This is the homecoming. Hundred Reasons are playing to the most people since their unceremonious departure from Columbia and they�ve worked damn hard to get back here. However, this capacity crowd first has to endure the labours of Redditch's Keiko. Coming across like thisGIRL with fewer songs and less/no natural flair, the trio's pointedly unorthodox, psychedelic rock posturing holds no authority in this room. At times you can sense what it is that comes instinctively to this band but that is all thrown into disarray as soon as they push something more contrived.
Despite some carefully choreographed, call-and-answer pantomime actions, one feels that Keiko would struggle to get the crowd wrapped round a lamppost, let alone a little finger. This band has a definite idea of how they think they ought to sound right now, and you can only wish them luck.
65daysofstatic appear to be able to achieve everything Keiko failed to do within a moment of stepping into view. Almost the polar opposite of the preceding band, the Sheffield quartet have seen their stock rise in recent months - in no small part due to their frenetic touring schedule which will continue to see them on the road more often than not this year. The sheer amount that this band plays together risks burnout, but before that fall from sanity you see this: a superior knowledge of how your bandmates work and move; a superior knowledge of your own instrument, exemplified by Rob Jones' intense and mindblowing drumming; and general excellence that sees the audience risking having their ears corroded by this sonic onslaught from the fourth dimension.
Devoid of vocals, you may be forgiven in thinking they are also devoid of a focal point, but there is one embedded deep within the heart of every single member. While they appear withdrawn and submerged within their own beautiful swathes of atmospheric glitch-rock, there is more personality and truth within their music than most other bands out there right now. Captivating the crowd in front of them; inflicting goosebumps and causing hair to stand on end proves to be light work. Those who have listened carefully to their work will understand when I say that this band really is as unstoppable as they always claimed.
Most bands would find that difficult to follow. This, however, is Hundred Reasons. There are few bands that have held such a strong core fanbase, and even fewer that treat their fans with the respect that this Surrey quintet does. They made sure that nobody could righteously accuse them of 'returning' by playing extensive tours of small venues, completely off their own backs and their hard work has clearly paid dividends. Opening the set with 'Broken Hands' - the opener from new album Kill Your Own - was no mistake. The crowd go wild.
Old favourites of 'I'll Find You', the epic ballad 'Falter' and the mighty singalong-tastic 'If I Could' all make appearances before a deserved encore. The newer, harder material reflects Colin Doran's recent forays into the metal and hardcore worlds and every track is executed seamlessly. On this performance you can be sure that Hundred Reasons will be around for a while yet.
65dos > *
Not surprised at 65dos. They were one of the most intense bands I've seen in a long time when I saw them at Rescue Rooms earlier this year. They are just sickeningly good. I've got uni exams right at the time when they are playing the Mean Fiddler, but fuck them, I'm going to that gig.
65
Definitely the right choice. They might play basically every day, but they don't know the meaning of the phrase "off night".
Hooray for Hundred Reasons
I saw them in Portsmouth t'other day, and they looked like they were loving every minute of it.
It wasn't mentioned above, but i think No Pretending was the highlight of the set
caught the Manc leg
of this tour. Spot on with Keiko...they were full of all that
"who here likes hundred reasons?!" crowd-play that pisses off anyone who's been to 3 gigs or more. 65days, fantastic as always, and HR were spectacular too. With a better 3rd place support, it'd be one of the better tours I've seen.
The unstoppable line for 65dos
Is totally overused - it seems to be in every review I've read of them
Good review otherwise though
this band is unstoppable
isn't it a sample used in retreat! retreat!
yes and it's in their liner notes
but most people, apparently, don't know that