The Alamo @ The Vine
By Sean Langan
There were rumours before this show that lead vocalist/guitarist Adam Sweeney had found religion in the remote regions of Tibet, that Chris had been arrested before the show and wasn't going to show, that Holly had developed an eating disorder from going on the Atkins diet, and that The Alamo had acquired a new drummer whilst they have been away. Well I guess one out of four isn't bad!
Old friends, new faces! The Alamo are back, and making up for lost time. Kick starting their set with 'Wrong time' they stamp their ground from the word go, with Mr Adam Sweeney prowling the stage like a wild animal waiting to be unleashed. An opening like this deserves more than just the passive crowd that had come to see them!
Second guitarist Chris is shaking as if he plugged himself into his amp rather than his guitar. They've already launched us into the next two songs.
Finally The Alamo seem to be not afraid of wearing their influences on their sleeves, showing a great taste in bands such as The Crocketts and The Crimea. Chris (the new drummer) seems to have settled into his place now after a few nervous moments early on, which is a good thing because although he is very young he fills the old drummer's boots perfectly!
Another new song! Well at least they have been productive in their time off! 'Save the world' is the best song on show by The Alamo tonight and it hits all the right spots at all the right times, it also sees the guitars playing different parts for the time all the way through. This is one of my smaller points that I feel could improve The Alamo slightly in the future, having different guitar parts may crush the somewhat slightly muddy sound that the guitars get from playing the same parts, but just that split second off rhythm. Also I just felt that The Alamo lost some of the fun from their set by just 'trying too hard'. Ok, they are tight, but I do need to be able to breath guys! 'Ok' is a blissful change from the high pace and still crafted out with heart rendering emotion, with Holy becoming the basslines, rather than just playing them because she has to, (obviously been having lessons since the last time I saw them!) and so on to the set closer, not my favourite and not the tightest ending but a good song nevertheless. Tonight The Alamo they have done me proud, and hopefully they can emerge from having the potential to utilising it now.
