 The
idea of the show was to give young, new bands
a chance to play in front of their peers. There
were about seven bands in total and they all played
two original and two cover songs each. Taking
into consideration their ages and the fact they
were complete novices when playing in the venue
and in front of a sizable crowd, they all did
extremely well. There was obviously a lot of nervousness
but the raw talent of a few really impressed me.
Some were quite obviously there for fun but others
showcased what they could do and would most definitely
be the envy of older people in more established
bands. They all have a long way to go but for
those who wish to continue with performing, I
wish them all the luck.
On to the headliners, And So I Watch You From
Afar. These guys defy any sort of labelling. They
don’t snugly fit into any genre or category.
Their catchy, intricate guitar work hits you in
waves. It lifts you to a point of heightened awareness
and just as it starts to drop off, it lifts you
again. It just reminded me of a ship during a
big storm at sea . . . in a good way . . . musically.
The energy on stage is second to none with both
guitarists jumping and flinging themselves around
the stage. I was waiting for them to crash into
each other like a full on train wreck but it didn’t
happen. Good job too, I was enjoying the music
too much to have had it cut short by paramedics
carrying people out with bits of guitar protruding
from their bodies. The other thing plain for everyone
to see was the fact that they were genuinely enjoying
themselves. They simply got lost in what they
were doing and had a great time with it. ASIWYFA
are sitting just under the radar right now but
that will all change, sooner rather than later.
Oh, I forgot to mention, they don’t have
a singer. It’s funny, but when you first
hear about them and hear that they are an instrumental
band, that is at the forefront of your mind before
you even hear them. This makes you judge them
already to some degree. When you see and hear
them in action, you don’t totally forget
there’s no vocalist but it’s a minor
issue. You will just enjoy the experience for
what it is . . . great music.
And So I Watch You From Afar, one to watch in
2009.
5/5
Review By Craig Young |
