04 December 2007 (gig)
11 December 2007
The Kings Blues describe themselves as the 'sound of the revolt’. Their PR coverage boasts headline grabbing quotes from several big names, and they have basked in generous radio play from Kerrange. However, just what is it they’re rebelling against? Is this punk/ska/reggae mix original, or just original to you if you’re a rocker? Upon leaving the gig the bouncer (a slightly intimidating fellow) was singing their last song to himself. I didn’t care about that anymore. This was the best performance of 2007.
On my lonesome before the show I surveyed the audience. Mainly a young crowd, mostly rockers, a few punks and the standard weird old guy. It wasn’t full, it wasn’t really that busy, but it felt reassuringly relaxed.
The Kings kicked off promisingly, very tight and clearly enjoying their own performance. You could see in the way they swayed that their rhythm was genuine. The music itself was much as I imagined it to be, but yet somehow hard to quantify. To call it reggae crossed with punk and ska is wrong; its much more than that. Personally, I liken it to poached egg on toast (breakfast of kings). A toasted ska base supporting and texturising the reggae egg all heavily salted with the rebellious and liberating passion of a true punk. But awful analogy’s aside, they started well, they started as a four star band.
But then, all changed. After four songs they decided they didn’t like the stage, it was too big for them they claimed, 'we’re gonna unplug’. And unplug they did. To most 'acoustic’ does not really mean acoustic, its simply a quieter PA system. The Blues strode into the audience with nothing; no amps, no mics, the drummer only had a stool and a snare. The crowd formed a circle around the band, suddenly there was no division.
After the first number it was blatant these guys didn’t need the electrics to sound good or to play with confidence. After the second a man from the crowd produced a harmonica and started jamming along. By the third I looked to the side and saw the doorman had snuck in to have a listen, I was well aware that this was something special. Itch (lead) began talking directly to us, serving damning words to Bob Geldoff’s live 8 and the hypocrisy within. But the last was the finest, an absolute gem. A simple 2 chord rhythm started and Itch once again began to story tell. He recounted stories of squat parties and riot police. The crowd was divided down the middle to form a backing choir. In the back of my mind I thought 'is this really going to work, will they sing?’. A risky tactic if I do say myself. What resulted was the best atmosphere I’ve sampled in a while.
I left feeling almost bonded to my fellow comrades, from walking past the singing doorman to arriving at my homestead I was still buzzing. I still am. I’m not sure if they do that every gig but they should. Go and see them, now.
