The Usuals/The Clones supporting Fake Ray

It is not often a band can say that their first ever gig was played at a venue as big or established as The Mill, but that’s precisely what The Usuals have managed to wangle out of a few experienced musicians and some well placed and well-recorded MP3’s.

Bringing a big following, The Usuals rose to the occasion and played a competent, confident set of inoffensive but energetic foot-tapping retro-rock.

The post-gig rumour Mill threw up the suggestion that it was the first ever gig the front man had played for any band, surprising considering how well he slotted into the role; dancing nonchalantly with the mic stand as he towered over the rest of the band, his huge cuffs and dinner jacket a testament to The Smiths’ Morrissey as much so as his gentle, carefree singing voice.

Lust and desires

Having said this, The Usuals are by no means a mere tribute act. They sing about love, lust and desires through what at first impression seems to be a slender, mellow sound but their songs have a tendency to get angrier and louder as they progress.

Shunning the characteristics that their name suggests, they went against the 'first-gig tradition' of raising familiarity with a short, snappy set and included long, drawn out versions of a few songs, brave considering they are relatively unknown to their audience, which showed their appreciation all the same.

The performance included the already recorded Without and Just Don’t, finishing on a high with one of their heaviest tracks Nights Like These. Despite proving a little unrehearsed and thin on the ground at times, the first showing of The Usuals romantically melodic pop music, in the most daunting venue in the city, was a triumph.

In-yer-face

The Clones on the other hand, were as angry and in-yer-face as usual. However, stood watching them in an almost empty venue, no matter how well they play, brings a slight sense of disappointment.

This is a band that should be packing out venues all around the city, and hammering on the door of our musical neighbours, threatening to break it down and run riot. Whether it’s lack of advertising on the bands behalf or lack of interest on the public’s behalf, they need to do something about it.

Visually, The Clones are as refreshing as ever, lead guitarist Dave looking years younger with his new neat and tidy (ish) haircut, and Billy’s voice sounding better and better. The band used the low-key feel of the occasion to try out some newer material, including Voodoo, a sort of seventies, American sounding trucker rock song, Josephine, and the impressively eclectic Love On The Canal, all of which go towards a high-quality, lengthy set that needs more recognition than it is currently receiving.

Written by Dan Jeoffroy

Photography: Dan Jeoffroy