When I strolled up to see Attack! Attack! A few nights ago, I was shocked at the size of the queue outside the academy; but it all made sense pretty quickly - Katy Perry was playing next door.
Attack! Attack! - Photo By Andy Squire
I know, I know, that’s a cruel introduction to this review, but with one of the most in demand female’s in music at the moment playing on the same night as rock’s most promising Welsh band it was just a case of band timing for the lads in Attack! Attack! Who I’m sure would have drawn a bigger crowd without a girl-kisser swanning about next door.
I can understand their pain though, because Ryan Day is in the same outfit he had on during the entire Funeral For A Friend tour, so it would be nice for the paying public to throw some cash their way, if not to see the guys live, but just so Ryan can treat himself to a few new threads.
Anyway, despite the Acadamy not being filled to capacity, the guys put everything into their gig, with vocalist Neil Starr entertaining his adoring fans with his dry humour and super fit Welsh accent in between songs, after all, who cares if a couple of fans have gone elsewhere,; these kids love Attack! Attack! And the band weren’t going to let them down.
Launching into song after song from their debut EP, their 45 minute set flew by all too fast for me, and I found myself wishing they had more songs for us, but bless them, they had used up every drop of energy in their pretty little bodies as they careered around the matchbox sided stage swirling their guitars around for all and sundry.
They even managed to cram in a cover of My Sharona by The Knack, which, for a fairly unknown band is a bit of an epic tune to take on; but bloody hell, they didn’t half pull it of in spectacular fashion; think Diana Vickers singing Call Me, it’s different, but it works. Oh I don’t half love it when a band manages to make a song their own.
All in all, the people who watch Katy Perry dashing around the stage dressed as a tiger obviously missed out on something amazing with Attack! Attack!, and if you didn’t catch them with FFAF you better get your ears into these guys before they come far too cool to play intimate little gigs like that one.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
Photos - Andy Squire