Legendary music venue Camden Barfly tonight put
on a no-holes-barred pop-rock frenzy with a line
up bursting at the seams with some of rocks hottest
protegees. And not one disappoints.
Pint sized pop punkers, Theory Of 6 Degrees, showed
off skills far beyond their tender years stacking
a killer rhythm section against guitar solos to
make Slash squeal. Forget angsty drivel and awkward
onstage antics, TO6D - all yet to reach 16 - commanded
the room and proved there is far more to the tween
music scene than Justin fucking Bieber and Miley
Cyrus. Ick. Blasts of Your Mothers In The Mosh
Pit, Can't See It and Don't Waste My Time had
even the inked and the skinheaded bouncing along
with their infectious brand of punk. Confident
and skilled far beyond their years, I predict
big things for this confident band of swaggerful
but never cocky rockers.
The 9s' heavier sound and big beats upheld the
avalanche started by TO6D; Dad-rock energy and
climactic riff stuffed bridges ensured no less.
A punchy set that should be reeling in chant alongs
bigger than your head, their safe set despite
being riffed to the max left a little feeling
of discontent. That feeling where you just want
something more to grab your attention; The 9s'
big beat rockathons just weren't enough to make
their set memorable.
Straight Lines dealt out a persistent set of debut
album tracks: Loose Change, Runaway Now (it's
about running apparently) and forthcoming single
Say It For your Sake. Songs their "overwhelming"
following know by heart and are more than obliging
to lend their voices to. New tunes thrown into
the mix debuted the Welsh quartet's heavier side
while keeping their poppiness in tact.
Straight Lines showed no sign of backing down
to nerves and embraced their fans' front line
dance parties with their own on stage rock outs.
It seemed inevitable that Todd Campbell would
be self-decapitated through head hurling. That
man never stops! For Thomas Jenkins, James Pugh
and Dane and Todd Campbell, escapades and energy
drenched shows are by no means foreign; each and
every song packs a punch to the gut. Oh, and don't
we just love it.
As we await the next album with bated breath,
Straight Line will keep us coming over and over
for more slices of pure adrenaline stoked heavy-on-the-rock,
easy-on-the-pop Antics.
Straight Lines - 5/5
The 9s - 2/5
TO6D - 4/5
Review By Jessica Acreman
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