Live Review: Summer Bash 8 hosted by Mercury’s Well (Part #1)

The sun is shining and the weather is sweet it makes you want to move those dancing feet and where better to do that than at The Facebar in Reading as Mercury’s Well are hosting their eighth annual Hawaiian themed beach party that is Summer Bash? It might not be heatwave hot outside but it’s still pretty damn warm when we arrive at the door to the event we’ve helped promote over the past four years, so we’re ready for a few cold beers and some great bands. Members of In Air and the Reading Rising crew are behind the sound board, their knowledge an invaluable resource. Inflatable palm trees are on the four corners of the stage, flower necklaces hang from the microphone stands and the Mercury’s Well banner is draped across the barrier. The stage is set for each of the ten bands to perform their finest material and having listened to the playlist created by Simon Mowvley-Davies on the journey to the venue, we’re in the zone.

With Pain Itself nowhere to be seen, Kia of The Amazing Tiger Band [8/10] steps in to fill their boots at the last minute, offering a funky blend of beat-boxing, sing-a-long moments and fun crowd interaction that should be much later in the bill. Using a loop pedal and a guitar and bass in one instrument we’re entertained from all angles but it’s the lyrics of songs like “Assholes” with that little bit of tongue in cheek humour that make all the difference. A last minute addition more than capable of getting the party started feels like a gift that keeps giving and one we’re hopeful of witnessing again sometime soon.

They may have only committed “Confessional” to tape and released it the day before Summer Bash but given how polished their performance is this afternoon, it surely won’t be long before In Maluum [9/10] announce something more. Their guitarist wears a t-shirt from Death Metal legends Deicide with pride, hammering out some weighty riffs to accompany the throat shredding vocals in classic genre style. They do have a melodic cut in their set which sonically has a tinge of System of a Down influence, the dark whispers building to savage screams masterfully done. A tight unit offering pummelling rhythmic battery with some quirky moments to set them apart from the pack, the fierce to the point of being almost feral vocals draw you in like a classic ghost story. They’re in the same dry throated style as those that Robert Meadows used in A Life Once Lost and make for the perfect accompaniment to the barbed riffs, whispers and feedback adding a haunting touch as the band tune up between songs.

Emo Punk quintet Halloran [8/10] are currently working on a debut album and have a couple of new songs in a high octane set that finds their vocalist in the pit, fist bumping fans towards the end. In the live arena the five string bass and backing vocals make more of an impact, giving some of the songs another dimension, the band not afraid to join in the two step action while hammering out their material with vim and vigour. Cuts like “Trauma Related” have served them well and while they might look a little nervous they sound great, each song having that verve and swagger that we’ve come to expect from them with their live experience. Whisper it, but if that album lands like their live performance does then Halloran could well be the next Creeper.

Breaking up the flow of Metal it’s time for some funky fun with Bobby Mandala’s Midnight Elite [8/10] who bring the 80’s summer vibes to the stage. They come armed with clean guitars, keys and a harmonica, not to mention a few stage props as they sing and rap their way through a collection of tunes that combine tongue in cheek humour and innuendo with mild drug references like “Yacht 4 Xmas“. A well oiled live machine, they’re a quintet who you can’t help but smile at because they’re unbelievably good fun, especially when they’re blowing talcum powder into the audience like it was… well you know. “Three Men and a Baby” is class although you might get arrested if you serenade an air stewardess with it after a few too many gin and tonics on a flight.

Set to head over to America for some shows later this year (if they’re allowed into the country) Southampton Emo quartet Maxwelltheband [8/10] bring with them a fill-in drummer and a Misfits cover as they get a sweat on under the lights. Their set uses their January released self titled EP as it’s backbone and have an infectious energy despite their songs being all doom and gloom, throwing themselves around on stage like a bunch of wounded ducks. They have at their disposal a certain charm with all their songs having something about them that you can relate to and with a lot of simple but lethally effective humble melodies and influences from the likes of Pavement all of which help make time in their company time well spent.