Saturday 16th July 05 - Doing Hull a Favour - Silhouette Club (2/5) By Joe Hakim Photo Gallery By Mo

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5).

Photograph Gallery   Hollywood Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    The Shine Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    The Favours Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    Gallery 3,

At points the whole thing comes very close to falling to bits, but the band manages to keep things together with the glue of sheer enthusiasm and guts. This is due in part to the guitarist, who battles with his guitar through the entire set, surfing the waves of feedback yet managing to never fall off the board. Their deceptively simple sound gives nods towards Thin Lizzy, Oasis, Jane's Addiction and even a little bit of early Iron Maiden, yet at no point do the band wear any overt influences on their sleeves, instead choosing to go for the three minute power-pop format with full gusto.

You can tell that they are new band, and they are a bit tatty around the edges, but despite this - or maybe because of this - I like this band. I have a real affection for garage bands that have actually rehearsed in someone's garage.

They have a long way to go, something I'm sure they'd be the first to admit, but they're a band that I would definitely see again. In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing how they develop. And I must give a mention to their bass player. I didn't catch her name, but she was the epitome of female rock chick cool. Standing nonchalantly in a cowboy hat and bright red Rock n Roll Saves Lives t-shirt, she seems to regard the whole thing as some sort of amusing aside, never once betraying a single flash of nerves. Plus, it's the first time I've seen a female in a Hull rock band. It won't be the last though...

I go for a drink and wander around for a bit. The roof of the Silhouette appears to be made of black corrugated iron, and it gives the place quite a dingy atmosphere, but it suits the venue. When the zombie hordes finally arrive and the surface of the earth is covered with the wandering undead lusting after fresh human meat, the Silhouette would be one of the first places that I will acquire as a fort. Don't ask me why I thought that, I just did.

Looking down onto the dance floor, I notice that the guy that had been swinging his t-shirt around has returned, busily dancing away like a pleb. Such ostentatious displays of drunkenness leave me cold. When I'm drunk, I prefer to engage the bullshit gland and waffle about crap rather than jump about like a Mexican bean. To each his own, I suppose.

The Shine take to the stage, and it's apparent from the outset that this is band is totally different kettle of fish from the last one, and that's just by looks alone. They start their first song, and I'm actually a little surprised. The lead singer seems to have stepped out the Madchester School of Frontmen, but the band seem to have quite an American sound. To begin with, I'm left thinking of bands like Pearl Jam and REM, rather than the Charlatans or Stone Roses.

The lead singer dances around the stage, and the whole thing is delivered sharply. It's obvious that this is a band that has spent quite a bit of time together, and they have a confidence that bleeds over into cocky territory quite early on.

Continued... Next page (3/5).

Check the thisisUll.com Gallery Photographs courtesy and Copyright ©  Mo 2005

Photograph Gallery   Hollywood Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    The Shine Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    The Favours Gallery 1,    Gallery 2,    Gallery 3,

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