ComEnts

The continuing adventures of AK and Mike in reviewingthelocalscene land.

3. Art Rock/Weird, Crazy People

Alfonse: Now, in my own revered and esteemed opinion, this is the
strongest genre out of all the styles being played in the dark, beer-soaked
crevices of Reading. My first exposure to this was when Yankee Nine Niner
played at the 3B's, we were acting as aural fluffers for a band called Trout;
not only did
they rock in a punk/metal (I was reminded of the Rollins Band for some reason!)
way, but they wore suits that Delbert Wilkins would have killed for, and they
were completely hatstand. Songs like "Plastic Bag" displayed the fact that they
prefer creativity to reality - think a cross between Primus, and a white van
man, middle-aged version of Mike Skinner. Who says insanity isn't
entertaining?

But perhaps the most electric of the "art" bands are Caged Baby - a band who I
think are the champions of anti-talent, a group who forge through the minefield
of mediocrity by trying to do something else, as badly as they can. Now these
guys are all about the stage show. A band of Barnum and Bailey stature.

Mike: Excellent call on Caged Baby and Trout. Summed up what I would have
said about them. There are other bands that come into this category. Melizer are
one that I haven't heard. Floodshock probably come in here with their Heat
Magazine Celebrity inspired lyrics sung to guitar fronted disco beats.
Actually one of their songs has the line: "You'll never get laid dancing to emo"
which is one of my favourite local band lyrics... which brings us neatly to...

AK Now just you wait one cotton-picking second, consarnit! I hadn't got
round to saying anything about Bidgie Reef and the Gas, who I saw a couple of
weeks ago and was mighty impressed with. You know that Kate Winslet bird? Her
dad sings for them, and very good he is too! Now these guys are far more
accessible and easy-on-the-ear than the other bands I've mentioned, they have
far greater "pop" sensibilities, and come armed to the teeth with lush chord
progressions and melodies, with some drum and bass lines thrown in for good
measure. In fact, if someone were to ask me what bands were worth seeing in
Reading (The Cooper Temple Clause not withstanding) - and they weren't wearing a
t-shirt that said "I listen to heavy, deranged music", I think Bidgie Reef would
be my suggestion. There are other bands out there worth pointing people
towards, but none would make me look as cool, knowledgeable and "cutting edge"
as Bidgie Reef and the Gas. My only criticism of them is that they have two
guitarists, and neither of them is me.

You have to write something again now Mike, or it will just look like me
rambling on and on and on. Now, I am aware that this is par for the course, as
it were, but for the reader's sake, just say something dry and reasoned to
counter-balance my wet and unreasonable comments.

The Heffernator

4. Emo, Screamo and punk

AK: Well, I'm not an expert in either Emu or Screamo, cos I think that
they're just a marketing man's idea of how to re-hash the same old gubbins that
has always been around. I mean "Emotional Hardcore" for fuck's sake! As opposed
to all that music that isn't intense and emotional, eh? "Hey guys! I've got a
great idea! Let's play music that is emotionally engaging! We can make it really
intense as well!" And who wants to listen to some heavily tattooed prat crying
into his beer about how upset he is at something? Pull yourself together man!
You big girl's blouse! It might be OK for Americans to be in touch with their
feminine sides, but quite frankly we're British, and we expect better than that.
*sound of "Land of Hope and Glory" playing out in background*

However, some good bands have played in Reading over the last few years that
have been unlucky enough to get tainted with the "Emu" brush - Flipcycle would
be one of the strongest, but I'm so diametrically opposed to the genre that
they're practically the only one I can remember. Mike? You know more about this
sort of thing than I do, I just end up ranting whenever I think about it.

Mike: Er... yeah. I don't think Flipcycle would consider themselves in
the same genre but what the hell.

AKSee? Told you I know nothing! Apologies to Al and the rest of
Flipcycle? you guys are great, now I think about it the CD I have of yours is
just metal, none of this emo rubbish! But your last set at the Fez (when all
your amps blew up! ROCK!!!!) seemed to stray into what I would normally
pigeon-hole as Emo?

HefflyInuit Monk and Dr Sid are the two that come to mind in the Emo
vein. There are a whole other bunch of them about that I don't know much about.
It tends to be more of an East Berkshire thing I think. I lumped punk in this
area as well but it's another area I don't know much about.

Lower Case J were really good, old school punk. I've seen plenty of new style
pop punk type bands but not many that really did very much for me.

AKThe punk scene in Reading is hella strong, Mandown promotions have put
on some awesome shows at the Roebuck, and the university provides an incessant
stream of students into their Ska and whatnot. Loads of bands could be
described as having "punk" influences, Sullivan do a great line in Blink
182-esque shouty chorus punk (and they really have grown and developed from
being "a bit crap" to a band that do that style of music pretty darn well. The
Josaka "Who?" CD starts off with two ska-tinged bands, which I thought was
probably appropriate given the strength of that scene at the time. Buggered if I
can remember either of their names at the moment (I write all this stuff
off-the-cuff, research and re-drafting are for wimps? and good writers). The
Brass Monkeys are also good, but probably the best ska-punky band I've ever seen
in my life, let alone seen playing local circuit gigs are Hedroom. Their first
single was a little puerile, but then that's what I want from young punk bands!
Now they've matured a shitload, written some awesome songs (I think you
described them as "the jazz-funk Rage Against the Machine", Mike?) and have a
blinding live show. Guitarist Alex is one of my favourite fellow plank-spankers
("..he reminds me of me. Now I know I hate him!" - Doc Holliday in
"Tombstone"), and "Levels" is a great track. Stup!d are another strong band
with a punk mentality, even though they are closer to straightforward rock than
punk.

to be continued...