We nibble at the portion offered to us, and feel grateful, even if it tastes of absolute nothingness. Let's work backwards, echoing my conviction that the ranking of this bill should have been turned on its head. Last on stage were The Like. A young female Anglo-American indie pop trio, I was looking forward to seeing how they fared live. Fully expecting a stilted, underdeveloped and lacklustre set, I was not disappointed. I felt as embarrassed as the three girls on stage.
 | | The Bright Space |
Whether or not their parents are well connected in the industry should matter not a jot. These girls are simply not ready to be doing an international tour. Their musical skills, while promising, are nowhere near competent and confident enough to be limping nervously through a gig circuit that hundreds of bands yearn to break. Penultimate band The Bright Space were the final breath of air before the stifling finale. Executing a solid, slick slice of Brit indie rock, these guys could slip easily onto a bill with any of the current NME darlings. This band have been working hard, and deserve the appreciation their home crowd hollers tonight. Very accomplished, if a little bit 'it' sounding.
Dastardly, dark and divine - three words to describe the phenomena of first band, The Adventures of Loki. Think The Pixies, Dead Kennedys and L7 on a livid, face thumping day and you are sidling close to the Loki experience. Snarling male lead vocals, with a screaming and coaxing female counterpart, greasy, fuzzy guitars and bass candy thunder, pert and perky drums and a tightness that made me too scared to breathe. If you are a woman and your faith in rock music is fraying, go and see this band. If you are a man and your faith in rock music is fraying, go and see this band. I pray I'm not the only person to recognise brilliance when I see it.
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