It's not very often you go to a gig and get blown away, it's evening less often that two bands on a line-up are amazing, and it's pretty unique when neither of those bands are headlining.
Tonight though that’s exactly the case at The Fez in Reading . As I arrive at the venue The Datsuns are on stage. How spinal tap on speed can be an understatement is still impressing me, but it’s true. Everything that The Strokes want to be is personified in The Datsuns , on a self financed tour this unsigned New Zealand four-piece have just got to the UK after touring in the US. With just a couple of limited edition 7” behind them it must be said this band are for real.
A huge performance from a band that will be huge, I chatted with them over strawberry milkshakes after the show and somehow we talked about the quality of childcare in Sweden, rock n roll!!
Next up Reuben whose dirty lo-fi sound has been infecting TV’s and venues near you blasted through and amazing set of upfront catchy beats. Mid-tour and on the back of their single release ‘Scared of the Police’ Reuben were the tightest I’d seen them for ages if a little less chatty than usual. Sheer brilliance.
Tonight’s headline act Liberty 37 had a mountain to climb and it must be said they got about half way up. Currently promoting their album God Machine their first for 3 years Liberty 37 put in a confident and professional show. Tonight though they sounded dated next to two of the next year’s greatest prospects.
Body Image by Pete Cole.
- Reuben - We Should Have Gone To University
- Like buses: Reuben also call a halt on their progress
- The Weekly DiScussion: just what is a 'DiS band'?
- Reuben, Enjoy Destroy at Astoria 2 formerly Mean Fiddler, London, Sat 29 Sep
- Reuben, Enjoy Destroy at Astoria 2 formerly Mean Fiddler, London, Sat 29 Sep
- Reuben tour new album. Clever quip not forthcoming.
- Yourcodenameis:milo make new friends, denounce print on the way...
- Xtra Mile go, um, the extra mile: release nice records
From the archive
-
Everett True’s Rough Trade - a two disc mix(tape)
-
DiSmissive: Mixing pop and politics
-
Music criticism in Web 2.0

Reuben
The Datsuns
In Photos: Camden Crawl Launch Event @ The Blues Kitchen, London
In Photos: La Roux @ Shepherds Bush Empire, London
In Photos: Decemberists @ The Forum, London
In Photos: Dean & Britta @ St. Giles in the Fields, London
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