REVIEW: Howler, Hooded Fang & fiN 08/05/2012
Howler @ The Garage, a set on Flickr.
On Tuesday 8th May, I went to see fiN supporting Hooded Fang and Howler at The Garage in Islington… and to set the record straight from the get-go, I’m not going to even pretend I was there for Canadian collective Hooded Fang, or “Strokes”-alike Howler.
While both bands undeniably played a decent show, Hooded Fang’s blend of slightly out-of-tune surf rock just doesn’t do it for me (but props to whoever in the band came up with that riff on ‘Clap’ – that’s brilliant).
As for Howler? I hate to admit it, but I’m always fairly suspicious of any band hyped up to stratospheric levels by, er, “other media outlets”, before the debut album even comes out… I’m sure die-hard fans would vehemently disagree, and call me up on the obvious comparison, but really, they are just The Strokes 2.0. (I’m sorry!) if not slightly less exciting, and a little more annoying.
Aside from ‘Back of Your Neck’ getting a fantastic sing-along reaction (would be rude not to…), the only other stand out tune, for me, was/is ‘Pythagorean Fearem’. Maybe it’s just because I tend to edge towards the heavier side of things, but I think this song is a truly underrated gem in Howler’s premature crown.
In regards to fiN, I could probably have bias called out on me, but they’re a band I’ve been following for almost a year now because I genuinely think they’re fucking rad. Sure, some of their offerings may hold more than a hint of their inspirations, but it’d be completely unfair to suggest that there’s not something a little new and exciting about these four lads from South West London.
Formed in 2008, fiN have a refreshing and well-executed DIY ethos about them. They wrote, recorded and produced their album themselves in a disused factory in Wandsworth, and are currently in the process of releasing it as six 7” singles – a unique (not to mention bloody clever!) way of getting the 12 track record to their ever-increasing fan base.
Not only are they producing music in an interesting and diverse manner, but the songs themselves seamlessly blend heavy indie and rock vibes with what are unmistakeably pop songs. There’s no shyness about it either, which is what I think really sets these boys apart from the rest, and straight on the course to the recognition they deserve.
It’s not often these days you see a band genuinely play their heart out at every show. It didn’t matter that the main room at The Garage was half empty for their set, as the ones who were there, witnessed a proper show and not the half-arsed bollocks that most ‘indie’ fans have to endure.
This is a band that plays and works like they mean it. It’s a rare thing these days to come across a band you just know are gonna go far, and I personally can’t wait for the day that I can smugly say, “I told you so”.
Words & Photos: Kayleigh-Jayne Bull
