The Fratellis + The Maccabees + Born Ruffians @ Camden, Barfly - 24th August 2006

In the ultra trendy town of Camden lies London's prestigious Barfly, a venue that is renound as a starting block for new up and coming bands before their launch into bigger and better things. And on this aptly named night of “Exposure” the ceremonies kick off with a trio of scruffy young scallywags from Canada.

Born Ruffians are group of teenagers who are more than capable of violating noise levels with two bass guitars and eclectic vocals of an acquired taste which is sometimes so high pitched that only dogs can hear.

Sounding like the illegitimate love child of the Spinto Band and Clap you hands say yeah! Their unique brand of new wave folk with added tribal-esque chants provides as the perfect appetiser for the night ahead.

Now this is quite ironic really, I think that the following band require very little help from XFM on this evening of exposure. After the release of only two singles, of limited availability, The Maccabees already have their heels firmly rooted in the world of new music, their level of popularity is continuously growing and they are far from lacking any publicity after their monumental performance at Café De Paris some three or so weeks back.

“ Its just what all young lovers do “ are the first words uttered by Clapham born - Brighton residents, The Maccabees,  as “About your dress” opens up a whirlwind, chaotic packed set. Sending a crowd of apprehensive young music lovers into a frenzy has never been a hard task for the Maccabees. With a number of profound and lovable anthems already tightly in their clutches they are in complete control of issuing utter mayhem upon the barfly crowd, and after “Happy Faces” they decide to do just this with their second single, “Latchmere” which is quickly followed by “Bicycle rush”, a non-top colossal of vocal domination.

Never being one to go on too much, Orlando quickly mentions that the following song, “First Love” is to be their next single. A choice that is bound to serve them well. “First Love”, is not only the ideal structural ideology of all Maccabee's songs we love with that momentous build up and gob-smacking finale but it's a love song, and we all know that the humble and caring people of Great Britain are a bunch of suckers for love songs. Coming to a close with “Lego”, a stunned Barfly crowd were left wandering what is next for the Maccabees as a spotlight is sure to be waiting for them else where.

But waiting for the Fratelli‘s was a little longer than first anticipated, After an hour of beer throwing, one tense and growing tenser angry bald man and some classic London heckling the three Scott's push their way though the crowd and FINALLY get into their positions. Sadly “The Friday Night Project” had taken priority over the paying fans, but non the less they put their best efforts forward. John Fratelli mumbles something that required subtitles in that husky regional dialect, and within very little time the tension is broken with the Fratelli's second single, “Henrietta”, and the Barfly returns to it's jumpy, jittery ways.

After a number of shouting packed numbers that are to feature on their forth coming album, “Costello Music”, they finish on the oddly named, “Got ma' nuts from a hippy”, which much like their other songs, is crammed with over speed vocals and the continuous bouncing of John Fratelli's afro. And although this appearance from our new favourite Scottish band was short, it sure was sweet. Once they get their main priorities in place, I.e. paying fans, the Fratelli's have a future of success that is there for the taking, and let them take it because they're all well hard.

Dan Jones