The Soft Pack

The Soft Pack, despite their relatively short career in the music business, have come under times of controversy, whilst still remaining one of the coolest underground bands to emerge from America in recent years.

Previously, the San Diego, now Los Angeles based, 4 piece, were named 'The Muslims', a name which came under criticism from several sectors of the public, fans defending them, and other putting them under further scrutiny, forcing the band to change their name to 'The Soft Pack'.

Despite, undue and undeserved "ignorant and racist comments" about the band, they continued to produce excellent, and the EP released in 2007, 'The Muslims EP', delivered a piece of real American alternative, punk inspired, collection of songs, which led to positive press endorsement from the likes of Pitchfork, and led to them appearing at several All Tomorrow Parties festivals.

By 2008, the band were now operating under their new name, and after releasing another EP, released their debut, full length album late last year, to great reviews.

And they were certainly deserved, which now finds them doing an extensive UK tour this month, in support of the album, with the band, tonight, making their first appearance in Newcastle, in one of the city's most suitable venues; a place where the creative types meet and discuss bands such as The Soft Pack.

Or so I had first thought, as unfortunately for the band, the turn out, for a venue as big as The Cluny, was meagre to what I had expected for a band of such talent. But this only, whilst disappointing the band at first, later spurred them, after seeing the audience's hearty response to the their opening songs, resulting in a fantastic performance.

Playing a set just shy of an hour, the band didn't mess around, arriving on stage, and racing through, not taking away time from their music by unnecessary chit-chat in between songs, treating their devoted audience to a host of songs from nearly everything that they've produced.

This included several older Muslims tracks, showing that the band, despite their name change, are certainly not afraid to look into their past, but mainly concentrated on their new album with their set.

Highlights included the soft talking 'Beside Myself', which sounded very heartfelt when performed live, and 'C'Mon' and 'Answer to Yourself' really showing what the band are capable of.

The latter, the set closer, really is a fantastic song. Combining a pop chorus, over a hail of tight yet edgy guitars, the band have found a successful formula of combing of Beach Boy's style melodies and harmonies, over the punk influence back line of the Ramones, and the results are simply superb.

I would even go as far as saying that we might, already, have the song of the year, and one thing's for certain, if the right people get themselves a copy of this record, it'll certainly soundtrack your summer.

The band even found time to debut a new track, unnamed, yet is equally as exciting as what they've produced previously.

Despite the small numbers, the gig turned out to be one of my favourites, almost like an intimate jam session where the band were at their most comfortable.

FUTURE GIGS

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