Marco Mendoza/The Kut/Hightown Parade/The Wilderpeople

The Anvil, Bournemouth

Summer is finally here and tonight The Anvil plays host to a night of Rock, with a bit of Grunge. There’s a decent sized crowd in the house awaiting the first act. A late start means an inauspicious start for The Wilderpeople who open with an instrumental/jam to get the juices flowing. They then launch into their Alt/Blues/Rock set. This is my first gig of theirs and the omens are good. The drums (Simon) thump with huge power from the outset amid an all-around tight sound. Their standout performer, however, is vocalist Adam who has a huge range and one or two impressive falsettos. Admittedly this isn’t a genre I am totally at home with but there is no doubting their talents both individually and collectively. This quintet ooze confidence and no one band come to mind, such is their diversity. With Scotty (bass) in their ranks, I expect nothing less having seen him in a couple of local leading lights on the scene. Equally, Tom and Duncan (guitars) hold this all together with some impressive guitar sounds. There’s a trap many a less confident Rock band fall into by throwing in any number of covers. No need to worry here, (to my knowledge) the set list is all original.

The Wilderpeople
1

Next up are a band who need no introduction; led by none other than Bournemouth’s hardest working frontman, one Chris Payn. Hightown Parade are an altogether different proposition with their Glam-tinged Rock. Unfazed by playing 2nd on the bill they launch straight into their set. They too have all the staple Rock ingredients and a piano added to their sound, which is a fine accompaniment. Their feelgood Rock/Glam is an instant hit with Chris’s gravelly vocal complemented by huger snare hitting amid Lo’s bass. They also have a look and stage presence quite distinct, avoiding the obvious clichÈís. “Desperate” is an early highlight while new track “Secrets” is huge with its pounding drum backbone. This is stadium-sized Rock in an intimate venue and they wonít be playing small venues much longer on this evidence. Again I’m struggling to find any obvious influences and so put that down to the true originality of their sound. Hightown Parade are definitely a band to keep tabs on.

Hightown Parade

And so to the band that brought me to this gig. The Kut (to my knowledge) are playing their first ever Bournemouth show. I won’t lie, I own their debut LP; and know all the songs so have a good idea of their set list. They don’t disappoint. Stella (bass) is not with the band tonight, replaced ably by one Dany Jones. Sadly their sound really isn’t great. The snare has suddenly become echoey and deafening while (Princess) Maha’s guitars sound scratchy and harsh almost throughout. Can’t imagine why this is the case when the two openers sounded relatively clear and clean-sounding. The vocals, however, aren’t entirely affected. “I Want You Maniac” is an early highlight while the front row of this audience are clamouring for pics of this all-female trio. The overall bass-heavy sound doesn’t improve, despite decent renditions of “Hollywood RnR” and “Bad Man” which induces a now well-rehearsed and invitational, mini stage invasion. Such a shame then that a band with such a current momentum are let down by such awful sound. Even more baffling then when the headliner arrives onstage, everything is suddenly note-perfect!

The Kut 1–2

And so to the headliner. With nothing to go on I do my research the night before, checkout some songs on YouTube and get a feel for the artist. With the perfect sound now returned I open-mindedly stick around for what can only be described as “feelgood Rock”. The drums are literally huge while the vocals are clear and audible. I don’t know the songs, but there’s noodling aplenty and more than a whiff of self-indulgence. So much so that I beat an early retreat to the bar. Drink purchased I return – sadly it’s more of the same. The one standout tune I decipher is “Viva La Rock” but for this old Punk Rocker it’s all too much of a muchness and I reluctantly leave early. I won’t lie; this music does nothing for me, but their musicianship cannot be questioned – it just doesn’t float my boat. The concept, however, is great – well-known rocker jumps in a transit van with a bunch of bandmates and does a whistle-stop tour of the minor venues of the British Isles. And clearly, I’m in the minority as this Anvil crowd are lapping it up. I wish him/them well, it just isn’t my bag.