Hundred Reasons / Sparta / Kinesis - Exeter University - 11/11/02
4/5
By: Thomas Hannan
Given that the origins of Hundred Reasons lay approximately 200 miles away from Devon, it's odd that tonight's show should feel something of a homecoming.
The band themselves are the first to admit they see Exeter as a second home; after all, they are in debt to the local Cavern Club for a considerable amount of support in their early days, played their first show under the name Hundred Reasons in the city and religiously return to these parts every time touring rears it's head (which, for these tireless boys, seems to be about once every three days). It's a strategy rewarded by a huge fan-base in the locality, every one of whom seems to be present at tonight's unsurprisingly sold-out show.
The state of the current music-climate means that Hundred Reasons find themselves immeasurably popular with the kids. It's a fact that which might deter the adults from paying a visit, but one that certainly provides each band tonight with a wonderfully receptive audience, something Kinesis benefit from greatly. Visibly enjoying the warm welcome, they prove beyond any doubt why they deserve the attention from some quarters hailing them as the important British rock band we've been waiting for so long to arrive.
Rewardingly, from the get-go, it's non-stop excellence knocked out by four angel-faced, white-shirted youngsters sounding somewhat like the Pixies, that is, if they had lived through nu-metal, been thoroughly unimpressed by most it had to offer, and were out for revenge. Numerous will-be classics make a welcome appearance, a powerful 'And They Obey', the infectiously excellent new single 'Billboard Beauty' and perhaps most notably the vicious set-closer 'Everything Destroys Itself' packing huge musical punches. Comfortingly, Kinesis are at the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating career - one, which on tonight's evidence, we all should follow intensely.
How Kinesis develop will be intriguing to watch, but if they end up anything like Sparta, second on tonight's bill, they can feel immensely justified. Already holding something of an underground rock god status thanks to prior involvement in the essential At the Drive-In, Sparta are in the middle of finding a new lease of life. Despite their familiarity of playing with such an influential band for so long, the men on stage tonight seem so full of intent and vigour you'd be forgiven for thinking that this was their first project. And what makes them so first-rate is the ability to combine such exuberance with the tricks of the trade they learned through ATD-I, leaving their new incarnation with none of the problems of exhaustion that lead to the untimely demise of their previous employers.
From the outset of 'Sans Cosm' the crowd are once more in high spirits, but even such a raucous opener can't prepare anyone for the greatness of 'Vacant Skies' or a shockingly good 'Cut Your Ribbon', on which front-man Jim Ward's astonishing voice sounds so big that it couldn't possibly have originated inside his tiny frame... If ATD-I do ever reform, they'll have to go a hell of a long way to beat this.
What follows next is a perfect example of rock in its most unashamedly huge, big-haired, bold riff-loving glory. There's no hidden agenda at a Hundred Reasons show, no concealing behind a pretence of being particularly hardcore or underground. On the cards for tonight is some fun, some shouting and a lot of jumping. If you want to know what you're in for, just listen to the first words of front-man Colin Doran when appearing on stage - 'Alright, Exeter? ROCK!' Simple as that.
It's undeniable that what Hundred Reasons do, they do incredibly well. Every track is greeted like it was a classic by for the most part an adoring audience, 'I'll Find You' is perhaps the best pogo-song ever written, nobody notices that Colin plays the keyboard part in 'Silver' in the wrong key and, as for 'Falter', it employs use of rock clichés so heavily it borders on hilarity; mass-clapping, lighter-waving, the part where the band stops just to let the crowd sing...
Yes, HR will one day end up in stadiums. Most people here will follow them in some kind of Pied Piper of rock trance. But what some notice, despite the quality of the songs, the energy in the performance and the crowd adoration, is that this is essentially the same performance that Hundred Reasons have given every show for the past few years. Maybe it's the constant touring that makes them seem at times workmanlike, even given the passion they put into everything coupled with their obvious love of the city they're playing, but it would be wonderful to see some spark, danger or something just slightly unexpected happen.
When it does, it tends to rely on the older material, dusting of a fantastic 'Remmus' from their second EP to riotous effect. The new material too holds some promise; incidentally written whilst putting down demos for the new album in Devon, it shows a side of Hundred Reasons more willing to draw from influences wider than just straight heavy rock, especially on a fantastic 'My Sympathy'. It's a good sign, as currently they seem to be repeating tricks one too many times, whilst the likes of Sparta and Kinesis are snapping at their heels. It's perhaps just as much down to these bands that tonight rocked quite as hard as it did, but that's an opinion held by the minority. What slight flaws the Reasons hold are certainly not enough to deter anyone from having a good time. Though you just have to hope that such a tactic works in the long term.
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