The Rakes

Two major revelations were unleashed at the Rakes gig this weekend. The first occurring within twenty minutes of the second slot occupied by Sean Na Na. After not too long a wait it suddenly became shockingly apparent that this particular outfit was being fronted by none other than the legendary US 'icon' Har Mar Superstar. Indeed it seems the man himself has another day job which requires a pretty good aptitude for playing guitar and fronting a fairly respectable band. Who'd have thunk it?
Whether or not they will set the world on fire is a matter for (perhaps long) debate but let us never forget that this is the very person who delivered to us such gems as 'DUI' and ‘Back That Camel Up' so his song writing skills are not unproven. But it is still barely believable now.
The second and most brilliant thing to see is the distance The Rakes have come, even since their first big shows back in February this year - a coincidence the first line of ‘All Too Human' says exactly the same?
Their winter gigs introduced us to frontman Alan Donohoe - slightly maniacal, energetic, passionate….the usual suspects. But simultaneously there was also a somewhat puzzled look about the lad, like he was not always quite sure what he was doing there.
But at SBE Donohoe appeared to have found his niche, fitting better and more comfortably into the rock star skin these days and indeed the whole band now look like veterans who have been playing larger venues for years.
Also not forgetting that the Rakes released one of the best albums of 2005 in 'Capture/Release' and it is immediately reaffirmed how talented this band are.
They may keep a low-ish profile and another album is not expected until at least 2007. But the material they do have, coupled with a splash of new tracks shows how, that even after months upon months of touring, it still sounds as good as the day they first played it.
Much like Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos ditched the combover, so Alan Donohoe has lost that slightly clichéd crazed edginess he has displayed in the past. Uplifting, tight, fun - all pretty basic but totally genuine words to describe the band's performance this weekend. Looking forward to seeing more.