The Velcros
Tommy Flynns plays host to a lively if sparse crowd tonight, Death shirts mixing with high heels – not on the same punter unfortunately – as Camden gears up for a mix bag of punk.
The old school comedy openers Oiz to Men are, to be fair, bloody awful. But the fact that they obviously don’t give a shit combines with an embarrassing uncle’s dress sense and Oi Oi choruses to make them punk as f**k and a joy to behold. Frontman Alex breaks all his strings in time for the encore and his sans-guitar, monkey man shuffle dance makes him all the more endearing. Going nowhere, but worth sticking around for.
Next up its some creamy indie, as best-turned-out-of-the-night local faves The Velcros take the stage. Their sound a slightly bizarre but compelling mix of Duran Duran songwriting over Donnas vox. Throbbing bass and fun west coast choruses pull them through the worst of their sub-Cardigans leanings, although some serious attention needs to be paid to the lyrics. Styled like weekend office warriors, they still seem to be commited and having fun, although with the O.C. no longer putting out soundtrack albums it may be a rougher ride than expected to the top.
A certain group’s non-showing bumps Disassociates up to the headliner spot,the cowboy shirts a giveaway as they pump out some super fast,not quite rockabilly with a dirty bass and Billy Idol poses. Remakably the attitude put me in mind of Adam and the Ants – which well and truly shows my age- and there’s a reggae influence that lets the Sting /Vince Neil vocals shine, while the decent double edged lyrics are definitely intelligent, if occasionally over-eager, catchy choruses flying past too fast at times. There’s the capacity here to be massive.
