There’s a good sized crowd at The Barfly tonight, all packed into the tiny smoke filled room and all eager to quench their thirst for live music. Luckily there’s not long to wait. Captain Phoenix take to the stage first and make it theirs from the off. Their mix of conventional stabbing guitars and fleeting harmonies seem to go down well with their fans (and they are a lot of them) but there’s nothing overly exciting about the performance. The cynics here tonight might think that their popularity has something to do with the fact that lead singer Ben Burrows is brother of Andy…drummer from Razorlight…but that’s just conjecture and to give them their dues, they’re tight, good fun and for £6 you can hardly complain.
It’s a brief set and sadly as Captain Phoenix leave the building so do most of the crowd. But Strange Idols don’t let this put them off one bit. There’s something about this band. Their shimmering stage presence and complete confidence is underlined by a plethora of reassuring yet searching tunes that unfortunately seem out of place at the Barfly and better suited to a cleaner more sedate setting. ‘How Does It Feel To Be Loved’, ‘Intentions Sometimes’ and ‘Upside Down Again’ reveal undertones of inspired post Britpop brilliance and are performed with crisp, pitch perfect vocals courtesy of the very cute Laura. And what better way to close a competent and accomplished set, than with the forthcoming single ‘It’s No Fun’, which is rather ironic as idyllic, perky, indie pop never had it so good.
But the main draw tonight are Reading 5 piece The Race; and by the time they take to the stage the place has filled up again. Bold, ballsy and brimming with a confidence that can’t be taught The Race waste no time in unleashing an immediate wall of sound with ‘Comfort Comfort’. Dazzling and powerful, it’s as unapologetic as it is impassioned, but doesn’t come close in preparing the crowd for what’s to follow.
There’s a short respite to let everybody know that Graeme the bass player is getting married before they throw themselves right back into the thick of it. The fantastically urgent and melodic ‘Find Out’; sincere and precise ‘Raising Children’; and sparkling ‘When It Falls’ go down an absolute storm and at last there’s a real buzz in The Barfly for the first time tonight. The stage isn’t big enough for egos and if The Race have one it’s been left at the stage door, their unadulterated enthusiasm infinitely adding to tonight’s performance which builds layer upon layer with each song. And just when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any better…it does. The pounding, guitar burst strewn ‘Tom Song’ sees lead singer and Casiotone playing Dan Buchanan mount an imaginary horse in the pursuit of equestrian…appreciation? Whatever the reason it’s somehow been lost in translation, but that’s of no consequence, it’s just damn funny to watch and compounds the fact that The Race are good value for money, pure and simple.
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It’s been a forceful and frenetic evening so far and keen to show that there’s a more considered side to them, The Race treat the faithful to the delectable ‘Amersham Road’. A beautifully considered track and one that’s performed with such a delicate understanding, that the silent participation is deafening. There’s just enough time to take a breath before closing the night with the big stunning smash ‘Go Figure’.
In short, tonight’s set saw The Race put on a spectacular display of well polished, home grown, well honed talent. Direct, to the point and a lot of fun, The Race are one of the up and coming groups of the moment. And already capable of putting on a show that many bands can only dream of are sure to go far.
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