The Rakes - Live In London
[Mean Fiddler]

2005 has been a glittering year for headline act The Rakes and tickets outside the venue are changing hands for five times the original selling price.
Having previously toured with Battle and fresh from the Moshi Moshi showcase night where the two bands were beamed live to Japan to sell their wares to the Far East, it was only polite to invite them to support their largest ever headline tour.

Kubichek are the first band on and are a youthful band hailing from Newcastle, signed to Fantastic Plastic Records, who were responsible for releasing The Futurehead’s debut single. Kubichek play upbeat rock songs with emo tinges and also happen to have the same manager as The Rakes. The band sail nervously through their set and there is an uncomfortable feeling in the audience that maybe they just weren’t a strong enough band to be supporting The Rakes on their album launch tour. Described by the NME in April as “monumental, savage, raw and unassertively uncouth” they disappoint many a crowd member by not living up to that gracious sentiment.

Battle have a swelling group of fans and have come along way since supporting The Subways back in April at the same venue. They are now signed to Warner Records and have just completed the highly successful ‘I Predict a Suntan Tour’ with Komakino.

Battle play a passionate set with ferocious guitar playing and with Ollie hitting the drums as if this was the show to end all shows. They play two songs that used to be in rotation when they were previously called Killing Moon and the fans seem happy that they decided to resurrect them and give them a new airing. Immediately after the set, crowd members are clambering for Battle flyers, impressed by the synth rockers who are surely the best new band to have emerged this year.

The Rakes act cool before the gig and once onstage launch straight into their string of odes to alcohol and ditties about the seedier side of life. Being an over 14’s show, the angry youth run amok in the front row and many a body is seen being thrown over the barrier. “Dark Clouds” sounds especially good live and bassist Jamie bashfully helps out with the backing vocals to previous single “Retreat”.

There is an elated reception to Ausland Mission, a live favourite which sees guitarist Matthew taking control of the vocals whilst playing a glorious melody to accompany it. The crowd were more than prepared for a jostle and the band tear into “We Are All Animals” and their song with the best drum solo “Guilt”.

The Rakes seems confident but the reception at more intimate venues seems to suit their sound, which is a million miles away from the beeps and gloss of their Paul Epworth produced debut album ‘Capture/Release’. They encore with ‘Just Got Paid’ another live favourite penned by the drummer, Lasse and finish with Strasbourg, a glorious upbeat tracks that comes in at less than 2 minutes of high pitched guitar tweaks and a squealing chorus.

The Rakes are playing four shows in the USA in September and after the success over the pond earlier this year, of bands such as The Kaiser Chiefs, one could wonder whether the American audience will appreciate songs about binge drinking and dancing from the lead singer Alan which is akin to an epileptic fit.

Overall the night is a success, with fans from each camp being satisfied by their band of choice. The Rakes debut album was released on Monday August 10th and only time will tell whether they manage to continue going upwards and gaining further success from their electrifying live shows.