Live Review - LaFaro + Karhide + Dead Souls + Amateur Assassins

Where: Nottingham Chameleon

When: 26 January 2010

With Irish noise-makers LaFaro topping this bill, it's bound to be a stellar night, right?

To be honest, I expected Amateur Assassins to be good. But as their chaotic music exploded into the Chameleon, there was a distinct problem with the band; their singer. He only had one mode, which simultaneously managed to destroy his vocal chords as well as my hearing. And whilst I rather enjoy spazzy music with some good old throat mashing vocals, there was something about Amateur Assassins that made them the opposite of enjoyable. 

Musically, the disarray of instruments was initially rousing, but that feeling soon melted into frustration as they seemed to be a one trick pony. The vocals were the biggest killer, which grated on me rather early in the set. Back to the drawing board please guys. 3/10

Local three-piece Dead Souls followed this with a rather shameless pastiche of grunge years long past. Enjoyable in a sense, it did feel a little wrong tapping the foot along to what can only be described as a Nirvana rip-off band. And Dead Souls didn't even attempt to do this subtly - in particular singer Michael J Preston who wasn't content with just carbon copying his vocal style, but he mimicked his fashion sense too. 

And whilst their musical ability was clearly audible, Dead Souls' downfall was a distinct lack of originality in their songwriting. They've completely pigeonholed themselves as a part-time band, which means forging a career as 'rockstars' is totally out of the question. It seemed to me that their talent would be better spent actually playing Nirvana songs  as part of a tribute band rather than just plain and simply ripping them off, which would make enjoying Dead Souls more of a socially acceptable experience - and they'd be really good at it. 5/10

Providing the Chameleon with its first dose of genuine creativity tonight was Karhide, who is a solo artist by day, but brought some friends along to help him with the live experience tonight (that'll be Marty Alright The Captain and Ali Beyond These Point Are Monsters then). Combining backing tracks from a laptop with live music, Karhide shows himself as a craftsman and pioneer of driving, atmospheric sound. 

The instrumental meanderings build in pace and stamina, which resonate into textured landscapes that swell in beautiful melody before falling into heavy troughs of grab-you-in-the-chest sound. As a first time listener, the music draws me in as it takes on a hypnotic persona and resonates through the minimally populated Chameleon. Karhide is definitely worth keeping an ear on. 7/10

It's a shame to stand in front of a band who you know are awesome, knowing they are looking back at a pitiful crowd. LaFaro were unfortunately in a position where Nottingham had simply let them down. 

Riff-monsters LaFaro churned out chunky songs which, if likened to food, are full of carbohydrates and proteins - just the stuff you need to feel sustained and satisfied. The sound is bold, sweating both confidence and testosterone simultaneously.

Opening track Big Kevin is a balls out, sleaze-fest. Microphone botherer Johnny Black drops lyrics most people would find hard to do without juvenile laughter or a crooked smile on their face, yet delivers them with a strange seriousness before moaning into the microphone, which sounds both silly and brilliant at the same time. 

Their 'hit' of sorts is Tupenny Nudger, a track which was named Northern Irish song of the last five years by AU Magazine. It's not hard to see why the track has received so much praise; the throbbing bass coupled with chugging riffs are unrelenting, and certainly enough to make any crowd explode (except maybe this one).

Their medium lengthen set was slightly tarred by the lack of turnout for the gig, which LaFaro frequently commented on during their mid-song banter that was often more like a soliloquy drenched in dry humour, bless 'em. But then again, I'd be pissed if I'd lent bands some gear only for them to sod off home before the evening is over.

But sarcastic hating aside, LaFaro delivered their music as if to a full crowd before the Chameleon threatened to pull the plug due to over-running. Their set only whet my appetite for more LaFaro, in a fuller setting. Derby next week anyone? 8/10

Comments

[Lucien Gallo]

Hey - I was at this gig, and I didnt think Dead Souls we're that bad! They sounded more like Pearl Jam to me...also, the singer didnt look like he was ripping Cobain off stylewise either...he just had a plaid shirt on. I had a plaid shirt on, hell even the guys from Lafaro had plaid shirts on! Does that mean we're all ripping Kurt off?

I agree with the Lafaro review though - ace band, shame the crowd was lame.