Monday 4th January 2010 - Antiproduct, Psychobabylon and Chris Catalyst at Fibbers, York By Steve Rudd

Boldly deciding to stage a gig on what is purported to be the worst day of any given year to put on live music full-stop, Mister Martyn of Screaming Tarts fame thankfully managed to book cult-rockers Antiproduct for a date on their scandalously short but undeniably thrilling tour of the UK. With Paul Miro unable to perform due to illness, the stage times of the acts were redrafted, allowing The Eureka Machines front man Chris May (AKA Chris Catalyst) to extend his solo acoustic set accordingly.

Warming up the huddled crowd with stage-stealing glee, Chris is one of the most well-known and well-respected singers and performers in Yorkshire, having been playing guitar and singing for over a decade. Ironically, it was almost ten years to the month since I booked Chris to play a gig in Driffield; at the time, in 2000, he fronted Catalyst (hence his stage-name). In the past ten years, Chris has gone on to play guitar for the likes of The Sisters of Mercy . He also enjoyed huge success with his one-man Robochrist incarnation which took many a festival stage by storm in due course.

Currently concentrating his musical endeavours on solo performances and gigs with the almighty Eureka Machines, Chris is evidently working harder than ever. Edging on stage beneath a cap, and with an irrepressible grin for company, he launched into a flurry of emotive numbers, his stupendously strong voice plastered with soul by default. In spite of the apparent seriousness of his songs, he played his between-song-spiel purely for fun, generating hearty laughter from the punters as a result of his high-spirited banter.

Yorkshire rockers Psychobabylon were the next guests of honour, promptly conspiring to deliver a tight and tumultuous volley of fast-paced and hard-driving rock numbers in order to liven affairs up somewhat. A tight quintet consisting of three former Phluid members, the Babylon boys plundered a cache of high-voltage numbers, all of which were delivered with fast and furious fanaticism. Launching into Adrenaline Junkie (a coolly reworked Slash Vegas anthem that's never sounded better) with appropriately heady gusto, it wasn't long before Nothing To Give hit out before surrendering to the likes of Claustrophobia and Time Keeps Pushin .

Sleazy overtones proceeded to anchor Trash, during which guitarist Scottish - to whom the award went for 'Band Member Sporting The Sparkliest Outfit of The Evening' - laid down a stunning riff.

Time-served anthem Freak (which was co-written by Scottish, tub-thumper Ginna and guitarist Robbie G in the hallowed days of Phluid) topped the band's set in hedonistic style, with crowd participation being the order of the evening as soon as the first note fell into place. Bearing all of the aforementioned in mind, it pays to remind oneself that Psychobabylon haven't been around for all that long, yet in a staggeringly short period of time they have managed to perfect their stage presence and to nail a bevy of truly rollicking tunes dominated by sing-a-long choruses and trailblazing riffs.

Only one band could possibly top Psychobabylon's sterling set, and that band was the mighty Antiproduct. Fronted by live-wire singer and born entertainer Alex Kane, the 'Product were kind enough to touchdown in York for one night only once Mister Martyn said he'd love to organise and promote a show for them before they left for America after playing a clutch of dates with The Wildhearts.

Hitting the stage amidst screams and shouts from the crowd, Alex knows how to bring out the best in those hold captive in his grasp. He literally takes no prisoners and absolutely will not tolerate anybody resting on their haunches whilst he's throwing every pose in the 'Book of Rock'.

Arguably the most energetic and entertaining frontman to ever have formed a band, Alex Kane is a revelation, and he wasted no time before vaulting over Fibbers' barrier in order to slide up close and personal with as many punters as possible. Charging through a perfectly balanced mixture of old and new tunes, Alex and band wisely aired a selection of material from their latest album, Please Take Your Cash. The barnstorming I Will Not Go Quietly constituted one of the newest tunes on offer.

Meanwhile, old classics in the vein of Bungee Jumping People Die and Arms Around The World conspired to get the crowd echoing every word that Alex vitriolically spat as he roamed the stage and flung his mercilessly flexible body around the dance floor. Playing up to his cartoon characteresque persona a treat, comparisons to The Joker wouldn't go amiss when a huge grin pays lip service to his visage (which, for once, was totally lacking in make-up) as standard.

Having persuaded a few new faces to join him on his UK dates this time around, the line-up which pummelled the York crowd into submission still came complete with 'Product pillar Clare on guitar. Without her, the band really wouldn't be the same. In the wake of kicking a couple of colourful balloons around the venue for good measure, Alex retired to the dressing room before reappearing in a fetching, blood-red top and head-smothering hair-piece for the final song of their set - a sensational rendition of Timewarp no less. As expected, it left the adrenalised crowd baying for more.

Alas, the show was over, and it was time to once again brave the wintry elements outside, hoping and praying that Antiproduct will return to our shores later in 2010 for yet more anarchic madness. www.myspace.com/antiproduct www.antiproduct.com www.myspace.com/eurekamachines www.eurekamachines.com www.myspace.com/psychobabylonband www.myspace.com/screaming_tarts www.screamingtarts.com

thisisUll.com Featured Writer Steve Rudd
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