A IS FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS/ FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! PHOTOGRAPHY @ NEW CROSS INN 23/01/08

A IS FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS

I will start by saying that this is a type of music that I find hard to determine genres with and will struggle to compare to other bands. Not the best opening sentence to a review but I’d prefer to be honest than look daft when I try to compare and categorise them. The band seem to play metal music and yet the singer seems to think that he is fronting a hardcore band. I would presume that this is what is often referred to as ‘metal-core’.

The singer chooses not to take to the stage with the rest of the band, and instead he spends the entire set running from left to right on the floor in front of the band. His energy is not matched by the band who seem happy to not utilize the additional space left by the vocalist and instead remain relatively stationary throughout the set. I find that it leaves me looking at the Duracell-esque front man and paying little to no attention to the band. When I do I find some strong guitar-work and thumping riffs.

This is not the kind of band that I can really do justice reviewing. It is hard for me to determine how good they are as I have few bands to compare them to. However, my foot was tapping throughout and if they happen to be on another bill that I’m already planning to attend then I’ll definitely give them a second watch.

http://www.myspace.com/aisforautomaticweapons

FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! PHOTOGRAPHY

***SPOILER ALERT***
If you haven’t read my last review of Flash! Flash! Flash! Photography then I’d recommend reading that first. Seriously.

Tonight you can hear Michael Hemsley (lead vocalist) singing. So often riddled with sound problems that mean that you can only hear him when screaming, tonight, with their fifth gig, they seem to have sorted that issue. In its place the guitars seem a little hollow (although this does help to highlight the impressive bass work as that stands out in the mix), Rob (drums) manages to fumble beats on occasion and they have feedback problems. But their sound problems have less to do with the band and more to do with the borrowed equipment and the lack of a sound check.

The performance tonight is solid if not spectacular. For a new band ‘solid’ should be good enough. Every gig should be regarded as an opportunity to tighten your sound and the first ten gigs should be free of judgement. But 3FP don’t appear happy with that. At every gig they seem to have reworked a song and tonight’s is I Hate You. I actually think that the new version doesn’t work as well, but this may be more due to a lack of practicing it. The band though seem adamant to try new things wherever and whenever possible. I think that this deserves credit even if it is a little too ambitious currently. The band also attempts to cut the onstage banter tonight and I think that this detracts from the performance. Tonight was the first night that there were people amongst the crowd who were not friends with the band and I think that the banter would’ve helped to win them over. Instead I felt a slightly negative attitude from that part of the crowd that possibly seemed to think that 3FP aren’t punk/hardcore enough for them.

3FP are still playing predominantly playing to friends, partners, flatmates and colleagues but this can’t, and won’t, continue forever. The band features two of my best mates but I don’t watch them out of obligation. Flash! Flash! Flash! Photography are currently in that judgement-free ten-gig period but they’re not taking that for advantage. I expect to write a glowing review come their eleventh show.

http://www.myspace.com/flashflashflashphotography