Friday 11/06/04 Bloc Party, The Longcut, Nine Black Alps, Komakino @ Bierkeller, Manchester

Tonight’s bill seems to have scoured the country for bands that will undoubtedly be dubbed as ‘The Future’. Art punk, blatantly the most fashionable genre around is rearing its pretentiously coiffured head and producing bands like the unfeasibly brilliant Bloc Party, while the buzz about Nine Black Alps is reaching unprecedented levels. Tonight, the hype machine has ensured that the Bierkeller is packed to breaking point.

First on are Komakino, who’s turbulent and emotive mix of Interpol and The Cure has moved on a step since last time Gigwise saw them. Tighter, darker and more intense, Komakino forebodingly command attention from their opening chord. Torment thrashes through frontman Ryan’s wired performance on tracks like ‘Explosions In Her Eyes’ and ‘Tripwire’. Jumping onto the drum kit, he stares into the audience whilst seeing no-one. It’s the dark obsession of ‘Turn On The Bright Lights’ twisted in with intense anger. In just a month the band have evolved from a better than average band into a great one, bubbling over with violent paranoia.

Manchester’s Nine Black Alps are being touted as the new saviours of music. The four-piece come accoladed to the hilt, but after the new found confidence of Komakino, the band seem rather lacklustre. Stood almost rooted to the spot, hair dangling over his eyes, only frontman Sam Forrest’s vociferous vocal talent makes the prior praise relevant to the band. They’ve drawn comparisons with the Pixies, but at tonight’s gig the best comparison on tracks like ‘Not Everyone’ and ‘Shut Down’ is a watery underdeveloped Nirvana. Midway through the set there’s some movement, Forrest plays his guitar by running it up and down a pillar. Even this act of rock madness isn’t enough to leave the band anywhere near the dizzy heights that the A&R people who scrambled round the bands feet would have had us believe. Maybe it’s the venue, maybe they’re having an off day, but until next time Gigwise sees the band, the mystery of how Nine Black Alps seem to have conned a shit load of people into thinking that they’re interesting will remain unsolved.

Deltasonic's latest signings The Longcut are not your typical Deltasonic band. Without the merest hint of Beefheart or Love, and with their roots firmly planted in Manchester, it seems that the label is becoming more than a bunch of bands that can sit around congratulating each other on how similar their influences are and are taking some chances. Longcut frontman Stuart is also the drummer. He runs back and forth throughout the set between mic and kit. The band needs another member. Though the drumming is faultless and inventive, the songs can never reach their full potential, and instead disband into overly-lengthy Rapture-esque soundscapes. It’s not until last number ‘A Quiet Life’ that band really come into their own, fusing house with post rock, the band create their own niche. Just how long they can keep up the pretence that they’re fine as a trio though remains to be seen.

It's been a long gig. By the time Bloc Party come on stage its past twelve, but even the fact that the band come on stage late does little to stop the hum of excitement that pushes its way stageward as the band come on. If the ongoing Libertines saga is making you wretch, and Razorlight seem a little bit too contrived, don’t lose faith in London. Bloc Party marry animal instinct with city life. Brutal honesty, insightful integrity, and bass lines that epitomise brilliance, 'Banquet' and  'She's Hearing Voices' bruise the concept of cool, and make you wonder just how this band of art-punk renegades will ever get a bad review. Free from bravado and headline grabbing self-absorption, all that’s left with Bloc Party is the music, and when the music’s as good as this why would you need anything else?

Photos by Adam Cooney