Review of:

“YTDS” (Young Things Don’t Scream)

At: The Purple Turtle, Camden, London

On: Friday 28/11/08

By: Gaby

This is one hell of a tribute band! Whether you are a Gary Numan fan or not I found this band to be pleasantly fresh and invigorating even though as a unit they have been together for a number of years now.

So what makes them so good I hear you ask? Well to begin with there was not a backing track to be heard (a good thing in my books) and unlike a lot of “so called” electronica and “industrial” outfits I could name, they absorbed and delivered their excellent set with real live musical instruments played by a set of fantastic and accomplished real live musicians.

As a tribute band what I also felt set them apart was the fact that there was no gimmicks to be had. So if you came looking for a band and most importantly a front man who sort of looked the part of Gary Numan you would be very sadly disappointed. But what you did get was a band that played the songs of the artist they tribute to a level of perfection I have not heard from a tribute/covers band in a long time making the music accessible to all.

To me this strikes not only of inspiration from the act they tribute but from a deep passion and understanding of the man’s music that was most certainly conveyed to the ecstatic and appreciative audience in attendance at the Purple Turtle this particular evening satisfying both Numan and non-Numan fans alike by their own original and personal take on some really fab tracks, making them all their own and sounding as fresh and new as ever.

Probably no one more so is this true of than their lead singer Mike Crome who I felt had an unbelievable voice both in tone and quality and was a mesmerising and engaging front man in a rich and understated way that helped make him, the band and the music both approachable and accessible for all.

Within the band itself it was Marc Pearson on Guitar who helped drive the proceeding along with some excellent string work which worked so well with their twin keyboard players of Phil Marsh and Rog Millington who I should add never over powered the set with their synths (like many an electronica band seams to do) but rather cemented the sounds together in a hypnotic and tasty rhythm that enhanced the band’s sound and gave it some real richness, flavour and texture.

Finally bringing up the rear and sealing this delicious little bundle of musical delight was the heavy tub thumper and legendary Blair Scriven on drums who delivered one hell of percussion set together with the really steady hands of Mat Thorpe on bass driving those low notes along with both skill and dexterity.

So all in all, this was a great band who delivered the goods with style, skill and professionalism and one in which I would have no hesitation in encouraging others to check out at a venue somewhere near you where “Young Things Don’t Scream” will most certainly make you scream out for just a little bit more at the end of their set, I know I did!