Pushbike Army @ Cockpit
By Kate Zezulka
Almost implausibly, tonight is the final of the Futuresound heats. All of the bands we've seen so far have been impressively talented in their chosen style, and tonight is no exception.
Killing Fields Of Ontario are first up this evening, and their take on folk-rock with a country twist is a prime example of this. The set has some pleasant, soft acoustic folk-ballads, but it is the more upbeat numbers - particularly when complete with true country banjo lines - which show Killing Fields Of Ontario in their best light. Drummer Loffman's excellently sturdy rhythmic base and lead guitarist Kempster's loose, economical guitar solos are particular boons to the band. Although the stage presence could afford to be more confident, this is something that will develop given time and, going on the standard of tonight's performance, is likely inevitable.
Mr and Mrs are somewhere at the other end of the scale in terms of audience interaction: Birtill's persona is bordering on the overly-melodramatic although it does successfully capture the punters' (slightly nonplussed) attention. The material swings from lulling indie folk to abrupt chromaticism and even atonality; certainly a curious mix but it works surprisingly well. While in relatively safe, tonal, indie territory, multi-instrumentalist Cullen's pizzicato and arco violin parts are reminiscent of Andrew Bird's nimble use of strings and create a similarly delicate texture overall. When Mr and Mrs wander into the dark forest of experimentalism they do a good job of defending themselves against accusations of being 'predictable indie/alt'.
Completing the competition are Pushbike Army. They bash out pop gem after pop gem, all neatly created with strident power chords, energetic hooks and a shambolic punk ethic that promise good things to come from this band. This may not be a musical boundary-pusher, but it would be hard to go far wrong with Pushbike Army if radio-friendly music is the order of the day. Their live verve is similarly appealing, and the audience are given a fittingly enthusiastic conclusion to the ten heats.
We are then eventually shepherded upstairs for the announcement of the winners. And so very well done to runners-up Solus Locus, The Bacchae, The Humour, These Monsters and Dinosaur Pile-up who all more than earned the slots, and Fran Rogers who bagged first place after a truly stunning set. Although the sentiment has been expressed before numerous times - probably to every crestfallen child after a school sports day and probably more succinctly - all thirty bands really did prove their worth over the last few weeks and all excelled in their own field. Comfortingly, personal preference and context play a larger part than almost any other aspect when everybody involved is of such a high standard. Onwards and upwards, then?
