The Smoking Hearts at The Garage
The Smoking Hearts – The Garage – 11 March 2010
Words by Ian Dickinson / photo’s by Michael Dickinson
Apart from being a little concerned that I had walked into a meeting of imaginary friends the line up tonight is an exciting and distinct mix of styles and apart from the lack of people in attendance, other than the ‘industry’ chin rubbing types I am excited to see all the bands.
“Another sold out show at the Garage” announces Sanj Surati to an audience of 10 people, consisting primarily of the bands playing later in the evening. Anonymous Tip power through their set with true punk spirit. Political, energetic and funky, the band give it their all. Fans of Anti-Flag and The King Blues will enjoy these London punks.
The attendance increases substantially as the all black clad Smoking Hearts storm the stage. From the outset they are the personification of rock n roll. They begin their heavy rocking assault on the Garage with the balls to the wall battle anthem George Street Wrestling. It looks like a heavy metal battle royal is going down on stage. THS are big, brash and brutal. There is no messing around. This is how heavy rock bands should play.
After experiencing a power cut at their release party the previous Monday, they are here to make up for it. Lead singer, Lethal, violently whips his white mic lead and is off stage and right up in everyone’s faces in a flash. He tries his hardest to get people moving but the audience seem more interested in observing rather than getting into the messy party mood that their tunes undoubtedly create. Lethal has boundless energy, clambering on top of the sound desk and stomping on his own merch table like Godzilla listening to Motorhead on his iPod. A new track Sinking Ships is premiered and sounds just as good as the tracks from Pride Of Nowhere. My only criticism tonight is that the guitar solos that power and drive their debut album seem absent and lost during the live performance.
There is a sincere unity in the band that is a pleasure to witness. You know when you see that sickening couple walking down the street or in a restaurant, who just seem so perfect together and you get angry that you don’t have that. TSH are that sickening couple. They seem like the ideal combination of people, who genuinely enjoy what they are playing and who they play with.
With a live performance like this TSH have what it takes to transcend to the next level. They would excel and be more at home in a large venue or even a festival stage, whereas most bands would crumble and become lost. The set finishes with Message In A Molotov which has the ability to convince you that smashing stuff up would be the best thing to do. Just as the song is winding down they burst into a surprise finally track and rip apart the venue. THS seem as though they would happily play and party all night if they were allowed and I would be more than happy to join them.
Bristol’s Turbowolf deserve a mention. I saw the band five years ago at the infamous Croft in Bristol. Turbowolf have come a long way since sounding like the Misfits meets Iron Maiden. They have seamlessly combined dance beats and rhythms with heavy rock. There are a lot of bands out there doing the dance ‘core sound but this is a band with intelligence and an artistry that makes them one to look out for.
