Plastic Toys were a band I'd previously never heard of, local to Southampton.
But I'm glad I saw them. A lot of people that had turned up, knew of the
band and everyone was very friendly, they hadn't necessarily come for the
other bands, they didn't know them really, The Joiners was just a place
to go in the evening that allowed you to see awesome bands, and get into
new things.
They were a four (occasional five) piece, who just played decent rock
music. A female bassist in an illegally short dress, which wasn't such
a bright idea for a high stage, a guitarist who looked like Action Man
on crack, a (sadly) nondescript drummer, and a vocalist dressed in black
with a subtle hint of Gerard Way. And his girlfriend made up the occasional
fifth member, on backing vocals.
Their set consisted of seven decent songs, “Devil,” “Feel
The Love,” “Still Live,” “Superfreak,” “Dirty,”
“Tonight Only,” and a memorable cover of Peggy Lee's “Fever,”
with an awesome riff made by some sound that I couldn't quite work out
where or what it was coming from.
Perhaps it was the fact most for the crowd knew them that they appeared
to be doing so well, or perhaps it was just genuine talent. I'm hoping
for the second, these guys are really something special. They just need
to break out of Southampton, for fear of turning into a “house-band.”
Not as in playing house music, oh you know what I mean.
The second band on were Brighton screamo/hardcore/metal rockers, Ghost
Of A Thousand, (whose acronym interestingly, is goat.) This five-piece
loomed over the front of the stage, with the feet placed firmly on the
monitors and just well and truly rocked out, with the vocalist virtually
devouring his microphone, one hand clasped behind his back, twisting and
jerking from the waist, as the rest of the band played along, staring
open-mouthed out into the crowd, or up the neck of their instrument.
“New Toy” was the opener, followed by “Bored Of Math,”
which has an awesome intro, and definitely one of the band's strongest
songs. Then followed “Left For Dead,” and “Black Art
Number One.” It was some time around “Up To You,” or
“Married To The Sidewalk,” that the vocalist lurched off the
stage and bounded into the crowd. Jumping around screaming in a small
area the crowd had quickly departed from after his descent from the stage.
A one man circle pit, grabbing onto anyone who appeared to be singing
along and generally doing his thang.
“One For The Road,” and “The Last Bastion Of Heaven
Lies Abandoned And Burning” finished off the set.
Now, even if you aren't into that kind of music, which I'm not really,
you still have to admit that was one awesome show. Full of energy and
action-packed, and no need to look away at any point. Sheer awesome.
And then, after two incredible bands, could McQueen pull off the unknown
and make it three out of three awesome performances? Well, in short, yes,
they could.
The female foursome strolled onto the stage, and took their positions,
the vocalist dressed in black and big knee-high boots that she said are
“made for walking.” All the band were in black, and started
off with an introductory noise-fest, which broke into the drum intro to
“Not For Sale,” an awesome track about guys patronising girls
and talking to their breasts. Anybody stood completely still? No, I thought
not.
Next song was the greatest song they'll possibly ever write, “Running
Out Of Things To Say,” a just plain brilliant track, and then “Dirt,”
apparently the drummer's favourite.
The vocalist kept leaning out off the edge of the stage and crouching
down and staring into the eyes of every person in the crowd, the drummer
bashing away, guitarist having a whale of a time, and the bassist just
calmly playing on the spot, managing to conveniently get into perfect
photo poses.
“The Line Went Dead” and “Break The Silence”
followed, the latter having a fantastic tom-based drum beat through the
verses, and a heavy riff that makes the hairs on the neck stand on end
and appears to come out of nowhere. Something you'd expect to hear from
the amps of much heavier bands. Insanely good.
After “Blinded” came “Don't Know How To Break It To
You,” an upbeat song with a heavy dosage of poppy-punky-riffs and
general good fun.
The opening track to their album “Neurotic” came now, a heavy
track that, if “Break The Silence” didn't send shivers down
your spine, then this would. And if this didn't, then you're actually
brain-dead.
The closing song, was “Bitch,” with a brief fun-filled riff
which didn't really last long enough, before breaking into verse, chorus,
etc, you know how it goes. Not necessarily the greatest or hard-hitting,
but not bad at all.
And so that was that, the band were gone. Hard-rocking Brighton girls
through and through, who know how to put on a great show, and make great
music. The third band of the night, and the third to be awarded full marks.
A truly fantastic night.
Review By Thom
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