The Rakes @ the Islington Academy

This evening Fringey managed to get hold off some free tickets to a Converse sponsored RAKES gig. Yey us!

But rarely do we get to see a band who are so spectacularly shite as this evenings first support, Lorca. (If you don't believe me then take a look at their website and tell me you don't want to punch them.)

Lorca don't seem to care that they are the hybrid spawn of a crap Kasabian and a bollocks Bravery. They casually abuse our ears with derivative songs, held together with bits of string and tramp juice. The ‘singer’ for all his rock posing can’t actually sing. At all. Although I was impressed by their guitarists ability to maintain a steady slack jawed chewing action on his wrigley's spearmint throughout the entire set. Please, somebody save us... !

Next up were The Heavy. Not what we were expecting from a Rakes support, but they brought the funk with them and, dodgy sound aside, they were an unexpected treat.

So finally tis the Rakes – oh and how they've changed. ... They’ve only gone and messed about with the clean production of the album! Now we can hear echoing vocals, heavy bass and rocking guitars, making for a bigger, stronger, more robust sound. Unlike the Rakes themselves, it turns out that these tunes have muscle!

But Donahoe is still a strungout ball of energy, all jerky dance moves and hyperactivity. He easily alters his already sharp lyrics to suit the occasion and his tireless efforts to whip the crowd (many of whom didn’t even know who the Rakes were at the start of the night) into a frenzy of arm waving indie sweatiness are successful. The entire performance zips along in no time at all and they get through most of the album, some new songs and even old b side - ‘Ausland Mission’!! Lovely. And all this for free, courtesy of Conversemusic.


ta muchly.

Meanwhile Luce gets absolutely enraged by Rakes support Lorca!