Hmmm. Hundred Reasons. They're a funny one. I have a real thing against most bands like them. While I like cheesy emo pop punk, I instantly despise bands that are apparently “rocky” for the same reasons; they are completely overproduced and a little bland. And the worrying thing about it is, I know half the reason I feel this way is because I don't like their fans. Yeah yeah, whatev, I'm a total shallow snob who judges books by their covers, but honestly, are you guys not aware what decade we live in (and that decade's almost over!)? Been to clothing store recently? Know about a word called “style”? You're not “rawk”, you're just sad (and receding) because you think you're so bad ass cause you're at a gig where the music is actually pretty wussy but you're too deluded to realise.
Ok, cats out of the bag, I'm being a bitch. I knew the crowd would be like this and was going to turn a blind eye (literally) but they kinda pissed me off when a few of them (ok, majority) kept going on about how “crap” and “rubbish” the support band were, the support who are one of my favourite upcoming bands right now. The support bands music was so clearly out of Hundred Reasons' fan base musical league they couldn't even register it as it was just too good for them. Twats.
F.Y.I., The support band were Johnny Foreigner. Wasted on them. They did an awesome set, played too many new songs though.
Anyway, whilst I decided I already hated Hundred Reasons because their fans were so evidently dumb there's no way they could possibly be any good, they came on stage and swiftly started their set with “I'll find you”. Ah. But I actually quite like this song.
While I admit it didn't blow me away, they were alright. I was actually quite surprised at how much of their set I recognised. Yes, a weeee bit too formulaic for my taste, a wee bit soft, they did however seem to be doing something outstanding because their loser fans were lapping it up. I wasn't sure whether I was missing something or were they actually brilliant and I just couldn't see it? Maybe they were so good
I couldn't register it? No, impossible, must be something else.
I did actually contemplate this for a while after the gig, and I suddenly arrived to the conclusion when I was looking at their set list of that night. They played a hella lot of songs from the first album. Coincidently, their most popular and successful album. Ah of course, so it was like a greatest hits tour for the fans, ahhh... This also explained how I knew so many of their songs. No wonder their fans were so over excited.
So they performed song after song, “hit” after “hit”, and nothing about their stage antics particularly excited me but in a way that was quite nice, it's refreshing to see a band who simply didn't care about how they looked or acted. Obviously I wouldn't want to see it all the time though. And if you're looking for big hair, be warned, it's not as big as you think it is, almost disappointingly. So my verdict? They must've been doing something right cause they're fans bloody loved 'em, I just couldn't see it though.
Full set list...ere!
I'll find you
Dissolve
Feed The Fire
The Perfect Gift
Kill Your Own
Shine
Soapbox Rally
Oratorio
Live Fast, Die Ugly
Slipping Away
My Sympathy
What You Get
What Thought Did
Falter
Silver
Encore
No Way Back
Remmus
If I Could
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Hundred Reasons @ Islington Academy, 6th April 2009
Deaf Havana @ Bar Islington Academy - 16th March 2009