Review featured with permission from www.manchestermusic.co.ukNot unlike the amount of feather boas and leopard print present for the Manic Street Preachers, or backwards caps for Limp Bizkit, the traditional demin clad bowlheads fill Manchester's Roadhouse for the most hyped band this year. The Music are at breaking point tonight. Being billed as the new Oasis is tragic for such talented, young lads but sadly familiar to the Terris or Gay Dad member. We've heard the single, read the interviews but not witnessed the product raw. Having done just a handful of gigs in their home town of Leeds, the band live is new to all of us. Possibly one of the most important gigs this year in Manchester, we could be witnessing something special.
Long established local band SUPERSTRING are on course for good things one presumes. Single "Polanski/Very Edge" is available nationwide at all good record stores and the band have the opening slot, to take their in-between genre sound to the indie massive. "Master" requires the use of a Tesco carrier bag full of gadgets, to increase the growing wall of electronics and beats, backed up by a sparse analogue bass and drum arrangement. Sounding overfamiliar to the Happy Mondays' "Wrote For Luck" at times, "Master" is deeply indebted to the sound of Madchester. "Polanski" belongs on Primal Screams "Vanishing Point", the eastern oriental feel produced by instruction wielding Mark Hart, is instrumental and bereft of human emotion. Featuring a sampled vocal that Ben from Gomez couldn't manage if he smoked a thousand fags a day, "Aint" finds its own space amid the circus, whilst b-side "Very Edge" with the cool orbital glasses and Kowalski-style film samples finishes the night for Superstring. Suitable for clubbers craving a more commercial sound, or for indie kids wanting a more leftfield approach to things, Superstring are supporting a band up to 20 years their junior which kinda puts them in their place.
Regularly compared to early Verve and The Stone Roses' overlooked Second Coming era, THE MUSIC don't deserve this kind of hype. Easily able to carve out their own destiny, The band are mindblowing tonight. With the appearance of a slightly more alternative indie disco fan, The Music appear unfazed by the task on their hands. Frontman Robert Harvery is completely believable, he's in on it totally. "Life" transforms him. Fixated by the beat, he dances like its his last, whilst some of the better indie guitar playing this year is full of John Squire poses and riffing. Enough to make a young Nick McCabe proud. Criticised by some for instrumentals, it's clear why they exist within the set. Lyrics are unable to do justice to their sound. They create a vibe, its dance with guitars and features short, sharp lyrics not Morrissey prose. "Take The Long Road And Walk It" is just as powerful live as it is on the telly! Nicked lyrics from Ian Browns second album and perfectly excecuted musical backing from the Kippax lads is what people miss and crave from local groups. Second instrumental "The Walls Get Smaller" finishes the set. Instantly memorable and perfectly executed, I can't criticise anything. The indie guitar fightback has finally found some credibility. The ability to inspire and entertain. Real people with real things to say. This group are going to be a major player on the scene in years to come. This is the most special thing I've ever seen at the Roadhouse. I've finally found a UK band to believe in. Fantastic.
