The Beat Surrender

For once, I had a totally childfree Saturday night, alas nothing planned so when the chance to go to the University came up I jumped at it. I’d Heard of Elliot Minor but didn’t really know much about the music but since they’re almost a local band I thought why not. (From York) Having rushed to get the children to Grandma’s and a change of clothes brought about by a choc-ice accident.

You’d think at my age I could at least eat a choc-ice without the need for a bib (or a change of clothes). I really had left it a bit late to set off and as a result had to drive round in circles several times in order to park within walking distance of the university, I’m a bit of wimp and don’t like walking around in the dark on my own, but I don’t mind going to a gig alone……….strange.

I arrived in time to catch the second support act but had totally missed the opening act (Furthest Drive Home) sorry chaps wasn’t intentional. The Higher are an American pop rock band based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Signed to Epitaph Records, they have already released two full albums and two ep’s. I am sure I counted five people on stage however on wikipedia it says there a four piece, must have picked up a stray guitarist on the trip over here.

A very young looking band with a lead vocalist who bears more than a passing resemblance to one of the Hanson brothers. This was picked up by many of the people around me including one guy who had apparently spoken to the singer in the gap between bands and when this was pointed out to him he agreed saying “people are always saying that cant understand it” Well I have a solution GET YOUR HAIR CUT.

However back to the band, its not often you see a support band getting such a good reaction from the crowd. The Higher seemed to be going down a storm, everyone was cheering, jumping up and down etc, the sound is very rock/pop in that typical American High School fashion, however with just a hint of rap thrown in for good measure. For me a stand out track was 31 floors, this definitely went down well and I got the impression many of the crowd actually knew the words and were joining in. Seemed like a good support band.

I have to say that it’s a long time since I’ve been to a gig with so many young teen (and a few pre teen) girls screaming at every move even at the roadies! Another strange thing about this night was the reaction to the music played between the bands, you’d have thought Elliot Minor were on stage, lots of jumping up and down, screaming and cheering, very odd.

Very dramatic entrance classical music blasts at you, the lights flash and ……….. Lots of screaming. Immediately we are treated to a lesson in guitar playing at its best, these guys know how to play and seem to take pleasure in showing this off. I think the opening track was called Go Our Separate Ways but wasn’t introduced and not being an expert in the music of Elliot Minor may be wrong, hope not.

Next track was Can’t Stay Away, very repetitive chorus, fast once the track got going as it had a slower intro, nice keyboards in the intro. Not sure, what the next track was as no breaks between tracks, however they went down well and amazingly around about now they started to remind me of Busted (better looking but still in the mould of Busted/Mcfly) however the guitar solos are definitely out of the Queen book of music. Alex and Ed (vocals) now try to get the crowd involved with the singing but this track (So The Work Is Done) didn’t quite seem to go down so well with the crowd.

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