Live Review

Lincoln Brown – Nambucca, London

• 10th Oct 2007

Lincoln Brown failed to excite me, they are a solid band that play their bluesy rock with ease but the real highlights of the night lay further down the bill.

To knock Lincoln Brown completely would be unfair, and they deserve more than just a passing mention, a laid back bluesy stomp through good ol’ fashioned rock n roll combined with their vintage appearance transports you from the Holloway boozer as they create their own revivalist atmosphere, between songs the band are shy and retiring but come alive via their rootsy sound.

The Knaves and The Cavaliers travel along more similar musical paths than any of the other bands they share the bill with tonight, both with their own takes on a brand of indie that crept into the mainstream a few years ago, a clear indication of the legacy that bands like The Libertines have left in their wake, another generation that join the current wave of bands influenced to pick up guitars and start making music. Both bands have a certain swagger, a confidence onstage built through gigging and a belief in their songs, The Cavaliers upstart indie occasionally taking on a slight reggae lilt as they dash through their set. The Knaves sound shows maturity in comparison, though still kicking with energy as they pace through a lively set of downtrodden sing-alongs.

Anyone arriving later in the evening would have missed a real highlight of the Glasswerk showcase tonight, buried right at the bottom of the bill were The Evenings, an ambient start to their set leaves some people unaware that a band are even on yet but those that leave the bar and head for the stage will have had the same sense of revelation that I experienced as I stood watching their minimal and intriguing set up, three instruments, drums, keyboards and double bass, played by the three members that looked like a music teacher joined by two of his students but their unconventional appearance is manifested in a style and soundclash that labels them not only as different from most bands you’re likely to encounter but also labels them as amazing.

Their songs, sung by the drummer at the back of the stage, are human and at the same time humorous and cleverly contemplative, the onstage sound is complemented, though never overpowered, by chunky hip hop beats and trip hop samples that add depth and contrasting texture throughout.

Any praise I heap on The Evenings can never be a true reflection of their ability, only seeing them live yourself would do such justice.