The Waysters + Red Letter Day + Stoner + Dregs Of Society - Messclean @ The Frog On The Front, Portsmouth. 24/02/06.

A buzz is in the air tonight as Messclean re-launches itself into the stars and beyond and all that is missing is the late license but it's on the way. That's not going to stop the excitement from growing as a decent sized crowd gather and word spreads that a member of The Kooks is here, along with members of Earl and local bands Carmen Rosa, Nitrate and Sweetedge are all represented and I'm sure there were more that I missed. Could it be that Portsmouth is suddenly the place to be?!

Down to business then with the metal fiends in leather trousers that are Dregs Of Society, thrusting their crotches in any face that happens to glance their way. Yeah they sound like AC/DC slipping a big one to that little Axl Rose chap and his Guns N Roses but sometimes that is all you need; big classic riffs, flailing hair and the chance to rock out. When the vocalist leaves the stage you realise he has one of those mics without a lead and you spend the next half an hour watching him climb around the building, order drinks at the bar and generally get in peoples faces but it's only rock n roll and you've got to love it but there is that little bit in the back of your brain praying he won't make eye contact with you. What you see is what you get with The Dregs, no deep messages, just songs to get drunk to while another guitar solo whips off your head and you resist the urge to go headbang. The Dregs leave a smile on everyone's faces and they have warmed up the ever increasing crowd nicely.

Down from old London town are Stoner who boast to being influenced from everyone from Led Zep to The Police and the trio deliver a near perfect set of indie-pop-rock that does indeed draw on their many influences. Whilst trading in memorable tunes your mind picks out various sounds, a bit of the 80s flew past there, perhaps a bit of Duran Duran followed by some Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and some sweet northern soul vocals that soar and impress greatly with their range. They really are a tight unit, powerful yet hugely melodic and some damn fine tunes that should see them get radio airplay if there is any justice in the world, keep an eye out for a forthcoming single and I have no doubt that we will see them back down this way before long.

Another chapter in the life of Red Letter Day as they reveal new bass player Lisa and announce that this will be the last Pompey gig for guitarist Chris Perrin who has decided to move on. On tonight's show, the Day are in danger of becoming a bit glamorous with Lisa adding sparkle to the old boys set and Chris knocking out the riffs that I'm sure the band will miss.
In terms of performance, they produce another set of classic tunes filled with chant along anthems that Ade spits forth in his Pompey boot boy voice while the music side of things continues with the new rock element kicking the hell out of the street punk to wonderful effect while the dedicated followers let loose at the front of the stage.
Ade does his now expected turn of high leg kicking and generally cuddling every band member within striking distance and getting in their faces before pacing the stage like a hyperactive child bursting with energy. There is an energy and passion about RLD that many younger bands cannot match, they are a gang doing what they love and one hopes that after delivering one of the best albums of their long career, that they can replace Chris with someone who can continue to deliver the goods and if they fit in as well as Lisa then we should see plenty more action from these mainstays of the punk scene.

Are you ready for The Waysters? You'd better be, because if tonight is anything to go by these four 15 year old lads are going to explode all over the place very soon. I've heard a lot about these boys in the past couple of weeks but you kind of think, how can a group of schoolboys be any
good? Well, I have to say,that having met them that they seem like a decent set of blokes with their feet planted firmly on the ground and pleased to be in Portsmouth to do a gig and even more excited that the guitarist from The Kooks was here to check them out. I really didn't know what to expect when they hit the stage, the tracks on MySpace sound decent enough but nothing quite prepared me for the tunes that sprang forth when they hit the stage.
Demonstrating a maturity beyond their years, The Waysters delivered a lesson in perfect modern indie tunes that compare favorably with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party etc. as guitars slash and weave against a solid rhythm section that keep things tight but flowing. There is a good cutting edge to the sound and they possess a vocalist who can actually sing pretty well and whom sounds a lot older than he looks which can only help their cause. While there may be a certain lack of finesse to their stage presence as one might expect from a band just a few gigs in on the road to rock n roll and when talking seem a little embarrassed at being up there but I have no doubts that come the end of the year and a few more gigs they will develop into a force to be reckoned with.
So yeah, The Waysters lived up to the hype I had heard; they have appeared on the scene with a bag full of fantastic songs, the confidence to deliver them live with ease and a crowd eager to see what they can do as the full house at The Frog shows. They already have some decent support slots lined up and I predict that the name will be on many peoples lips in the coming months, so remember that name and if you were lucky enough to be at the gig tonight then you will be one of the lucky ones that can say you saw them first at a small venue.

So then, a terrific end to a fine evening and great to see Messclean full of eager music fans to witness the old and the new and we say welcome to Lisa and The Waysters boys and cheerio to Chris although I have a feeling he will pop up again very soon; just a shame that the young chaps couldn't join the after show party being held in a bar across the road but we downed a few beers for you!