Battle of the Bands, Toad at the Old Exhibition Centre, 18-19 Trinity Street, Cardiff, May 4th 2004.
Forget all those bands that get themselves signed to labels after one or two years as an ensemble. These amateurs lack skill and only become fortunate after bandwagon jumping on their peers media attention, leaving them with an overinflated image. All they basically are, are indie copyists with scratchy chords, the odd number of notes cobbled together to make a solo, and
nothing original. Any muso worth his salt grinds their teeth at the prospect of seeing someone like that receive a lazy journalism tag of 'the new X', whilst better bands slog it out on the local circuits. Finally, a band a musician can be proud of. Finally, a band that is not about style, arty videos, or NME adulation. Finally, a band that is all about the music. Finally, Formed are here.
After a decade of in-fighting between siblings that would make the Gallaghers seem like the Osmonds, 5 lads from Pontypridd have taken the task of being committed and dedicated to the project that is now known and loved as 'formed' and attacked it with immense passion and fervour. A band untainted and not overglamourised to the point of self-serving arrogance, these guys love what they do, and what they do is craft great guitar-pop songs with intricate melodies acting as statements of intent, and retaining the ability to rock nihilistically as part of their arsenal, to be used sparingly and as and when required. It just seems incredulous that they could be working at this for 10 years before appearing here for their debut gig.
Lead vocalist Craig Semmens was born to control the stage like the best frontmen should, with the voice to match the stage presence. The contrasting and cascading guitars of Peter Rawbone and Kay Kedward glide effortlessly, whilst Trevor Rawbone and Ryan O'sullivan maintain a masterfully tight rhythmn section like a well oiled engine. For all the bands ability, it is Semmens' show. Amidst the ambient muzak that's drudgingly dull, the blues funk copyists that lack originality, and the prog metalheads that disappeared up their own arses into endless messy jam sessions that should stay in the rehearsal room; there is no competition. It would appear the judges agreed, as Formed won this heat and now go forward to the Grand Final on June 1st.
Indeed, of their six-song set; Apathy and Western Lights sparkled as signs of new songwriting geniuses in waiting. The others were fresh, highly original and the first sign of anyone carrying out gloriously constructed guitar pop since Geneva, who themselves were unfortunately usurped by lesser mortals.
On this evidence, all upcoming bands should fear them, as formed look to solidify their position in the music industry.
Craig Aston.
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