fallout – A Review
What can one say about fallout? They had the nerve to run a gig on
the same night as Ash were playing a few miles down the road. This may seems as
an ill-informed move but it’s one which quite remarkably proved to be decisive.
This is due to one reason. Fallout fans are of the breed, which are loyal to the
end. That’s nothing new I hear you cry but this is not so, especially when you
consider that fallout are still a small time band in relative terms.
Their task is made somewhat more difficult by those acts that are
supporting the band tonight. Óideas and the Redsirus have left many of the
audience asking the question “How do you follow that?” and deservedly so. Each
band has put in a set which has gained them many new fans and whilst sometimes
puzzling (Óideas in particular) have left fallout with the unenviable task of
following them. It is a task that
Ben, Jon and Joe rise to and pass with flying colours.
The set for tonight’s show contains many songs that fans are
familiar with but as this is the first show that this reviewer has been to in a
while it also contains the first live airing of some tracks too.
Fallout open in a particularly suitable fashion. Vermouth states
their intention perfectly. To play their music and prove their worth in the live
arena. If this is their intention then I hope to be along every step of the way.
The next song is a firm fan’s favourite. Nausea is a slower song
which shows fallout’s musical capabilities and highlight’s Ben's vocal talents
at the same time. Those who know the song sing along. Those not familiar with it
wish that they were.
Continuing on a slower them is one of fallout’s newer songs, the
fear. It is played much in the same way as the song that preceded it. Whilst
less familiar with the song the audience remain entranced by the music created
by fallout.
What can be said of the next song. A cover version of the Sonic
Youth song 100% from their acclaimed album Dirty. It is played with the
necessary vitriol. The band are so comfortable playing this song that one could
be forgiven for mistaking it for a song of their own composition.
The songs which follow are what one would expect from this band.
The first one, as of yet untitled but referred to as the new folkish song, sees
Ben mc Auley take up his acoustic guitar for the first time in fallout’s
history. This song is of a different class to those surrounding it. More
attention is drawn to the vocals that are delivered in typical style for Ben,
full of emotion with emphasis instinctively placed where necessary. This song
and that which follow proves beyond doubt the talents of Ben mc Auley as a song
writer. He is of the rare breed that can fill a song with sentiment whilst
creating a melody which will stay with you for days.
The last triplet of songs prove to be the ones most eagerly
anticipated by the crowd assembled. First off is the national anthem, a cover of
the radiohead song from their so-called difficult album Kid A. considering that
they lack the gadgetry used by Thom Yorke and co. fallout do a remarkable job.
The bass throbs through the bar, Joe bashes away on his drums and Ben’s guitar
screeches and his vocals soar grabbing the attention of anyone who was not
paying attention to the band. This was a move of sheer brilliance as the next
song, dejection, will further show anyone still in doubt fallout’s significance.
Dejection soars and sweeps as it always has, grabbing attention as the loud
chorus and the quieter verse are sewn together seamlessly leading up to the
finale that we have come to expect from this song. A wall of sound is emitted as
all three thrash at their instruments and a screen of controlled feedback hits
the audience. As the song finishes fallout get a loud and receptive cheers from
the audience. All present are impressed and fallout have made themselves a lot
more fans. No one present was really prepared for what was to follow.
For the second time on the night Pete Mc Faul joined a band on
stage for an instrumental track. Sad Steps (to the echoing green) is the track,
and like the redsirus track requiem for a dream, played earlier in the evening
it is a truly outstanding song. Whilst there are no vocals the audience barely
notices as Pete adds and extra edge to the fallout song, keeping a steady
melody, which allows Ben to experiment more with the sounds he can extract from
his guitar.
The sheer enjoyment that the band get from this song is evident
from the expression on their faces. They are enjoying every minute and are
almost reluctant to stop. Indeed this is what makes this song in particular
remarkable. The band could play it for 5 minutes or 25 minutes and all those
present would still be entranced. This was the first time that this reviewer had
seen this track played live and it has left a lasting impression.
The band walk off stage and like many times before tonight are
exultant with what they have just given to the audience. They have done
themselves no harm with a performance such as tonights.
On
the evidence of this performance fallout could well be one of those bands which
will finally get noticed in the nearby future. In the meantime they will continue
to play brilliant and poignant music.
