Reviews

Delayed by the eternal dilemma of which of the two pairs of shoes to wear, Venue has joined Bath's beautiful teens fashionably late and entirely missed tonight's openers, Lego Castles; a shame, as they were dead good last time.

Tokyo Pinsalocks, three cool kimono-clad Japanese beauties wonder how it would sound if Elastica did Eurovision synth-pop. The answer proves strangely mesmerising. Hisayo plays casually muscular bass, Reiko, a startlingly tiny powerhouse, belts it out Bonham-style on the drums and Naoko grins throughout like Hello Kitty turned murderous, while stroking sequencers and chirruping synths. ‘Manikin' is pure cheese bop. Luckily, the audience is bopping. The last two songs leave behind the Europop for some post-punk riffing and it's all irresistibly delightful.
Norway's Casiokids use the kind of early electronic tat that often adorns an unloved corner of the charity shop window; weedy home keyboards, les than a foot long featuring synthetic piccolos and that one sound that's a bit like a siren. These, some ingenious use of echo, a thwacking drumbeat, a magnificent bassist and two tremulous high church voices normally means you have Hot Chip, but in this instance a whole lot more. Shifting sleekly into hypnotic Can grooves and ending with two full-on LCD Soundsystem cowbell abuse marathons, it's an effortlessly pleasurable journey. After just two minutes the band are exchanging secret grins as the entire room dances as commanded to some very beautiful dance music. It's obviously going to be a great gig so they just relax and get into it. The sound is fabulous. Thin, warbly synths float over an immaculate low end and ghostly high harmonies like Fleet Foxes gone disco. It's good to see that the old girl, Moles Club can still pull a fabulous sweaty gig out of the hat.

4th - Moving Jane
This band have as much originality as can be expected from a teeny contemporary po-mo London town worshiping sort of effort, that is to say that this is minimal. Fusing indie with indie (both mainstream) they sound slick and professional and ultimately soulless.

3rd - Southern Drop
This is a band comprised of real people playing real music, the technical hitch was even charming. I'd probably wait all day for my favourite guitarist of the competition to get it together. Southern Drop are like a cross between Nirvana and Electric 6, combining the differing energies of both. They have memorable songs and an expressive singer who when using his voice to the full has real style which counterbalances the guitar work nicely. The vocals at times really sound like a lead instrument as well as being a vessel for the lyrics, this shows promise. The lead guitarist is a natural and plays like every fourteen year old boy wishes they could; if someone buys him a new amp and the whole band take up surfing they'll definitely get signed.

2nd - Terrible Disguises
Another youthful and accomplished band with a charismatic frontman, this time a three-piece, Terrible Disguises like Southern Drop before them could easily have won this competition on another night. I find this kind of music exciting, a brilliant combination of the sombre and the anthemic. I can't wait for an album. The band sounded fuller than in their heat, with the guitar proving a match for the bass this time and they put nerves aside to close the night with style. I cannot emphasise enough how ultimately it is songs that make bands captivating and this band have probably the truest songwriter of the competition. It is belief, both self belief and the belief your audience has in you that breeds true success, and behind a shy persona Terrible Disguises have this belief, there is a look in the singer's eye that reveals the truth.

1st - Marstin and the Revelators
Charmingly 'off their heads', both on-stage and off, these guys are true showmen. It is almost unheard of for a band to get the crowd singing along during the first song of the night, but who can resist a biblical rumpus? 'Not I', said the Salmon. Here is a band that will leave you with a burning desire to sell all your worldly goods, head off into the hills and hunt lions and bears wearing nothing but a fig leaf, even if you're a vegetarian banker from Swindon. I am writing this naked. The songs are adventures with the music telling perhaps more of the story than the fairy tale soundbite lyrics, an almost pictorial soundscape. This a remarkable for a lo-tech traditionally set up rock and roll band. Worthy winners.

Southern Drop
Undeniably energetic, solidly anthemic and gloriously entertaining, these guys really pushed the boat out tonight. They began with a plague of technical issues but the crowd soon forgot their impatience as the band's determination drove through it. The lead vocals could use some work but the lead guitar was fuelled with intense excitement and lifted the whole performance. A little more ingenuity in the song writing wouldn't go astray but they're already an awesome live display.

Moving Jane
These guys certainly looked like they were on form, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed. The vocals weren't belted out with the passion and ferocity of the first round. The band seemed to be enjoying themselves and with the final track they finally felt like they were taking off, but for most of the gig I just wasn't feeling it. I want to hear their phenomenal lead singer show off her talent and demonstrate real emotion instead of just attitude.

Roadshow
A grand final demands new boundaries, and they really weren't pushing theirs. There was a noticeable improvement from the first round though, and the third track was wonderfully atmospheric and emotional. Some of the sparse blues licks added well to the sound but much of the guitar work was bland, and the potential of this band just isn't being realised. I like them, but they've got a lot of work to do before they're truly grand final material.

Terrible Disguises
Their tormented edge and eerie resonance would sound incredible on record. Their emotion vibrated through the air and left an indelible impression on all watching, and I can only see that sound improving more and more as the band develops. The lead singer looks too nice but he clearly feels what he's singing and their sound has an absorbing power that grows and grows. I'd love to see what would happen if they went into a studio for a few days; as a young band their future looks exciting.