4 Sticks, Un-Aimed, Safety in Numbers @ Bar Blu, Rhyl
(review by scot)
Ok, here goes, I’m going to be using this forum to gain better grades in my media studies class so please forgive me if I waffle on a bit as my recent work has had a very low word count.
Bar Blu has been done up a bit and is currently home to the under 18s night every monday, there’s a similar night @ speakers corner in colwyn bay but as I haven’t actually been there yet I don’t know how ‘similar’ but I’d imagine it’s run along the same lines, Bands + DJ + soft drinks only !!!
Anyway back to my review.
We arrived at the venue to be told that ‘Headliners’ Harlot Farm had pulled out and Prestatyn Band The 4 Sticks had been drafted in to headline tonights gig, Ok, I was looking forward to Harlot Farm but I’ve heard good things about The 4 sticks so we thought we’d pay up and join the crowd gathering upstairs.
First up, it became apparent that there had been a bit of a mix up with the running order as the Headline act were going on first ! why ? who’s idea was that ? we’d only just got our cokes when the DJ said it’s time to go live, now I thought ‘let’s check out the opening act’ which by my reckoning and the way the gig was billed should have been Safety in Numbers but there you go, we made our way towards the band but the crowd had swelled up and for the first time ever at a local gig I could sense the excitement building and when the DJ let rip with ‘here’s The 4 Sticks‘ the place went nuts, we were pushed and shoved backwards and forwards (I lost one of my shoes + spilled my coke) Wow !!! this is it, this is what we’ve read about, the fever, the adrenalin rush, and that’s just the intro guitars, then there’s the cheers and whoops of the teenage mass, The 4 Sticks looked cool as F**k (I’ll change that last remark before I hand it in) they sounded fantastic and boy did they put on a show.
From the opening chords I think the whole place knew this is going to blow, Tom (bass + vocals) just oozes charisma, looking like he was born for this and with the rest of the band also all in matching black leather stuff and with sweat streaming down their faces reminded me a bit of the Libertines with a bit of Black Rebel Motorcycle club. OK the sound was better than it usually is in Blu, but I don’t think the sound mattered too much, this will go down (for me anyway) as one of those ‘F**k me’ moments, I’m not sure if it’s the best local gig I’ve ever seen but it’s certainly the most exciting, their own songs were simply just streets ahead of the other two bands, even I sang along as loud as I could to one of them !!! Oh Yeah Oh yeah She Moves and Moans, I think that’s how it goes, everyone else seemed to be singing those words but I could be wrong so anyway, yes The 4 Sticks were just stunning, young, good looking (no I’m not gay but I’m ok with dishing out compliments)
A killer sound and a real ‘fire’ that really should be encouraged to grow, I’m a convert, so I wish them all the best for the future, rumours were rife last night that the BBC are going to be filming them at Speakers Corner soon, I’ll be there regardless.
Now let’s get this done, yeah, I quite liked Un-Aimed, they (like the 4 Sticks) have a very capable drum and bass rhythm section, I think the drummers name is Joe, he’s very good, kept solid time and played well with the rest of the band, sure their not up to the level that they’re capable of yet but there’s a lot of promise there, the covers were well received but unfortunately having to follow such a strong opening act must have been nerve racking, they did ok, the crowd sensed a dip in quality and next thing you know there’s big gaps in the dance floor but I’d blame the person who set the order of the bands for that, especially with regard to Safety in Numbers.
Now, here’s what we’re used to, a terrible rhythm section, no songs, no ‘look’, no ‘balls’ just your regular delusional, under rehearsed, over inflated ego type local kids, now it was hard enough for Un-Aimed and their drummer Joe was easily on a par with The 4 Sticks drummer but alas although Safety in Numbers have a fairly decent guitar player they just couldn’t get it together and it was almost sad to see, and even worse, sad to hear the crowds taunts but the crowd, well they pays the money and they makes the noises and those noises sounded cruel to me.
Ok, how did I do ? yes I know I should have taken photos miss, yes I know I didn’t get much info on any of the bands, yes I know I may regret one or two statements but I believe that what I’ve given you is a true account of my night out in Rhyl.
April 6, 2012 @ 9:12 am
thought your review was great, and captured the excitement of gig going which is a good thing.
April 6, 2012 @ 9:13 am
Excellent review, if a bit harsh on SIN, who I think will develope and mature in time.
The running order tends to be dictated by issues such as kit shares – last night one band wanted to use their own kit exclusively, while the other two kit-shared – so the advance billing is random rather than something that is going to be religiously adhered to.
Your observations on 4 Sticks are absolutely on the mark though, I’ve had the pleasure of putting them on in different venues on 7 or 8 occasions now and they just seem to improve each time I see them.
There was a Top 10 Local Gigs posting elsewhere on this forum recently – 4 Sticks @ Bar Blu, Rhyl, 1/10/07 will be added to that listing by everyone who was privileged enough to see that performance last night.
April 6, 2012 @ 9:13 am
right,
in all fairness, Safety In Numbers were rather good.
the 4 Sticks however, are arrogant twats to be blunt.
For example, upon entering the room at a recent gig, one of them shouts “Move over lads, the big boys are here now”
I was at this gig obviously, and after the 4Sticks’ hissy fit over not headlining, were the only band who actually had abuse, while Safety In Numbers got the crowd going as well as you’d expect with a wall of death, and several mosh pits, and the loudest sing alongs of the night.
Yes they made one or two mistakes, but no one is perfect all of the time are they?
April 6, 2012 @ 9:14 am
Four sticks are great lads and definately not arrogant ,
Four sticks should have headlined though in my opinion..
Good review its nice to hear some words from other people.
April 6, 2012 @ 9:15 am
Wow, I really didn’t expect my first review to be so well received, so thanks to everyone who’s taken the time to read it.
I’m thinking of including the responses I’ve had as part of my essay, I think it’s a good example of internet based ‘free speach’ but I think I probably need to clarify a few points and apologise for my obvious lack of research on local venue policies regarding the running order/billing.
Sorry ‘Blood and lipstick’ I just assumed that you decided the running order, my mistake, though as I’d originally attended the gig in the hope of catching ‘Harlot Farm’ who were clearly billed as the Headline act I think my initial assumption regarding the 4 Sticks slot was probably shared by the majority of the crowd but obviously not by ‘itbleeds’. I was unaware of any kit sharing politics so it would appear the ‘The 4 Sticks’ obviously elected to go on earlier, again I apologise for my mistake.
I must also apologise if I caused any distress to the lads in Safety in Numbers (or itbleeds if that’s what they’d prefer to be known as on this forum) as I’d never heard of them before monday night but I’d also never heard of Un-Aimed but it didn’t stop me enjoying their set.
When we found out Harlot Farm had pulled out I just thought ‘oh well at least I’ve heard of the 4 Sticks so I might as well go upstairs and have a listen. If I’d have spent a little time doing some research on this site I would have come across SIN in the reviews section as there’s an old review of a gig @ billys. It would appear that my views of Safety In Numbers (and ironically, The 4Sticks) seem to echo those of Neil Crud, I also prefer to hear a bands own original music rather than badly played covers but each to their own, I’m always willing to pay to get into local gigs, I even (usually) buy a CD or at least have a look at their myspace page and on the whole I think there’s a few really good bands around here, I’m a confirmed ‘punk a like’ my own personal faves are ‘Global Parasite’ (check them out if you get the chance) Der Bomber are excellent as are HomeSpun and Gintis, have you seen RAD yet ? they’re also well worth checking out, Skunkfish, luciene, the list could go on, they’re all worthy of support and they all play their own stuff. Having attempted to get a band going myself not so long ago I think I have a fairly good insight into how hard it is to make it work and to stick at it so I admire any band that attempts do their own thing but Safety In numbers (or Safety In Covers) don’t really count, that may seem unfair but like I said in my media essay, we pays the money and I think that gives us the right to have an opinion.
Blood and lipstick hopes that SIN will progress as they mature, obviously there’s a long way to go yet judging by their response to my review, I don’t really get it but it’s certainly not creative writing, I’m sure there’s a place for that kind of ‘red faced’ hands on hips, finger wagging behaviour but the last time I was there I wore short pants and always had a good kip after playtime so although I apologise for any distress caused by my comments I think I’m justified in standing by my review.
scot.
ps. How great is this link2wales site eh ? it’s a fantastic data base. Respect to all those involved.
April 6, 2012 @ 9:17 am
ok…. before I comment properly,
it bleeds is NOT sIn.
No problem on your opinions… although they are actually rather harsh… but you’re just one person, not much difference to us rly.
The majority of the crowd seemed to like us.
Now, the lack of original material is due to a guitar player problem, which resulted in us having to get a new guitarist, and as we wrote all of our material with him, we felt it was unfair to keep playing it without him.
And the other part about it being almost saddening I think you said?
Again, the majority of people there seemed to enjoy us, but yet again, it’s all your own opinion.
Please don’t go accusing us of these things in all, it makes us look like tits rly.
We’re actually nice people 🙂
April 6, 2012 @ 9:18 am
Scot, a great review…..
…remember , one mans memory, is another mans trip to the bar……
For any one person, willing to put “digit to key”, there’s 10 willing to deride ya…….
People may share your excitement, most will not…..
A Fatman review, these days, is a rare thing!
See you at the bar!