…”we keep on playing”

iForward, Russia @ Cambridge Junction, 13th Nov 2006
First things first, this was the fifth time I’ve seen these guys in 12 months. There’s just something about their live set that gets me excited(!) everytime I see them live, I never get bored, I’m captivated by their frontman’s microphone cable antics and thrashy guitar lines.

However, before them we were entertained by Pull Tiger Tail. A good fun band who sounded like The Killers but with a bit more energy. They were good fun and whilst the talkative bassist/keyboardist didn’t seem to take it too serious, dropping chords and conducting some banter with the crowd, they still had an air of the “rock star” about them. Could be big this time next year if they play the right places.

Next up was one of the reasons I went along last night, Help She Can’t Swim. I’ve read and heard a lot about these guys, but they’ve not played Cambridge before which, on evidence of last night, is a real shame. Ploughing some lost furrow between Siouxsie and the Banshees, Add N To X and PiL, they were an obvious support act for Forward, Russia. Full of energy and madness, the front woman showing the crowd her full range of pouting and “can’t be arsed” dancing. Entertaining again and, although the mixing didn’t seem quite right for all the instruments and vocals, an impressive set that didn’t quite capture the imagination of the young crowd. Stand out lyric being “There are no revolutions, just rotting corpses”. Nice.

Then there was the main attraction: iForward, Russia. Now, having seen these guys a few times already, I was a little concerned over the setlist, but it’s been tweaked and their sound has been honed and tightened over their continuing touring. They sounded fantastic last night, the louder the better. I still can’t understand a word that the frontman is singing, but it doesn’t matter. The energy that he displays on stage is amazing, thrashing around to the post-punk noise flowing from the rest of the band, it’s as if he feeds on it, he has some monster inside him that needs the music to burst out and throw the human body around the stage. Controversially, they played a new song and it had a name (though I can’t remember what it is now)… no more numbers?!? The illusion has been shattered!! That aside, it sounded great and hopes for another album is high.

A great nights entertainment then and one that’s left my ears ringing this morning. Best live band at the moment? Most definitely.

http://www.myspace.com/pulltigertail
http://www.myspace.com/helpshecantswim
http://www.myspace.com/forwardrussia