When you’re part of a renowned and hugely professional Bristol music blog, your email inbox is bulging with requests from local (and not so local) musicians for a review of their new song and/or their next gig. Unfortunately, a vast swathe of these (admittedly exceptionally talented) chaps and chapesses have failed to notice that we’re Bristol’s premier INDIE music blog. They have not taken into consideration our ignorance in the noble fields of Grime MC’s and Urban music.
However, on the odd occasion, the email account pings and something real tasty comes in. A case in point was a request to attend the Rupees’ gig taking place at the Lanes on November 22. After a quick click through the band’s Soundcloud page, it struck us (almost immediately) that the Rupees were neither a Grime MC or Urban Music. And it subsequently became clear that this was a gig we were going to attend.
A patchwork quilt of different styles
The Rupees, like many bands before them, have created songs which are nakedly a patchwork quilt of different styles. However, unlike many bands before them, they make it work. From the thunderous and Led Zeppelin-y Extravaganz to the much more happy-go-lucky indie tones of Wishing My Life Away, their ability to span genres is worth writing home about. There were songs hinting at pure Rock n’ Roll (Fat Blues and Catch 22). And their repertoire was littered with the type of fat riff that could have been lifted straight from a Royal Blood record.
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Normally such a hodge-podge of different styles is a recipe for disaster. However, everything hangs together beautifully for this band and it creates a unique and engaging experience for reasons that elude me. I reckon it could be the collective energy of the dual frontmen Daniel Garwood and Ryan Tucker that allows this seamless merging of styles
This band definitely has a bit of the old star quality about them
The sort of chemistry these guys bestow isn’t the sort of animated chemistry you might get between a Pete Doherty and a Carl Barat. But it’s a musical chemistry that involves the cleaner voice of Daniel complementing the gruffer voice of Ryan. Either way I reckon this band definitely has a bit of the old star quality about them, which is personified in these two guys.
This quality was definitely rubbing off on the crowd too: they were both enthusiastic and plentiful.
Stealing thunder
“Ah!” I here you say; “but weren’t they at the Lanes to support Dexters; a band that already boasts an enviable national reputation? The masses were just waiting patiently for the arrival of the main event, weren’t they?”
Well that wasn’t the case my friend! The crowd were as in to the Rupees as they were Dexters. In fact it made me a bit embarrassed that a prestigious Bristol music blog (of which I’m a proud member) was only now having its first Rupees experience.
The live performance is where it’s at
But putting the omnipresent failings of the BristoI Beats Club to one side, I have a nugget of wisdom to impart to you. When you embark on your own Rupees adventure; and you click through to the Soundcloud page and enjoy a few scant minutes listening to an mp3 online; don’t end it there. The live performance is where it’s at with these boys, so keep your ears peeled for any gigs in the future.