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Athlete @ Deptford Bear, 18.03.02

picture of Athlete

Regal label mates to Alfie, London band, Athlete offer up their own speical brand x of honest-to-goodness, salt-of-the-earth seasoned and characteristic roughed-up pop mettle.

26/03/2002

If there's one thing that Regal as a label has been missing, certainly as it's grown in age, it's a new jewel in its crown. Of late it's felt a little like the last paper effort from Christmas with a cracker-treat toy diamond stapled to the front, a bit of a one trick pony, a bit like you couldn't actually appreciate it anymore. The said mule is of course the ubiquitous and often still brilliant Beta Band and its one trick, eclectic psychedelic far-flung mood rock. Of which there's plenty of occasion left for, naturally. It's like a natty party trick you'll never completely tire of, but when the rest of the do was under-performances from the likes of Orange Can and Brothers In Sound you never felt like staying and mainly left before the conversation got crap.

Which makes the fact that they've addressed the problem by fleshing out and adding - to name two - the likes of weathered folkies Alfie and new retro-pop lifeblood from Athlete to the roster rather joyous really. Trekking out to Athlete's home turf Deptford (essentially The Sticks as far as Central London's concerned) to catch this gig in a glorified though reassuringly welcoming church hall affair (including temporary bar and a raffle ticket with your beer - Crud was number 65 incidentally if the prize remains uncollected) makes the occasion seem all a bit cute and colloquial. A more polite League Of Gentleman maybe (locals gigs for local people, etc)?

But as it turns out it actually goes some way to reinforce their honest-to-goodness, salt-of-the-earth seasoned and characteristic roughed-up pop mettle. The only recorded evidence to date, the not misleadingly titled 'Athlete EP', offers up 3 sincerely perfect slabs of breezy, beat-led summer abandon, all of which get a worthy live airing tonight. 'Westside' rules especially, sounding like a gramophone play fight between Deacon Blue and the Super Furries in The Police's attic. Go on, just imagine it. We'd pay to see it.

You could be listening to The Beta Band nipping out in their astrophysically altered tumble dryer, nicking the best solid gold guitar pop bits from the 80s, forcing them into an Adidas bag and scampering back across space and time. Watching them it's like kids who've got the keys to the indie candy shop and are intent on abusing the privilege, throwing a liquorish melody, a sugary electronic WHOOOSH, a clotted BEEEEP and a lyrical cola twist direct into the homely audience's expectant dribbling mouths. And just when it's all in danger of going a bit Peter Gabriel they smash up the sweet jars and make like The Ramones, very briefly. Not looking at all like pop stars, but possessing some of the best pop tunes Crud has heard since, well, The Procliamers (and don't think we're being ironic), Regal's got its tiara back.

James Berry for Crud Magazine 2002©



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02/02 Travis/Starsailor/Ryan Adams/Remy Zero - London Astoria
02/02 The Starlets - Interview
03/02 Akira DVD

03/02 Andrew WK - Coordinates Interview
03/02 Athlete - Live at the Deptford Bear, London
03/02 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Live - London Astoria
03/02 BYO Records
03/02 Hem Interview
03/02 Hoobastank - Crawling In The Dark
03/02 Kinesis - Interview
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03/02 Loveless Records
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03/02 The Magnetic Fields - Claudia Gonson Interview
03/02 Ikara Colt / The Parkinsons / 80s B-Line Matchbox Disaster - London Garage

January 2001
July - August 2001
September - October 2001
November - December 2001
January - March 2002
April - July 2002
August - December 2002


 
 
 

 

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