Page 36 - RYAN'S GIG GUIDE NOVEMBER 2014

RGG November 2014 - p.36
Sunshine Underground burst on to the scene back in 2006, riding on the
crest of the wave of a very short lived music fad known as Nu Rave.
Possibly one of the shortest lived music crazes ever.
Featuring on the NME Indie Rave tour in
with Klaxons New Young Pony Club and CSS
for me they were the highlight Whilst Klaxons
went on to win the Mercury Music Award
before disappearing it would appear that
Sunshine Underground simply disappeared
along with the other two
A bit of radio air play getting bummed by the
NME and three (in my opinion) cracking
singles wasn’t enough to get them any major
commercial success Maybe they should have
taken more E or just been plain bizarre like
Klaxons a gimmick of sorts certainly wouldn’t
go amiss
A little research on the band (every student’s
best friend Wikipedia) tells us that the
Underground are still going strong regularly
touring and performing and have recently
released their third album A quote from the
band states they prefer playing in small venues
where every gig is a party Good job as I can’t
see them filling the NIA in the near future
If a small venue with a party atmosphere is
what the boys from Salop wanted then Slade
Rooms is the perfect venue on one count The
crowd also did their best to fulfil their part of
the deal
A fast pace and almost chaotic performance
was very enjoyable Guitar distortion wailing
from Craig Wellington and the odd missed note
or chord was exactly what I want to see from a
band like this A fucking performance! Some
character some balls a little interaction with
the crowd and a ramshackle execution of their
back catalogue I’ve complained extensively
that recent gigs I have been to have been
recitals rather than performances Fair play to
these lads It was as if they were jamming in the
garage annoying the neighbours rather than
putting out a polished performance and the gig
was definitely better for it
Favourites from the first album Raise the Alarm
got the crowd singling along and the
temperature rising whilst tracks from the new
album were largely greeted with a good degree
of positivity It appears the guys got new
keyboards for Christmas as the sound has
become more synthy I’m sure on a couple of
tracks they even put their guitars away
As always my favourite instrument of all time
the cow bell saw plenty of action I was
however mystified to see that rather than the
real deal they used a sample sound from some
sort of drummachine… Bemused doesn’t even
being to convey my confusion
Klaxons have recently bumped out a new
album could Sunshine Underground too hit a
return to form and favour or are they destined
to continue playing “parties” at smaller venues?
Somehow I think and secretly hope it’s the
latter
Unfortunately to my dismay I had to leave the
gig early I’d arranged to meet a girl at the train
station Incredibly I had traded the Sunshine
Undergrounds’ last few tracks and undoubtedly
top draw encore for a French kiss and a suck on
a titty Note “one titty” not both! This is
possibly the worst deal I ever made
If you get chance to catch the Underground
playing at a party near you give them a chance
I promise you won’t regret it! Harlytosis