Friday April 22nd

A STRANGER IN MOSCOW

Plus special guests

FURTHEST DRIVE HOME
&
9 MONTHS WAITING

So here we are, late April, having had a pretty decent set of gigs so far, no complaints as such.

But tonight has been waiting to happen for years… and finally thanks to one not shutting up about the guys; Plantation is blessed with a night of THE latest in the Surrey “Scene” music.

Opening heartily is Pompey’s own 9 MONTHS WAITING.

Again, it has to be pointed out just how nerve racking it is opening, even in as small a venue as Plant, and being packed tonight the guys are put on the spot.

9 months waiting are what I guess you can call a typical drive-thru records screamo-punk band, jumping start with fast melodic riffs, pacing drums and a distant array of screaming melody.

Sure maybe this isn’t the most original thing since sliced bread, but the guys do a decent enough job, filling the room with the familiar smell of gig sweat lynx, and are certainly worth a listen.

You just wonder how long bands can come out with the same old, but for now they get away with it, so no worries for a while.

Next up are local favourites FURTHEST DRIVE HOME, a raw package of emotional rock and clear emo driven bliss.

Again, maybe it has been done before, maybe the music world is running out of originality, but these guys do a kick-ass job at making something new out of something old, kicking to the stage with lyrically sound music and even a hint of heart grabbing piano ballads, the guys really do give the crowd their moneys worth.

Storming through a hypnotic thirty minute set the guys blast through what can only be called poignantly moving music, if you haven’t heard these guys yet then get yourself out of your box of shame and see them!

Then finally, after a slight delay due to problems with the bass guitar, our little café is hit by what can only be described as the post-experimental screamo genius that is A STRANGER IN MOSCOW.

Hammering onto the stage as I’m own the place, tearing through such material as “the angels scream your name”, “torched canvas” and the crowd favourite “lend me your ears”.

The guys truly kick, shown clearly by the look of complete musical heaven from the faces of the heaving modest café, kids flying from left to right in hope of a glance at what are seriously going to be “the Surrey band of 2005”.

These guys are a definite YOU MUST HEAR THEM, and are possibly a better lesson in emotion in music and overall togetherness than 3 years at ACM (no pun intended).

Truly shaking the night the guys are already set to play again, so if reading this having missed the gig, BLET UP SON!

Having been a literally sell-out gig the fact that the Guildford scene can still kick ass is made apparent, so who knows, lets just hope there’s more bands ready for the challenge.

Keep safe

Dan Carter