Up-Load UK, Gigs News & reviews Brigade Review

So, after two hours waiting in the on-off rain I tumbled down the stairs of Camden Underworld, and through the double doors into another dimension. It's dark, it's smokey and really loud. Naturally, I pushed straight to the front and into the action.

I found I'd missed all but the last song of the first act - Gallows (who also go by the name of Burn The Gallows just to confuse); who I am now informed come from Hertfordshire and have a Hardcore (post-hardcore? gawd knows about these genres) sound, which is far from perfect, but not bad at all. They seemed to have a very energetic live performance and some mad fans, who proceeded to steal the mic off the lead singer and howl like wolves. I liked the song I heard, simply because of it being based around that well know expression: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return". That kinda won me over, but sadly before I knew it they were off the stage. You might want to check out www.myspace.com/burnthegallows or their official webby www.lastfightforthelivingdead.co.uk if you're interested in that kind of shouty hardcore. Not bad at all...

Moving very swiftly on (pun intended) to Fastlane. Hooray! I must admit I came here to see them, after hearing of them at the [spunge] gig in November. As well as me there's quite a large contingent sporting their merchandise, they have quite a following. They've just done a headline UK tour. I have no idea how the two American girls I chatted to came to be at this tiny gig of the guys from Surrey. Playing as a support act at such a small venue in the middle of the day must make it a very odd gig; but it makes the performance extremely fun playing to young people who came to this gig specifically to have just that. They play excellently, like a well oiled machine, and the energy of their songs really comes out without compromising sound quality. Only the drummer of the band, safely at the back, avoids being literally groped. Groped by girls and one extremely odd boy. I was astounded Matty's ability to both play guitar and be stroked and groped between his legs at the same time. Incredible. Need I describe the music? Basically pogo-mania, punk rock with more energy than a lorry full of Red Bull - their website describes them as "Imagine a mixture of beautiful harmonies, crunching guitars, powerful drums and you?re half way there. FASTLANE are probably one of, if not THE best at this style of music in the U.K. at the moment." Online you can hear such songs as Dreaming and Elevator and many more awesome songs. I'll say no more! Apart from: Their latest album New Start is definitely worth a buy, and www.fastlanerock.com is where you can learn more.

Subverse is meant to be a kind of club, but it's just a gig with songs in between the acts. It was cracking to see all the younger kids singing I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic! At The Disco. Subverse was primarily set up as the kind of gig your parents wouldn't object to, it's all ages, in the middle of Sunday afternoon, it gets you out of their way, and you can have all your homework out the way and get back in time for tea. Plus, it is as cheap as chips - under 18s pay just £3, and over 18s pay the princely sum of £4. Visible Noise takes some kind of responsibility over it, but they don't push Visible Noise artists at the gigs particularly, it's a totally mixed bag.

Brigade aren't huge... yet. Their album is due out in May, so they seized this gig as an opportunity to show off their new songs. They should be as proud as peacocks - their new material is completely magnificent, and Brigade fever is not far off. Any sludginess from the speakers is soon overpowered by their sheer gusto, they have the presence of true rock stars. The reaction they get from the crowd is pure frenzy, assorted mosh pits, fights, jumping, dancing. With some shock, frontman Will Simpson (yes, he is Charlie's younger brother, but let's not go into that) declares that his trouser button has popped off. Cue crazy teenage girls shouting "Take it off! Take it off!" for a good couple of minutes; until Will meets them half way by describing his boxers to them (his Friday pants - odd considering it's Sunday). They describe their sound as post-hardcore, hard driven and laced with melody and harmony. They play single Magneto to rabid appreciation, and never fall short of material or friendly banter. Truly a band worthy of your attention, check them out at www.brigadeworld.com , and they are doing a headline tour around the UK you shouldn't miss.

Let's not forget all the goodies thrown out, I managed to collect 2 placebo badges, 4 rammstein badges and a sticker, 1 From First To Last badge and sticker, a matchbook romance sticker, a two track minidisk and 4 brigade stickers. Everyone loves freebies!

All that's left to worry about is getting back up those stairs!