Mike TV / Strange Planes / Flatline Stereo [Live Review – The Boileroom, Guildford, 26/9/14]
Flatline Stereo
Really cool pop punk delivered in a straight-ahead, no frills manner. Think Green Day but British, and you’re most of the way there.
Although Flatline Stereo took a few songs to hit their stride, once they got there this set became seriously impressive. Energy, movement, confidence, power, vocal pitching and punchiness – all were present and correct, making this a great start to the night. The only issue came right at the end of Flatline Stereo’s set, where a Buzzcocks/Blondie medley gave off wedding-band vibes and suggested (as all sets that end on covers do) a lack of confidence with their own original material. That lack of confidence is unfounded; Flatline Stereo should definitely ditch the covers and get behind their own songs. They’re more than worth it.
Strange Planes
At this point, the audience took a real turn for the worse. Flatline Stereo received plenty of punk-loving appreciation, but by the time Strange Planes took the stage the atmosphere felt more like a comedy night than a punk gig, complete with hostile/apathetic ‘Fuck you, we want the main act’ vibe. Strange Planes do boast plenty of tough-as-nails riff-driven stoner-punk tunes which touched on a Reuben vibe at times – and I was starting to get into it when the crowd (at least those who didn’t stay glued to the bar) broke the band.
I’ve only ever seen a set collapse this severely for stand-up comics – and Strange Planes aren’t weak or wussy performers, either. Abusive heckles, crossed arms, and scowls fucked Strange Planes in as it would have even the best band in the world, and it was really sad to see.
Mike TV
Mike TV are the happiest band ever, bar only Reel Big Fish. The primarily out-of-town crowd finally seemed to perk up at least a bit in the face of fun songs, some of the best between-song banter I’ve possibly ever witnessed, a guitarist who looks scarily like Frank Zappa, and a frontman unafraid to kiss a Finnish fan who “tastes of young Tory cock”. This was clearly what a large percentage of the audience had come to see, and for me it totally turned my mood around.
Regardless of what comes before them, Mike TV can still make you happy. That’s a serious achievement, so be sure to catch them on tour last week. You’ll need a time machine to manage that, but it’ll be worth the hassle of inventing one. Oh, and if you’re not into the support acts, don’t act like a complete cunt.
Links
Strange Planes on Facebook and Twitter.
Flatline Stereo on Facebook and Twitter.
The Boileroom official website.
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