Fucked Up/Rolo Tomassi @ Camden Barfly 6/11/2008

Anyone smart enough to brave it to Camden tonight not to see a Pete Doherty solo set is in for a treat with this XFM showcase at the perfectly scummy Barfly. Although advertised as a “secret headliner”, it seems everyone is pretty confident that it’s Canadian hardcore punk outfit Fucked Up that will be taking to the stage by the end of the night.

First comes first, though, and tonight that means Sheffield based five piece Rolo Tomassi. With the media coverage refusing to either relent or turn sour upon this band (singer Eva Spence very recently being inducted to the outer regions of the NME cool list), the band take to the stage with confidence and pride in what they do. With their mad, complex and ultimately thrilling sound, Rolo Tomassi are quite a head fuckingly joy to watch live. Attention flits between Joe Niholson’s frankly outrageously good skills on guitar to Eva’s misleadingly innocent look of sweetness (of course shattered when she stretches her vocal chords and shatters your skull), but the main impact of watching this band live is the way they entwine and bounce off one another in a series of exhilarating noises. After running through their set, siblings James and Eva exchanging a quick glance as a midget fails spectacularly at stage diving and a polite thank you at the end, Rolo Tomassi leave the night for Fucked Up.

Finally, Toronto hardcore band, Fucked Up, clamber onstage looking every inch the anti-hero punks. Also boasting an inclusion in the list of cool people, the band ooze a confidence that suggests they know exactly how they are received and also that they needn’t pander to anyone.

Singer Pink Eyes quickly becomes up to his nuts in flailing bodies and literally forces the gig to take the course he wishes. Ripping his top off to reveal that huge, rotund beast he jumps into the crowd and rarely makes it back onto the stage for the rest of the gig.

The drums are tight and unflashy, the power chords keep on punching us in the stomach like a bulldozer and the band collectively shout rabble rousing slogans together over the top. Whatever your poison, it’s hard not to be caught up in the storm. Fucked Up are a thrilling prospect- more good, old fashioned American punk rock than anything else- the band get their heads down and rock for the most part whilst letting Pink Eyes get on with stealing the show.

The figure of the deranged, screaming fat man with danger in his eyes and blood on his head is instantly extinguished between songs when he becomes the friendly, amiable frontman. “In case you were wondering”, he quips, smiling “this isn’t the Pete Doherty show”. Fans and innocent bystanders alike can’t seem to get enough of him. A little later, the midget returns to steal the microphone and sincerely thank the band, a sentiment which is met with much encouragement and whole hearted agreement. Whether you’re a fully blown punk or anything but, it really is hard not to enjoy Fuck Up live and the chaotic friendliness that they bring.

http://www.myspace.com/rolotomassi

http://www.myspace.com/epicsinminutes

Days of Last