This is the third time I have seen The Rifles and each gig couldn't have been more different.
The first time was in the Joiners in Southampton a pub venue which was really hot, full of
people and just a little bit mental.
The second time was at Chester Rocks. A one day festival so a completely different atmosphere. Massive field, high volume music and most people either drunk or on another planet.
So this time it was an acoustic gig and I wasn't expecting too much, the band are quite rocky and I couldn't see how it would transfer over to an acoustic gig.
Usually there are five members in the band but at the gig there was Joel Stoker on vocals and playing guitar, Lucas Crowther on electric guitar and vocals and Dean Mumford on the keyboard, leaving bassist Lee Burgess and drummer Kenton Shinn at home.
All the songs sounded really good with minimal instruments, still a bit rocky but some of the song lyrics are quite melancholy without the heavy bass and booming drum.
The crowd were fairly subdued, except for the odd heckling and then a pint being thrown at the end but not as crazy as the gig in the Joiners.
They ended the set with Science in Violence, but played loads of crowd favorites Romeo and Julie, Lazy Bones and The Great Escape. There was a lot of crowd interaction and the lead singer Joel was even given a pint by a member of the audience.
It was actually a really brilliant gig, great atmosphere, great music and a great band in a brilliant venue. If you get the chance to see them do it and if you get the chance to see them acoustic definitely do it.
Also we missed the chance of a lifetime as we were going to go to a nearby pub but went to one down the road. We late found out that band and the support act The Mono Polys were in there...I was not a happy bunny.
I suppose I should also mention the support act. The Mono Polys a two piece band one on guitar and one on keyboard. The lead singer looked about 16 but when he sung he had a Ian Curtis style to his voice very deep and moody. I was not expecting it at all and they were fantastic, one of the best support acts I have seen for a while.
I think we will be seeing a lot of these guys in 2013, well I hope so anyway.
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