Saturday 24/09/05 White Rose Movement, Protocol, Kale @ Academy 3, Liverpool

The atmosphere seems uneasy in the Liverpool Academy as the first support group Kale, plough their way through their set. The crowd stare at the female lead vocalist/guitarist like people view freaks in a circus. The band try desperately hard to convey to the audience what they are all about. Sadly, even the bizarre instrumental techniques of the lead guitarist fail to impress.

 

The crowd soon brighten up when Protocol frontman John Pritchard takes the stage and beckons everybody to step forward. This band is one finely polished act, full of charisma and a bagful of memorable tunes. Think synth-rock bands like The Killers and the Bravery then minus the pop like sound. It’s hard to take your eyes off the spindly lead vocalist as he rocks the microphone. His enthusiasm rubs off on the rest of the band and most certainly the crowd. Their debut single ‘She Waits For Me’ is out next week - it may well be worth checking out.

 

The crowd are now well and truly hyped for White Rose Movement and their aggressive, intense sound is bringing the house down. The lead singer, Finn Vine resembles a sleeker version of Jarvis Cocker and keeps the crowd’s energy going by some serious hip thrusting action. People watch mesmerised as he rocks his way through tracks such as the astounding ‘Love Is A Number’ and new single ‘Alsatian’. The band definitely gets the thumbs up for glamour as female keyboardist Taxxi exuberates 80’s retro style. This era has obviously greatly influenced the band resulting in some interesting synth-rock-disco music. Guitarist, Jasper Milton has a multitude of pedals but uses them well reeling out a number of mechanised effects. The band possesses an earthy, underground quality that rouses the rebel in the most reserved of the crowd. It’s no wonder they cause such a stir when named after student seditionaries in Nazi Germany!

 

Despite delivering a blinder of a gig White Rose Movement fail to have a particular song that stands out as hit single material. They are consistent in their song writing that’s for sure, but whether they’re destined for the big time is another story.