The Perfect Strangers
Live at Rocket on Sunday, 10th September 2000
I almost didn't make tonight's gig. Having arrived early to interview Beat Route 62 I was called out from work and had to disappear back off home, luckily not too far away. On returning, and after getting an insight into the 62'ers I was fortunate to get to see another three local bands, each offering something different to the proceedings. First up were Baseborn a band that, despite having the ability to do what they do well, did very little for me personally. A nice array of riffs clouded over by structured noise, a la RATM, etc. Baseborn brought around seven fans with them, and it was obvious that they enjoyed themselves from their cheering and dancing - the band too seemed to have a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I didn't see it myself and I've seen a number of local bands do that "thing" better. The other comments I'd have about Baseborn are that I've only ever heard them once before, at Joseph's Well when I thought, "What the hell is that?" - without ever wanting to venture further to see who it was producing what was, in short, horrible. This was a hundred times better than that evening so at least they're progressing. A little annoying at the end though when they announced to their seven fans plus three or four others, including myself, "Don't worry your indie bands will be on soon. We're playing next week at Joseph's Well, but I don't expect to see any of you again". Fine...just as I was thinking of coming too...
Following an introduction, subtly called "Intro" and described by Beat Route 62 as a continuation of their soundcheck we're now off into what Baseborn described as the "indie bands" - ooh, genre-generalising you metallers. Personally, I wouldn't like to be grouped like that if I were in Beat Route 62 because this is far from it. A mixture of what's fun from the past four decades, just brought to life with a 2000 twist. Beat Route 62 are a more retro band than an indie band, but enough cross overs to make one girl jump around and dance like her life depended upon it. The last time I saw this band, they were wearing 60/70s outfits, today they're all dressed in colourful Hawaian shirts, a upbeat dress sense to match the music as "Road to Nowhere" rocks the Rocket. Can you remember the catchiness of the song in "That Thing You Do?", well Beat Route 62 deliver something similar, catchy melodies overlayed with a level of happy, "almost-distortion" sound.
Talking of catchiness, can you ever be excused for failing to see The Perfect Strangers? No - it should be everyone's aim to see this band at least once. And once will become several, because they are good - unsigned I believe, and if that's true it can't be long before interest is shown, surely? Their demo CD was reviewed a few months ago and at the time the band told me they could deliver a lot more live. It's hard to believe that could be possible from the quality on the CD, but I've seen it and it's true. The Otley band who have based themselves a lot in London played a mixture of post-baggy Manchester rock, ie Verve, early Oasis, but seem to mix in a more rock aspect - dare I generalise from my earlier comments - a more "indie feel"...from the tambourine shaking of the singer to some amazing guitarmanship. My personal favourite was left to the second last song - "Fat Man" is a song that still makes me remember bands such as EMF, Phil from BR62 mentioned Carter. You get the idea? They're a tight, organised band who should go places.