Review of:

“Towers of London”

At: The Soundhaus, Northampton

On: Saturday 17/03/07

By: Gaby

Well if ever there was an infamous “band of the moment” then “Towers of London” must surly be it!

But is it all bluster, hype and media induced frenzy or does the band live up to their often colourful reputation and what of their music, is it any good?

These were the questions that I must admit passed through my mind this particular evening en-route to the wonderful “Soundhaus” in Northampton.

After having bought their debut album “Blood, Sweat & Towers” and being rather impressed even though many of my rock buddies were non plussed and a bit sceptical about the band I thought it would be high time to check out their live performance for myself. Was I disappointed?

Not one single jot! “Towers” are anything but shy and retiring and produce a short but powerful, full-on, “in your face” performance of the like I have not seen for a very long time.

Ok; let’s be honest, at times it was not pretty, a tadge tacky, a bit rude, and even offensive to those of a weak disposition but it was absolutely brilliant!

So what made it so good I hear you ask?

Well to answer that question you have to ask yourself what Rock Music and specifically Punk Rock was and is all about. It’s about rebellion and attitude and breaking away from the norm. It’s about shock, noise, dissatisfaction with the status quo, anarchy and being an individual, thinking for yourself and being who and what you want to be.

What it’s not about is conformity, polish and keeping everyone happy.

“Towers of London” if anything else are individuals with hyper-personality that engage their audience in true British Rock/Punk style with a certain charismatic charm and originality that will not allow you to ignore them whatever they may or may not be doing and in doing so deliver a sheer ass-kicking performance of Rock/Punk magnificence.

Sadly lack of material at the moment dictates a rather short show, but what a powder keg of a show it was with excellent frontman Donny Tourette prowling and staggering himself across the stage (whilst sipping a pint and puffing a fag) belting out all the tracks from their album plus a few new really good offerings (which quite frankly are a lot more rocky and less punky than their current stuff) and on occasion engaging in conversation (good and bad) with his audience in which he took obvious glee and delight. This is a man that most certainly won’t suffer fools but equally adores his fans.

Musically the band was tight and sharp and from the show’s opening wail of sirens exploded onto stage delivering some fine and talented performances. Twin axemen Dirk Tourette and The Rev gave some fine, sterling, cutting edge and accomplished string work to the proceedings which really set the stage alight and together with Tommy Brunette and Snell bringing up the rear on Bass and Drums definitely turned on the after burners of this F16 of a band as it well and truly took flight offering us a mad, bad and dangerous to know journey of sumptuous sound and sensory overload.

This is a band that fully engages with it’s audience and whether that be a set of carefully aimed projectile spitting into the mosh pit, picking fights with dissenters or non choreographed stage diving into the audience this was a band that really loves what they do and their appreciative audience loves them all the more for it.

The band were most certainly in their element playing in the perfectly formed, cosy, intimate surroundings of one of the best gig venues I’ve been to. The “Soundhaus” offered not only a brill sound system but is designed so well as a venue that there was little chance of the 400 capacity audience not being able to see the band up close and personal.

I’m not all that sure what the erotic dancers on stage during the later end of their performance actually added to the show but their appearance hardly surprised me and though it might appear to be slightly “Motley” like, it really wasn’t necessary. The band already had everyone’s attention and hardly needed to add any more sleaze and gimmicks to proceedings to get people’s attention.

So overall I would say that the “Towers of London” should most certainly not be written off. Like them or hate them they are what they are and are rightly proud of it and thank goodness we still have bands such as “Towers” to remind us all what Rock Music is all about whilst offering us some really talented new original material. Let’s just hope they all manage to live to tell the tale cause I’ve got a feeling it’s gonna be a good one!

“Towers of London” you most certainly are NOT evicted!