The Spinto Band

Lock 17, London on Wed 12th Jul 2006

The Spinto Band are just hitting the edge of the big time and I was really looking forward to the gig. However, I left the venue feeling slightly disappointed and I haven't been able to put my finger on it.

Was it too much booze?

I doubt it. Is it even possible to have too much booze? Rule that out. All bands sound better when under the influence...

Did the support band, Air Traffic, get things off to a bad start?

They certainly did. They put me in an absolute stinker. If a band are going to be as bland and middle of the road as these lifeless plodders (think Morning Runner/Thirteen Senses but way worse) then they at least need to have a bit of stage presence. I just hope they have no success (I can't see how they will) because I wasted 30 minutes of my life listening to their dirge and I'm never going to get that back.

So what was wrong with The Spinto Band?

In principle, absolutely nothing. I was stood right at the back of the venue. The sound was shocking but the band looked great. The first thing that strikes you when watching The Spinto Band is the energy. A 6 man band with so much movement and bouncing around is quite an impressive sight (especially on such a tiny stage!). To look at they're vaguley reminiscent to the Terrance and Phillip from South Park or possibly the Thunderbirds. Basically, lots of wobbling heads - David Gray in fast forward...

Anyway mid way through the opening song I moved forward a bit and the sound improved dramatically. Air Traffic may have been brilliant if I'd have stood here for their set (they wouldn't have though - they were really sh*t). My trouble now was that I was perched behind a seven foot tall giant with his six foot tall girlfriend who were both recording the gig above their head with a digital camera. With their arms above their heads they were at least 9 foot tall. I couldn't see a thing and part of the appeal of The Spinto Band must be their stage presence. They're a happy-go-lucky band that look like they're really enjoying themselves and the kind of enthusiasm that oozes out of the band spreads to the audience. I couldn't see them so that's maybe why my enthusiasm dwindled.

I've been listening to "Nice and Nicely Done" quite a lot in the past few weeks and it's a great album. New wave pop of a high order. In a live setting the band proved to be more than capable of re-producing top drawer renditions of their back catalogue. 'Brown Boxes" was backed by a polka style beat and it relied less on the guitars and more on some creepy harmonies. You can't fault a band who use a kazoo can you?? The stand out track of the night (and of their recent album) was "Mandy" (although I do think it goes on a bit too long...). The crowd favourite was shown to be a sun-drenched pop classic. In the live arena it was given an extra edge and was slightly rockier and more ramshackle than on their record. Brilliant stuff. To finish the night they played a cover of Tommy James and The Shondells/Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now". Good tune - well played... but I'm a firm believer that bands should be able to leave the crowd to an ovation having played their own material. Is this a cop out? Answers to somebody other than me because I've already decided that it is a cop out.

So, in conclusion, that disappointed feeling I felt when leaving old Dingwalls was probably my own fault. The Spinto Band were mainly excellent but the venue didn't do it for me. The sound wasn't great and I did myself no favours by perching behind Goliath to watch a very visual band. However, I'll definitely be catching them at a couple of festivals over the summer because they'll be top value on a sunny afternoon (probably in a tent but you can't have everything).

article by: Thomas Powell

published: 17/07/2006 10:03



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