Fight Night May 5th 2007 Review

Well it's that time of the month again and hundreds of music eager teens are dying to get the hands into some of the live bands playing here tonight. As always the atmosphere is electric and the tension continues to build all night as tonight's bands are mainly those playing at this years Full Ponty festival, , so its going to be a hell of a memorable show.

First band up are The StopMotion Men, the only band on tonight's bill not playing the Full Ponty, but making up for it with double the exhilaration and enthusiasm. Armed with a bouquet of visual effects to support their songs their set certainly is one of a kind. Their dark but beautiful aroma and epic orchestral vibe is, unfortunately, just not what the crowd are looking for. They stand almost motionless, silently screaming for something to move to. The only ones who seem interested in the slightest are the Alkaline Trio and Muse fans, to which these guys share a considerable resemblance, but even their enthusiasm doesn't last very long. It's a shame really that this band is so unique and simply different from all others that they don't even get a reasonable response until their set is nearly finished and that none of the audience share the same excitement as pianist, Ben Wilson and drummer ,Elias Cole, who really do give it all they've got.

The next band playing tonight is Along Came Man who steals the crowds' attention with their pop punky edge and foot-tapping tunes as their vitality is unleashed across the room. They belt out jump-around and dance-worthy tunes that finally get the crowd moving which they have been unable to do so until now. Their guitar straps are too low and you can't help smiling along to their songs, but it's the feeling you get from them that gets them this reaction. Their interaction with the crowd is what wins them affection and by the time they're finishing their set with the punked up "Michael Jordan", everybody seems to be hyped up on the same adrenaline rush and filled with the same reckless energy.

Miss Conduct are up next and these guys (& girl) simply tear the place apart with their individuality, kick a*s attitude and overwhelming energy drive. They could sell records based on their looks alone so when singer, Kim Waterson starts singing with a voice so raw yet beautiful, and begins running around the stage like a caged animal, set free into the wilderness of an eager audience, it just proves the point that they are an amazing band with a truck load of talent. The crowd explodes into action at the high point of every song and it seems that nobody can resist the urge to dance along to their poppy anthems and when Kim asks for a circle pit, she sure as hell gets one! There's a smile on every face here as you can tell from simply the way this band perform that they take every day in their strife and never let anything get them down, but with a fan base like this one here tonight, I don't see why anything should.

As the finale for tonight's energy overloaded show, The Guns bring it all to an end with their "Party on!" attitude and the perfection with which every song they perform is played. This is a band who have work their arse off to get the status they have now, and you can see it in their every song that they are proud to be playing them and fulfilled with the knowing that this is all their right doing. Every move they make tonight is done with the passion that goes into their music, but also with the laid-back comfort that this is just music. Its just fun. They send the crowd off into the night with a handful of memories that shan't be forgotten easily and as they play their last song, as the last person is pulled from the mosh pit, the last beer is served from the bar, it's safe to say that this has been a truly outstanding night.