I had heard, prior to arriving at the gig, that tickets hadn't sold for this gig very well. As I arrived 30 minutes before the doors opened, there were 9 people... it didn't look promising. By the time the first band came on stage, there were almost 300 in the venue... thank heaven for small mercies.
Openers Melaton are very decieving. Their opening song sounded like a Travis/Coldplay cross over and that is never a good start but by the second and third track, I was really into them. Their second EP 'Falling Star' was released on 22 April (the first, 'Moonstorm', was a limited edition website thing) and is on my shopping agenda after this viewing. In todays current climate, I can see the Starsailor fans wetting their pants over this...
The band I have come to see are on next and I am almost trembling with anticipation. Jetplane Landing come on looking like a glam band without the make up and they all get set-up and ready to rock. Now, from the off-set I say this, they are LOUD! Their slightly off kilter guitaring and pause-go lyrics make me think of ATD-I and they are good if you like that kinda thing... but I don't. Of their 9 or 10 song set, 3 of the songs sounded like remixes of Nirvana's 'Negative Creep' with the set closer being virtually identical, chord for chord, even in the break. I admit, I had built them up to be knocked down and they weren't awful, they just weren't what I wanted them to be.
30 minutes later and the strobe lighting is on and, whats this? It's Pär Wiksten! After a quick rub of my eyes I realise that it David Line and headliners Seafood come on to an almost muted greeting. They do have their usual selection of die hard fans (helped by fellow DiS writer and Colchester(ish) bred starlet Vic Bird playing live flutes for the band tonight) but as always with the Colchester gig going public, the rest are in their 'impress me' stance from the get go. Seafood produce what you would expect, a solid dousing of indie rock that reaffirms your belief that some bands do have talent (especially drummer Caroline Banks vocal abilities which really should be used more often) if not the publicity required to take that extra step. I do feel sorry for the band in a way as they have never conformed to become accesible and now their specific genre is very much in the ascendency they are still over looked; Always the bridesmaid...
I can't tell you what songs were played as I am not a massive fan and I couldn't acquire a set list and for that I apologise. On stage banter is limited apart from Kevin telling the crowd to 'Muthafuckin' bounce' and a brief 'ouch' after catching his finger as well as the introduction of 'Flute-core and 'Emo flute' when Vic comes onstage, but the band let their music do the talking with a constant musical assault. 50 minutes later the band walk off and the crowd call for more... no movement. 10 minutes later the crowd who remain (about 60) are still baying for blood and David sheepishly comes back out again... 'We don't do encores' he says almost embarrased to be back out on stage. He picks up his acoustic guitar and plays a b-side off the bands new single to the remaining fans who have hung around.
In retrospect, the gig was better then I had anticipated. The three bands were all very different musically and it was an interesting experience as I had no real preconceptions. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't converted to Seafood tonight, but I have a new respect for them and if they keep performing sets like this, then I am sure the Church Of Seafood will have more disciples then it started with.
