Bravely stepping to the stage in a near-empty room, warm-up act High Horse were an unjustly neglected powerhouse. Hosting a great rhythm section, the high vocals and strumming-guitar sat perfectly on top of the driving bass and beat, with the occasionally touches of solo work from a Rickenbacker guitar adding an enjoyable flavour. Delivering enough melody to sooth, with enough bite to intrigue, you cheered to the finale feeling satisfied.
Community Chest, the only band of the night to use a keyboard, gave a performance that lacked much in the way of variation. The soft and floaty sounds drifting from the amps contained form but lacked any real substance. The use of two drummers, while at first intriguing, was under-utilised as they all but mirrored each other throughout the set.
Bringing the energy back to the stage, Trigger Jackets fired up the distortion pedals and went for glory. Heat and movement were inspired to fill the room as they gave out a pub-rock perforating through a post-rock style of sound. The only real complaint to be made was the lead guitar was lost amongst the mix, and the one solo felt forced and extraneous.
The main band of the night, Emperors, have become a streamlined four-piece rock unit. The guitars and vocals link together as the main thrust of the energy, with the drums and bass gripping together in a low and thick sound that keeps everything grounded. Banter and broken strings were handled deftly, and an appreciative crowd gave what they had, especially to radio track Be Ready When I Say Go. Emperors are easily a band primed and ready, but with so many noticeable influences popping out of their songs it'll be when they find their own edge that they'll hit a new level.
