This Et Al @ LMUSU
By James Meehan
So here we have an "unsigned band showcase". Call me bitter, and even counter productive in the encouragement of fledgling bands but I hate these things. They always remind me of school. See, music is fashion. It is important to lie what's cool, and what's cool is whatever you like, but you need to like it with enough passion to convince other people that its cool. Got that? Yeah, see at school there was this band called "The Rise" a handful of fairly talented sixth formers doing drawn out cover versions with a frontman who was all charm and enthusiasm. But you had to like them. They were cool. You had to have all their recordings, copies of every flyer. I had a poster and a hand written set list. Damn I was cool.
So hard day at work followed by feeling obliged to listen to a load of bands I don't know anything about 'cos I got in for free. It truly is a wonderful life, so I get drunk and sit back to listen to a band who I later find out are called "Farewell Party". I've always been a stickler for band names; never pick a name, small minded, musically failed wannabe journalists can abuse. Like "farewell party will be saying farewell soon, this style left reverence at the beginning of the party". But that's where we're wrong. Instant comparisons point to Kings of Leon, but this isn't fair on either party. Farewell Party play the kind of gravelly blues rock that is not only timeless, it is time itself. It's the only kind of music where you can do nothing whilst listening to it and still feel that you have achieved something. With dirty 40 a day vocals, rolling bass and the guitar... the guitar just fit so nicely. Simple riffs, complicated riffs, just chords. It didn't matter. What ever he played it was right.
So feeling kinda buzzed I went to the bar and restocked my Jack & Coke. When I came back there was another singer, with a harmonica. Later another guy came and sang for a bit. Blended like they meant to be together, this bluesy rock was so out of place in the met, with its old porn visuals and grubby feel that it almost ruined the moment. But then an Aretha Franklin cover brought it all back.
So we're starting on a good foot, but only 'cos I've hurt my other foot. I say I hurt it, but I blame "Drag Cars Drive Too Fast". Playing post apocalyptic stoner rock, "Drag Cars..." are somewhat underwhelming due to the mess that is their mix. A wall of sound can be impressive in the right company and venue, but this isn't working so well here and now. The singer has a bit of Kris Roe about him, bit more forceful, but maintaining that charm. My biggest concern for this band is that no matter how good they could be, there are a thousand bands out there who sound very similar. And they all have contracts and videos on Kerrang! That said there's no reason why "Drag Cars..." shouldn't be up there with them.
Being the only band on the bill I'd seen before, and that the singer is fit, Saving Lenny were probably the only reason why I came down on a Thursday night. That and I needed to talk to a friend about something that was on my mind and get drunk over it.
Sadly Saving Lenny didn't impress. Yeah they've grown up a bit and their sound has matured, but at what cost? Gone is their cheeky charm, squeaky clean pop punk and happy horns. In their place comes sultry, grungy Coral fang type rock. And yeah it's good, but it just can't climb over the barricade of my preconceptions. Sorry guys, your music might be great, but I don't remember any of it, and what can I say, some songs I know word for word, some I don't even know the tune if you see what I'm saying? (except "fizzy pop fizzy pop, I like drinking fizzy pop" that will last forever in my mind!)
And so "This Et Al" shuffle out and start to play their music, which kind of floats around in around the conversations of the crowd like a fine mist. Blink and you'll miss it. This band are excellent, but in the same way as a Lamborghini. Yeah, lets face it, it's a great car, but you can't park it anywhere, everyone judges you by it and it is totally extravagant. But still a great car.
Floaty bits, fractured bass lines, melodic jangling over rolling chords. All very good but just not inspiring enough to be the headline act on a tired Thursday night. This is something I'd put on late at night, or go and see them in a small venue with loads of people there when I was taking a girl out and we could sit and talk whilst still enjoying the music. I'll go and see them again though. Though I wasn't overly impressed this time, I think I have it in me to be impressed by this band.
So that was METStock. Then I went home, to bed. By myself 'cos I had to get up for work at 6. One day I'll join a band and live in a transit van feeding on crackers and salt, but for now I'll work three jobs and write bitchy reviews.
