Live Review

Burn The Fleet – Camden Barfly, London

• 5th Oct 2010

Technical difficulties in combination with natural first song reticence from the audience mean that it’s a slow start for Southampton based quartet Burn the Fleet on the last date of their nationwide tour with Bury Tomorrow and Shadows Chasing Ghosts. Things quickly liven up at the Barfly though, the younger members of the audience happily obliging front man Andrew Convey when he suggests a pit. Those of us who are a bit creakier allow ourselves to nod our heads more vigorously.

Burn the Fleet wear their influences with pride, and it is no surprise to hear Convey talking enthusiastically about Thrice later on in the evening (perhaps even less surprising when you consider the name of the band is also the name of a Thrice song). The songs swerve effortlessly between big (massive wouldn’t be too much of a stretch) riffs and more technical, melodic sections. During the latter parts in particular, it sometimes seems as if guitarists James Swabey and Jack Spurway become some kind of two headed monster. They clearly know each other’s playing style intimately and the result is a wonderfully cohesive sound, in which you almost can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. Ross Barbour’s drumming hold everything together nicely, and is up to the level of mathematical precision you need if you’re even going to try to make music like this.

It is with due respect to these guys then that I say that this show is all about Convey, (and his Viking-esque beard). There is a symmetry about the way the band sets themselves up on stage, which draws focus to the singer and bass player, who is of course front and centre. He is extremely watchable, throwing himself around with abandon, and supremely charismatic – I defy you to watch this guy and not want to be his friend. This wouldn’t count for much if he didn’t have the vocal skills to match, and thankfully we’re not left wanting in this regard. He keeps it melodic and tuneful, complimenting the music rather than appropriating it. Importantly he also knows when to keep quiet – a good quality in a front man.

The band clearly enjoy themselves on stage, and their enthusiasm is infectious. By the end of the set everyone in the room is smiling. The highlight of the relatively short performance is anthemic closer “Handfuls of Sand”, which already looks to be a fan favourite.

If I was forced to level a criticism, it would be that – unlike the songs themselves – the set as a whole does seem a little one-paced. As such, addictive and well crafted tunes that would stand out if you were listening to them individually do seem to get a bit lost. Such was the fate of debut single “Blackholes” (listen to it on record and it will be stuck in your head all day). But this is a young, up and coming band we’re talking about, yet to build the back catalogue on which such stylistic variety can be founded. Songsmiths of this calibre will surely not allow themselves to stagnate, and I would be very surprised indeed if we didn’t see them constantly push themselves to evolve over time.

If there’s any justice, this process will be occurring in the public eye. Their musical prowess coupled with a massive stage presence and charisma means that crossover appeal is not an unrealistic prospect. Convey apologised for not being metal enough early on in the evening, but he had nothing to fear – the metal kids lapped it up. Personally, I am a man of gentler tastes, but there was more than enough to keep me interested. But it is of course fans of the genre that will be their meat and potatoes, and one has every confidence that they will flock to Burn the Fleet. Indeed, they do seem to have a solid fanbase – certainly in evidence at the show – and even a cursory Google search will reveal a veritable river of gushing praise. I think it’s safe to say you’ll be hearing a lot more from these boys in months and years to come.