As the four impossibly young übergeeks known collectively as KOOKS take to the stage, I am fully prepared to be disappointed. Their new wave barnets and Television/Talking Heads fashion sense suggest yet another bunch of third generation Strokes copyists. As the Strokes themselves are tenth generation Television copyists, this isn’t a good thing.
Thankfully, my wild assumption proved to be only partially correct. Yes, Kooks do sound at times like they’d rather be playing CBGBs on a mid-seventies Friday night (and, frankly, who wouldn’t?), but they bring some other stuff to the party, including singer Luke Pritchard’s mad bastard dancing and lovelorn lyrics, fantastic spiky guitarwork (man) from guitarist Hugh Harris, and some really heavy dub to end their set. Oh yes, and all that youthful enthusiasm. Bastards.
When the Jesus and Mary Chain played 20-minute sets in 1985, audiences rioted. When THE SUBWAYS played a 20-minute set tonight, the audience chunnered in the bar and on forums. Different bands, different times, I suppose, but I really can’t see why everyone is making such a fuss about The Subways.
|
That’s not to say that they are awful – they play pretty exciting, straight-ahead rock and roll music, but so do a lot of other beat combos. Tonight’s set has its moments, with upcoming single ‘Oh Yeah’ proving a particular highlight but, taken as a whole, The Subways are pretty underwhelming. Their songs are unremittingly fast and punky, with none of the light and shade that is necessary to sustain interest beyond 20 minutes. I am aware that there are many who would claim this as a virtue, but I, slouching through my 30s, am no longer one of them.
Incidentally, according to the aforementioned forum, the set was so short because frontman Billy Lunn was upset with the state of his guitar pedals – I can’t decide whether this is better or worse than only having five or six songs. Answers on a postcard please.
|
