LIVE REVIEWSJUNE 2000
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circuitmagazine - 3 Cities Tour - Baxta, Superelectric, The Rio6 - Night & Day 15.6.00
Thursday nights in Manchester are sometimes indistinguishable from a Friday. Bars and Clubs do brisk business and that weekend vibe is already in the air. It’s with this half-holiday feel that the Circuit Magazine supported 3 Cities tour, promoted by Charabanc, blows into town.
Having already surprised Leeds and defrocked Liverpool, Manchester provided the final destination and climax to this enterprising and original proposition. A quid in and 4 live acts, is just what we tight northerners love.
Baxta, or Tom Baxta, as it was on this occasion,
only had to carry his own beer and an acoustic guitar. Any thoughts along the
lines of "warm up act" were quickly dispelled, as, despite sitting down, he
proceeded to create his own, one man acoustic wall of sound. Without any doubt
an accomplished guitar player, he ably manufactures his version of mellow
madness. At times singing and playing straight for the jugular, he sometimes
veers straight off into the melancholy. It’s at times pretty and at other times
pretty angular. Its great stuff and emotionally draining and because it’s so
hard to describe, it must be good…
Making a second appearance in town, in as
many months, Superelectric, enthusiastic about
being described as "baggy big beat" , provide some humourous in-song and between
song banter. Without a moments deflection from their task, monitor adjustments
and mini-disc problems are resolved on-line and without taking a breath. Its
bass, vocals, guitar, drums and Decks, with all of the electronica provided via
samples and said mini-disc. The electronica manages to slice through and it’s an
enjoyable set, from a very promising band, who are double excellent on record.
This sets highlight is undeniably their current release lead track "Going
Blank", which provides the memorable tune that may even be hummed at the bus
stop. This is Indie Dance, chewed up and reconfigured into something not far
from Electronic meets Pulp. Well done chaps…NEXT !
Only half way though and Monkey Steals The Drum take to the stage. A nice bit of
jangly guitar and some strained vocals have you wondering whether its time to
order a coffee or if something big is going to happen. Remember Back To The
Future, when Marty McFly plugged in his guitar amp and got blown across the room
as soon as he played a chord? Well, that happened tonight. And then some. Monkey
Steals The Drum are a noisy outfit. Frank Black would have been well advised to
sack The Catholics from day one and employ these 3 blokes and 1 young lady - at
times, very Pixie-esque. There is a sway to faux-american indie singing and it
should immediately qualify for a slap in the face with a wet fish. But it only
happens once and it’s easily forgiven, as we are taken on a journey to greater
things. The guitars are Very LOUD, but with quiet bits strategically placed
within songs, like sonic booby traps. There are two songs in this set that are
truly awesome. Their live rendition of "Injured Birds" is dynamically brilliant,
again with the Alt-West-Coast feel. Big bass, guitars and some very dark
quirkiness. But it’s the "..new song" that follows soon after that is more
impressive. The vocal lines and rock-out indie feel of this number are at times
fantastically harsh, yet soulful with switches between quiet/loud happening
before you know it. The guitar breaks are excellent, as the two guitarists
alternate their parts in the required middle eight phrase. Brilliant - a fact
that has recently been recognised by John Peel - hence their recent session for
the man. Finishing on their "Thrashy" number "Galilieo" is almost an anti-climax
in a weird sort of way.
Finally, The Rio6 are back in town. Whilst
lauded as being one of Manchesters acoustic saviours, their performance couldn’t
be further removed from the "quiet coffee bar" feel. With a portfolio of songs
to make most unsigned bands jealous, the nights performance is undeniable
fuelled by distorted guitars and a rockin’ ryhthm section. Its dry, tongue in
cheek stuff that has the neat lines and hooks straight out of the Deacon Blue /
Grant Lee Buffallo vein of ballady rock. But these are loose references, used to
only give a broad idea of the sound and perspective of the band. Its accessible,
original and when so inclined, energetic. The Rio 6 can most definitely cut it
and are a firm recommendation.
The atmosphere here tonight is fantastic. There’s been a real event over the last 3 days that has brought together 3 quite different bands. It’s almost like a de-mob party, where every one is on a high, but somehow quite sad that it’s all finished.
It’s an opportunity for unsigned bands, that is sadly rare and is truly one at which others will look on in envy – Lets hope that this is only just the beginning…..
JA.
