Friday 31/03/06 Film School @ Noise Pop, San Francisco

"Last time we played here there were only twelve of you!" 'Here' is Slim's, on Eleventh St. It's a far cry from the Fillmore but tonight Film School are playing the Bay city's annual live music festival Noise Pop, boasting an ‘06 line-up that includes We Are Scientists, Wolfmother, The Grates and The Blood Arm. No beatniks, no Chucks and no attitude; instead Slim's is packed with that syrupy all American look; the Californian first-time drinkers are fussing whether to, like, get another Bud Lite. Oh my God why don't you just, and make it a full fat Bud, so you can intoxicate yourself off the premises. But they're all keen, keen to see the shirt-popping bowler hat man yelling from the dimly lit stage. That man is Krayg Burton, vocalist, guitarist and songsmith of the San Franciscan five piece.

When a corner of the Press as up itself as the Sunday Times Culture Magazine rates a rock band, it's of mixed blessing since it's an effective penning into the Coldplay category. That's what happened to Film School after last year's SXSW and is probably why we haven't heard enough of their layered rock as its quality deserves. It's brooding, experimental and of grandiose proportions - grandiose but not of the delusionary nature, save bassist Justin LaBo, whose stage antics tonight draw a wry smile from the staid keys player Jason Ruck. LaBo keeps demonstrating his hyperextensible waist whilst Ruck and guitarist Nyles Lannon adopt the altogether less quirky art of stagecraft. 

Film School’s indie is dark and introspective but in LaBo especially this isn’t reflected in their personas. Jaded they certainly aren’t, remarkable considering their eight year long schlep through small-time. Small-time is no more, however, as this sell-out show and freshly inked contracts of UK independent label Beggars Banquet prove. Their upbeat mood is all the more incredible considering their gear was stolen on the road in Philadelphia just a few days before this very show.

Point 11 pm and the unrestrained guitars of 'On and On', first track of their self-produced eponymous debut are the perfect build-up for Burton's plaintive vocals. Film School deliver it large, recalling New Yorkers Sonic Youth, only more melodic.  It’s not all soaring guitars and charging synths though, as album track ‘Like You Know’ allows the band to impress with their softer side. Burton’s indie angst "You fall like you know/And leave like you don’t" is delicate to the degree that even if you’re happy you’re out of the pouring West Coast rain you wouldn’t give a shit if it came hailing through the roof. 

Drummer Donny Newenhouse is the powerhouse behind punchier number ‘Pitfalls’ and Lannon is particularly strong during the second of the most outstanding tracks from the record, ‘11-11’. That track’s killer chorus "Don’t you know you said you never should lie is", owing to the huge red sign next to the stage: 'MOSHERS WILL BE REMOVED', greeted with pockets of rather more subdued ‘moshing’.  After the hour long set, the singalong crowd still isn’t sated and squeezes a three song encore out of Burton et al. When the lights go up there’s a frantic scramble for the merch stand. Film School – soon on googling you won’t get the New York Film Academy but this damn fine band.