Everybody wants to be popular…
Chances are local band ROLLING DoOG will have scored some “cool” points with their mates. Mixing a seemingly vast number of influences (Thin Lizzy, Muse and Supergrass among them) they introduced the evening pleasantly enough. They perhaps lacked some musical cohesion, but they have time on their side to find what could be a more satisfying ‘sound’. Some harsher critics may suggest they concentrate on their A-levels first… but you wouldn’t find me saying such things…
JEFF KLEIN (the second act of the evening) in contrast, has definitely found his sound, and it’s spitting vitriol. His songs ooze anger and torment, so that when he threatens that “If you break my heart I’ll break every bone in your body my love” in one of them- you take him seriously. Perhaps the alt.country tag and Ryan Adams comparisons have weighed heavy for him- because tonight he did do a “Ryan Adams”, coming on stage shambolically drunk and demolishing the best part of a bottle of wine during the set (swigged straight from the bottle naturally), his mumbled interludes were incoherent at the best of times.
The half empty venue was not immediately taken with this, and yet there was something strangely engaging about the relatively lo-fi affair, just a lone keyboard/guitarist accompanying Jeff’s acoustic guitar and vocals. The music swelled and lulled like a dreamscape, whilst the gruff vocals and up-front lyrics reminded you this was more likely a nightmare- all be it one you enjoy listening to! If angst ridden lyrics about female rejection are your thing then try “Everybody Loves a Winner” (the album he is currently promoting)- you’ll struggle to find an artist who has suffered it as much as this one.
Finally came COSMIC ROUGH RIDERS - who really deserve a special place in everybody’s hearts. It must be hard when your last single (the stunning opener “Justify the Rain”) has received no mainstream radio recognition, especially when bands “The Thrills” seem to have stolen your influences, your harmonies and your airplay. So the Riders are fighting their battle to be popular in the only way they know how- gigging, and lots of it, 45 shows in 42 days to be exact.
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Live, they have a real charm about them, be it the informal chats with the audience about watching Eastenders, or the suggestions of frolics with the Tweenies, it’s all very friendly. The songs are friendly too, though heavier than previous recorded outings, they still recall the Byrds and Teenage Fanclub (as is customary to put in any Cosmic Rough Riders review) and have all the sun-soaked Beach-Boys harmonies you could ever need, with almost every song being eminently hummable.
Tonight they mix and match happily between the older material, from before the amicable departure of frontman Daniel Wyle in March 2002, and the new, rockier songs. Stephen Fleming, who added lead vocals to his guitar playing duties, handles the songs more than capably, with a band who never seem to hit a bum note, even more remarkable when considering Mark Brown does his backing vocals whilst drumming like Animal from the Muppets! It’s a group effort though, and they are outstandingly tight, putting out a formidable sound.
Perhaps it is the fact that the band are a bit too ‘indie’- looking as if they were dragged from a TV programme entitled “I love 1994”, they will probably never be popular or ‘cool’ enough to turn critical acclaim into record sales. But if the world was fair- this band would regularly have their names in the Guinness book of hit records (like they tell us they really want to), because, quite simply, they are very, very good!
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