More on: Nine Black Alps

Date: 20/10/05
Rating:

Having cut their teeth on the local circuit in their native Manchester, Nine Black Alps arrive in Newcastle for their first headline date in the city since the release of their debut album 'Everything Is'. The doors of the brand spanking new Carling Academy 2 open to an expectant crowd, eager to discover if NBA would live up to their much hyped reputation. First it was the job of Giant Drag to warm the crowd up.

At first there doesn't seem to be anything special about this twosome; they begin by checking all the same boxes any opening act do - the local reference to Newcastle Brown Ale is made, they were "really happy" to be in the city, and this is "the best audience we've ever played to". It's quickly made apparent however, that there's more to Giant Drag than meets the eye. Or perhaps more accurately, there's something missing. Annie Hardy is surely the craziest person to visit Newcastle since Paul Gascoigne packed his bags. Take the mystery from The White Stripes, replace it with pure, undiluted madness, and you have Giant Drag.

As their music plays, immediate comparisons are made with Mazzy Star, but the between-song banter is more Courtney Love - an absent-minded drum roll is met with a genuine expression of disgust ("Stop that! I mean, why would you do that?"). After showing their appreciation, the audience are rewarded with a rambling anecdote reflecting the band's concern that "the Scottish don't clap...". Musically the performance is faultless, at times showing great promise. Giant Drag are one to watch.

By the time Nine Black Alps take to the stage, the Academy is packed. As the introduction music fades out, replaced by the grunge-drenched riffs which has seen the band propel to fame, something starts to happen. The previously static audience begin moving with such force that the very ground beneath our feet is shaking with the force of a small earthquake. Hardly even pausing for breath, the band press on. 'Picture In Your Pocket' is met with raucous reception, 'Unsatisfied' - a song about "misery, death, despair and pain" - causes a sea of mobile phones to be thrust in to the air.

Despite their success, there are still areas in which Nine Black Alps could improve. At times the Nirvana influence is so blatant they could almost be a tribute act. The introduction of a song as a "new grunge song" proves insufficient to define the group's own identity, and there were points where the set wore almost thin. Nevertheless, it's a performance which proves that they are a group with great potential.

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Nine Black Alps Official Site