Independent Review - Generator's First Birthday Party

Generator's First Birthday Party - The Underground - Barnstaple - Sat 22nd November 2008.
The Storm Of '83 - Swim Team - The Muscle Club - Severe Zero

Just over a year ago you would find it pretty difficult to imagine a decent rock'n'roll party going off in the middle of Barnstaple on your average Saturday night. Twelve months ago tonight, Generator Promotions set about putting that right. Now, one year on, it's pretty safe to say that they've succeeded, the nights now being a monthly staple at The Underground, each one delivering us an awesome line up of both the best in local talent, and a smattering of groups from further afield.

Their 'First Birthday Party' provides us with more of the very same, in the shape of Devon boys via London, The Storm of '83, Barnstaple's Swim Team (newly renamed Empires), Cardiff's The Muscle Club, and current Kings of North Devon, Severe Zero.

Four piece The Storm Of '83 kick off the celebrations, literally taking over the stage with their wall of synthesisers and keyboards, powering their way through an epic set of Eighties inspired synth rock.

Next on are Swim Team, now called Empires, sadly appearing a little below par tonight, sounding somewhat like Nickelback performing Athlete songs, with an overall lacklustre stage show to boot.

Thus providing us with a low, which underground Cardiff wonders The Muscle Club pull us out of with ease, aurally assaulting their audience with a Maccabees-cum-Cribs indie barrage, all art rock hair, jingle-jangle riffs and grins, inspiring foot tapping and body shaking aplenty.

Yet it's tonight's headliners, Severe Zero, who really make the show. The crowd is strangely depleted by the time they make it onstage, but they fire on all cylinders regardless, storming on with their own strain of post-hardcore, frontman Luke Bond's yelps and between song banter igniting Gelb's melodic punky guitar hooks. We're even treated to what is apparently going to be the final ever outing of their now legendary Jackson 5 cover, a tune obviously heard at any self-respecting birthday party. All that's needed now is a game of pass the parcel and we'd be complete (good idea for next year's celebrations lads?)!

But lack of kids party games aside, this has been yet another brilliant night of music from all involved, and as the clubnight's still going strong, and the North Devon music scene continues to go from strength to strength, this is surely to be the first of many anniverseries to come. - The Underground - Barnstaple - Sat 22nd November 2008.
The Storm Of '83 - Swim Team - The Muscle Club - Severe Zero

Just over a year ago you would find it pretty difficult to imagine a decent rock'n'roll party going off in the middle of Barnstaple on your average Saturday night. Twelve months ago tonight, Generator Promotions set about putting that right. Now, one year on, it's pretty safe to say that they've succeeded, the nights now being a monthly staple at The Underground, each one delivering us an awesome line up of both the best in local talent, and a smattering of groups from further afield.

Their 'First Birthday Party' provides us with more of the very same, in the shape of Devon boys via London, The Storm of '83, Barnstaple's Swim Team (newly renamed Empires), Cardiff's The Muscle Club, and current Kings of North Devon, Severe Zero.

Four piece The Storm Of '83 kick off the celebrations, literally taking over the stage with their wall of synthesisers and keyboards, powering their way through an epic set of Eighties inspired synth rock.

Next on are Swim Team, now called Empires, sadly appearing a little below par tonight, sounding somewhat like Nickelback performing Athlete songs, with an overall lacklustre stage show to boot.

Thus providing us with a low, which underground Cardiff wonders The Muscle Club pull us out of with ease, aurally assaulting their audience with a Maccabees-cum-Cribs indie barrage, all art rock hair, jingle-jangle riffs and grins, inspiring foot tapping and body shaking aplenty.

Yet it's tonight's headliners, Severe Zero, who really make the show. The crowd is strangely depleted by the time they make it onstage, but they fire on all cylinders regardless, storming on with their own strain of post-hardcore, frontman Luke Bond's yelps and between song banter igniting Gelb's melodic punky guitar hooks. We're even treated to what is apparently going to be the final ever outing of their now legendary Jackson 5 cover, a tune obviously heard at any self-respecting birthday party. All that's needed now is a game of pass the parcel and we'd be complete (good idea for next year's celebrations lads?)!

But lack of kids party games aside, this has been yet another brilliant night of music from all involved, and as the clubnight's still going strong, and the North Devon music scene continues to go from strength to strength, this is surely to be the first of many anniverseries to come.