LaRusso
Live at The Vine on Saturday, 12th March 2005
The Landaus look a bit of an odd bunch on stage. There's the Britpop esque bassist, Taylor Hawkins on the drums and two singing guitarists who help bridge the indie to rock gap whilst sounding at times like Caleb Followhill. Musically it's punchy and the two vocalists work very well together, great harmonies and vocal interplay, some nice lines running under each other rather than just harmonising on the same vocal part.
The music is varied, it rocks at all times but varies at all points between pop and RHCP. The drummer provides a catalyst for the band, hacking at his kit with his sticks as the rest of the band craft some rather splendid tunes round the powerful beats. They have brought a fair crowd across from Hull and it's easy to see why one would make the journey from East Yorkshire.
I like films, it's an escape, it's not real life and sometimes the guy who deserves it gets the girl. In a film LaRusso would get the girl. Hopefully hundreds or thousands of them crammed into a venue to watch them play their excellent rock music. They play with an abundance of energy, especially bassist Lee who never stands still and glares out at the crowd like a serial killer. He also changes his bass between songs and uses an abundance of pedals to carve out varying sounds that add body and weight to the meaty hooks already on offer.
Vocalist Ric provides witty banter between songs and adds charm and charisma to events, during songs he lends and excellent vocal, passionate and considered whilst his guitar playing lends the lead guitarist a chance to really weave some intricate guitar lines as he bobs and skips around the stage, at one point he even sits on one of The Landaus who are cheekily, and somewhat annoyingly, grabbing their gear from the stage.
Ending with 'Team America' LaRusso deliver their finest moment of the evening, an uplifting anthem if ever there was one that justifies being heard by far more than tonight's dismal crowd, most of the other bands' fans deciding to leave once their friends have played. I'm pretty certain than one day this particular dog will have its day and everyone will wonder where this wonderful band have crept up from. Until then I am sure they will keep delivering great live shows and hopefully recorded material for those of us not just keeping an eye on the latest cool band. Sometimes the underdogs are the top dogs.
