Xi @ Royal Park Cellars
By Danny Martin
It's a curious trait about us humans, we find release and fulfillment in a variety of different ways. Some people play football, some drink, some play golf, women shop. Well call me a freak but for me nothing drags me from my dead skin like decent rock music. Last night was such a release. Work had been dismal, it's dark, gloomy and raining... but tonight I cared little. My medicine was waiting for me. My drug of choice.
I knew little about Unyson when they took to the stage, a culmination of school friendships and past projects bringing them together. Bassist Adam Cann describes their sound on the Unyson message board "We're pretty much a good old fashioned rock band. Our slower stuff has more of an indie feel while our heavier stuff fits the grunge category". Unysons influences of The Foo's, Oasis, Nirvana and The Stone Roses are heavily present in every song and emanate from every chord they play, something I feel they will need to shake of in order to progress. Influences are not a bad thing and everyone needs them in a band, however they should be a backbone for creating an individual presence and not a front man hogging all the limelight. Once this is achieved and Unysons personal identity is stamped firmly on their music then they have the vocal and musical talent to take things much further. File under "One to watch".
If success was measured by pure enthusiasm and damn hard work then B*Movie Heroes would already be at the top - in fact the four Brummie lads I see before me, a quarter of the way through their grueling 58 gigs, 79 day Uk tour, playing to a less than enthusiastic crowd of approximately 30 have been name checked and praised by the likes of Metal Hammer, Q and Rock Sound to name but a few. So what's everyone else missing? Have people had their ears closed for the past year or so?
They open with "Something better give (Or I'm giving in)". A Rugged concoction of hard, sleazy rock riffs and harmonious, mellifluous vocals which set the prevailing tone for the rest of the set perfectly. Newbie bassist Russ & skin-basher Scott gleefully bruise our hearts with sub human hearing bass beats, whilst both Neil and guitarist/vocalist Dean gyrate and scream like a pair wailing banshees on speed. Standout track "The drugs" brings the tone down slightly, a beautifully penned bittersweet poem effortlessly harmonised by Neil, Dean and Russ.
A fluent satisfying 40 minute set which never compromised or pulled any punches, either musically or aesthetically. Old-fashioned grit and determination will be B*Movie Heroes greatest ally in the laborious months and years to come. And grit and determination is seemingly what they have in abundance. So turn off your Blink 182 "kiddy rock" sit up and take note. The B*Movie Heroes are here to rock you.
Seldom does a band strike your very heartstrings; scarcely does a lead vocalist capture your senses, pinning you down, thoughts and reasons muddled. Striving to comprehend the incomprehensible. Xi and front man Daz are from that rare, broke the mold school. For Xi have a naked realism that once tasted leaves an indelible mark on your mind.
Let me elaborate, for all the cooing and praising I could do about Xi's performance you would probably never understand how, and why I would write such an opening paragraph.
Bands make music for money. Bands make money so they can look "cool" and gain respect and a feeling of hierarchy amongst peers. Many tired, disenchanted musicians make music purely because its there to be made.
But then there is the unquantifiable minority, the imperceptible who for them, music is life. Music is in them, they breath, sleep and bleed songs and harmonies. These few need not to be acknowledged, for they care little what others think. They sing and play their life out day in day out. The heartache, the joy, the desperation. They lay their souls on the stage for all to see.
For me, last night Xi were this band. The band who didn't care what I thought. The band who played a 40-minute seamless set of tenacious, unapologetic rock songs. Songs which spoke of them, songs which danced in your head and through your veins. The stage set alight with the passion and exuberance these five soldiers emanate.
I feel no need to name check Xi personally, they know who they are. I feel no need to list standout tracks or to rave over riffs and breaks. The only must I feel, my calling from this night is to tell you to listen to this band, to go see them, now. With or without you Xi will carry on living this musical journey, but why don't you jump onboard for the ride.
