People Of Santiago

Playing The Cluny is seen as a bit of a step up to the big time in Newcastle. Many up and coming bands have played here just before coming into the limelight, and it seems there may be yet another in People of Santiago. Already making waves on the local scene, and getting airplay from Steve Lamacq just a year after forming, this is a band that has it's sights set firmly on the big time.

Andrew Young delivers the vocal with a scathing cynicism, which comes across particularly well during "The City Isn't Listening", expressing his despair at living in an identikit nowhere town, with identikit nowhere people, and needing to break free.

"Light Floods The Room" continues the idea of individuality. Opening with the command to 'stop fitting in and do the things you really want', this is an outright attack on herd culture and the need to fit in. Ironically it is the song most likely to be sung along to by the masses when this band do break through.

The rhythm section of Phil Taylor on Drums, and Alan Alderson on bass holds down a very tight line, and the driving rhythm serves to add an extra urgency to proceedings. This is especially apparant during "Burn Them To The Ground", and "Time Means Everything", where the chaotic guitar and synth combination threatens to derail the songs at any time.

During final song, "Broadcast", Andrew becomes confrontational. Staring straight at a group of hecklers in the crowd, he screams the lyric 'If we start this together we'll end this together' right at them, and he doesn't take his eyes off them for the whole song, with the added intensity suiting the song perfectly.

Dealing with issues as complex as hopelessness, regret and consumerism could come across as crass in the hands of less skillful lyricists, but PoS deal with them with a maturity far greater than that of the band. However, their talent isn't just lyrically. The band function as a very tight, cohesive unit, and it is easy to see why they are gaining more fans every time they play.

People of Santiago is definitely one to watch out for, and quite clearly the most exciting new band on the Newcastle scene at the moment.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.