The Beatings

"When we played Glasgow there were only ten people" - Conor (Kinesis)

Lets start with some facts. Firstly, Kinesis fucking rule and are the future of UK rock whether you like it or not! Secondly, UK band The Beatings are not Americans - as advertised by the venue. So, who is here to see this gig? 10 people! It is 19.55, 5 minutes before doors open and there are 10 people... not a good omen but a great precursor to a very strange gig.

Doors open at 8. First band is on at 9 so, obviously, no opening act... what the hell are we going to do for an hour? After checking the merch stall (Kinesis album and single for £11... bargain!) and having a word with Kinesis - among various topics I discovered some of the bands contract stipulations like the inclusion of a Zanussi washing machine. And that the Beatings failed to turn up for soundcheck and at 20.30 they still haven't arrived. When The Beatings do show they inform me that their van was broken into and various items of their personal belongings have been stolen... bastards!

Come 9, the crowds now 70-strong and Kinesis come onstage. All wearing white shirts, all ready for action and what a choice of an opening track. '...Zyklon B' is an adrenaline fist fight happening right in front of your eyes and the fact that this is just a b-side is mind boggling! Tunes come thick, fast and loud and of the 9 song set they played all their singles and a fair whack of their self-released, mini-album; including 'Black Holes', my favourite track...

Now what to say about The Beatings? Well... if you put pianos into their songs they would sound like the Backyard Babies, if you gave them a punk attitude they would sound like McLusky but unfortunately they don't have these and instead they just sound like a rock band riding on the crest of a musical wave. Don't get me wrong, they are competent and their drummer fucking rules but they are not outstanding.

Basically, stick around because soon Kinesis are going to go stellar! As for The Beatings... we will have to wait and see.