Was I was supposed to take a lead singer dressed in top and tails seriously? I presumed they were a joke band and their short set did nothing to prove otherwise.
The show was the last night in a handful of warm up gigs before The Rakes head off on their 'proper' tour in March once the new album, 'Ten New Messages', is released. Judging by some of the new material they may have been slightly ambitious with the large venues that they've booked for the upcoming ten-date tour. We shall see.
This was the third time that I've seen The Rakes and by far the least inspiring. Donohue seemed to have lost a bit of his charm and magnetism, although I still think he's one of the most entertaining front men about. Maybe he was having an off-night? Maybe I've just seen the band one too many times and the novelty has worn off?
Watching a group of about 8 or 10 senseless lads (aka idiot chavs) in the crowd crashing around and pouring pints on people was, at times, more entertaining than watching Donohue and his band sheepishly going through the motions on some of the new songs.
The Rakes opened with 'World Was A Mess' which sounded very promising but the mix was terrible and you just couldn't hear the lead vocal. Many of the new songs sounded similar to the older material without the loveable raw edge and spark from their fantastic first album. The only change in format for the night came in the form of an Asian rapper called Raxstar who showed up on stage for a little cameo in 'Suspicious Eyes'.
It mixed things up a little but wasn't particularly good. There is no doubting that tracks off the old album were all fantastic and they all went down a treat but there's nothing fresh about The Rakes at the moment.
"I was lucky enough to be at an Arcade Fire gig last week when they came into the crowd and played a fantastic cover of 'The Guns of Brixton' by The Clash" said lead singer Donohue as they came back to the stage after the subdued encore "Tonight you guys are lucky enough to hear us play a cover of one of our own songs...from the new album. Thank you all for being Rakes fans".
Donohue was always sharp, witty and affable throughout the night but the new song that they launched into, 'Little Superstition', was very average and once more it was left to a final first album combo of 'Open Book' and 'Strasbourg' to salvage the crowd who had lost a bit of interest.
All in all, a disappointing night. And it was over before 10pm?! Let's hope that The Rakes can step up a gear before the gigs in March otherwise they'll be left behind the pack and will soon be forgotten. Maybe I'm being slightly harsh and the new album will turn out to be a real grower, but on last nights evidence The Rakes need to improve.
article by: Thomas Powell
published: 09/02/2007 10:32
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.