Date of gig: 31/03/12
Supporting Bands: LostAlone + Mojo Fury
There really aren’t that many UK bands left from around the time Inme were starting to get noticed, save for those ones who went on to have mega success such as Funeral For A Friend. Back then, no one would have thought the Essex four piece would make it to their fifth album, as they were always considered the poor cousins of the likes of Hundred Reasons and Hell Is For Heroes. Well, against the odds, Inme have been one of the survivors. Promoting their latest release “The Pride”, tonight’s show is the last of a mammoth 35-date trek, which can only mean a special cause for celebration
First on is Northern Irish alternative rock act Mojo Fury, who have supported Inme throughout the tour. Currently operating as a four piece to achieve the layered guitar production they now favour, they performed “The Mann” and “Colour Of The Bear” from last year’s album “Visiting Hours Of A Travelling Circus”. They also threw in a fairly new track “El”, which with its heavy reliance on the synthesiser is in keeping with their ongoing experimentation. A warmly received set here.
Next up is Derbyshire trio LostAlone. The band have only recently released their long-awaited somophore record “I’m A UFO In This City”, after much hassle with their previous record label. Having toured with big name acts like My Chemical Romance and 30 Seconds To Mars, it’s perhaps no surprise their sound bears a striking resemblance to such bands. In addition to their new material they played a couple of old tracks, “Blood Is Sharp” and “Unleash The Sands Of All Time” when frontman Steven Batelle got just a little carried away swinging his guitar around and only just managing not to wreck it. But the audience seemed to really take to them, and the new tracks sounded sublime. Highlights included the very Muse-esque epic “Vesuvius”, and the heavy riffs of “Do You Get What You Pray For?” They rounded off with their latest Radio One-playlisted single “Love Will Eat You Alive”, proving they do justify the hype they have been receiving of late.
Now It was Inme’s turn to shine. Already veterans at this game, they promised the crowd they would deliver a career-defining performance. Plunging in with “Reverie Shores”, the first track off “The Pride, the crowd responded immediately. Following this was long-time favourite “Faster The Chase”, at which point frontman Dave MacPherson decided to “connect” with the audience and high fived everyone around him, including the sound guy. A good, healthy mix of old and new was showcased, such as the anthemic “Belief Revival”, and the crushing sounds of “Saccharine Arcadia”. There was more brand new material in the form of “A Great Man” and “Pantheon” which reinforced their hallmark sound. One nice surprise was an airing of “7 Weeks” off their second record “White Butterfly”, which is a rare occurrence for them. The guys were keen to show their appreciation of their dedicated audience who had not abandoned them for the latest music trend, admitting they aren’t the most fashionable band around. They signed off with “Underdose”, from their first record “Overgrown Eden”, causing the biggest fan reaction of the night.
Being the last gig of the tour, it clearly meant a great deal to Inme who claimed it was one of the best shows they had played in years. As a fan, it felt good to be a part of the event, although the band’s performance did not quite match their enthusiasm for the occasion. It’s great, though, that a band like Inme is still around, and the only way it will survive is with the continued support of their fanbase. The guys hinted at an upcoming tour around November so, for the time being, the good times continue to roll…
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Inme: 7/10 |
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Lostalone: 8/10 |
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Mojo Fury: 7/10 |