CategoryGigs

Mad Simple/Chimphouse/Sugar Bang/Burn The System

April 19, 2024 0 By Jon

Four Horsemen, Bournemouth

Since the name change from The Vixens, Dorset-based band Mad Simple have been on quite a journey and through quite a few member changes. Founder members Craig Barker (Vocals/Guitar) & Johnny Real (Drums) have recently recruited new members James Sawyer (Guitar), Bradley McHugh (Lead Guitar) and Ollie Chipchase (Bass). Craig and Johnny have always known the sound that they want to create, and this current line-up could just be the ones to help create it. The band have recently been recording a couple of tracks at Ranch Production House studio in Southampton with Daly George. Tonight, at the Four Horsemen basement venue in Bournemouth; is the launch gig for one of those tracks, their new single “Shining” and they have laid on a trio of support acts before the headliners arrive on stage.

Tonight, openers are colourful Hampshire-based trio Burn The System featuring Adam Timpson (Drums), Stacey Tindall (Guitar/Vocals) and Eli Sam (Bass). You cannot fault their enthusiasm and energy as they open with a cover of Green Day’s “Holiday”. Their Alternative Punk/Pop/Emo leanings are proudly worn on their sleeves with their original material including “Toke On You” and set highlight ” 1410″ showing them to have some promising creativity. A unusual mash-up of Blink 182’s “Dammit” and Taylor Swift’s “Never Ever Getting Back Together” rouses some of the crowd into a sing-a-long. The band seem to be a work in progress and there needs to be some more work needed in the rehearsal rooms to get things a little more fluid, making the most out of the good potential in their original material.

Burn The System 1

Next up are Southampton trio “Sugar Bang”, I’ve heard through the musical grapevine that they were a band to see and even sound engineer Alfie told me how impressed he was with them during their soundcheck. The band feature Mackenzie Barrass on lead vocals and electric guitar with Maisy Collins on bass/vocals, along with Josh Walker on drums/vocals. For a three-piece there is a serious amount going on to enjoy and there are some unique influences used to make them sound quite different from the usual run of the mill Indie bands. Mackenzie more than impresses with some great six-string work from his fender telecaster and the delightful three-way vocals are a joy with the wonderous creative infusion of “Breakdown On The M6” to the Blues/Funk of “Slow”. What a great band to be newly acquainted with and I hope to cross paths with them again soon.

Sugar Bang 1–2–3

Chimphouse are next up and they are four scruffy college students with anti-fashion haircuts, who like to have a lot of fun and they use their slapstick sense of humour to entertain. Tonight’s set is fuelled by several cans of that famous Belgium beer Stella and this in no way affects their performance. Their Punk-edged songs are full of local observations like Westbourne’s “Tesco In A Church”, “Gimp Of Winton” and there is even a song about the bands photographer/videographer called “Keeley Sized Pool Table”.

These imaginative unique songs can whip up audiences and tonight’s crowd are no different, with many singing along the words with the band. The four members of the band never stop smiling throughout their whole set and these friends show they are forever comfortable in eachother’s company. The hastily scribbled, virtually unreadable micro set-list features plenty of creative gems including the band’s next single “Seagull”. It’s a ruckus story about bastard Sea Birds stealing your chips, the hard-edged melodic guitars and the fast tempo rhythms really suck you in. I’m a big fan of “Chimphouse” as they all represent what being in a band should be about; there are no egos and no preconceived ideas – just four guys who want to play and create music while having a great time.

Chimphouse 1–2

Tonight’s headliners are quite a different proposition since I last saw them. Singer Craig has decided to forego guitar duties to become a full time unburdened frontman. With two new guitarists and a bassist it’s going to be interesting to see how they fare. Opening with the band’s debut single “Playing the Fool”, Craig shows his frontman swagger and the band show their considerable worth, giving the song new impetus. James and Bradley with their array of effects show some excellent guitar skills, working well together providing some great melodic sounds on original tracks including “No Reality”; a great driving song with an infectious groove, reminds me a little of Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life”. “Taking Out the Jury” is another of the standout tracks and shows off one of the best vocal performances I’ve heard from Craig.

Mad Simple 1–2–3–4–5

My only gripe with their performance tonight is that they do a couple of covers including a very predictable version of “Dakota” by Stereophonics. Every pub cover band play this and despite it being a great song, most people are quite bored with it – the Stereophonics have hundreds of songs, why did you have to choose that one? However, it was a good version and the band executed it quite well. The reason why we are all here tonight is the new single “Shining” and the band leave the song until last, right after playing another new offering “Nobody Like You”. Quite frankly “Shining” is one of the best tracks I have heard from a local band in a long time. The wall of bright melodic guitars with the well-matched catchy rhythms, along with the uplifting vocals just gives out positive vibes and the band end on a high getting a huge amount of positive support from tonight’s enthusiastic crowd.

Set Lists
Mad Simple
Playing The Fool
One Way Road
Statues
With Me
Don’t Let Go
Do it Again
No Reality
Anybody
Dakota (Stereophonics)
Dancing in The Moonlight (Toploader)
Taking out the Jury
Nobody Like You
Shining

Chimphouse
The Button
Men’s Menu
Greasy Joe
Bedroom Blues
Bad Entity
Tesco in a Church
The Gimp of Winton
Stone Age Slummin’
Keeley Sized Pool Table
Get Me Out Of This Place
Seagull
Burn The Fryer
Chupacabra

Sugar Bang
Sleeping in Jeans
Holes
Breakdown on the M6
Slow
Sorting It Out
She
Want it All
View From The Outside

Burn The System
Holiday (Green Day)
Toke Of You
Stacey’s Mum (Fountains of Wayne)
1410
Downfall of You
Dammit/Never Ever Getting Back Together (Blink 192/Taylor Swift)
Burn The System
Back To You

Videos