|
Hundred Reasons @ Sound, Leicester Square
Hundred Reasons are known for a few things; great riffs, lead singer Colin's big hair
(which is looking damn fine, it has to be said), but most of all, an enthusiastic-as-hell
attitude at live gigs. They open with 'Formula One', a b-side from their last and most
successful single to date, and quite simply, they rock.
What's great about Hundred Reasons, and what I think makes them better than a bunch
of other bands doing that whole noiserocknroll thing, is that, for a change, there are
definite tunes behind the noise. Tunes, not just in the riffs, but in the melodies too,
emphasised by the great harmonies from the other band members, which are simply
gorgeous.
There are a few weak moments in the set, the second last song was kinda dull (probably
very sweet on record, but a bit boring live), and perhaps the band don't have enough
material yet to blow you away for a whole hour. They played a clutch of b-sides, and
whilst most were kick-ass, there were a few which weren't too hot, like new track 'Rush-
In' (which, to be fair, they did apologise for slightly fucking up).
No worries though, the good bits undoubtedly outweighed the rest. The best songs are
the out-and-out catchy rocknroll tunes; tunes like 'Shine', 'I'll Find You' and the track
which got the crowd going mental, last single 'If I Could' (good enough, incidentally, to
survive a dedication to, eurgh... Zane Lowe).
On stage the band really give it their all, jumping around like their lives' depended on it,
not letting up for a second, without ever dropping a note, and more importantly, without
a smile ever leaving their faces. On new single 'Silver' a track where guitarist Paul sings
the verse, Colin doesn't wander off in the corner, but dances his fucking heart out.
Near the end of the set the band play 'Remmus', the first track from last year's EP2, and
the song that made me fall in love with them. It sums up everything that's brilliant about
Hundred Reasons. A catchy melody, great backing vocals from guitarist Larry, and a riff
that, about a year after I first heard it, I still can't get out of my head.
Their debut album 'Ideas Above Our Station' is out on May 20th, fame and fortune, to
some extent, must surely beckon, and, to be honest, I can't think of a single new band
in Britain at the moment that deserve it more.
|
