Gig review: Alt final @ Bull n Vic, Dartford - 26/05/08
So it's finally over! Darbex Band Quest in both of its entities is finished.
Lucky for all of us the alternative final was an indoor affair, keeping us dry, warm and away from the wind.
BLACKBIRD (6/10) began proceedings early on in front of the few people who had managed to tear themselves out of bed before noon. In the heat and semi-final BLACKBIRD showed a mature and talanted side which helps highlight their skills as musicians and songwriters. Today, although the songs were there they seemed affected by the small crowd and rushed through their set.
Bringing a dose of energy to the day were YOUR BROKEN EGO (6) who's songs contain enough hooks to hang every coat in the building. Although they sounded messy at times they are armed with plenty of catchy tracks to carry them well into next year.
DIRTY SAM (7) have been around a little longer and it can be heard from the get go. Their opening track is one of the best of the day, combining sweet melodic panache with a triple headed vocal display. The lead singers bluesy voice sits perfectly in between the cleaner backing vocals. The rest of the set struggles to reach these heights again but it goes down well with the crowd.
Taking melody and bending it into unthinkable shapes is what CODES IN THE CLOUDS (7.5) do best. They continue where they left off in the semi-final and grab the crowd and refuse to let go, even though a few would not know what to make of this instrumental attack on their senses.
A million miles away from the previous bands experimental shenanigans, APOLLO WITHSTANDS (7.5) are loose, easy to listen to and the perfect band to stick on the middle of an all-dayer. With a handful of care free, southern influenced rock tunes they at times sound like Soundgarden bitchslapping Kings of Leon. With their groove-laden delivery which would sit comfortably in a heavier setting as well as today, the band deliver one of the better sets of the final.
Attracting a vastly different crowd are everyones favourite pscho-zombie foursome BILLY REBEL (7). The Misfit-come-meteor songs have found their way onto TotalRock radio and various venues around London and today they deliver a energetic and event filled set. At times in the live environment the songs do seem to lose cohesion but that will surely be ironed out over the coming months.
If anyone can be trusted to deliver a solid set of catchy tunes aimed somewhere between punk and hard rock it would be BRAIN ACHE (7.5) and simply, that's what they did! They kept the crowd bouncing with a collection of road worthy punk anthems with the vocals sounding almost like Hardcore Superstar at times. This helps highlight the mix of influneces within the band.
SEEKER (7) on the other hand churn out 30 minutes of radio friendly hard rock. Their musicianship and tightness is a lesson to every other band on the bill. In their opening heat they were excellent but today they lack that little something.
CABARET DOLL (7.5) get the crowd going again with a grungey blues vibe which adds something different to the day while STAND ALONE (7.5) nearly tear the place down with a sound that nods towards an indie band being eaten by several trad metallers. Some of the riffs and solos during the set are superb and it will be interesting to see this band develop this year.
At this point it is hard to imagine MAD DOG (8.5) not doing the business and with an air of predictability they deliver a set of quality hard rock anthems. Over the past two years MAD DOG have upped the game and judging by the venue being rammed to the walls they are doing more than one thing right! In the past their Audioslave and Led Zeppelin influences would shine through for all to see but now these have been moulded, twisted and bent into the MAD DOG sound. Don't think anyone could argue they were worthy winners.
With the competition finished it was left to THE LOVESPUDS (8.5) to entertain the tired audience and entertain they did. Their ska/punk attack of catchy song after catch song after catchy song just couldn't fail to keep the crowd moving for another 40 minutes or so. 'The Final Countdown' ended the day, the final and the Darbex Band Quest perfectly.
Review by Alan Hicks