COLOUR OF FIRE + BEYOND ALL REASON.
AT YORK FIBBERS. 09/ 11/ 03.
Beyond All Reason have appeared in Metal Hammer and Rock Sound magazines and have recently received airplay on Radio One. I was therefore expecting to witness something really quite special. In reality I witnessed something really quite disappointing.
The York based four piece are good yeah but definitely not anything worth getting excited over. There are many far better bands from around the York area that deserve the press attention much more than what Beyond All Reason do.
The band mix hard rock with soaring melodies and emotive lyrics. They apparently have �eight major labels� after them. I find that hard to believe.
They did seem to go down pretty well with the crowd though. Well, the crowd bar me. I found them rather boring to watch. But I guess when you�ve seen hundreds of bands live it�s hard to get excited about every crappy local band around.
I was excited about seeing Colour Of Fire though. This gig was a bit of a thankyou from the band to the fans for their support and cost just �1 to get in! Bargain!!
They opened with �9 Volter� before performing recent single �Cut It�. They band were once again full of energy, and although it was their first gig together in over two months, they put on a fantastic show. They were clearly enjoying themselves and often spoke with the crowd. The band have a very dedicated fanbase. People traveled from all around the UK just to at this gig.
After �Robot Rock� things were slowed down a little for �The Exile�. Most people, on the first few rows at least, sang along. Others, those stood further back, chose to talk through the track! Bastards!! If are a band are pouring their heart out on stage, the least the crowd can do is watch and listen. I�ve seen many, many bands I haven�t liked very much but I�ve always stood and watched them. It just the polite thing to do ain�t it?!
�Images Of You� was probably the highlight of the 45 minute set for me. It is a great song with great lyrics. And the way in which Owen sings it is sometimes rather moving. Bless. It will surely be a future single. In a perfect world it would surely be a number one single.
They concluded with �The Company Won�t Colour Me�. After screams for an encore, the band returned for one more song. Owen said something like �I think you know what is coming next�. I was hoping they were going to sing debut single �Decisions Decisions� but deep down I knew it would be �Genki�. And indeed it was. The track is an excuse for Owen to put down is guitar and go crazy. And go crazy he did.
�Candles� was written in on the set-list but wasn�t performed. It�s the third time in a row I�ve seen Colour Of Fire play a gig without performing �Decisions Decisions� during it. I don�t get why they don�t sing it anymore. Surely they aren�t ashamed or bored of it already?! Let�s just hope they include on the album, due for release early next year.
Now that Shed Seven have announced they will split next month, Colour Of Fire are destined to become the biggest, most successful band ever to hail from York. That may be a while off yet but it will happen. I promise ya that. And when am I ever wrong eh? The mister has spoken.
BY MR MARTYN. NOVEMBER 2003. |