![Default - The Xcerts [live] @ The Old Blue Last, London](http://www.altsounds.com/i/posticon.gif "Default - The Xcerts [live] @ The Old Blue Last, London")
The Xcerts [live] @ The Old Blue Last, London
11th February 2009 February 19, 2009, 04:44 PM Views: 455
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 I get to The Old Blue Last in time to catch the main support to The Xcerts, I write the bands name down but have since discovered my hand writing is illegible if I don't extract the written text the next day while it's still vaguely fresh in my mind. Anyway, the name may come back to me; if it does I'll edit it in here, but my point is this; I thought they were pretty good. Self depreciating and very humble with their inbetween song banter, they possessed qualities I find incredibly endearing in a band. It added some kind of extra sincerity to their otherwise indie mainstream songs. So while I was whispering raves into my friends’ ear about how much I enjoyed their set and what lovely sweet boys they seemed like, The Xcerts were getting ready to perform.
The Xcerts start.
And immediately I retracted my last statement. The difference in musicianship and experience is embarrassingly blatant from the off. You could tell instantly that they were in a completely different league to the previous band; tight, talented and 'professional' musicians. This wasn't just a little garage band that played sloppy mediocre songs at the odd round of gigs (or the grandiose term of “tour” often in their eyes) every now and then, largely fueled by the potential booze and chicks and sleazy unglamorous after parties. The Xcerts were, albeit surprisingly, of a much higher caliber then I had been expecting.
The Xcerts are a three piece from Aberdeen and Exeter (according to their MySpace), and in appearance pretty non descript for a pop-punk band other than front man Murray MacLeod having annoying perfectly styled hair that "sweeped" across his brow whilst maintaining it's glossy condition and shine throughout at all times. No matter which way he turned or, let’s face it, sweated, that baby wasn't changing. And this wasn’t just a chick observation; it was actually the first thing my very straight male companion commented on when they started performing.
Opening with what transpired to be a new song that was so new it had no name; The Xcerts were a personification of exuberance and drive. Their sound was polished, their musicianship tight and faultless, and most of all their songs were simply good, boasting a maturity and talent that belies their physically obvious youth. Staying rigid in their set up positions, most likely the usual stage habit for them rather then a consequence of the small limiting stage, they poured out song after song, each as unknown to me but equally engaging as the last.
Their set continued from the first untitled song to "Home Versus Home", "Night School", "Cool Ethan", "Just go Home", "Crisis in the Slow Lane" (their current single), "Do you Feel Safe?" to a too soon arrived encore of "I See Things Differently", to an incredibly well received response from the often nonchalant crowd at The Old Blue Last.
Ultimately I found The Xcerts a pleasure to watch and their music genuinely enticing. My only one complaint and prediction that possibly could work against them commercially would be that they weren't really anything new; they clearly favoured the momentous building formula of songs that are filled with crescendos much like many bands of their genre, and it appeared they were quite content with that and had no intention of moving forward from it. However, one of the main differences between them and all the other pop-punk and (for want of a better word) 'emo' bands are that they are actually good and clearly talented, and should deservedly go far because of this.
Last edited by lina-riot : February 19, 2009 at 04:50 PM.
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| | | | Overall Rating | | 8 | | Vocals / Lyrics | | 8 | | Musicianship | | 8 | | Production | | 8 | | Creativity | | 8 | | Lastability | | 7 | | Reviewers Tilt | | 8 |
79% | |
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