It
was obvious from the moment that frontman Jose De Lara tuned his guitar and began
belting out the band's opening showpiece. They reminded of an early Strokes, only
more anthemic, more catchy, more Boston, MA and generally just better. Gone are
the placid days of the 90's where pretty dandy boys were the best thing since
bread became sliced – for that read Take That, Backstreet Boys et al – and in
are the days where geek chic reigns the mainstream supreme. Protokoll are
concept manifest, with geography teacher clothing and an abundance of messy hair,
but it works, and it works spectacularly well. Looking like extras off the Napoleon
Dynamite set, with Jose De Lara being the spit of Pedro, one thing hit me square;
this was something you could believe in. Their energy, characterised by
typical bounding around, leaping off drum kits etc, soon defines them. Most importantly,
it appeared that they really were enjoying themselves. As they burst through 'Holy
Divine' it becomes clear that as a band they just click. They joke with each other,
they push each other around, they play each other's instruments, they almost sing
to each other, and this charisma is a definite winner with the crowd, as the atmosphere
shifts up a gear and people begin to edge towards the stage. As they launched
into 'Sunken', it's apparent that despite their repetitive choruses the songs
never become tedious, but get more appealing with each run through. We weren’t
just tapping our foots. We weren’t just nodding our heads. We were damn near jumping
around. The tempo was slowed by 'Sail On Home', arousing timely comparisons to
Joy Division and New Order as the drums and guitar made for an interlude, heavy
with emotion yet uplifting. The spell cast over the audience is broken by the
band launching into their final song of the set, forthcoming single 'Moving Forward'.
This was the highlight of the evening. In this instance, Protokoll generated more
enthusiasm, more spirit and more 'oomph' than any established band I care to mention,
and there could be a few. In short, Protokoll displayed a live genius, that
can only be fully captured on stage, and above all, displayed some good old unashamed
rock n roll. They are The Killers only less bland, The Strokes only less image
conscious, and The Cure only less intimidating. Would I be too emphatic in saying
that they were the best live band I have seen in a long time? I believe not, because
they were. May Tour dates:
May Tour Dates: 25.05.06 - Bristol Louisiana
26.05.06 - London, Club NME @ Koko
Single: 'Moving Forward' out
5th June 2006 on Illicit Recordings Relevant sites:
http://www.protokoll.us
http://www.myspace.com/protokoll
Claire Mapletoft for Crud Magazine 2006©
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| 01/06 Morning After Girls Interview
01/06 The Roger Sisters Interview
01/06 The Spinto Band Interview
01/06 The Longcut Interview
01/06 Union of Knives Interview
01/06 7/7 July Bombings London
01/06 Adem / Tunng - Live - West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
01/06 Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - 40th Anniversary Deluxe CD / DVD
01/06 Broken Social Scene - London Astoria
01/06 Camden Crawl 2006
01/06 Editors - LIve - Brixton Academy
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01/06 Four Day Hombre Interview
01/06 Gram Parsons - Fallen Angel DVD
01/06 Hot Chip Live - LIve - Caberte Volatire - Edinburgh
01/06 Jackson Analogue, Digital, Newcastle
01/06 Latitude Festival, Henham Park, Beccles, Suffolk
01/06 Liam Frost - Live - Cockpit, Leeds
01/06 Little Man Tate, Cockpit, Leeds
01/06 Monty Python Remastered Collection
|  | 01/06 New Pornographers / Spoon - Live - London Koko
01/06 NME Shows 2006
01/06 Orange Lights - Carling Academy, Newcastle
01/06 Protokoll - Live - Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
01/06 Shout Out Louds - Live - Leeds, Cockpit
01/06 Airlines, Flights, Terror Plot July 2006
01/06 The National - Brixton Academy, London
01/06 Wireless Festival 2006
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