Here we go, even more [Northern] teenage angst directed in my general direction via the medium of a 4-piece guitar-based blokey indie outfit. Like I've not seen anything like that before in my life. Except they're from near Llanberis, not Yorkshire.
[If I may digress a little, my Dad's side of the family is from Llanberis, and its a very nice and peaceful place. Apparently, THE HEIGHTS kept getting evicted for being too loud. I can see that. They'd probably have caused a landslide on Snowdon.]
Anyway, I stepped into the venue and was confronted with a hybrid of 'Nu-Northern' mod-punk, angular-Rock, and blues. Don't be fooled, this wasn't as interesting as it sounds, I just don't think they (or their management) can decide which bit suits best.
As far as bands like this go, THE HEIGHTS were ok. But there are enough of these shaggy-haircut troupes around to last until the next millennium, and as such the pressure is on for them to be so utterly amazing that their impression is stamped onto your brain forever, or until the next best thing comes along. Needless to say, this band didn't do the trick.
Like I said, they were easy to watch, but I wasn't challenged or surprised by what they did. Nothing was particularly inventive, but they seemed to be having a laugh on stage and that in itself was infectious and entertaining. I suppose watching them was a bit like watching inane TV after a hard day at work. But louder and more hairy.
Owain Ginsberg (vocals, singer) was charming, if not a bit rough around the edges, but that was part of the appeal - and I'm sure that this band will have young ladies swooning over them, and getting in the way in the mosh pits.
Actually, I must admit that on their last song, they pulled out a secret weapon completely out of nowhere... a filthy, guitar-heavy, raunchy blues number, which was clearly the band's favourite because they all become a lot more animated when playing it. It was potent, it was earthy, it was sexy, and I loved it. It also made me think that perhaps their musical roots lie around the heavy blues, but they are being moulded to fit the current norm? If that's so, then that is a terrible shame because they literally transformed from being another "Me-Too" boring indie band, to something remarkably special on their last number.
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I have another digression at this point as well. One thing really got my goat - it had nothing to do with the band, but everything to do with the patronising attitude of the audience. It seemed like every time Ginsberg opened his mouth to speak, there was a bout of hearty laughter in response , but for no apparent reason. It wasn't down to the witty banter (believe me, stand-up comedians they ain't), but seemingly because of their thick Welsh accents.
Clearly some of these people thought that anything North of Watford is either a Third World country, or just outer space. Seriously, I saw someone (speaking in received pronunciation of course) shaking his head and laughing when Ginsberg called out the name of their next song. "Amazing, classic, great. I love it..." Love what precisely? Some people eh?...
Aside from all that though, The Heights are a nice export for Llanberis to be chuffed about, producing some unchallenging but catchy 2-minute indie pop songs (apart from the last tune, which was amazing).
(Their debut single, 'Long Way Home' is released through Best Before/Cargo on 14th November.)
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