Many People don't like ska. I am one of those people. I just don't get it! I understand the aspect of "fun" in the music, I understand that many local ska bands incorporate as many instruments as possible in order to rectify the lack of musical talent. I also understand that it's impossibly hard to emerge as a successful ska band and stand high in the ranks of "popular" (not pop) music.Yet something is different about Fillip. Gig number four for the fresh, young bubbly youths and despite playing to a mediocre audience (due to being dragged into the support slot at immensely short notice) they blew the cobwebs of the stage speaker cabs and sent shock into the previous bands faces as they knew Fillip are future contenders to be crowned the Kings (and Queens, beg my pardon ladies) of ska in Leeds.
The 5 piece consists of a trumpet wielding front woman, with a vocal range to challenge Whitney Houston, a harmonic guitarist/ vocalist, a bassist with a stage presence hard to match... yelling out lyrics despite being un-equipped with a mic and prancing around stage like a deer on steroids, a trumpet player with hair to rival Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction and a drummer who was far too complacent with her seat.
They kicked off with a rough edged anthem that saw the guitar cut through the melody unsympathetically and bass booming across the face of the others... no soundcheck = not so great sound ... fact! (When will engineers learn? It was quickly improved).
Then came the next song - "Dogs May Die" - and my oh my is that a tune. Within 6 seconds every knee was quivering, trying to resist the temptation of fully flinging your body across the floor and skanking to the most beautiful ska song I've ever heard live... harmonising, sax solo, awesome bass riff, under feed youths bellowing out the chorus and bumping back into the verse via a trumpet/sax duet...
Awesome, simply awesome. I haven't personally enjoyed such a song in a long time at the well from a local band. Little banter was provided between the band and the small, but growing crowd as outsiders were wetting themselves to see who and what was playing such an awesome plethora of music, yet nobody cared, we just all wanted to dance! It's hard these days to get anybody moving, especially with so few people and without hinting to either, but nobody can resist.
The set closed with another fast paced, catchy funky ska punk hit that is sure to be heard across the forums and venues not too far away. I look forward to it. Fillip, a band to keep your eye on in the future.
