Friday 4th March 05 - The Ga*Ga*s, Zen Motel and Disarm at Asylum (1/2) By Andy Dykes Photo Gallery By Darren Rogers

(1/2) (2/2)

Photograph Gallery   Disarm Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    Zen Motel Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    The Ga*Ga*s Gallery 1.    Gallery 2,    Gallery 3.

Its rock-a-rama at Asylum: tonight. Three bands, one bill, all about the rock. First up, Disarm:. Their cover of New Order's Blue Monday is superb, harking back to Marilyn Manson and Dope's covers of new romantic greats. Disarm:'s own material is intricate and expertly played. In my little bit of muso appreciation, the bass sound is great. But every aspect of this band does itself justice. They certainly look the part.

The singer's Zakk Wylde custom edition Les Paul draws attention from the thisisUll.com photographer. And it's clear that this is a band who wear its influences on its...guitar. There's a spot of Zakk Wyldeand a sense that this is the kind of Black Sabbath influenced sleazy rock 'n' roll that's making a definite resurgence at the moment.

Second on stage tonight are Zen Motel:. Zen Motel: are a three-piece, and it's easy to tell. With both the guitarist and the bassist committed to delivering notably tight dual vocals, stage presence is very much compromised. Following the comparatively visceral Disarm:, Zen Motel: are a little disappointing. Musically however, there's a lot to appreciate. There's a bluesy element to their sound.

At times they sound quite like Feeder, at other times they sound a little heavier. There's a lot to be said for what Zen Motel: do. But tonight in front of a disappointingly sparse crowd, they don't seem to pull it off.

On the plus side, I bet it sounds good on record. A brief onstage equipment shuffle, and it's time for tonight's headliners. There's a swagger about The Ga*Ga*s: as they arrive on stage. It may be smugness on their part, each member of the band fully aware of what they're about to put the audience through. Because what follows is one of the most entertaining and impressive hours of live music I have ever seen.

They tear into the opening number sounding massive. Harmonies from bassist Toshi and guitarist Rob flank the awesome voice of frontman Tommy, who jerks, gyrates and pouts his way about the stage like some terrifying Michael Jackson/Scott Weiland hybrid. From the off, this is obviously a band with great depth to their sound, but one of the immediate aspects of their sound is the power and skill of the lead vocals. Comparisons with Incubus' Brandon Boyd are almost too easily made for a band as strikingly original as The Ga*Ga*s:.

Continued ...next page

Check the thisisUll.com Gallery Photographs courtsey and Copyright © Darren Rogers 2005

Photograph Gallery   Disarm Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    Zen Motel Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    The Ga*Ga*s Gallery 1.    Gallery 2,    Gallery 3.

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