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If
Medium21 were demoralised by the fact that there was merely one row
of people gathered to greet them as they took the stage, then they
certainly didn’t show it. After the first track Cable & The
Cars, the crowd started build up steadily as their infectious raw
sound washeard by people in the bar.
The Northampton band is seen by some critics as the next “Flaming
Lips”,but sound more like “The Pixies” at times. The
highlight of the set was 'Daybreak versus Pride', the catchy single
from their debut album, which takes the same name as the single.
The cosmic rockers The Rain Band took to the stage next and dazzled
the nearly full crowd with an impressive set. The catchy single “
Eay Rider” stood out for its impressive guitar backing and breathtaking
lyrics:
“ I wanna kill you all “
Had more than a few audience members looking at one another as if
to say: “ He didn’t really say, what I think he did, did
he ?” Yes he did. Hailing from the Manchester area and with song
titles like “ The World Is Ours” they have the same intent
as previous giants from that area. They were well received in Liverpool
and helped stir the crowd up for the main act, not that they needed
it.
With songs about back stabbing friends, human breakdowns an ode to
murder,
The Cooper Temple Clause were never going to find their way into the
mainstream like other new bands they have been compared to The Libertines
and The Datsuns.
Their following is no doubt smaller, hence why they stayed in Academy
2 and The Libertines were upgraded to Academy one fortheir visit to
Liverpool in February. However, their fan basis certainly more fanatical,as
their arrival on stage initiated a surge of energy from an exuberant
crowd,that lead to a few people being removed from the venue.
When they played a volley of songs from their popular album “See
This Through And Leave”: ‘Let’s Kill Music’ ‘Murder
Song’ and “Let’s Kill Music”, saw the venu8e turn
into acrowd surfer’s equivalent of Bondai Beach. TCTC front man
Ben Gautrey had to ask the crowd to calm down, as things seemed to
be getting a little out of control.
The Cooper Temple Clause actually sound heavier live than they do
on CD, with more of a grunge, early Nirvana and Alice in Chains feel
to them, than any band in the Indie category to which theyappear to
have been pigeon holed by the critics. They took the opportunity to
try out a few new songs like ‘New Toys’ and “ Promises,
Promises”. The latter song seems to continue the theme from their
popular track ‘Who Needs Enemies’ about manipulative people:
“There’s gonna be some action, you got me where you want
me“
This track will have pleased the sometimes obsessive Cooper’s
fan base, as it shows they are continuing where they left off and
are compromising their integrity in order to please a wider audience.
The evening ended with an exuberant version of “Panzer Attack”,
with the band completely throwing themselves into the song. Didz Hammond
decided to climb on top of one of the speakers and pick up one of
the lights and put the spotlight on random members of the crowd, who
were letting loose just like the band. The band deservedly left to
rapturous applause from a grateful crowd.
Words:
Dave Adair
The last time The Cooper's played this venue they could have ignited
a fire with the raw rock 'n' roll they exuded. Tonight Robinson Crusoe
would have had to have eaten raw fish, wet raw fish in fact, because
there wasn't much more than a spark!
As the last chords of A.I.M faded they apologised if they seemed tired
as they had lost their celebrity football match against One True Voice.
OK, having taken an extremelly deep breath I will make the following
points...
POint One, what they were doing even breaking wind near the toilet
smeg of manufactured spods. POint two, having been beaten by aforementioned
smeg - why did they not open fire on them with an arsenal of AK47's,
this would have ridded the world of music hell, restored The Cooper's
pride and most importantly given them the adrenalin and energy they
sadly lacked tonight.
After an average helping of 'Promises, Promises', 'Who Needs Enemeies?'
and 'Pilots', a new low point was reached in 'New Toys'. There was
just an indefinable lack of Atmosphere, though the songs were all
recognisable it was almost as if the were peforming a karaoke of themselves.
Thank God then for 'Film Maker' whoch can only be described as 'boss'!
They introduced a news song called 'Blibd Colours' and did an A1 rendition
of 'Did You Miss Me'.
The burning question has to be about the gaping hole lesft in the
set-list by tha absence of 'Amber' - why why why ??
Clearly, as with their defeat on the pitch The Cooper Temple Clause
are having a bad run of form - and before too long they will be living
the dream again (but only if they restore 'Amber' back into their
itinerary.
Words : Nicky Anderson
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