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Despite the fact that they’ve stolen Franz Ferdinand
front man Alex Kapranos as their own, and that the rest
of the band do a very good impression of the manikins
found in any Burtons front window, Kid Symphony pack
a proverbial punch in every sense of the word. If James
Cagney had the Jimmy Neutron haircut and fronted a band
he’d be Chris Langdon. Call them confident or pretentious,
it’s hard not to stop staring at the stage in an equal
measure of excitement and ill directed jealousy. Along
with Langdon co Kid, guitarist Pete Denton’s provides
the perfect, posturing foil to Langdon’s ego. Kid Symphony
deliver an accelerated pop rock cocktail of adrenalin
and testosterone. Slick and simple, they invite you
to shimmy, shake, and glam it up all over again. ‘Hands
On The Money’ pounds and pogos in all directions, ‘Never
Been A Rockstar’ shares the same sneering sex appeal
Suede used to posses, and you could drown in the sea
of self appreciation that swarms onstage. It’s one thing
to generate your own hype, but it’s another to believe
it. Looks like Kid Symphony are doing both and it looks
like the kids will love ‘em.
As the main set was a bit of a let down, it wouldn’t
be right to pass up commenting on The Dolomites.
Consisting of Gary Raisbeck and David Goldman, The
Dolomites are a band that crafts pure, unadulterated
songs of love, loss and optimism. Coming straight from
the acoustic blueprint (think Simon and Garfunkel, Turin
Brakes) the two men and their guitars set up is still
as intimate as it is melodic, although, at times, it
lacks the dynamics of a live band. Their simplistic
approach to music is as much their downfall as it is
their saving grace. At times they fail to command the
audience and run the risk of being lost amidst the chatter,
but manage to draw and reel you back in with ease. Combining
subtle folk undertones with the finer elements of pop,
they retain a distinct Liverpool sound, made even more
evident as Gary lends to the theory that he is the reincarnation
of The La’s front man Lee Mavers in voice. They still
have the charm and the penchant for busker chic, but
it’s when Gary takes the guise of your conscience at
its most innocent and uninhibited, he draws nothing
but appreciation. In the moments of unashamed self reflection,
The Dolomites show guitar purity is clarity.
Relevant sites:
http://www.kidsymphony.com/
Sherief Younis for Crud Magazine 2004©
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