9th 0ctober Monday Nex Above It All and The Clauberg Opera at Ringside Hull (3/3) By Michelle Dee Photographs by Kate Langan www.katelanganphotography.co.uk

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

Photograph Gallery   The Clauberg Opera Gallery,   Above It All Gallery,   Nex Gallery,

Again another very unusual looking group; the singer dressed in waistcoat and tie quite the dapper chap with attractive short blonde hair. The guitarist short cropped hair, nutty as nachos, and the drummer suited and booted, sporting a green sun visor. I've half a mind to just watch the on stage antics, rather than continue note taking, for fear I miss something. Faded comes across potent and portentous, an infectiously good song with a sexy lil' guitar break after the chorus. Lyrics are clearer than before or maybe the ear is becoming attuned to the voicing. I notice that both guitar necks look like half a backgammon column.

Just one more thing for me to ponder as the crazy one stares out with devious intent, amidst the deadpan scream vocals next to him. I find myself singing along to like it or not it's what we've got, there's definitely some crazy voodoo being channelled in here as the lead singer invokes. Extraordinarily I find the nutty one playing hide and seek behind the raised speakers. Literally it's like a game of peek-a-boo.

Then Nex undergo a time shift Hello my young squire...they sing, then ask what's the problem can't you take a f**king joke? I must impress on you they are not a joke band. Yes, they seem to have a hell of a lot of fun onstage, strange faces, odd movements, bizarre interactions but these things add to the overall effect and in no way mask the music. Paper Moon has me up dancing as did the last, I'm drawn to the juxtaposed whisper/scream vocals of the cleverly constructed song. With songs about graves, head lice (headlights?) and chronometrically challenged boys, you can't fail to be moved by Nex.

The latter being a song called Tick. It is lyrically conversational and contains some great lines including I'll keep him in the corner he can tell me the time. Ridiculously good. This four year old band come highly recommended and deserved a far greater number watching them than there were tonight.

Recently Nex have gigged with Winnebago Deal, Skindred and Amplifier. Of Winnebago Deal, the Nex boys enthused, they were incredibly brutal, they play with planks for drumsticks, very hardcore. They told me one of the strangest dates they ever played was a wake. Apparently as the band played the families were all crying, celebrating the life and the music the departed loved. As Nex left tonight they were looking forward to playing Arbroath in Scotland, they get free bed and breakfast when they play there. Look out for the selftitled album out on the 23rd of October.

www.myspace.com/theclaubergopera www.myspace.com/aboveitall www.myspace.com/nexmusic

Photographs courtesy and Copyright © Kate Langan 2006

Photograph Gallery   The Clauberg Opera Gallery,   Above It All Gallery,   Nex Gallery,

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