Arriving ridiculously early we manage to grab a couple of drinks before the bands come on and when Floods grace the stage.. boy im thankful.
The young 5-piece from Saint Albans under estimated any 'preconceived intentions'. If the minimal atmosphere and awkward glances weren't suffocating enough, the deafening sound of the screamers squeals had me gasping for air through my uncontrollable giggling and mockery. The band have written some potentially good riffs but its all miserably drowned in shameful arrogance and lack of coordination. Obviously desperate for fame, an amateur support as per.
Next up is Hey Vanity. Most would recognise the former Fei Comodo members. Soft vocal pitches smooth over the previous smirks on our faces and captivate the audience into an intense and personal approach to rock. The frontman, Marc Halls, has a secret demanding presence on stage. The blossoming crowd creep closer to the microphones as the gig goes on, enthralled with the new material.
The sound man let these guys down a little tonight but looking/listening past the tech, the band still encourage a decent sound. The flying guitars repress the medium drums (sweet snare rolls though!) Perhaps lacking some complexity from track to track, I blame the imperfections on the age of the band, not the competence of its members.
Typically I fall for their cover. I am a sucker for innovation. They bust into 'Hey ya' by the good'ol Outkast, showing off their knack and dexterity. Hey vanity impress me with a vast array of riffs and a lovely smooth breakdown. What I love most about the entire set is the prominent bass, the dude is not just there to flap his hair around, his twangs complete the tracks.
Marc Halls' solo pieces are also worth checking out. Via a recommendation, he is now played on a daily basis in the new Roué household.
Next up, the headlining quartet, Verses. [ origin: Brighton. Latest news: new EP 'come to life'] The soaring riffs and gratifying vocals unfortunately don't hide the predictability of their accent. However, they are a tight band with a positive ambience. They lack a catch, a hook, a snag. Their adorable guitarist is in charge of some desirable riffs though which keeps my head from sinking under water.
Unsurprisingly Verses have been picked as Deaf Havana's band of the week. Definitely a similar taste, maybe James Veck - Gilodi could grasp what an appeasing frontman should sound like...
Although I still need convincing, Verses have an undeniable chemistry.