Radio Free Alice are the surprising support act tonight. I say surprising because they were scheduled to play across town last night as well as being due to come back to Manchester in August for Manchester Psych Fest, and playing a city three times in a month seems excessive for a touring band. They're an Australian indie rock band and their opening track 'Look What You've Done' boasts a solid bassline, some nice melodic guitars and a decent chorus. More than anything though it has a great deal of charm. '2010' is a mixture of New Order and The Cure. The bassline could belong to either band but the guitars and vocals tip it more on to the side of The Cure. 'Empty Words' adds saxophone and although I quite like the sax parts, the track seems a bit less successful overall. 'I Gotta (Fall In Love)' is punkier, sounding like The Buzzcocks covering Fugazi's 'Waiting Room' (the bassline is identical) and is good fun. 'Paris Is Gone' has more energy and intensity along with an insistent chorus. Closing track 'Waste Of Space' has another strong chorus and a driving rhythm. Overall, pretty impressive.
BODEGA open with a ripping cover of 'Paranoid' in tribute to Ozzy Osbourne who passed away the day before, which receives a great cheer from the crowd. 'Can't Knock The Hustle' is where normal service is resumed as it is more representative of their usual style: chunky riffs, danceable beats and exuding New York cool. Newer tracks like 'Monthly Follower' and 'Guess What' are more like hardcore punk tracks. 'Guess What' really reminds me of The Briefs. 'Rot In Helvetica' is still firmly in CBGBs, only in the late '70s New Wave scene rather than the late '80s hardcore secene. One track is funkier with a Jane's Addiction feel. No matter what style they are playing they always seem like the coolest band in the world. Their cover of Stretch Armstrong's 'For The Record' is excellent, being both faithful and still retaining their own identity. The cool punk funk of 'How Did This Happen?' is joyous. 'Comatose Chameleon' is the perfect mix of funky cool and new wave punk and just adds to the sweaty atmosphere in the room. 'Tarkovski' is catchy in a B-52s style, and the guitarist's solo is wild. The track is stretched almost to breaking point and is absolutely terrific. The set ratchets up the intensity incrementally the longer it goes on. The art rock of 'Statuette On The Console' sounds gargantuan whilst 'Quantify's hardcore punk is a blast. The band starts to take requests at the end of the set and a raucous 'I Am Not A Cinephile' closes the show.
BODEGA ****
Radio Free Alice ****
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