Face Of Cheam

So as part of Matt's plan to continually introduce me to new music I head to Brixton on a Monday night. We enter into the Academy just before the Paddingtons take the stage. Matt is looking forward to this as he tells me their album is really rocky and heavy. As it turns out they are more punky pop. I was impressed as they are a proper Rockn'roll band. Just five blokes who look like normal geezers just popped in off the street. They are happy to wear their influences on their sleeves as the guitarest is obviously trying to be Joe Strummer with the lead vocalist looking like a Johnny Rotton. Nothing original or scary like the original punk movement but entertaining stuff none the less.
The Bravery on the other hand have no image and are not trying to imitate others. Was a bit disturbed to see a laptop on stage before they came on but at least they didn't rely on it too much. Very melodic rock stuff they played and the band seemed to be having fun, something I feel is lacking among some modern bands. Honest Mistake was played half way through to an electrifying rapture and they ended with a cover of Inxs's Don't Change, which for me was a personal highlight as the last time I had heard that song live was at the same venue with an out of it Hutchence leading his band shortly before he self destructed. Another noteworthy matter was the two roadies were in fancy dress, one as a US cheerleader despite being a hairy six foot male and another dressed as a chicken and looking quite funny when tuning up a guitar. Always nice to enjoy a gig when you don't really know what to expect which is what happened here. Also to end, I would add a few nice looking females in the audience despite some being about 16!
7/10 Paddingtons 7.5/10 Bravery.