The Original Rock Quest
2008's final was one of the annual competition's hardest
fought to date – with young Blackpool four piece The Locals
eventually taking home the top prize of £1,500.
Their tight set saw them convert youthful attitude into a
confident, hard hitting and occasionally manic 30 minutes.
There's a touch of John Lennon about frontman Jordan Coleman's
poise and vocals – and a veritable wall of sound behind him
with Charlie Richards' excellent lead guitar and a powerhouse
combination of Dan Page and Rob Chambers on bass and drums.
Their material is strong –notably the commercial Contemporary
Musician of the Year and the decibel bending Can't Keep It
Inside – and their image has future stars stamped firmly on
it.
Another night and Flags of the Soviet Republic could have been
looking at repeating their runaway heat one success. They are
polished and experienced, delivering a slick set with perhaps
sometimes too cool a detachment. They've established a strong
fan base but now need to communicate beyond that loyal
following. Guitar-led material such as Squash Heart Attack,
Christ On a Bike and the more uptempo Kissing Goldbridge could
lift them into a different league.
For the second successive year The Night Life Crisis saw the
chance of victory snatched away from them. It's difficult to
see what more they could have done. Their material is catchy,
their confidence is still coming on in leaps and bounds and
they boast two big voices in James Hernen and Ed Lewis with
spot on guitar from Matt Knowles and strong drumming from Dom
Hardey. Songs such as Something About Chicago and A Boy Who
Likes A Girl would serve any band well.
The competition's highest scoring runners-up Romanov were
probably the night's most disappointed band – and will
probably have to take a class or two in anger management if
they are to take losing in their stride.
They actually did little wrong – though maybe should have
concentrated more on stage favourites rather than risking a
couple of songs so new the ink was barely dry on them.
But they are unafraid of changing their tempo – switching for
harder edged indie to rather more reggae-influenced songs like
St Sebastian and Best Dress. Frontman Lewis Sproston has real
rock charisma and is a powder keg waiting to explode when
given the opportunity.
Gaining their second successive place in a Rock Quest final by
receiving the most Gazette reader e-mail votes, Kaseno managed
to once again draw the short straw of opening the night's
proceedings. Thankfully they are professional and good natured
enough to take such tough luck in their stride kick starting
the wet and windy night with a solid set giving Pete Searle's
confident vocals full rein.
Stage favourites such as War Dance and impressive opener
Spirograph plus the ironically titled ear drum challenging
Wake Up started the night in fine style.
The competition was sponsored by Bulmers Original and
organised by The Gazette in conjunction with Leisure Parcs and
the Tower Lounge.
