It's
great to witness something special, to see a new up and coming band that really
do the business live. Straight out of Carlisle, The 45s are one such band that
deliver. I knew they were going to be good, word of mouth recommendations and
several YouTube videos later I was sure of that and to be totally honest with
you a new band has not impressed me this much live since I saw Vintage Trouble
hit this very same stage for the first time nearly 3 years ago.
The
difference? Well for a start these guys are 17 years old: yes, just 17 and
their influences are pretty much artists that were in their prime well before
these young lads were even born, hell some of their influences date back to a
time before their own fathers were born. Howlin' Wolf, Wilson Pickett through
to The Kinks and Dr Feelgood and on now to the likes of Vintage Trouble. That
is the difference between these guys and most new bands, they have not been
tainted by anything that has been released in the last 40 years (or if they
have they don't show it) and this comes through in the songs and their delivery
as a live band. It's like they've been wrapped up in a little bubble in their
own world ready to be unleashed on the unsuspecting world and boy are we in
need of a young band like this to hit the mainstream.
Up first
tonight though are The Valmores, a local band. Again like the headliners they
are young and up for it, as are the gang of drunken teenage followers down at
the front, very excitable and with probably too many ciders inside them. One
lad comes to the mic to introduce the band and mid-set came up again to take a
selfie with the audience in it, I presumed he was a mate of the band, their
roadie or even a very young manager, turns out the band had only met him today,
funnily enough chatting to the singer afterwards he didn't have a clue who any
of them were down the front.
The
Valmores are an energetic band from the start, singer Nathan shouting out to
crowd at the back to get things going. Jangly and slightly punky Indie noise I
guess, I hear the likes of Joy Division mixed with Arctic Monkeys quirkiness
and a dose of early U2 even. The first few songs were decent enough, showing
definite promise and even though I feel they did lose momentum they got a good
response, a good warm up.
With a
sound that mixes '50s rhythm & blues, the best '60s beat combos and a heady
dose of rock 'n' roll, The 45s come kicking and screaming like you wouldn't
believe. Suited and Chelsea booted the band rip straight into a set of non-stop,
instantly satisfying rock 'n' roll, barely stopping to breath between songs.
Opener
'Nothin Round Here' sounds old, aged and classic already on first listen,
drenched in raucous blues and harmonica courtesy of vocalist James Green. In
matching black military style jackets the vocalist and guitar player Tom
Hamilton look and sound the business, and while the vocalist tends to stick to
the mic, it's the livewire guitarist who is the focus of attention. He
literally struts the stage back and forth, pulling riffs from that low slung
Les Paul, leaving the more than competent backbeat of Bailey on drums and Joe
on bass to keep it all together.
It's
straight into recent single 'Devil Of A Woman' sounding like real early, raw
Beatles, it's a fine song indeed. The guitarist takes lead vocals for the
mighty fine 'It Ain't Over' a full on Small Faces/Dr Feelgood rocker and it's
plain to see these guys have the songs and live they are real tight, full of
energy and could give bands twice their age a good run for their money.
'Number
34' sounds like an old Chuck Berry number with added harmonica, the raw and
raucous 'Don't You Mess Around' kicks nicely and the beautiful 'Don't Cut Me
Loose' has Tom showing what a mighty fine guitar player he is.
The
songs are short and sweet, many start as soon as the last one stops. There is a
definite sense of urgency with this band, sure many will say they are doing
nothing new, but damn, it's the most refreshing thing I have seen in years.
What
more can I say about The 45s? Together for 2 years, they have a single and a
covers EP to their name so far, a bunch of demos done and dusted. Bands don't
come much newer than this, but The 45s are far from wet behind the ears, they
are on the ball and the real deal. They may not have an album ready to go yet,
but The 45s will be in no hurry, there's a live reputation to be built first
and on this display the future of rock 'n' roll could well be in their hands.
Following
in the footsteps of The Strypes, The 45s are a young band playing primal rock
'n' roll from another decade. They were made for festival stages and small
sweaty clubs like this, so if they come near you soon I highly recommend you go
see them and you can thank me later, ones to watch without a doubt.
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