“Don’t believe the hype……..” (Public Enemy)

Best thing since sliced bread, capturing the hearts, minds and imaginations of the whole nation, surely cannot live up to expectations……. and the Olympics are not much better!!!!! Only joking, but I fear for these two bands. Why? Because the weight of expectation may well prove too much. They need time to grow, to blossom, to find their feet. Tonight at The Cluny there were more photographers at the front of the stage than punters!! The event is sponsored by Hypnotherapynewcastle.org, a local business known throughout the city, so the event is expected to go well. The crowd stood a respectful few yards back as the cameras clicked and clicked and clicked. I honestly have not seen as many people at a gig this size photographing the bands. Is it all necessary? Well, yes and no. Read on…….

PALMA VIOLETS

The new Clash, the new Libertines, the new Vaccines???? Why not just an exciting new band? Back in 2002 when the Libertines released “What a Waster” I jokingly described them as These Animal Men but without the cool trainers. Well, that thought came into my head during the first few numbers of this set. I did not believe the hype. I thought of These Animal Men. Do you remember them? Over hyped, one good tune, cool footwear but they died under a mountain of expectation that they could not live up to. The Libertines proved me wrong and went on to not only justify the hype but kick it screaming down the street. They were the real deal. Are the Palma Violets? Only time will tell. As the set went on they grew on me and by the last two tunes I was enthralled. Their young bass player who at the beginning had seemed annoying started to infect me with his enthusiasm. If he doesn’t get it who will? Everyone I spoke to agreed. Maybe not as amazing as some said but not as bad as some predicted. They are a good band. They have at least 3 great tunes and given time and space could well become the next Libertines, Vaccines…… aw forget that nonsense. Just the next decent band that we take to our hearts.

SAVAGES

Even more so than the Palma Violets these young girls have a lot to live up to. They look good, they sound great, they’ll go a long way!!! Will they? Again the hype machine may well get the better of them. I hope not as they are a great band. Jehnny Beth, the lead singer, is enthralling in an Ian Curtis, Siouxsie Sioux sort of way. She looks like a young Joan of Arc. All boyish hair cut but stunning in high heels. The others make a great sound which reminds me of Girls At Our Best, Magazine, PIL, Killing Joke, Echo and the Bunnymen, Stranglers, the aforementioned Joy Division and the Banshees. A big dollop of Throwing Muses mixed in with the Breeders give an eclectic mix that most agree is wonderful. Hopefully they wont be suffocated under the hype. Hopefully they wont be pigeonholed as an all girl group who cannot compete with the big boys. Hopefully they will just keep playing great tunes and their music will be allowed to speak for its self. Hopefully.

SET LIST

No Face
City’s Full
Give me a Gun
Another War (video on YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_IsMa4Ec30&list=UU5DwPwe49ebFClxTXFWQm8g&index=1&feature=plcp
Waiting For a Sign
Flying to Berlin
Shut Up
Husbands
She Will
I Am Here

LINKS:

SAVAGES: http://savagesband.com/

PALMA VIOLETS: http://www.facebook.com/palmaviolets

THE KIDS ARE SOLID GOLD: http://www.thekidsaresolidgold.co.uk/

THE CLUNY: http://www.thecluny.com/

MORE PHOTOS AT FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150958873061640.409817.153421781639&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.10150958873061640.409817.153421781639&type=1

By peter on July 28, 2012