CityLife

Hard-Fi @ The Roadhouse

29/07/07

HOLDING court in the Roadhouse tonight, Hard-Fi seem content to be back at a grass roots level with their urban sound - face to face with their public rather that held at a distance on the larger festival and Brixton Academy stages.

Lending itself well to the Fi's sound, the Roadhouse has a pithy 'in your face' feel similar to their earlier appearance in the city some two years ago at Night and Day.

Playing this to their advantage - back in the bowels of the urban jungle, Hard-Fi prowl the stage hungry and lean for business.

Songs about being broke, skipping the tube home, unplanned pregnancies and life in young offender institutes have been part of Hard-Fi's working class sermon to the world - however, some staunch critics may say they have perhaps lost face value with a self-aggrandizing success born out of slick marketing campaigns, heavy radio rotation and permeation of every advert on TV up and down the isle.

However, this isn't The White Stripes selling out to Coca Cola - this is still a band still in touch with their roots and that said, returning to a series of intimate venues to showcase new material has boosted their street cred with much commendation.

With tickets as hot property - tonight was always going to be a 'must attend' gig and the audience are more than prepared to make this sizzle. Pump primed and with a manifest commitment, this is die hard-fi fan territory.

Even if Archer & Co elected for an acoustic set on kazoo and washboard - nothing could phase tonight's blithe spirit. With an electric atmosphere, the static is high and the band are quick to absorb the sheer exhilaration with a punchy performance second to none - exchanging banter with the audience and vibing on the spirit throughout.

Trojan Records

Thanks to Wrong Tom's excellent Trojan Records cum Rudeboy DJ set, the mood is ripe for Hard-Fi's entrance.

Opening with Suburban Nights - which will be the first single from the new album Once Upon A Time In The West, it would seem the Fi have stuck to their guns with a solid formula - a jeremiad reflection of suburban living, poignant and straight laced in its message "we aint got nothing, nothing to do, a big fat nothing, nothing for me, nothing for you".

New material sits well against established - Bassist Kai commanding the stage with a cock-sure stand, knocking out growling rhythms and melody whilst front man Richard Archer - looking a lot more refreshed than his last appearance in May 06 at the Apollo - blasting out lyrics with every word and phrase oozing sheer belief.

New song Television is rich and bouyant in melody, sitting well in the set - a promising single waiting to happen along with the utterly beautiful I Shall Overcome that brought about a huge positive response from the crowd assembled -raising the roof for a new and unknown track.

Tonight's rig did the business, full or brawn and bottom end allowing the melancholy tones of Cash Machine and its melodica to sound as hungry and seminal as on album - much to the audience's delight.

Rightfully not electing for an encore but informing the crowd Stars of CCTV and Living For The Weekend would be the last two songs - the Fi clearly have a finger on the pulse, more so than most of their contemporaries - proving their meteoric rise as justified.

This modest return to their roots is a big big gesture - keeping it real and confirming Hard-Fi's urban soundtrack belongs in an urban setting.

What did you think of the gig? Have your say below or enter your own review for publication here; website@men-news.co.uk and be in with a chance of winning ticket cash in our Reviewer of the Month competition.