A gig on a Monday night is a strange concept in practice and in real life. People are just getting over the Monday blues, setting themselves up for another working week until the sweet release of the weekend. All to be shattered by the all-out rock ‘n’ roll of The Family Rain.
First to the undeniably tall stage of Heaven, London, were the only support band of the night, Honours. They deal in atmospheric pop-rock, leather jacket clad lads that are happy on the inside. Their hazy choruses were akin to a less gloomy White lies or a guitar heavy Killers, although there were one or two fans singing along, Honours didn’t really get hit their stride. The band doesn’t look comfortable on stage, every member keeping his jacket on as if they were just passing through.
As it hits 9 o’clock the sparsely filled stage becomes pitch black as The Family Rain walk on to ‘Ring Of Fire’ by Johnny Cash, the band quickly launch into opener ‘Carnival’. The perfectly fierce track you’d expect from a young band, grabbing you by the scruff of the neck and forcing you to pay attention. The space is half full, with ample room to move around, prompting bassist and frontman Will Walters to endless order the crowd to “squeeze in and come closer”. The band rush straight into second track of the night ‘Friction’.
“This is the first of the new shit, not even off the 1st album (yet to be released) but on the next!”, shouts Will, “Yeah!!!” cries the crowd, giving them even more energy as the throng start to cut loose and enjoy themselves.
“We’re gonna get heavy than that, are you ready?” seems to be page one in The Family Rains audience participation book, but every time it’s whipped out they stick to their word. “Know we’re really pushing it… get it” is the intro to ‘Pushing It’, which sees a strong solo as the strobe lights go nuts. The track drops back into a deep, bassy break down as Will wonders down into the front row.
Other tracks are aired tonight include, ‘Reason To Die‘ with its intense chorus of “I’m holding you up for your life, you question your will to survive…”, newbie ‘Alexander‘ and latest single ‘Feel Better (FRANK)’.
All the support slots The Family Rain have played and their spring 2013 tour has let the brothers craft their live show into one well-oiled Rock ‘n’ Roll machine.
View from the crowd
“They lived up to their live reputation, the bass sounded amazing and very respectable beards too!”
Alex, 20 from London
“What do I think? A*, A fucking *”
Jake, 27 from Nottingham
The Family Rain – Feel Better (FRANK) on MUZU.TV.
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