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Tonight is a bit of a weird one. The gig is taking place as part of the regular 'Where Angels Play' club night at the Academy, which is always packed with the young and the beautiful of Newcastle, dancing the night away to the strains of new and classic indie.
The drinks are cheap, the music is populist, and the jeans are tight. The other thing about the WAP night is that the bands never, ever get a decent crowd. It surprises me then, when I turn around five minutes into People Of Santiago's set, to see the room packed to the rafters. Word is obviously spreading about this band - the most promising of the burgeoning Newcastle scene. And for once, trust me, you can ignore Chuck D, and believe the hype.
The band arrive on stage at around midnight, but it is a little while before they get started, due to a guitar amp needing some emergency repair work, which seems to involve copious use of gaffer tape and a lot of swearing. All is well though, and despite a few worried glances from the band, things get started soon enough, and when they do, they don't just start, they positively explode.
If you've yet to discover People Of Santiago, just imagine U2 (when they were good) swapping song writing tips with The Cure, and throwing in the attitude of The Clash at their peak. You're still nowhere close, but you might just get the idea. Live, their sound is simply crushing, and when accompanied by the thoughtful, intelligent vocals, it is a combination which cannot fail.
New guitarist Matt Hall brings a refreshing depth to the sound which was previously missing. He complements their music perfectly, and along with the rest of the band, creates a tapestry over which front man Andrew Young delivers his scathing vocals. Young is simply mesmerising. Delivering vocals with a cynicism which is unmistakeable, he spits out the lyrics to 'Broadcast' like a man possessed - here is a man (and a band) who truly believes in the music being played, and this translates into raw, unadulterated emotion in the live arena.
The highlights come thick and fast tonight, with the beautiful 'Hope Is A State Of Mind', new track 'War', and the frankly awesome 'Light Floods The Room' standing out especially. The latter being, quite simply, a classic waiting to happen. In all honesty though, the quality of the song writing throughout is exemplary.
It amazes me that this lot haven't been picked up by the mainstream yet. as they certainly deserve it. At the moment they really are the best kept secret in the North East. Surely it can only be a matter of time before someone realises their potential? See them now, while you can still get a ticket.
Voice your opinion in the eGigs forums...
article by: Tommy Jackson
photos by: Tommy Jackson
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| published: 05/02/2007 10:46 |
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