5/12/2006 Unleashed and Loaded @ The Purple Turtle

Subject	Unleashed and Loaded
DateCreated	12/19/2006 4:25:00 PM
PostedDate	12/5/2006
Body	Unfortunately I didn't arrive at the Purple Turtle in time to see Rollin' Thunder. New Generation Superstars were playing as I walked in. In spite of the hype I've seen on the net they failed to make much of an impression on me - standard 80's rock look and lots of long hair. Not bad or anything, but the music didn't seen to stand out from all the other glam/sleaze outfits currently doing the rounds. On the other hand, Teenage Casket Company do seem to have something a bit special going on and nearly everyone I know who has seen them play has been very impressed.  They describe themselves as being like 'punk rock Bon Jovi' and it's quite an accurate description, although it sounds pretty uncool on paper. When you see them live it actually works rather well, and the band put on a real effort to put on a great show. Loads of poses are pulled and shapes thrown - but unlike certain other bands playing the same circuit, they manage to pull it off without being cheesy and looking ridiculous. They are also very polished performers as far as the music is concerned - this is a band built for big stadiums, and they look like they are ready to play them now - not in five years time.  Frontman Rob Wylde makes a comment about what a good bill this is tonight, and says that Vamps 'N' Gypsies (most of whom are present) should headline the next 'Unleashed and Loaded' show. I think quite a few people would agree with that - and not just the band! Next up are Drugdealer*Cheerleader - another band who aspire to stadium rock, but visually at least don't appear to have it together. Apparently they have a 'stylist' - you wouldn't know it to look at them.  They have a few decent tunes though, and can play well enough. They are looking for second guitarist at the moment, but for the time being Richie from Kitty Hudson is helping them out for a few gigs. In spite in looking a bit untogether visually, this is a band who are pretty serious about going places and they put on a good show to prove this. They actually have their own cheerleaders - pop-poms and all! This is a good move and helps make for a memorable show. Jack Viper close the show as the crowd thins out towards the end of the night. This is another band who are serious about making it and seem to have pulled off a nice move in somehow getting one of their songs pre-loaded onto vast quantities of new Creative MP3 players. However, they are lacking somewhat in the song department in my opinion - it takes more than one or two good riffs to make a good song. They also need a better singer if they are going to get much further. The above two points are where nearly all of the current batch of 'sleaze' clone bands fall down. It's all style over content and the music seems to be the last thing these bands work on, when it should be the first. Maybe they are happy being a big fish in a rather small pond. The thing is, this is actually quite a small 'scene' - although most the people in it don't seem to realise that simple but important fact. To break out of it you need to have something a bit special and a bit different. And good songs. Most of these bands are excellent musicians technically - being a virtuoso musician is all very well, but no one apart from other musicians (and not all of them either) are interested in how many guitar lessons you've had and how many notes you can play a second. Many of these sleaze bands also have terrible singers - to these guys: You are probably damaging your voices with your appauling technique - you are certainly damaging my ears. Please stop. Nearly all these sleaze/glam bands look and sound virtually the same - they need to take a step back and look at themselves and the other bands on the circuit.  That above rant isn't aimed at all the bands on the bill at this show - a couple of them stand out from the other clones in the crowd and might just break out of this scene...