| WHO PLAYED? | - Three Litre
- The Palestinians
- Through Snowy Static
- The Hundred Handed
- Headliners: Shorty
Plug 'n' Play
Milford Road
Reading
Thursday 17 August
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It's the launch of the Reading Fringe Festival. It's at the seventies kitsch Plug 'n' Play studios. It's got five bands and even better, it's got an invisible Dalek as compere. So why weren't there more of you there? Never mind, you were probably washing your hair or organising your sock drawer eh. Well, don't be overly downhearted you missed it. Three Litre Three Litre played two sets-worth of comedy lyrics behind acoustic guitar, snare drum and cowbell. | "Shorty are one of the best bands I've heard live all year." | |
The sound was pretty appalling, not least because bands in the practice rooms were thrashing out far louder songs - a case of over-booking? Three Litre works best if you've never heard them before - you can laugh incredulously at the wit and rhyming panache of frontman Graham Burgess. The now Kent resident certainly delighted headliners Shorty, who were patiently waiting in the wings. Three Litre definitely need to stay electric however, not even a mini keyboard and toy glockenspiel could add any sweetness. The Palestinians What's so good about Screwball Cabaret is that they thrive on the eclectic mix of music. So from pub rock we shuffle over to the main hall for some Sex Pistols-era punk from The Palestinians.
 | | The Palestinians |
They come dressed as hooded monks but appear like the grim reaper collective. With two out the five dressed in a hoodie and T-shirt however, the medieval doom effect falls somewhat flat. And thank heavens for ASBOs, the war on Iraq and general youth disillusionment, as otherwise what would this ragbag of sweaty men sing about? That they relish the confrontational is inherent in their name, and the anarchic fuzz sounds snarlingly warm, but, for example, their Welcome To England lyrics is a blatant smash 'n' grab of The Clash's This Is England. Political rants and lyrical anger can so easily become tiresome when done as a carbon copy of a bygone era. Inject something fresh and contemporary and they'll be on to something. Through Snowy Static
 | | Through Snowy Static |
Through Snowy Static are thankfully a highlight of the evening. The duo, only 18 and 20, are visibly nervous and again the muffled roar from a band in the practice room ruins the attention that these two command. Named after a Bright Eyes lyric and world-weary beyond their years, the elfish lad certainly uses Conor Oberst as a poetic influence. The girl's sugary voice sounds like Stars' Amy Milian as they float through sweet-sounding hushed melodies, ever so simple and achingly heart-wrenching. Nerves get the better of them and they forget lyrics a few times, but even so this band are a leading light whose glow is destined to shine on many. The Hundred Handed The Hundred Handed are plain odd. The singer looks like a twisted cross between a young bryl-creamed Bryan Ferry and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters. Thinking about it, the Londoners' late-night wail and nascent disco beat is of a similar hybrid. It's glam that's got ugly and annoyed. They've brought their number one fan along tonight, the only one who thrusts his hips to and fro for the whole set. He's the only one who wants to. The bassist is clearly on something mind-altering and he thinks it looks good. It doesn't. Him and an equally tall blond mooch about like some Aryan Cheech and Chong. Very funny. Not. Shorty
 | | Shorty |
The night is saved by seven-piece headliners Shorty. Mixing heavy rock, funk, soul and rap, they're a British version of Holland's Urban Dance Squad, with a kick-ass scratch DJ. They send the few stragglers left, and myself, into a frenzy. In fact, Shorty are one of the best bands I've heard live all year. The singers/rappers/MCers, (two male, one sassy female) engage in Jurassic 5-style tag-team delivery and play off each other like mime-artists in a light-hearted musical. Meanwhile we all crunch down and stomp to the thick beats and colossal riffs. I've never seen a band enjoy themselves and smile so much. And it's infectious. Catch them live and leave uplifted.
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