REVIEW: The Twang
- Posted on October 31, 2007 10:31 AM
- 0 comments
The Twang
Cardiff University
Review by Gareth Thomas
Subject to much discussion in the pages of NME, it is difficult not to be excited by baggy revivalists, The Twang. Combining the charm of Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan and the cocky swagger of heroes Oasis, one can ultimately recognise Phil Etheridge and his counterparts as one of 2007’s most exciting acts. Along with effervescent Coventry trio The Enemy, The Twang have arguably revived the West Midlands music scene.
Fresh off listening to debut album “Love It When…”, I rather belatedly arrive at the venue. After the crowd are welcomed by Powerpop outfit Look See Proof and Sheffield five piece Little Man Tate, The Twang arrive, lager in hand, on stage. Their act commences with album track ‘The Neighbour’, a humorous anecdote involving a particularly irritating associate of the band. Etheridge poetically recalling his disputes – with a sound similar to that of Streets frontman Mike Skinner – is cleverly juxtaposed with the melodic tone of Bez-like vocalist Martin Saunders. With the energetic opener triggering a mass of feet tapping amongst the crowd, the Brummie outfit launch into fan favourite ‘Either Way’. With Carling cans flying and hands clapping, the swarm of fans packed in the venue are quickly captivated by Etheridge’s and Saunder’s infectious and buoyant stage personas.
Looking like they’ve over-estimated their daily sugar intake, the frontmen, amongst various song performances, continuously interact with the audience. At one point, Etheridge screams “…Don’t worry. You don’t have to sing along. It’s our f****** gig!” And right he was, as him and his fellow bandmates’ charismatic routine stole the show, and indeed, enticed the audience for one seemingly short hour.
After performing new single ‘Push The Ghosts’, The Twang launched into what is arguably their most notable song, entitled ‘Two Lovers’. A comical dance of cardboard boxes and fish amongst the crowd confirmed this particular number’s popularity. The £2 lager helped of course, but that is beside the point. The track was performed beautifully, with Etheridge encouraging members of the crowd to join in, to which, of course, they happily obliged. Inevitably, the clichéd ‘exit/encore’ scenario emerged, with the Brummie five piece performing three more tracks for the now entranced audience. After completing this, Etheridge thanks the crowd and swaggers off stage with, once again, drink in hand. One might assume the more a frontman drinks, the worse the vocals would be. Etheridge not only rids of this postulation, but he grabs it, crushes it, and probably drinks it as well.
To the disappointment of many of the bands punters, it is now time to leave. Surrounded in a sea of both skinny jeans and Burberry, it was obvious how The Twang appeal to a mass and ultimately diverse audience. From the enviable riffs to their compelling stage presence, Etheridge and his band mates entertained the crowd from start to finish. This was not merely a great gig; this was a great show.
The Twang's new single 'Push the Ghosts' is out 26 November. Ah, push it...
Check out their official site for details.
A high quality 60 sec clip from the video is available here.
Were you there? Do you rate The Twang bangers? Leave your reviews and random musings in the comments section.
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