Gay For Johnny Depp + The Computers + For Eyes + Diamonds @ Flapper & Firkin, 23rd February 2011
The room is pretty empty when Diamonds kick off, but that doesn’t stop the impressively talented frontman from storming into the crowd from the first beat. The band really set the tone of the night, it’s all about spazcore ADHD indie-metal tonight. The hectic and sporadic bursts of screamy metal are impressively juxtaposed between serene and soaring vocals and funky bass riffs. The band keeps it moving with some great solid bass and drum work, while the guitar adds the melody – and the brutality to the sound. A little waffly between songs, but quite charming while doing so. Definitely one to watch for.
For Eyes are up next and again, the singer seems to hate the stage. Spending his time split between thrashing about up front, right in peoples faces and suspended above the crowd by a sea of hands. It’s an impressive site to see in such a small venue. It’s a good thing the room has filled out a bit, otherwise a painful fall was inevitable. Their style is a little more down-to-earth that Diamonds, but it sure kicks just as hard, and a touch of eastern European folk gets thrown in there to. Their solid rhythms start to get heads nodding while their banter is genuinely funny – even if not meant to be. It seems to be a real sociable crowd tonight, and while they haven’t got moving much yet, they’re more than happy to shout out some abuse. Again a great set from a unique band.
The Computers come on dressed all in white, with wonderful black hair all quiffed up. It’s a little like a bad Elvis impersonation meet-up, but it’s suits they’re brutal rock ‘n’ roll style. The band has been described as a 50’s meets hardcore, and that’s pretty much it. Rock and Roll riffs fly out of the distorted guitars with a power never seen before, and it works. Beefed up riffs still swing, while the pounding drums really drive it home – turn it all down a notch or two and there’s some brilliant classic rock songs in there. Once again the frontman hates the stage, taking his guitar and the micstand for a tour of venue, from the middle of the crowd, to the sound desk, and even behind the bar. It’s not something that gets seen a lot, but when hardcore Bill Haley is screaming in your face it sticks with you.
Last on are Gay For Johnny Depp, the only non-British band of the night, who have an awful lot to live up to. But not only do they manage it, they blow all expectations out of the water. They kick into some seriously bad-ass (and that’s the only way to describe it) rock tunes, and they just don’t let up. It’s fast, it’s heavy, it’s catchy and it’s funny.
Splitting vocals between the frontman, guitarist and bassist really adds some meat to the heavier sections while also allowing from some real innovation in the sung parts. Melodic then heavy, and sometimes both at the same time. After climbing atop a table during a quiet bridge, the vocalist starts to croon the words of Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’ ending in a nice sing-a-long, and then back into the the brutal ending to their song. Ending the set with ‘Cum on feel the Boize’ really capped the night off brilliantly with everyone in the now packed out flapper singing along.
Review – Ben Duff
Photos – Andy Watson
wow… artys looking well old.