| INFO | Colorz Bar
Station Approach
Reading
19/05/05
1. Labour In Vain 2. Call Sign Panda 3. Bernard 4. White Sunday 5. Kaldera
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*** See the photos by clicking on the top right-hand link***
Oh no! Colorz is no more! Last night was the last ever gig to be held at the Station Approach venue...or was it! I am proud to report that the new owner of the underground club has decided to keep it as a gig venue, and what's more, give it a fresh new look as well - let's just hope he refurbishes the dire ladies loos as well. I wonder if anyone cares though that Colorz is staying, for not many people turned up for its supposed farewell gig - in fact, it was horrifyingly bereft of the regulars. I was hoping the night might be like the first ever Pistols gig, where not many people came to see them but it was a legendary concert all the same. Well it wasn't quite like that. First band, the harmonic rock troupe Labour In Vain, oddly indulge in lots of flamboyant hugging on stage. The spindly frontman bends the guitarist backwards and embraces his neck, at one point licking his arm - while there's nothing wrong with a bit of man-to-man love it's an alarming sight. Despite putting in 100 per cent throughout, LIV only really got going by the end of their set, the catchy half rap/half screech song So Low breathing life into a band that had been singing their three-vocal harmonies out of key and generally failing to lift themselves out of the cold zone. The guitarist has got a great distortion fuzz going and the drummer is superb, especially during his lengthy solo. If they ditch the harmonies they'd sound less like an American skater rock group. Definitely keep the man love though. If there's one cardinal faux pas in the music world it's singing lots of cover versions of songs that simply can't be improved upon. Call Sign Panda have dropped their bamboo shoots and fallen into that no-go area. Why bother doing pub-rock versions of Jimi Hendrix songs where you go through the chord motions and eek out guitar solos that wither and die in comparison to the real thing? Aren't Call Sign Panda confident enough to play more of their own songs? Come on guys, you're pretty good musicians and the bassist has a great growling voice, you can do better than that! Cover bands have no place on an unsigned band stage. Thank heavens Bernard came on the stage, unleashing their raspy female-fronted slab of catchy mainstream rock with songs such as Death Becomes You, Everest and, their best, Byron's Muse. Singer Donna Dowling has a spirit akin to Janis Joplin in her raucous display of vocal talent, belting out those notes like she's cranked the volume knob up to 13. If you like your melodic rawk, guitar-driven hot riffs and impassioned femmes then this sure is the band for you. It's no wonder they've been asked to play Guilfest again after wowing the crowds on the main stage last year. Another band with some sexy guitar licks is White Sunday, I just wish the singer would stop trying to sound and look like Noel Gallagher's and Ian Brown's lovechild. It's another case of never being able to live up to the real thing. Their indie rock is earthy and real however, especially with final track My Rock 'n' Roll they achieve a shimmer and a glimmer and double dose of cool. Yankee 99er guitarist Alex Kaupa's contribution to the band has made them sound ten times better. Headline band Kaldera shift the gear stick to funk mode, transforming the atmosphere from underground club to a jazzy cocktail lounge in a matter of seconds. They're bold and, literally, brassy, with the slide trombone putting in a golden appearance. Singer Debbie's animated and full-throated voice takes their nu-soul sound up to the rafters. The dynamism within their music means it's party time! If only there were more punters to enjoy it. Ranging from mellow breezy beat-laden tracks to jazzy Hammond-organ crunchy numbers, Kaldera are uplifting and above all exhilarating, if you can get onto their wavelength. Once you've tuned in you'll be keeping them on your list of favourites. | 
