Unsigned
Showcase @ The Venue, the Litten Tree, Reading, Tuesday 10th June:
Take
a pinch of skaterboy music, a smattering of punk, a dollop of
Radiohead and a heavy dose of American rock and you'll have this
week's tasty Unsigned Showcase gig, Reading's premier unsigned
bands night.
Teenage
band Sullivan kicked off the night with an enthusiastic
though unpolished poppy skater punk set.
The
fresh-faced cheeky band were endearing though for their bounciness
and energy while playing their West Coast Californian-influenced
tunes.
They
have the foundation for a strong sound with catchy guitar riffs,
creative songs, upbeat drumming and stage presence. And as soon
as their exams are over they should get practising to tighten
up their sound and they'll be away.
Chocolate
Hostage can hardly be taken seriously because of the name
- slang for yet-to-be-excreted turd - but schoolboy sniggerings
aside they have an ear-catching guitar-driven buzzing punk
sound that again has an American feel to it.
The
motley-looking crew play racy 'n' pacy songs fronted by
new singer Ben, whose vocals should have been louder above the
roar of guitars and thrashing drums.
But
harmonic backing vocals from screeching guitarist Pauls and Mr
Fish made up for that. Songs included 'Weapons' on
the political theme of the month - the war in Iraq - only a shame
that the vitriolic lyrics weren't clear enough to be heard.
Then
on flounced compere Jim Bowes for one of his 'crazy crazy'
competitions, offering unsuspecting audience members the chance
to win a truly crap Dutch CD single if they win the Paper
Scissors Stone game.
Winners
were Dave Whiting, Becky Webb, Pavle Boskovic, Alice Fixsen,
Anna Paschali and Sarah Roberts. Check the picture gallery
to see their beaming faces.
Afterwards
American band Adom from Atlanta, Georgia came on
and from the outset were in a league of their own.
They
are signed to Manchester label Storm so technically shouldn't
have been playing at Unsigned Showcase but I'm mighty glad I heard
them because this is a mind-blowing band.
Their professional set consisted of a very early Radiohead
sound tinged with an explosive American indie rock.
Singer
Conal was in a little world of his own with his wild gesticulations,
daydreaming glares and imagined-drum thrashings, with his high
voice riding over mesmeric guitar and bass riffs and thudding
drums.
Adom's
album 'Idiot Savant' is out on Monday 30th June.
Talented
headliners Mean Lethal Dose had the largest following and
so their set inspired a frenzied mini-moshpit to form at the front.
Their well-polished and charged heavy rock has a healthy
dose of fluid melody and raw anger, with powerful vocals
from singer Alex.
Songs
including Inspired and Still Alive have a confident high-powered
guitar-based sound and can be heard on their new album Heavy
Dosage.
