Gig Review - Deaf Havana w/ The Dangerous Summer & The Swellers at The Garage (20/04/12)
One of my only experiences of The Garage was actually on Christmas Day last year when watching Kevin Bridge's DVD when he tells the story of many a Scottish child being named after the place where it all came about so me expecting to see a good few children wandering around the establishment with T-shirt's simply saying 'Hi, I'm The Garage' were a tad off base but for the show however, the 3 bands on show really did deliver.
First up it was a group of lads from Maryland (yes, like the cookies) in the US of A called The Dangerous Summer. Not going to lie but recently I've not been expecting much from support acts but I was extremely surprised to the quality of show they put on and of course the songs themselves. You very rarely attend a gig and one of the support acts were possibly on par or a small part under the main headliner but in this case I'd have to say that they were one of them. Was lucky enough to meet and talk to the lead singer just after they had went off stage and it's always good to see someone who appreciates you 'coming out this way' to see them you really do but I think I should be thanking him since his 4,000 mile round trip was a wee bit further than my 10 minute journey from a poorly constructed train station in Croy but the sentiment was there. Would really recommend 'Youtubing' them. Next up was yet another band from the land of Barack called The Swellers. May be a little harsh here but despite them creating a good atmosphere continuing it on from the previous act there wasn't really anything stand out about them but if your a fan of the likes of Four Year Strong or All Time Low they may be for you.
Now by this time the anticipation was at breaking point and the heat was insane and to add to these 1st world problems I was convinced I was minus a knee. However, all of this was simply washed away when Norfock's best export started playing and that is of course Deaf Havana. Opening with their latest single 'Leeches' may have been a simple choice but a masterstroke at that as the crowd never stopped from that moment on. Performing songs from their first full length album 'Meet Me Halfway, At Least...' was always going to be difficult without one of their previous singers but a more slower, calm approach was taken which transformed the songs totally and they were well received and putting a different spin on them without risking playing the original versions to a lesser quality was a good move. When the encore was ended on 'Fifty Four' many of us were feeling battered, bruised and shattered but it's safe to say it was all worth it! Top notch show and when they return in October to the O2 ABC I hope they deliver once again.
DM
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