Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Stretch your mind back to 2002, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were the coolest band on the planet, and 'Spread Your Love', with those racketing guitars, and that fuzzy bass line was the anthem at many a festival. 8 years later however, and the summer of leather jackets and biker boots is a distant memory, yet the Californian bank are back on tour in support of their sixth full length album.

Since the release of their debut album, the band have undergone turmoil, with original drummer Nick Jago repeatedly leaving and re-joining the band, now to be replaced by Raveonettes' touring drummer, Leah Shapiro, living up to the task without any hassle.

With previous albums 'Howl' and 'The Effects of 333' really exploring the band more blues rock, Americana influence, the three songs taken from the new album in the set, including opener 'Conscience Killer' see the band return to their 60s garage rock inspired roots, the sort of stuff the got the band noticed originally.

Tonight is really about the 'hits' however, the stuff that the audience can really get their teeth stuck into, with the previously mentioned 'Spread You Love' and 'What Happened to My Rock n Roll', both showcasing garage rock at it's best.

'Love Burns', with it's lyrics of love and loss, still tinges with emotion through the vocals of both Peter Hayes and Robert Been. Even 'Berlin' and 'Ain't No Easy Way', real bluesy, foot stompers, keep the audience engaged and entertained.

It's only when the band plays their slower paced, more psychedelic tracks, especially from the new record 'Beat the Devil's Tattoo', that the audience seem to take a step back from the set.

It really is all about the 'party hits', the stuff that made them fall in love the first time round, the stuff that allowed them to break out the older sibling's leather, and really enjoy a rock and roll band for the first time.

Front man and guitarist, and former member of cult, alternative band The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Hayes, only speaks once throughout the whole performance, "Thanks for coming down tonight, it's always good to be back here, when it's been like 4 years..."

That time, almost 4 years ago, the band played for 2 and half hours, tonight it's a different story. Instead of taking the audience on a 'trip' it's about showcasing what they've just achieved musically, and entertaining those who've come to watch them.

They'll never reach the popularity that had all those years ago, but that's never been what they're about, and if they continue write records as well as 'Beat the Devil's Tattoo', let them keep going.

FUTURE GIGS

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