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Or "The Camden Invasion Marches North" as this tour should possibly be known. We here at "Brain Stew" have our preconceptions about this new London-centric scene the NME keeps raving about here in Leeds and the general consensus is that if Razorlight and Babyshambles are the self-appointed doyens of it, it doesn't bode well. Come on then folks, torch our preconceptions why don'tcha?
Torching preconceptions is actually something that openers Babyfood do pretty well. This is the third time I've seen these electro-punk noiseniks and after the previous two I was pretty convinced they had to be one of the worst bands I'd ever seen. However, tonight they've done an admirable job of evolving into something quite good - the addition of a keyboardist to the line-up has gone a long way to filling out the previously rather tinny "drum machine and bass" backing while singer Noah's voice has evolved from a mildly irritating yelp to a full on Mark E Smith-style bark. Indeed, it's "Cruiser's Creek" era Fall who the new-look Babyfood most resemble sound-wise and that can't be a bad thing.
After that, Special Needs are a real disappointment. The set starts off promisingly enough with the opening two songs containing the sort of vocal harmonising you just don't get as much of as you should in skinny leather jacketed indie bands nowadays but thereafter it all rapidly descends into dreary derivative "singalongaLibertines" territory. Guys, really, one Pete Doherty is more than enough thanks.
True stars of the evening though are the Barbs. Peddling a fantastic high-octane blend of sci-fi punk with shared boy/girl vocals which owes more than a passing nod to the mighty Rezillos (a group who frankly more bands nowadays SHOULD be owing at least a passing nod to imho), they absolutely destroy the Vine tonight. From the gleeful joyride through opener "Idle Hands" to the crashing closer "Go!", their set is one gold-bollocked snot-punk classic after enough with former single "Bury You", the sleazy "Massive Crush" and the brilliantly-named "The Importance Of Being Evil" being particular highlights.
It all leaves headliners the Rocks with a very difficult act to follow particularly given that this reviewer heard their album the other month and wasn't particularly impressed by it but live they put on a decent enough show to round the evening off with complete with a singer who frequently dives headlong into the audience to offer the mike around (something gigs these days should have more of if you ask me) and enough energy in songs like "Everybody In The Place" to keep you interested. Not so much a torching of preconceptions as warming them over a low heat but it'll do for me.
Review by Andy James
