Red Light Company + Grammatics + The Yelps @ Academy 3, Birmingham – 17th March 2009
Red Light Company have seemed to appear as if from nowhere, although they have been in existence since 2007. Much of the press that has been printed this year and late last year makes them out to be the saviour of the British music scene, praise that can have a detrimental effect on those that cannot live up to the hype.
Having downloaded the album ‘Fine Fascination’ (admittedly due to the bargain price of £4.99 and its interesting cover artwork), I was so impressed I proceeded to buy every B-side from their early singles. This doesn’t happen every day; I am not usually that easily impressed. And so, given the chance to review the tour that supports the album release, I was itching to see whether they can reproduce their rich sound on the small stage.
When approaching the Academy on Dale End, I am thrilled to see Academy 3 is the old Bar Academy, so I know I am in for a good old sweaty, dark night of loud music. And so it is, even as I ascend the stairs, the first support band, The Yelps, are already part way into their set and it sounds storming. The first thing you notice is that they own the stage, their presence is impressive, although it sometimes borders on the irritating arrogance of Johnny Borrell. The songs are an interesting mix of Hot Hot Heat (particularly ‘Bordello Shuffle’) and Libertines, slightly more quirky and infinitely more listenable as the hooks fly even within sections of the song. Their live show is also certainly more powerful than the studio versions of the songs, so check their site to find out where to see them next: they are from Wolverhampton, so no excuses.
Next up are the Grammatics, a Leeds based quartet which includes cello, so my initial impression is good, as it is nice to know not every band nowadays contains 3 guitars. However, as their songs start and end, start and end, the music just crawls off the stage and disappears under a sea of statuesque figures. The audience is restless and the inevitable conversations begin and don’t stop. The band are unquestionably good musicians, but they do not command the stage and this lack of confidence is picked up by the room, The Grammatics’ brand of indigestable intelligent rock is almost too clinical and I move to the back of the room next to their sales table, which is seeing little action.
And onto the main attraction, Red Light Company. It is great to see a venue packed to capacity on a Tuesday night, even though it is the Academy’s smaller relation. Moreover it is heartening to see people turning up as I did to see a new band begin their journey to what is hopefully a rich and end exciting future.
They begin with ‘Words of Spectacular’, which due to a slightly muddy mix is not as powerful as it sounds on the album, and also I guess they are warming up. They follow this with the stunning ‘Scheme Eugene’ which also suffers due to the great backing vocals being almost lost as the sound is soaked up by the mass of bodies pressed up against the stage.
As the band relaxes and the mix improves, the night quietly ignites and as the Anglo-American-Scottish-Welsh band power through most of the tracks from the album, the audience finally begin to move as ‘Meccano’ explodes across the venue. A small mosh-pit of one begins and ends for the first chorus; it is a indication of things to come I think.
The Red Light Company sound is very reminiscent of Arcade Fire, but I have to say that the similarities are only instrumentation and rhythm. Red Light Company’s songs match Arcade Fire’s early albums and fly past their later stuff with more complete melodies, greater hooks and more powerful soundscapes. Lyrically they know how to use magic words like “Get up”, “Stay up” in ‘Meccano’, words that are uplifting and played live it is just the thing you want to hear at 100 decibels. And it certainly lifts the crowd.
Richard Frenneaux is a great front man and seems cramped on the small Academy 3 stage. It is almost as if each time he backs away from the mic in between lines, he is itching to deliver the next line. It is a glorious sight to see passion flooding from a singer. His voice is distinctive, perhaps shaped by his early life spent away from the UK, and it soars above everything. The whirling wall of guitar and keyboards supplied by Shawn Day, Paul Mellon and Chris Edmonds is such a strong foundation for the songs and voice, but never intrudes or detracts: no easy trick. And with James Griffiths holding the beat in his pocket on drums, I can imagine this outfit taking on the world.
Highlights are without doubt “New Jersey Television”, “Arts and Crafts” and “With Lights Out”. The band are so together and so into what they are doing, their enthusiasm is infectious. The large group of people here tonight are appreciative, but polite. These are very early days and even audiences need a little time to start moshing: this was like a first date, just a quick peck on the cheek at the end of the night… next time, at the bigger Academy, when we have grown in confidence, maybe we’ll use tongues.
Having checked their background and websites for this report, Red Light Company are clearly well supported by their label Columbia Records (even though it is actually Sony) and as with label mates Glasvegas, The View, Editors, Kings of Leon etc, they have a big marketing machine behind them. There are not many indie bands that can afford to have their debut album on the iTunes front page with additional tracks at a bonus price for the first week of its release, and then have it on amazon_mp3’s front page at a bargain price throughout the second week. Also getting prime spots on Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge smacks of the secret handshake greasing the wheels of industry. I have to admit this leg up they are blessed with made me more suspicious than ever when listening to the samples on iTunes, but I was so utterly impressed and fell so deeply in love with them, that I forgave the fact that they are a major label band.. it is good to know that there is still one major record label out there with ears (albeit a strand of the monster that is Sony who seem to own everything).
And the fact that actually deliver every ounce of their dense and shimmering sound live can only be applauded. And I applaud I did. It is interesting to note though, that their sales table only had T-shirts. My cynical mind put that to Columbia or (Ph)sONY not wanting to lose valuable chart placing with CD’s sold that cannot be registered. I don’t know.
Anyway it is easy to watch Saturday night TV and come to the conclusion that the end of the world is nigh and no one out there can write or perform a good tune anymore, but there is hope: Red Light Company are a part of wave of excellence quietly sweeping the country, we just need to open our ears. I just hope that even if sales for ‘Fine Fascination’ are less than healthy that the band are allowed to continue. Too often the major labels have dropped artists with potential but poor sales, to make room for the next five minute wonder. Red Light Company are here for the long journey and I for one would like to take a seat next to them.
Review – Al Neilson
Photos – Adam Spall
“Too often the major labels have dropped artists with potential but poor sales, to make room for the next five minute wonder.” LOL @ how that’s exactly what happened to this band, four months after their album came out they’re now on Marrakesh.