Band:
The Yettys, The Hormones and Domino Effect Venue:
Rhythm Factory, Whitechapel, London, UK Date:
21 May 2002
The Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel is usually home to the elite morose
world of London artists, who spend their time in constant self-absorbed
depression, yay! But tonight its home to a few budding talents and their
friends.
Starting the event is a truly terrible band, The Domino Effect, who take
to the stage having had their last rehearsal 7 months ago. Suffice to say
they're pretty crappy, but they remind me of the old California / Seattle
rough-punk bands like the Circle Jerks and Burning Sensations, bands who
spent their time sniffing glue and skateboarding. Go watch the 1984
classic Repoman to see what this band could be with a little practice.
Next up, swinging the bat for the girls team are punk-princesses The
Hormones. Three grrls whose saucy wardrobe of a 60s' mini dress, 50s red
satin suit and French maid uniform are perfect for the bonkers lyricism
and playful pop-punk tunes. Think the Moldy Peaches trying to raise a
fledgling Sugarcubes with Joey Ramone and Blondie as godparents and you're
just about in the ballpark.
Lovely simple bass and guitar riffs backed up with tight, rolling drums
and tickled with Dutch lead singer Marenka's doe-eyed stiletto lyrics.
Lycra-man is bubblegum pop/rock in true Bow Wow Wow style with such
coquettish lyrics as "I'm so excitable/I hope you are enticeable/I bet you
are courageous/that you'd go for ages".
"Koksukkah" lets the audience know, in no uncertain terms, what the
Hormones think of them by shouting out "we're not your friends/we're your
idols!". With pomp and ego-flair like that, whose gonna argue?
To turn us all down at the end of this particularly odd night, was The
Yetty's. The tightest and obviously most technically gifted of the bands
tonight they do put on a good show, the only problem being that they are
boring, bland and fantastically forgettable. If you like the idea of 'Ash'
in a void of imagination then these guys are for you, but the only thing
they will ever do is session recordings. For boy bands and advert
jingles.... shame really.
