Live Review: Hello Bamboo, The Sun Explodes & Jacobs Story

Roper Hall

27th January 2012

There’s something about the venue and the acts that doesn’t quite go together that makes for an exciting atmosphere at Rampage Nights in Roper (Hall). The promoter puts on interesting line-ups, and it’s nice to see Preston’s heavier crowd catered for.

As Jacob’s Story begin after stepping in at the 11^th hour, it feels a tad harsh to review them properly. They play well enough and certainly worth checking out again where their judgement could be fairer.

The Sun Explodes are frustrating. They are a band clearly bursting with ability and talent, who decide to spend it on becoming an Enter Shikari tribute act. If you’re going to dress like that, play like that and sound like that, then undoubtedly comparisons are going to be made.

Here is a band full of talent, who seem to constrict themselves within this box of formulaic patterns and tones. It’s almost like they’re prisoners to a sound they don’t really want to make, but feel they have to, which is a shame, as there is clearly something there.

Its tricky being a ‘comedy’ band, as that tag carries all kind of connotations. Will people get it? Will your humour remain fresh after telling the ‘joke’ countless times? Will you just hide behind the comedy to make up for a lack of talent? Hello Bamboo leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that these questions don’t apply to them.

It’s difficult not to hate them. They are everything a band should be, you can’t help but seethe with jealousy. They are tight. They play songs which are catchy yet laden with care and musicianship. They play like they’re having the time of their lives. They clearly are. New song Little Boy’s Haircut sounds like the perfect surf-rock treat, and the new material from EP Garçon is tight and loud. And we’ve not even got onto the ‘jokes’ yet.

It’s halfway through the set, and the crowd is in tears. People are rolling around the floor, trying to stop their stomach hurting from all the laughing. One person walks away in disgust. Guitarist Vincent Van Vulva is treating us to his ‘Sho’, a solo piece where he does a striptease under a child’s duvet, to reveal a little too much. All this whilst Queen is playing in the background. Hello Bamboo make the best jokes, but the laugh’s never on them.