Date: 1st of August. Venue: The Bitter End Romford. Acts: Science Vs. Romance, Work.

Romford Market. 21:00 hours. A lonely, dark figure cuts a greasy path through the rain. It walks with purpose, conviction, but also as if it is sleep walking; barely aware of it's surroundings, deep in thought. Anonymous and unassuming, seemingly going unnoticed by the people milling in the streets around it. Curiously they move aside without appearing to be aware of their actions. Most of the figures face is obscured by a grey hood, the exposed lower half is hairy, pale and acne ridden. A white wire is snaking up from beneath it's outer layer disappears under the hood feeding the figure like some grotesque umbilical chord. I'm not ashamed to say that this manky, unshaven grease ball was me, as I had just come from a beautiful albeit slightly heart breaking day. But that's a different story...

I once again attended the Bitter Ends Saturday band night, completely unaware of who's playing or what they would be playing. Let's be having it. The bill read thus;

Shotgun Heart Club, Work, Science Vs. Romance.

Shotgun Heart Club's name was accompanied by this tag line; '"I have to big these guys up. Nice work. " - Bon Harris, producer.' Which is all the more disappointing when it is revealed to me that they have pulled out of the gig! Leaving their slot open and making me sit around for an extra 45 minutes! I thank my lucky stars a few friendly faces swam up to say hello, and that I had the fore site to bring a book!

Next up were Brummy band Science Vs. Romance and as soon as they began playing I'd realised I'd forgotten how much I love a bit of indy! Especially when it's as well crafted as this! This lot were right up my alley and if you'll indulge me, I'm about to get right up theirs!
Combining the best bits from Bloc Party, Jimmy Eat World, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, et al the sound is mahoosive! Stretching from the bottom of the deepest seas to the apex of the Earth itself. Just pure soaring joy! Remember when you had that kiss that gave you butterflies in your stomach that first time? It's like that. Cynicism be damned! This young band know how to make shoegaze indy pop tunes that make you glad to be alive! Delivered with gusto, confidence and skill to challenge todays modern indy giants!
As a testament to how much I enjoyed their set I actually bought a CD and don't you know the vocalist/guitarist (Matt) threw in a t-shirt for free! Bless him! Seriously! Here's me listening to the CD!



And here's me wearing the shirt!



It's a shame! I feel these guys should be lapping from the golden fountains of success with their own girls dressed in Princess Leia slave costumes! But I know an underground-sound-that's-difficult-to-become-mainstream-band when I hear one. Which is obviously my personal preference! It's the double edged sword of being an artist I guess. And ultimately I know I'd be less interested in them if they did go and get all popular. I know, I know. I'm a huge snob. And I'm not sorry.

So after I'd finished bumming SvsR and the audience had made up their minds about if they liked them ("it's a bit emo, but I actually kind of like it... Grrr!") it was time to go to 'Work' lmfao omg.
The band have been described as "Thought provoking indie from this hard working London 4 piece", which doesn't really help one in forming an idea in the mind now does it? Nevertheless I was eager to hear them, especially on finding out that an old college acquaintance of mine has a brother in the band! Namely the bass player. I was worried about not liking Work and risking alienating the guy, but my worries were soon put to rest!
Though Work weren't exactly my thing, I could definitely see why they enjoy regular gigging in London. The sound then; piano driven pop indie with soulful vocals and a beat that you can dance to. They have something more though, much more than that lame description. They have a feel of being genuine; by this I mean they aren't the kind of band that thinks to be a great artist you have to write obscure, experimental noise about slug reproduction; and they aren't the kind of band that thinks that to have fun and be successful you have to write 3 minute, mindlessly appealing pop songs. They arrive somewhere in the middle, and the result is pleasing. To me at least, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were so much more to others.
To complete the package the band is fronted by two swarthy good looking indie types, the bass player brother, who was impossible not to like due to the bravery of wearing a leather trilby and his huge contagious smile, and a drummer... ahem.

The crowd rimmed Work so much that it can only be possible that it was packed with family and friends. It's understandable I guess that local bands will have these people at their gigs screaming, whooping and the like but it grates on me. I got the feeling that if the band had said; "This next song's for you" (audience whoops) "it's called audiences are paedo worshipping fucktards!" They still would have got a cheer! Such self back patting and circle jerking is the equivalent of masturbation.

I say this as an outsider to the circle obviously.

That's it I'm afraid! No more to report! But coming up next week, a bill that made me positively damp with anticipation! Insidious brutality from;

BLEED FROM WITHIN
HIDEOUS MISCREATION
Nothing Gained
AND MORE TBA!!!!!

Hopefully see you there!

Martin