Dive Dive - The Winchell Riots & Minor Coles - O2 Academy, Oxford - Sat 23rd April 2011(Live Review)
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Written by James Ball
“Blessing Force” may be a term you’re aware of at this moment. Apparently it describes Oxfords current flourishing music scene led by bands such as Foals, Trophy Wife and Fixers, all of whom have seen mainstream coverage to some degree over the past months (and in the case of Foals, years). The problem is that Oxford is so much more than that, and these three bands, all home grown, are three of the biggest “local acts” in the town.
So we start off with Minor Coles, a four piece of scallywags who have a very simple raison d’etre – to write songs that aren’t over-pretentious, to keep things relatively simple, and treat the audience with an energetic live set they can remember and cherish, and for the most part they deliver exactly that. After a fairly shaky opener (possibly due to nerves of playing in one of the biggest venues in Oxford), they get into their stride quickly with songs like 'Last Days of Summer' and 'Black Holes' particular highlights. There’s the occasional bum chord and the sound levels weren’t quite right in places, but overall this was a solid and promising opener for a band with a lot of potential.
Next up, The Winchell Riots (small picture): Born from the ashes of Fell City Girl, they are the complete opposite of the preceding act, with every song more intricate, more adventurous and more designed for an even bigger stage. Soaring choruses and swooping anthems dominate the set, but, aside from the opener, and the frantic and explosive final track 'Red Square' there seemed to be little energy in the actual performance. Each slow track builds to its increasingly predictable stadium chorus, complete with long “Who-oooaahhh” cries from lead vocalist Phil McMinn. It’s a shame because every track was actually played note-perfect, a testament to the professionalism on display, but there was just that connection between band and crowd missing that left this set feeling a little flat.
So, the main event follows. Another band formed in part out of the ashes of another (Dustball), Dive Dive (main picture) take to the stage. Their commitment to music is unlike most other bands I’ve ever come across. Mostly touring nearly all-year around with folk-punker Frank Turner as his band, whenever they get a day off they seem to be recording something new or playing their own show, and the energy on stage was intense right from the get go. Dive Dive aren’t their own band who just churn out a bunch of crap material just because they’ve got the major worldwide sell-out shows with Turner, no, they’re a very, very good band in their own right. They’re punky, spiky and utterly loyal to the responsive crowd in attendance who eat up every snarling note bellowed out at them from the stage. 'Mr 10%', featured on upcoming documentary “Anyone can Play Guitar” and from most recent album 'Potential', is a particular highlight, keeping things simple yet frenetic, puncturing the air with its playful, boisterous charms. Most importantly, the band look like they’re having the time of their lives on stage. All smiles throughout, and this feeling added even more to the live experience. This is a band who do this for the music, and for nothing else, and it shows ten times over. They were even giving away early singles from the merch stand for free. Yes. Free. In fact, despite a single-song encore, when they leave the stage and the O2 Academy starts to prepare itself for the messy club night that would follow, you can’t help but feel like you could watch the whole thing all over again.
'Potential' has seen a wealth of good reviews from around the music press, and from this live showing, the tracks from them deserve the accolades given. Who needs the Blessing Force when you’ve still got excellent acts who are stripped from all pretentiousness like this? From the moment the lights go down to the second the final chords fades slowly into the house music and everyone packs up and leaves, everyone in the room is into what’s taking place. Dive Dive, based on tonights performance are an excellent advert for music in general, let alone music in one city.
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Next up, The Winchell Riots (small picture): Born from the ashes of Fell City Girl, they are the complete opposite of the preceding act, with every song more intricate, more adventurous and more designed for an even bigger stage. Soaring choruses and swooping anthems dominate the set, but, aside from the opener, and the frantic and explosive final track 'Red Square' there seemed to be little energy in the actual performance. Each slow track builds to its increasingly predictable stadium chorus, complete with long “Who-oooaahhh” cries from lead vocalist Phil McMinn. It’s a shame because every track was actually played note-perfect, a testament to the professionalism on display, but there was just that connection between band and crowd missing that left this set feeling a little flat.
