The name Thunder and the Giants evokes a full on band with Motley Crue excesses (Editor: Are you sure?) and Rock n Roll attitude. For some reason I was expecting lots of ‘Are you having a good time Birkenhead’ yelled from the stage over some glam rock guitar riffing. What I got was somewhat different. On stage the band are unassuming, modest, their (very funny) banter is full of self deprecation and they let their music talk for them.
It’s a cross of 90s Brit Pop and 00s American pop punk with hints other influences thrown in. The music is as straightforward as it is enjoyable. They are simple and yet complex. High in melodies and hook lines, catchy at every possible opportunity with insidious guitar lead lines that stick in the mind after the gig and an overall big loud sound that sounds great. Yeah, these are fun, not taking themselves too seriously but delivering musically. I found myself warming to them more as their set progressed and ended up thinking I must check them out again.
Vintage Crop hail from Geelong, some 40 miles Southwest of Melbourne Australia. They find themselves in Birkenhead in the midst of a full blown European tour and from the start hit it head on. Their post punk stylings, guitar riffs and strong but sharp songs keep ears pricked up all the way through their set. They have some of that Australian band sound about them but mixed in with something of a 1980s almost Mod band sounding approach to strong melodies and contrasts within the songs. There are sharp changes of tempo and timing and intensity. They can hang on a groove then burst out into full blown chant along chorus’.
It’s all well delivered, flawlessly played and a feeling of the band as a team delivering well crafted songs. There’s real sharpness in there too an ability to hold it all back then unleash powerful controlled noise.
Words and Photos: Richie Yates
Links:
Thunder and the Giants Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TATGband/
Vintage Crop Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vintagecropband