The Edmund Fitzgerald

The curse of the Arts Centre has risen again. Here we have four great, up-and-coming bands - one an established touring band with good reviews pouring out of their ears (Cat On Form, who I miss) - but still the turnout is minimal to say the least. Shortly after getting into the venue I also find out that the first band due on, The Edmund Fitzgerald, have broken down on the way to the venue and are now on a train to get here... things are looking ominous very early on.

15 minutes later and The Edmunds are here, onstage and ready to go. Looking up at them, prepared after their eventful journey here from Oxford, in front of an assembled crowd of around 30, I can't help but wonder how it will affect them... I need not have worried. For those of you who have not heard them before, they're epic math rock types, sounding like an extended Ships A Goin' Down but with more dips, twists and turns than your standard F1 race track. Looking composed, focused and in control, the band treat us to three songs (with the first two clocking in at just under half an hour), and keep the crowd's attention for the whole time. As they walk off, you get the feeling that not everyone here got what they were about. It doesn't matter - tonight Yannis, Jack and Lina were on form and rocking!

A short interval and on come London lads One Unique Signal. Anyone who knows me also knows that I adore these guys (see my single review), and so I get into a position where I am going to see everything, a task that's far from difficult for two reasons: firstly, everyone is stood slightly back from the stage with the exception of about seven people; and secondly, because the band's lack of stage dynamics is glaringly obvious. Opening up with the cracking track 'Lowry', things could not be any better. The sound is spot on, the guys are in sync, drummer/singer Lee is obviously up for it and everything seems rosy with the world. Then thing go slightly off course. The rest of the set is filled with new tracks (can't tell you the names of any as the band don't really speak onstage) which showcase a slightly different direction for the band. Gone are the Fugazi-esque bass lines and they have been replaced by hooks that sound lifted from The Killers. This is not necessarily a bad thing and I can't wait to hear their forthcoming album to see how it translates to record but this evening it leaves me feeling a little indifferent. However, I have that gut feeling that the new stuff will grow on me in time.

The clock says it is just after 10. I know I will have to leave soon, but not before I see local band *Teevo. Now let's get one thing clear... it is very odd to witness two post-hardcore/math-rock bands do their thing (and very well, may I add) and then hear a band who you know really should be supporting King Adora somewhere in Camden! This is indie-pop-punk-rock (covered enough genres there?) done Colchester style and, I admit, initially I am not into what is going on. However, after the second or third song, I realise why: the band are good at what they do and musically I really can't fault them but their singer is grating to say the least! With a whiney, almost Molko-esque drool and the occasional rock cliché thrown in, there are times you just want to cringe... it was like being at THAT Glitterbug gig all over again. Songs such as 'Mexico' go down well with the largely partisan crowd and by the end I have managed to almost block out the vocals and really appreciate what the band are doing because they have real potential musically to breakout of our little town... I just don't think it will be with this current line-up.

With the clock hitting 11, I head for home feeling happy yet slightly deflated at the same time. I have seen three bands do their best in sweltering heat (the *Teevo bassist declaring this "the hottest gig ever") and pull off good sets but still the crowds stay away from the Arts Centre because it is not a gig where it is cool 'to be seen'. Until this attitude is somehow overcome, great performances by bands of this caliber will continue to be missed, and that is a damn shame.