FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS

THE CHEMISTS

Bristonian rock quintet The Chemists are first on stage tonight and appear to a fairly sparse crowd just after 8pm. However, they don't let the Engine Shed's poor attendance affect their performance and deliver a half hour set of up-tempo alt-rock that is not too dissimilar from the sonic stylings of Queens of the Stone Age (amongst other perceivable influences such as Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam). Eschewing originality entirely in favour of writing melodically catchy, pop-infused rock, The Chemists' music is likeable enough although ultimately lacks any real punch on the live stage and fails to motivate the smallish audience into any noticeable movement, despite newly recruited vocalist Steve Bird's attempts to gee up those present in his role as frontman. Not a bad performance at all, but the band perhaps lack any substantive songwriting innovation that would otherwise grab the attention of many more who witness one of their shows. As such, they come across as a little flat in the Engine Shed this evening.

DATE:

VENUE:

Tuesday 14th September 2010

The Engine Shed in Lincoln, UK

Reviews & Photography by Mark Holmes

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THE CHEMISTS

FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS

Taking to the stage around five minutes after their scheduled time of 9pm, Fun Lovin' Criminals appear to loud and enthusiastic cheers from an excitable audience who come alive for the first time tonight. And, unlike the small gathering who bothered to witness The Chemists' set, the Engine Shed now has a significantly larger crowd, in excess of 600, albeit the venue has been split in two, truncated as it is by a black curtain midway back (usual practice here when ticket presales have only reached a certain amount). The evening, therefore, proves to be a more intimate context within which to experience the chilled grooves and poly-genre compositions of the Criminals who, quite frankly, ooze cool just from their stage presence before they even play the first bar of set opener 'We, The Three'. Attired in suits, charismatic frontman Huey Morgan, multi-instrumentalist Brian "Fast" Leiser and drummer Frank Benbini convey a laid-back vibe through their visual appearance and onstage demeanour that is apposite for the music, but so much so that one could easily forget what a fine bunch of musicians the band actually are. Working their way through a set which includes perennial favourites 'Big Night Out', 'Korean Bodega', 'King of New York', 'The Grave and the Constant', 'Bombin´ The L' and 'Bump', they have a pleasingly full live sound for only a three piece with layered instrumentations embellished by Benbini's skilful multi-rhythmic drumming, Fast's impressive bass widdlings, keyboards and trumpet (the latter two he occasionally plays simultaneously!), and the low tones of Morgan's vocals coupled with his impressive fretboard work. In fact, Morgan's guitar skills, particularly his soloing, are stunning tonight and, refreshingly, the man exercises restraint at all times, only letting rip as and when the mood of a song requires, never succumbing to gratuitous fretboard wanking just for the sake of it. He also epitomises cool when recounting a joke and the punchline is ruined by an overenthusiastic audience member who prematurely yells out "Dick Van Dyke" (for which she is subsequently booed en masse). Undeterred, Morgan stops telling the joke, wanders to the back of the stage, plays a few notes on guitar, before casually resuming position by his mic and coolly saying "Dick Van Dyke", engendering ubiquitous cheers throughout the venue. It's pleasing to hear the handful of new material aired tonight from new album 'Classic Fantastic' - apart from the aforementioned 'We, The Three', we also get to hear the likes of upbeat number 'Mister Sun' and the title track, which are well received, although it's 'Scooby Snacks' which really sends the crowd into a state of rapture, prompting most to jump up and down even as Morgan strikes the song's first chords. What's also pleasing is the Criminals' unpretentious attitude with Morgan informing The Engine Shed's audience - "We believe the band should come to the fans and not the fans come to the band", an unassuming mindset that is all too often lacking from particular acts within the scene who have become deadened to the root of their own popularity. Wrapping up the night, the Criminals deliver a lengthy encore which commences with new album track 'Jimi Choo'. Equipped with a Jackson Flying V, Morgan, before launching into the song's opening riff, informs the crowd - "If you've heard of Rhandy Rhoads then you know what this is about". Observing the many blank faces that surround me, the reference seems lost on the majority present, although the few in the know realise that the axe wielded by Morgan is actually a signature series V of the onetime Ozzy guitarist. Other encore tracks follow with 'Love Unlimited', 'Live Have Love', a cover of Louis Armstrong's 'We Have All the Time in the World' and closer 'The Fun Lovin' Criminal' with the latter impelling the crowd into as much movement as for 'Scooby Snacks' earlier in the night. After two hours on stage, Fun Lovin Criminals exit to even louder cheers than when they first appeared. An amazing performance from one of the world's most unique bands.

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