Mixtape 1

By Ben Marshall

Why are you so shit?’ Another Gindrinker concert, another moron not quite getting it.  To be fair, it’s not hard to see why, screeched vocals about Bullseye and guitar rape in abundance does not a happy emo crowd make.

I literally do not care though, because Gindrinker are easily going to be the highlight tonight, and you should be pleased you got the chance to see them. Ashokan are next to take the stage, and are apparently Welsh Language. I couldn’t really tell, as whatever words there were to their songs was hidden behind needless retching and vomiting noises.

However, a rare gem emerged from the evening, with Suns Of Thunder bringing their epic, desert rock all the way from er… Swansea. It certainly was an experience, not unlike drowning in Rock n Roll soup, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. Jesus Christ! My DeLorean works! It’s 2001 all over again! Both Dopamine and The Guns peddle lazy and tired nu-metal riffs that simply beg the question, why did you bother? Every kid in their sister’s jeans owns a thousand songs identical to this crap, and ‘zany’ onstage banter won’t save your awful performances tonight. Finally, the treat we’ve all been waiting for, The Blackout!

Oh wait, no. Just another bunch of screeching pretty boys howling for their mates’ benefit. An admittedly more professional outfit, and dare I say it, more pop band-esque outlook. Unfortunately, this music is only appealing to 12 year olds and morons, and I am patently not a member of either of these groups.

There was one silver lining to some of these rather depressingly dark clouds in the main room, insomuch as it gave me a chance to wander through to the side room and see some thoroughly ace bands in there. Perhaps it was too much to ask to try and convert someone who prefers fey indie music to emotionally retarded pricks yelling and screaming, but I must admit I wasn’t totally repelled, and that is somewhat of a victory I must say.