TANK in St Helens is a tiny bar that sometimes puts gigs on. It can get very hot and crowded inside. They do however have a lovely, mostly covered, outside area at the back that the bands can play in during good weather.
Indigo Horizon are already playing as we arrive. They are a very proficient four piece doing a lot of covers, particularly noticeable was an excellent version of Nirvanas Heart Shaped Box. Their choice of songs were mainly grungy sounding and they showed more than a little style and delivered them with passion.
The Jackals came on, a lot different feel to this band. Groovy dirty baselines, simple then complex drum patterns and guitars creating soundscapes over the top until crashing into full blown heavy chords sequences. The vocals were strong, and the bands sound left plenty of room for even quieter passages to be fully audible. For me I could hear small touches of Tool in there. They sounded different enough from a lot of other bands around to make themselves sound a bit unique. Despite polite interludes between the songs thanking the audience for turning up and the like the band had that hint of musical danger about them, they could turn on a sixpence from a bass groove and almost motorik drums with low howling vocals into a full on monster of a band with crashing symbols and heavy heavy guitars backing screams from the singer. Emotional and with something to say lyrically.
The Last Reserves never disappoint, it’s always full on from the start. They find themselves pitched in with a lot of early punk bands from the Pistols through X-Ray Specs with hard fast songs and political lyrics but other influences seem to make their way through. The drums are hard hit and a veritable maelstrom, the bass is pounded as if the bassists life depended on it and all the band are great players. Their guitarist stands out for me though (probably because I’m a guitarist). He somehow occupies the sonic spaces once occupied by James Williamson in the Stooges and Eddie Clarke in Motorhead.
Fronted by a whirlwind of a vocalist and one who’s confidence in between songs is apparent from the exposition supplied of each of the tracks meaning whilst the band gear up for their next musical onslaught. The Last Reserves, full on, fast and loud and a musically tight machine.
Words and Photos: Richie Yates
Links:
The Last Reserves Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LastReservesBand
Jackals Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackalsbanduk
Indigo Horizon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndigoHorizonOfficialUK