Maybe it was this.
Maybe it was the bands unfaltering focus on their
craft. Either way,
it seemed there was something holding back the
pitless quintet,
preventing any real connection with their audience.
For a group so
comfortable with their instruments it surely is
only a matter of time
before they are that way towards their fans.
Headliners and local boys, Colours Of One, performed
from their album
No News Makes Big Noise. Obviously happy on home
turf, MikeSimmonds -
who ironically looks cuddlier than the andrex
puppy - shucker his
kicks and had a chat with his crowd seconds before
launching his
classic rock pipes into Barfly's sonisphere. Boasting
his skills
during Burning Ants, Halo and well I could write
alist but I'd rather
Wax lyrical over lead guitarist's average efforts
- average? Yeah
right! COO's axeman exercised his musical fibers
as well as showing
off sartorial skills enoughbto make Ian Watkins
shudder with glee.
Spin prompted Mike to join the breakdancer for
some shapeshifting
frolics. Apparently 3D gig antics are here to
stay!
Don't expect any of these talented upstartsto
stay under the radar for long.
Colours Of One 4/5
Starseed 3.5/5
The Stencils 3/5
Review By Jessica Acreman
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