It’s a bloody cold, crisp evening in central London and inside this student union there are a trio of rock bands are looking to warm everyone up and take their minds off of the credit crunch and whatever other toils the press have imposed on them. I certainly want to revel in some escapism for the eve and a few beers and some decent cards is what I was looking for.
First to hit the stage are English boys Science vs Romance. There is barely anyone in the room when they hit the stage, as they are in the adjoining bars, but they soon filter in. Science vs Romance have a very poppy, indie sound but with extra bits of epic, spacey-ness added in. Think the Kooks mixed with Explosions in the Sky. Human’s are very happy with consistency and familiarity, therefore when you hear a band play a song you know it’ll make you happier than one that you don’t. So, I was a little shocked to hear a song that I knew. Not a massive shock, but I’ve never heard Science vs Romance before. They have written a song with exactly the same chords as yours truly. I would be a little bit more intrigued but it’s not the first time I’ve heard a song with the same chords. Explosions in the Sky have a track called ‘Yasmin the Light’ and the Science vs Romance track in question is called ‘Aeroplane Arcade’. So have a listen and see what you think. Overall a very welcome open act.
The room is getting a bit fuller and next up are Canadian boys Attack in Black. I saw Attack in Black last year at the Union Chapel supporting City and Colour. The mood of that night was very chilled and atmospheric; I subsequently purchased their acoustic offering, The Curve Of The Earth. Tonight was a very different affair with the emphasis on rock, with no acoustic guitars in sight. They brought the crowd in closer and differed between fluffy pop rock and more hard-edged rock. The songs are great with catchy choruses and the band seemed to winning the crowd round with their warm well-sung sound. Attack in Black show that they can adapt to accommodate the occasion and whether they need to be hard and rock or be more chilled and heartfelt, they are wholly capable.
Right. Here we are. I am at the end of a night that has seen people rock, and rock, and then rock some more. So why not finish off with some more rock? Just before Far hit the stage we are treated to their cover of Ginuwine’s ‘Pony'. I absolutely love that track and I have to say that it is easily better than the original. Just raw and dirty -the way should be! The room is packed now and the Far seem to have some kind of magical spell over the crowd as they instantly have them eating out of the palm of their hands from the second they hit the first chord. They command the stage with such confidence and prowess, front man Jonah Mantranga literally spending half the set in face of the front row. He looks a bit like a slightly beefier Jason Biggs and is just as animated. The band shows that their years of experience have not been wasted. It’s hard to take your eyes off of them and even though I didn’t know the songs I was soon singing along. Great lyrics, great performance, and a few beers: what credit crunch?
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SCIENCE VS ROMANCE
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Far, Attack in Black and Science vs Romance at the ULU 28/11
