Gigs

Conceited Presents Two Men in a Boat, Michaelmas and Champion Kickboxer @The Pleasure Unit, 25th March 06

For bands, it’s the third difficult album, for us it turned up to be the fourth difficult night. Silly March weather did not play in our favour but the music was nevertheless great .
Champion Kickboxer kicked off the night with an eclectic, eccentric concoction of pop guitars, interesting choir vocals and synchronised beats, in a Beta Band meets Pavement, meets The Super Furries style. Yes, the influences are all there to listen to but yet the end result sounds fresh and exciting.
Champion Kickboxer were then followed by Michaelmas with their infectious sunny 1960s country pop melodies and jangle guitars for the rainy days. ‘Whenever you are Near’ is a personal favourite, with its phone monologue – unfortunately the actual phone was missing on the night – to create momentum towards the hand clapping finale.
Having stated that they provoke every reaction but indifference, Two Men in a Boat take their bold claim to the stage with a powerful introductory monologue by part-time Boat member holding his pint firm while cursing against life’s miseries. The interpretations of the world filtered through the cynical, lyrical looking glass and the spirit of democracy within the band - shared lead vocal duties and instruments – prove interesting and stirring. And the claim has soon been justified.

Elisabetta P.