Longwave @ Leeds Festival 2002
By Suzanne HutchinsonAnother New York guitar band? On first cursory glance you may be tempted to throw Longwave on the towering pile with all the rest, but stop a moment, stay and listen (as many did) and you may change your mind. Longwave manage to sound that bit different, blending an almost Manc-like janglyness with a harder edge. This band have found a seam for of these songs and are plundering them for all they're worth. The driving guitars are fronted by curly topped lead singer Steve Schiltz who's ranging voice can hit rumbling depths or become thin and reedy to order. Longwave also create dramatic soundscapey intros and outros. After all, they are self confessed fans of FX pedals and know you have to sound that bit out of the ordinary in today's competitive world. Tracks 'Ask Me' and 'Make Me Whole' demonstrate this to great effect. All songs are based on a winning formula, building to soaring climaxes. If you've got any sense you catch this 'wave while you can.
