Rocket From The Crypt landed in Leeds and sent the city into orbit, Getintothis’ Joseph Viney rocked and rolled loud enough to wake the dead.
The faded glamour décor of Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club is a perfect match for tonight’s visitors, Rocket From The Crypt (RFTC).
San Diego’s finest stand as if they are Satan’s own cabaret band, the kind of band Hunter S. Thompson would have seen and loved. Their floral bowling shirts, slicked back hair and brass section give a glimpse of shining silver in the dust, and a teeming crowd just cannot wait to start digging.
But it’s RFTC who do the work for us, not so much digging through the dirt but jamming a box of dynamite into a quarry and waiting to see what havoc it wreaks.
From the off they are frighteningly good and unforgiving. A triple-whammy of Middle, Born In ’69 and late-90s hit On A Rope, all taken from Scream, Dracula, Scream! almost bring the house down before things have taken off.
RFTC have an expansive, heavy and fun back catalogue; all of their songs blending buzzsaw guitars, furious drumming and those fantastic horns. One of the greatest elements of live music is watching a band enjoy themselves and RFTC deliver that in spades. Singer/guitarist John Reis is the night’s ringmaster and it’s a role he accepts with aplomb.
The group have always been about inspiring a sense of unity via their music, and there are deft little touches tonight that show just how a band are able to get their people involved.
For each city RFTC played in on this UK tour, they recorded a track from a homegrown band and made 100 vinyl copies available on the night. They also had their own ale on sale; Rocket Fuel, at a rather dynamic 8%+. That’ll get you dancing.
Community spirit, loud music and a bouncing crowd all stack up to a helluva night.
The saying is probably older than time itself but it still rings true: imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery.
With that, the night’s support, Leeds’ own Buzzkill, prepped the stage in a similar fashion to RFTC; clinical guitar work with sandwiched between horns and no shortage of posturing.
It’s great to see the finest traditions being carried on.
Further reading on Getintothis:
