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Steve Spithray checks out Teesside’s coolest new band at their packed hometown headliner
Image by Steve Spithray
Perhaps the highest compliment a band can receive is a slew of young pretenders following in their wake. So, main support tonight, The Last Time, have found a tough reviewer in this old hack by owing more than a nod to current indie darlings The Last Dinner Party. However, some cute Taylor Swift/Gary Lightbody harmonies from the Sunderland five-piece’s co-singers might sound chintzy, but there is something about the way they nervously glance at each other that is frankly adorable. They finish their short set with Getting Over, which is so good that if they dig out a handful more of this calibre of tunes from somewhere we should be hearing a lot more from The Last Time.
Risco, though, are the coolest band on Teesside right now. There I said it. There are also loads of people in the audience wearing Risco t-shirts which is always a sure sign something (anything?) is happening in the region. While their sound is a bit muffled in the packed venue, which detracts a little from singer/lead guitarist Ralf’s underrated whammy bar/soloing, the chemistry and energy that fizzes between Ralf and bassist Maya is undeniable – posed as accidental synchronised jumps and their infectious onstage personas. Maya is a bonefide rock star in waiting, Ralf the preppy ringmaster – what I’m trying to say is they look like a fucking band.
With only three singles out in the ether this is quite the headliner this early on for Risco, so no surprise a couple of newies are thrown in, which already don’t sound out of place alongside their staple cover of 20th Century Boy (stripped of all its glam) and punchy fan favourites Triple Agent and Le Chateau that showcase Risco’s full palette of garage and mod moods.
The Arctic Monkeys stylings of debut single It’s Over closes things out in typically energetic fashion (Ralf must be feeling the heat by now in his fetching oversized cardigan) followed by the already traditional Rockefeller Skank cover, tonight with a full stage invasion because this is now a celebration of all things Risco. And a seemingly impromptu rendition of Baggy Trousers follows because, of course, now is also the time to be silly.
On the way out someone mentions they are only 21-years old too, so if life doesn’t get in the way (as it usually does), I can’t wait to see Risco again in a couple of years headlining Glastonbury – or at least one of the smaller stages of Stockton Calling.
