Saturday 29/01/05 yourcodenameis:milo, Dogs, Metro Riots @ XFM Night, Barfly, London

The crowd are truly entranced by the edgy looks and even more astounded by the music that emanates from the Riots. After one of the most infectious, blues laden, Led Zeppelin fuelled numbers there is a massive burst of applause. When God gave out fingers for music, while Jimi Hendrix was receiving his,the band's lead guitarist, Danny Fury, must have been in the queue close behind Jimmy Page and Angus Young. Meanwhile the Devil was dishing out vocals and that’s where Damo said ‘I’ll have some of those!’ He oozes with a deliciously seductive sound that only this band could exploit at its sleazy best. Sam uses his bass like a heavy machine gun hurling tracer bullets of noise at point blank range. The Metro Riots cram one number after another down the throats of those stood in front of them climaxing in the shudderingly dirty ‘Modern Romance’. If this song doesn’t have you on your knees begging for more then nothing will. Awesome.

 

With a sound reminiscent of a cascade of church bells heralding an invasion,The Dogs begin their assault on the senses and hearts of the crowd with ‘London Bridge’. This may be their opening number but already they are playing like it’s their last day on earth. Like the band's namesake they drag you from one song to another and shake you around until you can’t but help falling prey to their music. With songs like ‘End Of An Era’ with its spat vocals and pointedly poignant lyrics like "Better get out the way, get the f**k out the way/ It’s alright run away, it’s alright to run away" you can see the shots of the old-school Punk era.

 

Soon the band are tearing up the stage, pounding out rhythms from Rich’s drums and Duncan’s bass aided by the fast and furious fingers of Rikki and Luciano on guitars, and not only does Johnny’s body strut back and forth but so do his vocals; a combination of challenge and seduction. Later bringing it down low with a number that conveys pain and emotion unlike any other seen onstage tonight, ‘Donkey’ shows a different side to the boys. But there are two killer numbers in this intoxicating set that show the Dogs at their snarling, spitting, pitying, heartfelt best.  First is the mesmerising ‘Heading For An Early Grave’ with their poetic front man spouting "I never advise it, but do what you want" before they throw themselves headlong into this fast and furious song. The second is ‘She’s Got A Reason’ which is lapped up by the crowd; a song that is full of anger, sorrow and pure **** ’em attitude- something that sums up this bands music.  After witnessing this band on stage tonight no-one can deny the Dogs the crown that the Libertines once owned. These are the men who will be kings.

 

The tension builds as the crowd’s anticipation grows before the impending appearance by the Newcastle five piece known as yourcodenameis:milo. As they take the stage the cheers, whoops and shouts from the crowd erupt and the noise level is such that tonight’s comperé, (XFM’s John Kennedy) has to shout into his mic to try and make an introduction that so clearly doesn’t need to be made. Before he’s left the stage, the band launched into their high powered, heavy opener. The mix of sounds from the soaring style of emo vocals, to the thundering bass and drums, with guitars spanning indie and an almost metal sound. The crowd love it and are almost as loud as the amps.

 

As their set ignites the room, singer Paul shouts "Let’s see some hands for the people with cameras!" and immediately there appears a forest of waving limbs raised to the sky as if in worship of the band. Maybe the ‘if’ should be omitted as these guys receive the adulation they deserve. Yourcodenameis:milo blaze through a set that is jam packed with a mix of sounds, magic and sweat. This band are really working the crowd tonight and they love every moment of it. Throwing in a number "they’ve not really played before", ‘17’ is their own special blend of almost everything, brewed and bottled by this band. By now the floor is starting to feel like a trampoline and Gigwise is beginning to think "next stop- the basement". There is an ever growing mosh pit and when the climax is reached during ‘The Dead French’ there's a realisation that this band could be used for demolition duty! However this is nothing compared to their final number ‘Schteeve’. The band perform this with blinding fury, with bass and drums firing in all directions and guitars used like M-16’s. Carried along in the barrage of sound and screams yourcodenameis:milo tumble off the stage in triumph.

 

Photo by Linda Chasteau