29/4/2010 Eureka Machines & Shush @ Islington Academy 2

Subject	Eureka Machines & Shush @ Islington Academy 2
PostedDate	4/29/2010
	Islington again tonight - upstairs at the Academy 2 this time. Bastards have just put their prices up - nearly £4 a pint now!  Another venue where I won't be drinking as much now.  This is a gig I've really been looking forward to: Eureka Machines and Shush on the same bill - get in! The bill is supposed to be opened by some 'Super secret special guests'. Naturally there is much speculation on this! I was thinking maybe Ginger or Alex Kane? Other people mention Sorry & The Sinatras or the Loyalties. Whoever it was supposed to be, they don't turn up.  Someone tells me it was going to be Ginger, but he's too knackered to make it. We get an acoustic Eureka Machines duo instead, and they are very good!  Chris says the 'Special guest' couldn't make it so they are stepping in instead. Someone else tells me there never was going to be a 'Special guest' and that was always the plan anyway. Interesting that Eureka Machines 'just happened' to have a couple of acoustic guitars with them as they aren't in their usual live set... Next we get Night By Night. They are good musicians, but my first impression is of a very run-of-the-mill metal band. It's not until the last two or three songs of their set that they start to win me over. Shush are up next - always a quality live band! I've never seen this band give anything less than an excellent performance, and tonight is no exception. I don't know if it's deliberate on the band's part or if it's the PA, or just the way the sound is mixed tonight, but Shush sound noticably heavier than normal.  This band always rocks, but tonight they seem to have a harder edge. I can't do any harm that they are playing to a bigger crowd than usual tonight either, and this has probably fired them up even more. It's also the right crowd - which can make all the difference. However, this is a band who are very good at winning over crowds who have no idea who they are, and their catchy and tuneful style of pop/rock appeals to a wide section of people. And so onto the headliners. Once seen never forgotten, this unique band is definitely one of the very best live rock acts in the UK. If there was any justice they would be big stars already. They have put out an excellent debut album, but it's as a live act that Eureka Machines really excell. Their stage presence and choreographed moves make them highly entertaining - even the drummer is great to watch - the most fun to watch drummer since Gary from Plan A. The standard of musicianship is very high, although frontman Chris takes the piss out of himself demonstrating what a great solo he can knock out! His self-depracating charisma is very engaging as well as being funny! It's a shame this bunch of northerners don't get down to 'that London' very often as their shows are so enjoyable - this is very much a band who demmand that you watch them as well as listen to them. Unlike some bands who are very visual and image orientated, their music really is up to scratch. Influences as heavy as Metallica and rifftastic as the mighty Wildhearts are detectable, but this isn't a heavy metal or hard rock band - they have actual tunes and interesting and dark lyrics as well if you dig a little deeper. Eureka Machines are genuinely a band who have the potential to be massive, if only they could get the exposure they need to allow the public at large to 'discover' them. Go and see them now for a fiver while you still can - you won't find better better value for money anywhere. Seriously.