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Live Review
by SaschaS
16-8-2002
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| Gaz Supergrass is with it |
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Live: Supergrass
Electric Ballroom, London
Thursday, August 15, 2002
Supergrass gust a huge comeback
As Supergrass take to the stage, it is few hours before the quarter-century of the King Of Music’s passing on; when Elvis Presley was discovered in his Graceland bathroom Garreth Coombes was 14 months old. On the eve of the sad anniversary, Gaz is on a comeback trail with his two mates, three years after the self-titled third album…
‘Grass have emerged for a warm-up show to their V2002 appearance and to showcase some of the new material from the end of September due album, ‘Life On Another Planets’. And, glad to report that despite time’s inevitable alteration, the band remains true to their mode of music making and performance. It simply appears to have gotten better, more confident and focused, tighter but dispensing goodies with ease of seasoned practitioners.
And, it is so good to have them back as no-one does better what they do; using the rock template they infuse it with so much pop that it is simply – irresistible: catchy melodies, hooky choruses, complex passages and even some prog-tastic moments, ‘Grass bop with style, grace and ardour. There have always been more topical ‘le son de jour’ combos than them, such as The Coral and The Music right now, but this trio tap into a heart of some classic essence.
Coombes leads members, with his bro Rob occasionally helping out on keyboards, into a sonic assortment that combines inducing moshing with close-bonding during slower numbers and astonishment when they embark upon some extended ‘jamming’. This is a power-pop at its bestest! With songs like ‘Going Out’, ‘Sun Hits The Sky’, ‘Pumpin’ On Your Stereo’, ‘Moving’, it is no surprise that the band turned down offers by Calvin Klein and Steven Spielberg to become something else.
New songs are rarely introduced but they do uphold the spirit of what the ‘Grass have been exploring over the years; slight surprise is an homage to Marc Bolan on ‘Seen The Light’, with the single ‘Grace’ being more of a typical band’s take on the 1970s stomp and ‘Brecon Beacons’ sporting a reggae-ifed feel to its fine power-chording. ‘Grass handle fury and passion, riffs and space, noise and restraint so well, but then – they’ve never really subscribed to cold playing.
Supergrass have no design on any crowns although they should be the Kings of Cool Jolliness.
SaschaS
16-8-2002
Supergrass’ album ‘Life On Other Planets’ is released 30 September on Parlophone
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