The first surprise of the night was the number of players that made up the band – seven in all. But then listening again to the album I should not have been surprised as several of the songs are epic in scale with enough instruments to sink the Bismark. Alongside lead-man Antony Genn was his partner-in-crime Martin Slattery on piano and backing vocals, Andy Treacy on drums, Emily Dolan-Davies also on drums, Mark Neary on bass, Richard Lobb on keys and Mike Moore on guitar. Genn and Slattery had their own careers (and some pretty significant history) but it was during Radiohead’s brilliant 2004 tour performance in London that the duo decided to form a band. They both went into a recording studio (good connections here as Genn produced Joe Strummer’s solo album) without a note written and made a very tentative start. Genn’s song writing aim was to ‘communicate something with these songs, covering all the emotions.’

The set list opened with arguably the most commercial song on the album, ‘Ali In The Jungle’, that should have owned the charts by right (had it received a decent level of airplay). It was all there – the thumping rhythm and gathering pace, message-laden lyrics, monster melody and a well-oiled vocal. Hell, it was just about perfect and I wondered if I was imaging this… And incidentally, the small venue’s sound quality was excellent. ‘Icarus’ was next with its wandering piano notes; heartfelt, swaying vocal; and a rock-solid instrumental underbelly. I was not imaging anything; this was real and robust. The audience responded in the only way they could - the guys had them and me firmly in hand. Sonically the band is a more passionate version of Snow Patrol, Keane or Coldplay, with songs that seem to come from within. Next came two more great songs (‘These Days’ and ‘Think Again’) which must be off the new album due for release early in 09. On the strength of what I heard, this album cannot arrive soon enough…

My special moment came next with the band’s rendition of my favourite album track, ‘Back When You Were Good’, which also happened to be my best rock-pop song choice of 2007. This band is tight and the song sounded as good as it did on the album – no mean feat. Was this my Muse moment? Yup, it was at this point that I was convinced that The Hours are the band to watch in 09. A second album is due shortly and I’m hoping that the guys get a little more adventurous, a little less mainstream. That said this is a band with passion and music in its blood, and the performance nothing less than magical.

SET LIST

Ali In The Jungle
Icarus
These Days (new)
Think Again (new)
Back When You Were Good
Narcissus Road
Car Crash (new)
People Say
Murder Or Suicide

See The Light (new single, February 2009 release)

www.thehours.co.uk