The Cut
Live at Mixing Tin on Saturday, 10th March 2007
The Mixing Tin is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere, especially late into a weekend night and tonight, the Noisebox showcase featuring four of the hottest bands around, is no exception. Alas, I missed Rivers tonight and I am regretful for it as punters inform me that I've missed a good set.
A reliable source informs me that The Voltaires are not a band to be missed and this testimony certainly comes to fruition in their live show. It's certainly blindingly obvious that the outfit don't do songs of more than 3 minutes as their MySpace headline screams but they are joyous, thereby engineered to work themselves into a frenzy before suddenly, it's all over. As they play their way through a section of their catalogue, including tracks from the acclaimed 'Anti-Love' EP, it becomes evident that although the band might have acquired a "short and sweet" reputation [which works against one in this macho indie world we live in], what The Voltaires pack into 3 minutes is worth more than most of their counterparts sludge through in 4 and a half.
The Invention are next on and I'm slightly nervous about their presence because of a brutally honest review I wrote a hundred years ago. However, a friendly chat with front man Tony ensures the slate is clean and I anticipate whether Tony's claims that "we're a lot better live anyway... we'll give you something good to write about us" come true. In a performance including the energetically performed 'Voltage' and the highly rhythmical 'Black and White Bullets', The Invention prove that they've come a long way since that review and they are deserving of praise as a live act. The lyrics reveal the true fighting spirit of the band, "Well I'm not sorry at all" of the latter lashing out at cynics like myself. Importantly, the four piece get the crowd going and the Mixing Tin's punters are raring to devour The Cut.
The Cut and I have enjoyed a beautiful acquaintance since I reviewed the 'Walking Lonely Streets' EP many moons ago. It's a relief though to see that their set list does not rely on the older tunes, no matter how strong they remain. The crowd in the room tonight, whether long time fans or new to the trio is feeling The Cut, as evidenced by the fact that everyone's standing and paying deserved attention to a strong outfit who some might say, still haven't achieved the level of success they are truly capable of. 'Follow Suit' starts of another of the band's triumphant live sets as only 'Follow Suit' can in true Cut fashion. What really makes the set tonight though isn't simply the songs themselves, it's how well they are played by Alex, Mitch and Chris as each member puts in his equal share. The Cut are not three front men battling for the centre of attention and I doubt that such terms are used much in the band's vocabulary. 'Cold Sister' sneaks into the set and the band fully justify its winning the most votes for the new single. Instrumentals are a strange one, but a defiant 'The Late Room' certainly differs and ends the night on a high as The Cut prove that they are on the scene with a mission and won't cease until it's achieved.
