I went to this show to see Gob Squad, hence the most space and attention used for “the middle band” of this show – the other two bands that should play I didn’t know beforehand at all.

Some time ago I reviewed Gob Squads new album “Watch The Cripple Dance”, and gave it a reasonably good rating, although rock with punk roots normally isn’t quite my style.

And three things made me want to go to their show:
First: The album has grown on me – the more I listen to it the better I like it.
Second: I’ve seen them live before, and know I could expect a really kickass live show with lots of energy, and third: I had got the opportunity to talk to the band about their on going tour supporting the album. 

Supershine:

S. is a (very) young band (members around 18 – 19) from the area north of Copenhagen – normally that means kids from “better” homes, and with parents with no financial problems. And in some way I think this is visible and audible in their music and appearance. Their music is smooth and a bit popped kind of new wave/indie rock (check out their MySpace site listed below). They are clearly better live than on their MS-page, but still they don’t grab me or the rest of the audience enough to make more than a few get up from their chairs. Some young guys eager to play, but of course still lacking some experience. Not quite my kind of musical style either, so their approximately 45 minutes show doesn’t really move me that much. But they might have some potential with the younger audience…

[Rating: 62/100]

http://www.myspace.com/supershinemusic 

Gob Squad:

Although not being the headliners, and the ones to end the show, Gob Squad is still the band I came to see, and the ones I’ve been waiting for. Having had a (long) chat with Thomas and Stauning (the two guitarists of the band) before also makes the impression of their show a little more special. I saw Gob Squad once before about a year and a half ago, when they were the pre band for then not that famous Volbeat (and Thomas hadn’t joined Volbeat yet at that time either), and they rocked the stage, so my expectations were high…

Already from the beginning it’s very intense, they are still a great live band, and in two numbers they manage to get most of the present people up from their seats and in front of the stage. Their kind of melodic punk rock has been modified a bit on their new (third) album, so that both Thomas and Stauning sings, Thomas the more raw vocals and Stauning the (slightly) more melodic vocals.

They (especially Thomas) move around the stage very naturally, and yet intense, and it keeps the pulse of the show high. Jimmy, the bassist, and Sogge, the drummer, is more the silent types that keeps the ground steady.

The set list have been cut a few numbers today, in order to make more room for the next act too, but we get some older and some new stuff, among others the “hit” of the new album (my favorite too): “Unconscious Souls”.

Set list:
Streets
The Tyranny Of Good Intents
Far Beyond Control
Vacuum Of My Own
The Reason
White Flag
Stand Up And Fight
Unconscious Souls
Dead end Street

Damn, they’re a great live band, they just kick @ss!! Be sure to go to see them if they play a town near you in the future; they’re doing a small tour in Germany and Holland in May and June, among others with Bad Religion.

Go check out their MySpace, and listen to 4 of the numbers from the new album (and 2 older), and their video to “Unconscious Souls”.

[Rating: 88/100]

http://www.myspace.com/gobsquad

Rock Hard Power Spray:

After the Gob Squad show I’m actually more enclined to go home, I’m quite full of music, but I think I have to lend the guys from Odense Rock Hard Power Spray an ear, to be able to give them a few words here too.

Like with Supershine from earlier this evening, I don’t know anything about the band or their music before I come to the show, so I’ll take it as it comes…

They clearly have a lot of stage experience, not moving around quite as much as G.S., but still a good intensity and performance, and they got a good hold of quite a bit of the audience. It appears to me that most people in the audience is max. in the mid-twenties, so I’m a bit out dated in this crowd…

And though the intensity in the music is high, the boys really sweat it out on the stage, I have to say, that the mixture of hardrock and grungy stuff doesn’t really grip me (Grunge never appealed to me at all), and the numbers sounds a lot the same to me: the same pace/beat, a wall of guitars, and lyrics that aren’t exactly deep (go check out their MySpace for a few music clips and further information, see below). After a little more than half an hour, I decide to leave the place at around midnight, with RHPS still playing on into the night.

[Rating: 70/100]

http://www.myspace.com/rockhardpowerspray

…The sounds in my ears will hopefully return to normal in a few days, although the sound level didn’t seem that loud today – and I leave with the impression, that Gob Squad once again delivered a kick ass performance – I’ll be around next time too!