Varsity Drag - London Islington Bar Academy - 22/1/07
3/5
By: Matt Tomiak
'We're a little bit weary, but we're struggling through...'
The crowd might be thinning about alarmingly as Varsity Drag take the stage at the Islington Bar Academy this evening, but the band are remaining upbeat, if just a little self-deprecating - perhaps necessarily, given the turn-out.
As a schoolboy chum of Evan Dando and founder member of an early incarnation of The Lemonheads, Varsity mainman Ben Deily certainly has pop-punk pedigree. Physically, he's not quite blessed with Dando's pin-up good looks: he's a curious mixture of Manic Street Preachers leader James Dean Bradfield, combined with the mischievous (but very much balding) political satirist Armando Iannuci. Oh, and tonight he's also clad in olive boiler suit. Still, Deily does have much in common with his erstwhile Lemonhead, delivering a straightforward bubblegum rock assault in a peculiarly high-pitched, almost helium-addled vocal tenor.
Varsity Drag create a surprisingly fleshed-out sound for a three piece, most befitting for the likes of big-hooked rock classicism like 'Starfish', whilst when entering slower, pensive mode, retaining the same undeniably melodic sensibilities.
'If you buy some stuff, we'll be able to eat later on!' Ben implores the crowd, gesturing towards the merchandise stall. They may not be packing 'em into the enormodromes, but Varsity Drag's good-natured stage manner and fully accessible sound make for a decent evening's entertainment. Let's just hope they aren't going hungry right now....
Artists in this article: Varsity Drag
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