Pungza, the opening band of this gig, perform on stage with guitarist dressed as a (very short) grim reaper. It’s a slightly surreal sight that gets even weirder when the lead singer dons a pigs head for the last track. Although the band’s image is startling, Pungza’s heavy brand of rock fails to rouse much of a response from the crowd.
Randy, lead singer, of second band, The Kicks, announces his arrival with "Welcome to ‘Ho Land”. There’s no blingers here but this statement gets surprisingly loud whoops of glee. Despite not heading the bill, the majority of the crowd are here to see The Kicks. Randy’s wearing a Nine Inch Nails T-shirt and that’s what this band are all about. The crowd is whisked back to early 90s America with lashings of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden-influenced tracks. This band can hold the crowd in the palm of their hand. Their songs are a richly-textured rock fest and Randy holds one hell of a long note, a talent he displays regularly throughout the set. Even the keyboardist gets fully into the occasion launching into a gloriously uncool orangutan dance.
After The Kicks have finished their triumphant racket, it is time for headliners Criteria. Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, the night at the Water Rats is the last gig of a 17 date tour that has taken them as far as Frankfurt and Barcelona promoting their album 'When We Break'. Lead singer Stephen points out “we can’t wait to get home”. Unfortunately it looks like the crowd thought the same because more than half have disappeared in the interval. However, like any good band should, they put any weariness behind them and put everything into their set. 'Good Luck' is their strongest track, summing up their sound of tight rhythm with emotional lyrics, Stephen repeating the lines “being out of luck/are you the same way”. It sounds simple but Criteria’s ability to end the songs at the right moment keeps the crowd going and the loud support is heartfelt. Whereas Stephen is all politeness, thanking the crowd after each song, drummer Mike is a ball of wired energy incessantly driving the band forward. The real star of Criteria is AJ Mogis. Looking like a mad combination of Bill Bailey and John Peel at his hairiest, AJ would be the first into the swimming pool at any after-party. Last track Kiss the Wake finishes the set on a high. Mike even gets a drumstick from a helpful crowd member mid-song after he snaps his own delivering another pounding beat. And with that, Criteria are gone, heading back to Omaha, but letting the punters leave knowing they’ve seen a good show.
Randy, lead singer, of second band, The Kicks, announces his arrival with "Welcome to ‘Ho Land”. There’s no blingers here but this statement gets surprisingly loud whoops of glee. Despite not heading the bill, the majority of the crowd are here to see The Kicks. Randy’s wearing a Nine Inch Nails T-shirt and that’s what this band are all about. The crowd is whisked back to early 90s America with lashings of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden-influenced tracks. This band can hold the crowd in the palm of their hand. Their songs are a richly-textured rock fest and Randy holds one hell of a long note, a talent he displays regularly throughout the set. Even the keyboardist gets fully into the occasion launching into a gloriously uncool orangutan dance.
After The Kicks have finished their triumphant racket, it is time for headliners Criteria. Hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, the night at the Water Rats is the last gig of a 17 date tour that has taken them as far as Frankfurt and Barcelona promoting their album 'When We Break'. Lead singer Stephen points out “we can’t wait to get home”. Unfortunately it looks like the crowd thought the same because more than half have disappeared in the interval. However, like any good band should, they put any weariness behind them and put everything into their set. 'Good Luck' is their strongest track, summing up their sound of tight rhythm with emotional lyrics, Stephen repeating the lines “being out of luck/are you the same way”. It sounds simple but Criteria’s ability to end the songs at the right moment keeps the crowd going and the loud support is heartfelt. Whereas Stephen is all politeness, thanking the crowd after each song, drummer Mike is a ball of wired energy incessantly driving the band forward. The real star of Criteria is AJ Mogis. Looking like a mad combination of Bill Bailey and John Peel at his hairiest, AJ would be the first into the swimming pool at any after-party. Last track Kiss the Wake finishes the set on a high. Mike even gets a drumstick from a helpful crowd member mid-song after he snaps his own delivering another pounding beat. And with that, Criteria are gone, heading back to Omaha, but letting the punters leave knowing they’ve seen a good show.
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