The Stills @ Joseph's Well
By Gavin Miller
Two support bands. Why? Why oh fucking why? Maybe I need clarification, but I thought the whole point of a support band was to warm up the crowd for the main event, not take away all the time from them? I didn't get to see The Stills tonight, and so I'm angry. Very angry in fact, at this whole two support band thing. If you're going to do it, at least make them start early, or make them cut a few songs out if they're over- running, (which they were tonight, by about 30 minutes) but no. We got 3 hours of cueing, soundchecks and bands we didn't come here to see.
The Kaiser Chiefs were good though, sounding like early R.E.M. processed through the mixer of every band currently living in New York City. The lead singer did his best Stellastarr* impression, but he obviously had the vocal range and the stage presence to pull it off. The best song of theirs tonight was one called (at least I think it was called) 'This Is The Modern Way' which had the most simple guitar riff in living history, but as most guitar players will tell you, sometimes the simple things are the most effective. Matched to that were some of the coolest Nintendo- esque bleeps and bips that you've ever heard, and it all worked really rather well. They were supposed to come on at 8:15, but didn't take the stage until at least 8:45, which meant that I was on borrowed time already, with the last train home getting ever closer. They were entertaining enough though, with their high-energy power chords and new wave sound. If this band don't come from New York and aren't from 1987, then they bloody well should be.
The Open were next on stage after another lengthy soundcheck, and it's apparent from the onstage attitude of the lead singer, that he ain't a happy bunny. I even saw him mouth the words "fucking bullshit" at one point, which, on it's own isn't so bad, but he didn't raise a smile all night, and at the end could be seen throwing bits of kit around on the stage. Musically, they were pretty damn good. They had atmospheric keyboards, delay boxes a go-go (even on his vocals) and that big, belting drum sound I only thought existed on 'Rock Action'- era Mogwai. Well, I could be wrong. They showed off their impressive song writing skills yet tiresome rock 'n roll attitude with aplomb tonight, splitting the audience in two as to whether they liked them. My mate told me later that he "really didn't like them", and after the carnage had subsided when they walked off stage, someone down at the front yelled "you're shit!" The Telecaster's were on full 'twang' mode tonight, resulting in an ear piercingly high pitch strum fest, but the tunes were most definitely there. One of them being the set closer 'Can You Hear Me?' (I think it's called that- he sang it an awful lot anyway) with it's gigantic guitar riffing and drumming like a pneumatic drill. It took a while to get going, but once they did, they really did. Think 'Lost Souls' by Doves, but remixed by Sonic Youth & 'Come On Die Young' re recorded with The Pixies, and you're almost there.
So, it's now 10:45, and the Stills finally come on stage. My applause was muted however, as I only saw the first track 'Killer Bees' from their brilliant debut EP 'Rememberese' (which also includes the insanely catchy 'Still In Love Song'). It sounds ace, with that tight, punchy drum sound and those spacey, delayed-to-fuck guitars, matched with the booming bass and the always catchy vocal hook.
As I'm leaving, I hear the opening bass riff of new single 'Lola Stars & Stripes'. Nuts I thought to myself, I really wanted to see that. With not much more to tell you, I'm sure the rest of their set was as good as the opener, but thanks to the two support bands taking their sweet bloody time, I missed it all.
I'm really not clear as to why bands want two support acts with them. All it does is infuriate anyone who has to stand up though yet another set, still longing for the band they came to see. And I'm sure Phil from Marketing thinks it's a good idea, because people get their money's worth, but it's not. It's annoying. Very, very annoying. Maybe it's record company politics, maybe it's something to do with the venues, but please, for the love of all that's good and true, stop it! Or at least make sure they're on early. One girl stood behind me as The Stills came on said to her friend "One song, and I've got to go get the bus! I paid £7 for this too".
