I don’t understand this crazy world. Why oh why are Hundred Reasons not the most successful band in the world? They played to their home crowd last night in Camden (OK technically they’re from Surrey but who’s going to claim Surrey as their ‘hood?) and they rocked it ‘till it bled through the eyes.

Their blend of unquestionably British Emo-rock displayed all the classic hallmarks; hard-core thrashing guitars, sublime power-ballads and an energy I have never seen in any other band. Over the top? Excessive praise? No! Lead boy Colin Doran is fully drenched in sweat by about the fourth song, surely a mark of rock greatness. And as for the demented Paul Townsend on guitar, he seems to be powered by some hitherto undiscovered perpetual-motion thingumy. What I’m saying is, they know no half-measures. The crowd take a couple of songs to warm up, being a slightly laconic older bunch, but when ‘If I Could’ comes down the place heaves into a bouncing whirl of musical joy.

They play old favourites without ever looking bored and they showcase new songs, notably a work currently just titled ‘Larry’s Song’, including an uncharacteristic guitar solo, and the powerful ‘Death By The Mirror’, destined to become another anthem. I could be slightly critical of the sound quality in the venue, letting the words drift away occasionally and not always giving the superb harmonies full reign, but this does little to damage the overall effect. And the set is short, leaving some great songs: ‘Pop’, ‘Avalanche’, ‘Truth With Elegance’ all untouched. Oh and they didn’t have any t-shirts in size 6 to 12 months!

But back to my original point, Hundred Reasons are a superb live act. They should be much, much bigger. But then maybe, that’s why they’re still so damn fine. As Doran said, in response to whether the crowd were rockin’, “Dandy”!
(5/5)

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