Message from Shotgun Politics about CD 4 Launch Party B:
Holy cow, it was fricking great to play at The Underground CD4 release party. Thank you for having us at the event and on the CD! The Underground people managed to book up the newly opened Hard Rock Cafe and it was sweet sweet sweet. Awesome amps, awesome PA, drums from heaven, and great staff. We had a great time playing there, and honestly can’t wait to come back.
These compilations really are a great way to document the local scene, and after listening to #1-3 repeatedly we were stoked to be a part of #4. Thank you everyone for making it happen, we’ll be in the audience for #5!
- The Gunns
Live Review from Berri Txarrak (Basque) Live in Hong Kong!:
1. Rebel Radio
2. Paper Heart
3. Glow
4. Carry On
5. 852
6. London Town
Speaking of showing audiences a good time, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that SP must rank among the best of HK bands with this ability. They’ve got tremendous stage presence, due in no small part to the utter commitment and energy with which each set is played – which is invariably contagious. It also helps (a lot) that their style is one of the most visceral rock ‘n’ roll, overlaid with thick punky tones, rounded off with the pithy riffs of good garage-rock – a highly potent combination, much like the one that the Fleshtones have been using for many years with great successs. Also like the Fleshtones, they are a consummate party-band, but never reduced to being merely that. I must admit that I have on occasion wished (loudly) that they reintroduce their excellent Johnny Rage into the sets; however, on contemplation I realise that its non-inclusion is a move that allows their sets to be very different from their earlier ones – a sign of a band that is on the move towards new things. So, kudos, guys, good on ya.
They seem to have made a ritual of opening with Rebel Radio, and this night was no exception. The (slightly borrowed, and) very hummable song was a perfect start to the set, which quickly moved into Paper Heart – a ripping number that got everyone there on their feet (about damn time too!). There’s so many things going on when they play that you must watch as though entranced for fear of missing something cool; and Timmy’s jumping off-stage to rock through the crowd was just one more thing to watch. Between that, the exchanging of leads, the fact that drummer Freddy has the energy to sing along every lyric while still punishing the drums (in Dan Peters style) at warp speed, and the ironically still figure of Jimmy on bass, you’re totally spoilt for choice visually.
It’s rare that both guitarists’ instruments detune after a song, but evidently I underestimated the magnitude of power put into playing their axes – consequently, both Timmy and Niall had to retune before Glow, whose garagey powerhouse riff kinda reminded me of the Wildebeests, and was a perfect instance of how catchy their songs can be. This was significantly augmented by their very different soloing styles and contrasting guitar-tones, which provide a real punch to the songs. The activity ‘til this point was clearly sapping, as both singers needed to recharge a bit, while we were treated to a drum solo before the madness of Carry On – this point forward, their set really escalated; which made up for the fact that it was, honestly, their most generic-sounding song. Strangely enough, despite the fact that 852 was a slow, mildly syrupy pop-rock ditty, it didn’t reduce the vigour of the set, and had an awesome solo to boot. The energy they regained during it was to come in use, because they really pulled out all the stops as the snaky, spiky riff to London Town began. Not only was there drumkit-jumping (by Niall – good thing he didn’t fail to get his leg over, unlike a certain Sir Ian Botham [you cricket fans know what I’m talking about…]), running out into the crowd, and generally convulsive behaviour. During the irresistibly sing-along-able outro (reminiscent of the Ig’s The Passenger) they actually got the Sleeves’ Bee on from the crowd to play out the song! A fantastic ending to an awesome set, that only raised the standards for the night’s act to follow.
– Shashwati
Live Review from Underground 90:
1. Niki Heartbreaker
2. Rebel Radio
3. Pill (the one with toms and a more shuffly feel)
4. Carry On (this is the one Timmy sings)
5. Mama’s Girl
6. Johnny Rage
7. Cover of ToL ‘People’
8. London Town, with extended outro
Next up is a bunch of four guys from a cool little band known as Shotgun Politics. I saw these guys live at GBOB and thought that they had a lot of energy and charisma, so I was interested in seeing what their full set would be like. The band consists of Niall guitar/vocals, Timmy guitar/vocals, Freddy “Mercury” on drums and Jimmy on bass.“Let’s get ready to party!” screamed Timmy and the band began to entertain us with their form of party rock. Everyone stopped their conversations and heads turned towards the stage as the pop punkish styling of Shotgun Politics filled the air. The song had some cool guitar riffs and the drummer was especially awesome. “M-I-K-A” I thought I heard Niall sing, later to find out that it was actually ‘N-I-K-I’. The song was over before you even knew it, it had built up and built up and then it was suddenly finished. More I thought. The crowd loved it too.
The second song, ‘Rebel Radio’, started off with some nice guitar chords which sounded a little bit familiar. Listening to this song was like listening to a song by Jet. It was full of energy and I enjoyed listening to the entertaining lyrics. I especially enjoyed the ending when Niall sang “Play it loud and all night long! All night long! All night long!” The band got an even bigger applause than the previous song.In the third song, ‘Pill’, I thought that the vocals were too low and I wanted to hear what Niall was singing about. This song had a nice tempo and reminded me of the early days of Offspring when they were more punk rock. This was a song you could bop your head to and dance. Actually, the guy on the other side of me is finger dancing to the song. Lol. The band is so energetic and every single one of them holds a lot of stage presence. It was hard not to like them.We carry on to the next song which is, ‘Carry on’. This song started off much slower than the last song. Timmy sang in this song and I thought that it was awesome as I wasn’t expecting him to sing. I think that’s what blew me away. He had a nice sweet and gentle voice. When the song gradually picked up pace and got heavier I could feel my leg shake in time with the music. At this stage Timmy started singing using more of his rock voice, then more guitars and once again it was over, while we were still begging for more.
By now I was thinking that they never actually introduced any of their songs? Or was I just not listening? Their next song started off quite like a marching song, something similar to The White Stripes. The bass was awesome in this song, though I did think that the vocals sounded abit weird. This song ended with the lead guitarist standing on one of the large speakers and jamming it out until the end with the drummer.I heard the name of this one, ‘Johnny - (something)’… ‘Rage’. This song started off like a Guns & Roses type ballad. Timmy and Niall shared the vocals for this song. Then the timing of the song changed and it built up speed. The chorus of this song was very addictive and I kind of wanted it to repeat a few more times so I could do some head banging. Then it ended with some sweet and alluring plucking of the guitar.
For their 7th song they asked Chris B to join them to sing this song. I was not sure what to think? What should I expect from this crossover? Were they going to play a Shotgun Politics song or a Chris B song? The song did start off familiar, yet different. Then, I heard the chorus and the familiar line, “masturbating to a magazine’ and I realised that I had heard this song already tonight. It was a TOL song. They played the song with respect, but were just lacking the sax styles of Mysterious B. The crowd cheered loudly.They announced their last song, ‘London Town’ which started with heavy guitar. There was a good pace to this song, very catchy and head bopping. There were so many people jumping up and down on the dance floor by this stage. This song had some interaction with the crowd too with us echoing to some ‘Hey! Heys!’The song ended with some lovely ‘woahs’. I was actually sad to see them leave. They had an awesome set filled with songs of mixed variety. Their performance was both audibly and visually entertaining. They are a still a young band, but they have the potential to be a big hit here in Hong Kong.
- Cain (FBI vocalist)
Performances:
