Monday 20/02/06 Biffy Clyro, Oceansize, The Like @ KOKO, London

Tonight’s line up is an emo kid’s wildest dream – the cancellation of Nightmares of You makes way for British act Oceansize, and this unexpected treat alongside rock mentalists Biffy Clyro has  the stripy jumpers and painted on jeans out in their droves. This evening’s openers, indie 3 piece The Like, will have to do something special to win over these hardcore, rock-hungry youth.

And that they do – these 3 lasses offer a strange but alluring sound. The backbone of The Like's music comes from crushing basslines and frantic percussion. Drummer Tennessee’s transition from innocent, barefoot, ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ maiden to pure rock monster is phenomenal, becoming a fury of hair and limbs as she takes to the drums. This, coupled with bassist Charlotte’s sturdy rumble is all very rock, and all very loud.

The key to The Like’s beauty is the vocals. Berg’s hazy voice (in songs like ‘Mrs. Actually’) has a subtle intensity that echoes beautifully around the venue. No matter how frantic the drumming or how thrashing the guitar, these vocals make The Like’s music feel perfectly tranquil, like riding a rollercoaster after downing a bottle of Night Nurse. Such frantic drumming provokes musical **** ups; missed beats, dropped sticks, and forgotten endings. But there’s something appealing about these onstage mistakes, reminding the audience what it is to play live, warts and all. And on top this they have impeccable manners ("Thank you for tolerating us, and thank you for not throwing anything, it’s very kind"). 

From a towering 4th floor balcony sofa, Gigwise is treated to a fantastic lightshow – but no lasers or pyrotechnics, just hundreds of camera phones all pointing directly at Oceansize’s Mike Vennart as he emerges from the darkness. As the audience admire their new wallpapers, the band explode into their opening number, turning the crowd into a surging mass of bodies. Oceansize follow a very simple emo/metal formula – songs begin loud, with a wall of noise, before a quiet, atmospheric interlude while Vennart whines a little, before the madness kicks back in. This all too predictable approach gets a little tedious, although the crowd seem to love it. Tonight, however, these guys are at their best when they abandon the emo rulebook, and experiment with long instrumentals. These prog rock numbers and give band members such as drummer Mark Herrin a chance to shine - Herrin works his way around a huge kit with complex rhythms and expertly executed freak outs, while the rest of the band create a chorus of squeals and moans from their vast effects boards. The result is loud, mesmerizing, and great to watch.