|
|
Imagine, if you can, a band such as this - a heady blend of the Roses' psychedelia, the Mary Chain's brooding menace and the early Verve's skyscraping atmospherics. That's still to come. But first...
Tonight is a Radio 1 showcase type thing. Steve Lamacq's compering, you sort of know the score. Openers Reuben hail from Ireland and sound like a poor man's Wilt. There's nothing wrong with them as such - songs like "Throat" have a certain desperation that draws you in and there's enough bite there but there's an overwhelming feeling that we've seen it all before.
Which is not an accusation you could level at the Rain Band. Hailing from Manchester, this lot have sneakily wrapped together the best bits of their city's musical heritage, added a few other bits here and there (the Mary Chain, Mansun) and come up with possibly the best new band of 2003 so far. Songs like "Easy Rider", "The Runaways" and "The World Is Ours" crash through in a superb psychedelic haze blending grinding riffs and scowling vocals to devastating effect.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club watch out - the ante has just been upped. Don't be surprised if you see the Rain Band headlining much bigger venues in the near future.
Reviewed by Andy James
