Damn Arms / Help She Can't Swim / Test Icicles
Bands: Damn Arms / Help She Can't Swim / Test Icicles
Date: January 31st 2006
Venue: Oxford Zodiac
Admission Fee: £8
Damn Arms whilst talented and exciting enough alt-rock, stealing Death From Above's basslines and copying sounds from greater bands clearly shows a band that haven't yet developed their own sound beyond their own influences.
Help She Can't Swim were a devine support with their electroclash/indie pop leanings. Their antifashion lyrics work a treat and SHE CAN SING! Her voice suits a spazzy band. They warmly thank us for dancing to our hearts content. A support band who deserve exactly that.
Test Icicles three days prior to their Amsterdam show headed to the Oxford Zodiac. The 14 and over show was advertised in order to promote a younger audience for a sound seen as too leftfield for younger audiences. Like the pop nephew of The Locust, Orchid and Melt-Banana, Rory, Dev and Sam play their obnoxious party tunage with synths, pink guitars and interchanging vocals. Each play every instrument apart from the drums which is mixed by a "gnarly brah" at the back of the stage. 'Your Biggest Mistake' is a HUGE hit with the fans. It jangles at one point like a twee Biffy Clyro song, then propels into bloodcurdling, high-pitched shrieking that no mighty new wave hardcore band could pull off with their machismo. The closest sound to real screamo in the UK, Panic! At The Disco they are not. 'Catch It!' is the niftiest song in the band's catalogue at the moment. The band's omission of a few songs off the new album is frustrating when they have little other material. The band's thriftstore shop fashion sense, faux-metal posturing and irritating band namedropping ("Who likes Nickelback?") is all part of the charade. Test Icicles are a charade, and they don't care that you know it. It's about time for a band to take themselves less seriously, so despite their unprofessional live musicianship, sometimes they manage to ignite a ferocious response from the crowd. While the Zodiac was no exception, it was not one of the band's best. But at the end of the day, Dev likes Silverchair, Test Icicles rock.
Damn Arms 5.5/10
HSCS - 9/10
Test Icicles - 7.5/10
Date: January 31st 2006
Venue: Oxford Zodiac
Admission Fee: £8
Damn Arms whilst talented and exciting enough alt-rock, stealing Death From Above's basslines and copying sounds from greater bands clearly shows a band that haven't yet developed their own sound beyond their own influences.
Help She Can't Swim were a devine support with their electroclash/indie pop leanings. Their antifashion lyrics work a treat and SHE CAN SING! Her voice suits a spazzy band. They warmly thank us for dancing to our hearts content. A support band who deserve exactly that.
Test Icicles three days prior to their Amsterdam show headed to the Oxford Zodiac. The 14 and over show was advertised in order to promote a younger audience for a sound seen as too leftfield for younger audiences. Like the pop nephew of The Locust, Orchid and Melt-Banana, Rory, Dev and Sam play their obnoxious party tunage with synths, pink guitars and interchanging vocals. Each play every instrument apart from the drums which is mixed by a "gnarly brah" at the back of the stage. 'Your Biggest Mistake' is a HUGE hit with the fans. It jangles at one point like a twee Biffy Clyro song, then propels into bloodcurdling, high-pitched shrieking that no mighty new wave hardcore band could pull off with their machismo. The closest sound to real screamo in the UK, Panic! At The Disco they are not. 'Catch It!' is the niftiest song in the band's catalogue at the moment. The band's omission of a few songs off the new album is frustrating when they have little other material. The band's thriftstore shop fashion sense, faux-metal posturing and irritating band namedropping ("Who likes Nickelback?") is all part of the charade. Test Icicles are a charade, and they don't care that you know it. It's about time for a band to take themselves less seriously, so despite their unprofessional live musicianship, sometimes they manage to ignite a ferocious response from the crowd. While the Zodiac was no exception, it was not one of the band's best. But at the end of the day, Dev likes Silverchair, Test Icicles rock.
Damn Arms 5.5/10
HSCS - 9/10
Test Icicles - 7.5/10