The Lines
Rhythm Factory, London
10/08/2011

The Lines take to the Rhythm Factory stage like indie fighter pilots returning from battle with Kings Of Leon over the Gulf of Reading & Leeds. They exude confidence and strength, and immediately strike a reasonably decent Wednesday night, east London crowd with a big guitar sound and songs screaming out to be shouted from stadiums.

Only two minutes into their show and already floor-slappin’ middle-8’s and taut vocals are emanating from the stage and riffling through people’s wallets. The band’s first batch of songs are reminiscent of Echo And The Bunnymen’s nonchalant swagger and they quickly fill the room. Then there’s more big riffs, one after another, while the melodies remain comfortable and sturdy and not too demanding for the vocals, which do take a few songs to really catch up with the rest of the band. Any qualms, though, are overshadowed by a sudden change in pace; as more and more hooks start coming from the drums, taking The Lines closer to The Whip’s charmingly upbeat dance/rock than anything too Stereophonics.

The vocals then start making sense, becoming anxiously low and disorderly, and as another big guitar lick hits the front row with cowbells going haywire The Lines finally engage with the crowd prompting a tangle of excited dancing. There’s a feeling that vocally (and maybe lyrically) The Lines struggle to match their ear-invading guitar sound, but as the show ends it’s the melodies that you walk out replaying in your mind anyway.

Alex Lee Thomson