Reuben

Have you noticed that the nights are beginning to draw in already? After reading it seems like the summer dies. But not everything falls to the ground. ROCKtober is coming and I’m pretty confident it’ll bear the fruits of a great few years for rock (which even the Times tell the world is back!). So, with the sun grinning an evil smile I drag my corporated coloured self to see a bill of things to come in the forthcoming month of noise, put together by “a bunch of cunts” according to Kelly Jones. No, not the barfly promoters, some old, dying, music express. Choo, choo! …sorry!

First up, a band we’ve rambled about for blimmin aaaaages, from Bolton, just signed to Independiente (nice one fellas!) KiNESiS. Not heard/seen them yet? Well, tonight was about the 7th time I’ve seen them, playing yet another huuuuge guestlisted show but this time to real music fans, not the wrinkly cross-armed cru. This wasn’t their best gig. Dis-scribe Conor said they only left the studio at 6am, which maybies explains it. But anyway, they were sounding loud and angry but as per always its almost with a smile. They're tearing up other peoples manifesto’s in the blink of an innocent eye. They're throwing rock shapes. There's Conor doing those crazy how-on-earth-is-he-playing that Matt Bellamy like floaty guitar tricks. And yeah, they’ve read Douglas Couplands full works and listened to their Pixies, Nirvana, Muse and Public Enemy records, repeatedly. But they rock. It feels fresh, exciting and life-changing and that’s what is really important. Go get ‘em boyz!

Next up, thisGIRL, who had not made much of an impression on me from previous viewings but what do I know? The venues hot, sweaty and full - yes that was FULL - of people excited to see the band. The sounds a bit like At the Drive-In flavoured nu-metal, but it’s good, apart from the annoying fake-american accent coming from the Krankee-Roddy faced singer. Much better than the last few times. Check ‘em out – touring with Pitchshifter pretty soon.

Then, dum, dum, dum…. =REUBEN= (Pronounced henceforth as: WOOBEN. Just because.) with their don’t-give-a-fuck-about-being-megastars cardies, never wanting to be coolness, cus they just are walkin', talkin', Kevin Smith movie cool. They bounce on the stage, all sweet grins and children presenter hello’s. A quick rock grit of the teeth. Then, like any good plaything, they thrash it fast and roll it all around through their special lil nearly nu-metal, nearly grunge, little art-rock, happy chappy, Micheal Jackson and proper bands inspired STUFF, haribo blender. I likes them a lot. It takes a few listens but they’re one of THE most exciting bands around at the minute and due to lack of any proper record deal or funding for ace production, live is the best way to catch ‘em. And do. They’re touring with Mclusky for the next week or so, so you know what to do…

Great night.