Headhunter

Headhunter Records
Battle Of The Bands
10th October

It’s Monday in Soundhaus and hammering it out this week for the big win are Jimmy Jive, The Way Of The Exploding Fist and Psycho Dalek.

First up, Jimmy Jive.
This is the band that describe their sound as “riff based rock with hooks hanging from a huge bell end”
Quotes like that coming from such a cute band, I’m speechless.
They sounded what I imagine Jet to sound like on speed, with catchy wee funky guitar riffs and bass lines.
And since the bass player is doing such a grand job as bass player, I think he can afford to miss out on the singing. (Oh, is that a bit harsh, please don't hate me)
There was one track towards the end of the set, I can’t for the life of me remember what it is, but it reminded me of when I used to sit in my room and listen to my tapes of whatever was cool at the time, (lets just say Take That...coz they rawked!) and then my brother would come in and start singing it and put me right off. Well, this is how I felt. I’m not saying the bass player is a crap singer, I just felt his singing wasn't suited to this particular song, a singer with a bit of edge is what was needed and the main vocalist does that job well.

Next up, The Way Of The Exploding Fist.
Strange looking band.
Not strange looking in a Jackie Stallone kind of way. But dress-sense strange.
The lead singer looked as though he had just woken up and remembered he was playing tonight, so threw on a pair of joggies and a polo shirt and rolled in.
The rest looked as though they shopped at Littlewoods. Not that this should matter, but I like to try give a visual picture.
Now I’ve got that off ma chest, I would just like to say this band are brilliant!
I thought I was standing in front of a huge band like the Chillis or something, I’m not saying they sound like the Chillis, they're just a band I think give a really good stage performance, their sound is more similar to bands such as Sparta and Glassjaw (so I’ve been well informed by fans of this style)
When these guys got going there was no stopping them, they took over the stage and put on a good show.
The front man certainly did front the band, and he put some amount of effort into the performance.
There were a few snapped strings, but the crowd didn't even seem put off by the short delay, and nor did the band. They took it in their stride and carried on giving an excellent show.

So, to the last band of the night...Psyko Daleks
These guys sounded so much like one of my favourite bands, Rage Against The Machine. I thought this might put me off them, in a way that they were trying to be like them, but when they start singing songs called 'Shooting Guys In The Face' and 'Sha@@in' Burds Up The Bum' then you cant help but love them.
Obviously after a few shandies I couldn't really make out the lyrics to their fast paced vocals, but with titles like that you kind of get the gist. This is the type of music you want to be playing full blast in your room with your mum asking herself “Is that band actually singing what I think they are?”
I can’t finish this piece without saying well done to the drummer who managed to help pull off a great set even with a broken wrist... I won’t even ask how it happened, coz with a band who can think up lyrics as they do I don't wanna know.

So, after one of the best night so far (I think), who won through to the next round?
Well it was close, very close. But with a few more votes in the box it was Jimmy Jive.

Well done guys.

Find out more about these bands here

Jimmy Jive
http://www.myspace.com/jimmyjivee

The Fist Website
http://www.thewayoftheexplodingfist.com

Psyko Dalek
http://artists.iuma.com/IUMA/Bands/Psyko_Dalek/

Article By
Gill Brammer


Headhunter Records
Battle Of The Bands
11th October

Tuesday at Soundhaus sees Hotrod Cadets, The Mandrakes and Spyre going head to head.

First up, Hotrod Cadets.
Right, it's very unlike me, but I’m gonnae get a wee bit deep here...
This is the first band in this competition where Ive actually got right into the bands lyrics and felt I could connect, (apart from the Psyko Daleks song about “burds getting it up the bum”...
Im kidding of course :op )
These guys got it all spot on. Their sounds were very catchy and poppy, in a sense that I imagine everyone would like at least something about this band. And as I said, the lyrics were quite deep and meaningful (in a non-cheesy way that is)
The style of singing did start off a bit dodgy I thought , I couldnt work out what accent or dialect he was singing in. It was quite Scottish at times and English sounding at others. Obviously it’s good to change your style through a set, but through the same song?
Maybe it was just down to nerves, coz he managed to find his style in the matter of a couple of songs.
Later that night I found out that the lead singer in this band wrote and performed all the material on the demo he entered to the battle, and then got the band together not that long ago to perform it. Whether it was especially for the battle I don’t know, but its a good set and the guys work well together.

And so to The Mandrakes.
Where would one purchase such a fine piece of clothing?
Thats the first thought that crossed my mind when this band came on stage.
The lead singer this is, sporting what looked like a Michael Jackson style jacket,
and being a big MJ fan, this pleased me.
Hearing these guys talk, they have broad Glaswegian accents, so when the lead singer started up, it was a bit strange to hear his singing voice. You would never expect him to sound like this. It was kinda Morrissey, and sort of 80's New Romantics sounding.
This is one of those bands you could sit and listen to all night. The subject of their songs were widespread and their sound is interesting and the most original of any band I’ve heard recently.
It’s a brand new sound and I find it hard to compare to anything I’ve came across before.
Personally I think this band are an absolute find to the right industry body, and Im guessing they are gonna do really well. All its gonna take is for the right person to walk into one of their gigs and help make them the next best thing to come out of Glasgow.

And so to Spyre
Well...where do I start.
What a band of characters.
First off we have a Young Einstein lookiing dude on keys,
then Jesus on drums, and Jimmy Sommerville on vocals.
The guitarist and bass player must have felt out of place in this set up, looking all normal.
The dudes on keys and drums just looked like these characters, but the vocalist went all out on this one. He remimded me of old Jimmy mostly coz of his shaved head, his dress sense with his silvery metalic belt from New Look, and maybe because he was going from band member to band member trying to 'snog' them.
This band were here to put on a show, not just play an instrument and sing. Maybe it was a bit OTT, but the 'crowd' loved it.
These guys had the most technical difficulties of the event yet, but Young Einstein distracted us all from that by trying to get the crowd to tease Jesus (the drummer) by singing ‘Kumbya’. Only one person joined in, but it was a good try.
Not many vocalists can get away with singing in a broad Scottish accent, but put that accent together with some mad stage antics and you get Spyre. The band that made it through to the next round

So congrats to Spyre.
I look forward to seeing what else you have for your audience in the next round.

Find out more about these bands here

Hotrod Cadets
http://www.hotrodcadets.com

The Mandrakes
http://www.myspace.com/themandrakes

Spyre
http://www.spyre.org.uk

Article By
Gill Brammer