Roger Sargent�s �Future Legends Exhibition�

 

Tonight’s the opening night of legendary rock n roll and official Libertines photographer Roger Sargent’s ‘Future Legends’ exhibition and those lucky enough to get a ticket are pouring in through the open doors, all drawn instantly to the magnetic and majestic photos capturing the essence of Babyshambles, Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party and Razorlight to name but a few- Roger Sargent, along with the appearing bands and the Proud Gallery have served up a fest for the eyes and a treat for the ears.

 

And this has got to be one of the best set-ups Gigwise has seen… you stroll past the most striking photos in town, saunter into the tent grabbing a free and get this- already opened beer! and schmooze your way to the front of the stage. Whilst fans, friends and family peruse the walls and fill the stage marquee, the musical choice of the XFm DJ John Kennedy sets a fan-****ing-tastic mood for the evening before Lupen Crook steps up to the mic. A one man acoustic set who provides a very chilled sound that you can just hear over the excited clamour of the crowd as they grab all the beer they can from the tables lining the tent.  Followed by the Metro Riots who within the first note of their opening number have dragged everybody out of the main gallery and into the crammed tent to see these ‘Future Legends’ in the flesh. With a sound hard enough to match Led Zeppelin and fast enough to rival a cheetah on speed, they play their own classics like ‘Hazchem Remedy’ and ‘Lured Into Roulette’ and some brand ass-spanking new material, namely ‘Generation Of Boys’ (dedicated to the Dogs and ‘anyone who has a go’) and ‘17’.

 

After a breather and more photo-gazing and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Gary Libertine, and Kasabian’s Tom and Serge milling around, the up-and-coming Dogs saunter on stage and pull everyone back cramming under the canvas with ‘London Bridge’. These five dangerous animals rip their sound from one extreme to another; up-beat but no less poignant ‘Selfish Ways’ gets the crowd moving whilst ‘Donkey’, an emotional mind**** of a song makes you shed a tear. Throughout the whole set the ‘stunnas’ otherwise known as the Queens of Noize, go wild- singing with outstretched arms, dancing, jumping and even helping a crowd surfer into the pit. Shaking every last ounce of energy and pushing themselves so hard it almost hurts to watch as they close their set with their best number of the night, ‘Tuned To A Different Station’.

 

With more tasteful tunes from the decks of Carl Barat the night is kept alive, even when the last few stragglers reluctantly leave the gallery the dancing and the drinking continued long into the night with the backstage party being brought downstairs. And man it was a long night!

 

The ‘Future Legends’ exhibition is on from now till the 27^th May, and with free entry there is no excuse not to check it out. The opening night was a blast, with good booze, good music and great photos the only thing left to say is

 

“Proud Gallery, Bands… Sargent Roger, ‘For those about to rock, we salute you’”.

 

Photos by Linda Chasteau