Mind Noise Network
The Virginmarys,
Tax The Heat, Crobot &
The Glassguns
On 23rd September 2014 at The Kasbah, Coventry
by Daniel King
If you think of Coventry the first thing that comes to mind probably isn't live music. Whilst there have been a few bands that have made the rise to fame, The Specials and The Enemy being the ones that I immediately think of, there doesn't seem to be the booming live scene that places like Leeds are currently boasting in which talent can emerge from (I hope I'm wrong here, get in touch if you can show me otherwise). The Kasbah is currently getting the kind of bands playing there that, if people start to take notice and get along to some shows, might just inspire a new generation of Coventry based rock and metal music.
I was at The Kasbah on Tuesday 23rd of September to have a chat with Tax The Heat (you can read the interview here) and to see them live for the second time in a few months. But first up was one of the current Coventry based rock bands worth taking notice of, The Glassguns. They were not opening on the whole of the tour, just this leg, and whilst they came on to just a smattering of people, it certainly wasn't a problem for them. They went about their set as they would have done in a room of 2000 people and gave the folks that had turned up a good set of hard and powerful songs. Many that had made it down to the show early seemed familiar with this young band, which is great and may be the first part of proving me wrong about Coventry's live scene. The guys seemed to love the attention and subsequently focused the majority of their attention on the couple of girls that made the barrier their own. But, if you add on to that some pretty childish antics on stage, spitting at each other and the like, it says to me that despite some well written songs and a decent amount of confidence on stage, The Glassguns still have a way to go before they start to make their mark. Not that this is a bad thing, their attitude and cockiness might just be the thing that helps these guys make it. Sam Farrelly is an excellent young guitarist and was a real pleasure to watch live. It might well be him that pushes this band on to the next level. Overall, it was a good performance from these guys and one that definitely makes me want to hear and see them again.
After a quick turnaround (due to Tax The Heat loaning out some of their equipment to the bands on before them) Crobot came on to the stage. Without an album to date and on their first tour of the UK, it would have been easy for these guys to be overawed by the occasion, but my god they weren't. These guys kicked some serious ass on stage. Their style is so addictive that you can't help but get fully immersed in it. On vocals (and lead harmonica) is Brandon Yeagley and he has a great, soulful voice that has a certain degree of Myles Kennedy about it. Unlike Myles though, he has some moves on stage and his vocals are effortless.
It was hard to focus on anyone but Jake Figueroa on bass though. His style and on stage behaviour is compelling viewing and it is a credit to both the band and the set up at the Kasbah that, for once, you could hear his excellent playing and not just feel it as can happen with sometimes. It was also great to have a chat with Jake at the merch stand after their set and hear how excited they are to have got onto this tour and how grateful they were for the excellent reception that they (deservedly) received. Right now, I'm very excited about the prospect of their album coming out at the end of October and can't wait to get hold of it and get a review up. We'll be seeing a lot more of these guys over the next few years.
Once they'd managed to get everyone else off their equipment Tax The Heat finally took to the stage. These guys are building a reputation as an excellent live band and here, dressed in their signature suits, they immediately look the part. With just the five songs released and so many live shows already played it could be easy for them to just drift through their sets, but they always make sure they play something you probably won't have heard before. In fact, 50% of the eight track set was unreleased material on this night. This could have been a bit of a risk as crowds generally respond more favourably towards material that they are familiar with. But, such is the quality of their songs and the ferocity of their solo driven live shows, these guys generate such an intoxicating atmosphere that there was no worry of any such problems here. The first thing that strikes you with a Tax The Heat show is how deliberate they are. There isn't a note played or word sung without purpose. They are one of the tightest bands touring at the moment and that is a great credit to them after only two years together. Of the released songs, Caroline comes across really powerfully live. Although, it is remarkable how these guys manage to fill a room with their songs. There's nowhere to hide when these guys are on stage. New song, Highway Home, closed out the set and, having heard it on Planet Rock the day before, I was happy it made its way in. If you've heard the song you'll know it fits the Tax The Heat style perfectly. Live it is a very different animal indeed.
The way it builds up through the initial 30 odd seconds up to the huge opening chorus is a thing of beauty. The straining in the vocals, the sliding guitars, the excellent (and notably audible) bass and the drums that power the song through all come together to make a great song and the slight pick up in pace after the first chorus builds and builds until everything is released when the next chorus hits. The set came to a close and some Steve Tyler inspired vocals finished it off perfectly. Well not perfectly, we only got eight tracks which just isn't enough. Get on that album guys!
Having seen The Virginmarys supporting Skunk Anansie a few years ago I was excited about seeing them again. My excitement was put on hold slightly though as they opened with the rather dreary Push The Pedal And Drive. A strange choice that the crowd just did not respond to. It's ok though, everything was saved by Just A Ride up next. The crowd got well into this and from then on they were right in the Northern trio's palm. What does seem strange is that a trio like this can command a crowd as well as they do. There isn't an awful lot of crowd interaction or energy in their demeanor. They do manage it though and Ally Dickaty's vocals seem to be the key here. Like Biffy Clyro and Twin Atlantic, the localised accents are key to some bands successes. Overall this was a good set that the crowd were really well up for. With rumours of a new album in the works I look forward to seeing where these guys go next.
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1/20
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